Fading

scaryfacescaryface Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9918Members
Im a complete noob fade and usually die before i can do anything useful. Ive tried to improve myself in co but its hard to find a non-50lvl server. Does anyone have any tips/tricks? What upgrades do you take for fade?
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Comments

  • Kite_Eating_TreeKite_Eating_Tree Join Date: 2005-03-27 Member: 46608Members
    I've asked some really good fades and they say celerity then focus. It is also wise not to treat the fade as an onos. One swipe then run away and heal! But I really suck at fade so there are pros that can answer better.
  • BreakthroughBreakthrough Texture Artist (ns_prometheus) Join Date: 2005-03-27 Member: 46620Members, Constellation
    You should be able to get in two swipes (if the room is full with Marines). If it's a single Marine, you should be able to kill him.

    Metabolize is your friend (2nd Hive ability). Use after blinking, it's awesome. If you want good practice, go Fade in a public ns_ game. You'll only have MC's with one hive, so get celerity, hope another Hive is going up, and get regeneration. Then you'll be unstoppable (especially because you have metabolize). Fading is harder with one Hive, but still very useful...
  • The_FinchThe_Finch Join Date: 2002-11-13 Member: 8498Members
    edited July 2005
    The fade upgrades are usually celerity for MC, focus for SC and regen/carapace for DC. The DC upgrade is mostly a matter of preference, but focus and celerity have signficant advantages over the other options.

    Why celerity? Easy. Celerity fades are harder to hit than adren/silence fades. The HL engine isn't the hottest thing since the big bang and at extreme speeds, like a celerity fade blinking, the hitbox and graphic don't always synch up. You get the same effect with celerity lerks. The counter argument is that adren fades can blink longer and more often, but when you learn to manage energy with a celerity fade, it's rarely a problem.

    Why focus? Easy. The other two are far less useful and focus with fades makes armor upgrades irrelevant. Without focus, the progression in swipes is 2, 3, 3, 4. With focus it's 1, 2, 2, 2. Focus also plays into the fade strength of hit and run. You're not going to stick around for a long time, so you want to make each hit count and as powerful as you can get it.

    Regen and carapace are largely a matter of taste and what the marines are doing. I personally like regen if I'm not facing w3 shotguns/HMGs. If they have those weapons, I use carapace for the extra survivability.

    Tips I've found helpful:
    -Use the Z-axis. Blinking straight up gives you a new dimension to work with and can confuse the heck out of marines. Blink up, blink down behind them and slash again.

    -Learn to manage your energy. You should be able to blink around maps almost non-stop; with meta, dump the "almost." Make a server and just practice blinking around.

    -Know how you're getting out of a room. Ideally, you should have at least two ways out of any room you go in.

    -Don't shirk teamwork. Fades can operate alone, but they're far better off working with skulks and lerks. Lerks can strip armor like nobody's business, making it easier to drop those marines. Soft targets are good targets.

    -It's better to blink out early and with plenty of health. 90% of the time I die as a fade, I can tell that it's because I got greedy and went for the kill rather than watch my own butt. Losing a fade is a potential game breaker.

    -Get on a pub and practice attacking. Blink in, swipe once and blink out. Many times you won't even take damage, but that just means you're good to go that much sooner. The classic newbie mistake is thinking that because they're a fade, they can tank a group of marines.

    -Take down RTs. Just because you specialize in tearing marines several new orafices doesn't mean you're too good to cripple the marine war chest. In fact, you're a requirement if those RTs are electrified.

    -Harass the marine start. I don't know how many times I've seen fades harass MS into oblivion. Taking out a structure can be key. Drop that arms lab or obs or the gold trophy, the advanced armory.

