Dear Telo, Spider, Nacho, Majik, Merk, Dark-Karasu, Kmfaiyaz, Klesk, Null, Xyltol, and other &quot;new&quot; guys I have seen in priv:<br /><br />Some of you are pretty good and some of you have been around for a long time.&nbsp; But, I have been F12-ing you in priv, and I thought you could use some pointers on what better, older, or more experienced players take to be common sense.&nbsp; This list ended up being a lot longer than I initially expected.<br /><br />I don&#039;t pretend to be good at CTF or to follow all of these.&nbsp; I also don&#039;t pretend that all of these are true all of the time.&nbsp; In fact, some of them are not.&nbsp; They are just a rough guide to playing the game.<br /><br />First of all I&#039;d like to direct you to a post of this nature that Ladna has already written: http://forums.intldoomleague.org/index.php?topic=209.0<br /><br />Please read Ladna&#039;s original post and, at your discretion, the proceeding comments.&nbsp; I have tried to summarize some of the wordier advice here without overlapping Ladna&#039;s advice by too much.&nbsp; Without further ado, here it is:<br /><br />My biggest piece of advice is: stick to your position.&nbsp; If you are the defense, please do not run.&nbsp; If you are the runner, please do not defend.<br /><br />[size=4]HOW TO D[/size]<br /><br />[list][li][b]Keep track of where everybody is.[/b]&nbsp; The worst thing that can happen is for the enemy runner to get behind you without you knowing it.&nbsp; This means he only has to kill you once on his way out the door, and you have probably lost a flag.&nbsp; Secondly, if more than one guy gets through mid and into your base, you need help.&nbsp; If this happens, scream for help.&nbsp; If this happens without you knowing about it, you have probably lost a flag.&nbsp; In order to prevent these situations:