    -Get a microphone. I know, it's not a fade tip. That doesn't change the fact that good communication is vital to winning. Remember, there's no "I" in "aliens."
  • 2_of_Eight2_of_Eight Join Date: 2003-08-20 Member: 20016Members
    - Blink, then bhop a few times. Saves large amounts of energy while losing minimal speed
    - Crouch when blinking, but not while turning. Crouching makes your hitbox smaller, making it easier to fit in places. However, when you're crouched, you have less air control - making it harder to bhop and turn in general.
    - Keep in mind the stuck spots on maps, and avoid them. Getting stuck is a sure way of dying.
  • SkySky Join Date: 2004-04-23 Member: 28131Members
    Don't get regen when you have two hives. The extra armor from carapace > the extra few ticks it'll take you to heal between innate regen + meta. And, with blink, it's easy enough to run to a hive/gorge for a quick heal anyway. But oh boy, when assaulting a room full of marines with upgraded weps, you'll be glad you had that extra armor.

    And speaking of armor, keep an eye on it when you're fighting. It's really more important to watch your armor than your hp, because when you hit 0-50 armor, it's time to get the heck out of wherever you are.
  • the_holethe_hole Join Date: 2004-01-03 Member: 25019Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-scaryface+Jul 5 2005, 02:04 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (scaryface @ Jul 5 2005, 02:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Im a complete noob fade and usually die before i can do anything useful. Ive tried to improve myself in co but its hard to find a non-50lvl server. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It's a sad, sad, day
  • FlounderFlounder Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31656Members
    Fanty and Duogod are damn good. Try to find demos of them playing (try amped news, and look for matches featuring obs. or refect).

    One tip I thought I'd share: only attack marines. Don't hit rts. That sounds like an odd thing to bring up but you'd be surprised how much it matters.
  • TOmekkiTOmekki Join Date: 2003-11-25 Member: 23524Members
    edited July 2005
    first learn how to bunnyhop.. then, learn to blink by using lastinv, switching to swipe and back after every blink. its incredibly hard to master but youll propably be able to blink perfectly then.

    edit:

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Ive tried to improve myself in co but its hard to find a non-50lvl server. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    this is exactly what people are talking about.
  • DC_DarklingDC_Darkling Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18068Members, Constellation, Squad Five Blue, Squad Five Silver
    plugins are the biggest evil indeed.

    skulks kill rts, fades kill rines.
    blink, alot. don't hold, tap.

    50lvl or not.. combat is good for one reason.. practise against insane odds.

    If you are a fade with only one DC up, one MC up and one SC up (or even less) and you fight rines who have more ups then the game original holds (plugins bah) you know youre good if you live it.
  • Sparki_the_DarkiSparki_the_Darki Join Date: 2005-05-11 Member: 51453Members
    Holding blink will cause you to spam blink, wasting precious energy and making you stick on walls.

    Practice short blinks.

    Fades can withstand punishment but remember that you got to make a clean getaway, especially when you need to put up with more than two rines. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    I'd say go for Adrenaline, Focus and Carapace or Redemption.

    With focus, it is possible for fades to crack HAs (but you still need Skulkbuddies!)


    When Fade, try to have a gorge nearby, too.

    Remember too, that when you are a Fade, you are responsible for the pure rine killing. When your team says big inc somewhere, then it is you who has to get there and at least cause a killspam:D

    I personally don't like going Fade because they are so bigand eeewwwwww they cant stick or climb walls :/
    But as soon as somebody does /res, then they immediately flame me for being a res**** gaaah

    (me is gorge/skulk player y'know)
    Though Fades are needed for major offensive stuff, I don't think its a shame to be a defensive Fade. Staying alive and protecting gorges is likely honorable!


    $parki <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • RammstienRammstien Join Date: 2003-11-30 Member: 23805Members, Constellation
    Definately use Celerity and not Adrenaline, sure at the begginning you may get more kills with adren, it even becomes a crutch that severtly limits your potential.
  • mirrodinmirrodin Join Date: 2004-06-29 Member: 29621Members
    Personally, as a Fade, I find that teamwork is a requirement. Two fades working in tandem (microphone required) are nigh unstoppable. I don't know what the heck nigh means, but it sounds right for that sentence, by the way. Generally speaking, having skulks distract marines and then rushing in for the choppy choppy works.
  • DC_DarklingDC_Darkling Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18068Members, Constellation, Squad Five Blue, Squad Five Silver
    true. I have seen a hive1 fade combo just tear through HMG/Shotty/GL lvl3 armor3 HA train as if they were nothing. Really impressive. Especially since I was med/catspamming.

    <3 pubs
  • RushakraRushakra Join Date: 2004-03-25 Member: 27523Members
    Even better than practice on Combat, try finding a Custom map server that runs alot of Siege maps. Nothing's better for improving your alien game. -EVERY- Marine is going to end up with L3 upgrades, a Heavy or Jetpack, big guns.. you don't have Cara+Regen+Redemp to rely on like in Combat, either, and (speaking from experience) the rest of your team is going to be no help.

    Regen on a Fade is no good in games like this, so practice with Carapace. It doubles your longevity, as that +100 armor translates to 3 health. In situations where using Regen would get you killed just as you fled around the corner, Carapace will keep you alive. I recommend Adrenaline until you get the hang of Metabolizing and energy management (don't hold the Blink key, as others have said) and then switching over to Celerity when you are more confident. Fades are hit-and-run, not stay-and-fight. Regen isn't going to help you out in the short times you're in there and Celerity gets you to and from the action better.


    Blink into the room, go up high. Most Marines are looking at the ground for Skulks. Once you're at the apex of your blink, look down, find a nice target who's reloading or running away.. Blink straight down at him and swipe. Wigglewalking to catch up to fleeing Marines who are just a few steps infront of you is also better than blinking over (if you're not getting shot at.) Another good tactic you should definately try is hopping over the Marine's head. It's frustrating as a Skulk when you have Marines doing this to you, and doubly so when you do it to them. You run in, get up close, hit them once.. then blink straight up, then straight down behind them. It works well because they're tracking you laterally, have to look up as you blink above them, then turn around as you fly over, then look down again as you land. It can really throw off their aim, especially when you do this a few times and they end up with no idea where you are.
  • HeymanHeyman Join Date: 2005-03-29 Member: 46895Members
    This works AWESOME on open maps.. Examples:Volcanodrop, Freefall, Spacefall, etc, etc, etc..

    Regen works good if you're going to camp a JP room with 3 guys on your tail, especially if you're going to wait for a siege door to open. How to evade:
    1.blink randomly, don't be on the same level as the jetpackers are, or they will get a clearer shot.
    2.Use metabolize to get your energy back and heal yourself in-between assaults.
    3.Don't try to hit the jetpackers in mid-air. Most likely you'll miss. Instead hit them when they're running out of energy and are forced to hover down.
    4.Hide as often as possible, and don't ever come out the way you went in.
    5.TAP the blink, NEVER EVER hold it, or you will be sitting fade. <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::fade::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/fade.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='fade.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • CommunistWithAGunCommunistWithAGun Local Propaganda Guy Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15953Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-scaryface+Jul 5 2005, 02:04 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (scaryface @ Jul 5 2005, 02:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Im a complete noob fade and usually die before i can do anything useful. Ive tried to improve myself in co but its hard to find a non-50lvl server. Does anyone have any tips/tricks? What upgrades do you take for fade? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    gg ns gg
  • KradKrad Join Date: 2004-08-26 Member: 30914Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-The Finch+Jul 5 2005, 07:12 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (The Finch @ Jul 5 2005, 07:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Remember, there's no "I" in "al<b>i</b>ens."<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <b>I</b> th<b>i</b>nk <b>I</b> saw an <b>I</b> <b>i</b>n al<b>i</b>ens!

    <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • Rapier7Rapier7 Join Date: 2004-02-05 Member: 26108Members
    I'm a pretty good fade (nowhere near Duo's league) and I like adrenaline. Celerity and adrenaline pander to different playstyles. With adrenaline, I can blink all around a large room, causing most marines to waste bullets (some clanners will usually wait until they can get a good shot, though) and then go in for the kill.

    Adrenaline also makes a fade great as a support unit. Skulks can kill marines just as well as fades if they can get to the marines and have the time to bite them. If the marines are concentrating on me, then my skulk buddies can come and share the feast.

    Adrenaline and celerity have their advantages, don't knock adrenaline.

    Oh, and the most important piece of advice:

    The fade that fights and runs away lives to fight another day. (Or in this case, second)
  • TOmekkiTOmekki Join Date: 2003-11-25 Member: 23524Members
    adren just doesnt cut it when youre facing 4-5 shotgunners and/or hmg'ers with w2. better to just learn some adren management.
  • comradecomrade Join Date: 2003-11-30 Member: 23774Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Rapier7+Jul 12 2005, 01:33 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Rapier7 @ Jul 12 2005, 01:33 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm a pretty good fade (nowhere near Duo's league) and I like adrenaline. Celerity and adrenaline pander to different playstyles. With adrenaline, I can blink all around a large room, causing most marines to waste bullets (some clanners will usually wait until they can get a good shot, though) and then go in for the kill.

    Adrenaline also makes a fade great as a support unit. Skulks can kill marines just as well as fades if they can get to the marines and have the time to bite them. If the marines are concentrating on me, then my skulk buddies can come and share the feast.

    Adrenaline and celerity have their advantages, don't knock adrenaline.

    Oh, and the most important piece of advice:

    The fade that fights and runs away lives to fight another day. (Or in this case, second) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    tracking adrenaline fades is one of the easiest things in the game, other than straight line skulks, even if they pancake and do other crazy ****
  • ZiGGYZiGGY Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12479Members
    my grandma is faster than a adrenalin fade, and she be dead.
  • HeymanHeyman Join Date: 2005-03-29 Member: 46895Members
    good point. If you can't manage your energy then you're screwed. Silence actually helps alot too in classic maps. It's better not knowing you're there than knowing you're coming faster.

    Comparisn:
    No MT: Not prepared>semi-prepared marine
    MT:Prepared for a lerk/skulk>prepared for a fade
  • RobertoRoberto Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14591Members, Constellation
    Use mwheel to blink, get celerity
  • FlounderFlounder Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31656Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Rapier7+Jul 12 2005, 01:33 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Rapier7 @ Jul 12 2005, 01:33 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Adrenaline and celerity have their advantages, don't knock adrenaline. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I've seen terror fades use adren.

    Most of the time when I celerity fade I get stuck on every worthless outcropping of wall ever haphazardly designed by a mapmaker. Adren gives you a lot of control.
  • uniqueunique Join Date: 2005-07-12 Member: 55779Members
    Personally, I think you need to have a good bit of air control to celerity fade, because if you don't then you might get stuck on every turn/object. Don't fade like you're an onos, just hit and run. Try to waste people's ammo and get them when they're reloading.
  • 2_of_Eight2_of_Eight Join Date: 2003-08-20 Member: 20016Members
    You'd be surprised how many marines you can kill by surprise with a silence fade. We all know that fades are coming by the characteristic blinking sound - but if it's absent, we won't be looking for a fade behind us. Yes, it doesn't work all the time - but sometimes, you can get in and swipe before the marines even start shooting.
  • uniqueunique Join Date: 2005-07-12 Member: 55779Members
    Silence fade would work wonders if you know the marines don't have/aren't getting motion tracking.
  • RammstienRammstien Join Date: 2003-11-30 Member: 23805Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Flounder+Jul 15 2005, 10:07 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Flounder @ Jul 15 2005, 10:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    I've seen terror fades use adren.

    <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I have seen terror heavy armor rush with no upgrades/ip. Just because they do it doesnt mean that its a good strategy.
  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    One of the best tips I have for fading is this:

    1) set hud_fastswitch to 1. Just add it to your userconfig.cfg file.

    2) Bind all the weapons/slots to a key. For example (before I got a 5-button mouse) I used:

    Mwheelup: slot 1
    mwheeldown: slot 2
    q: slot 3
    z: slot 4


    This gives you access to all of your attacks in one keystroke - something I find essential for good fading.
  • stallioNstallioN Join Date: 2005-06-21 Member: 54363Members
    bind "mwheelup" "+attack"
    bind "mwheeldown" "+attack"
    flick the mousewheel once every time you land tbh
    I don't recommend it for using this method to engage marines; I view this like bunnyhopping. It's good for getting around the map, but as far as attacking marines head-on, it's pretty sucktastic.
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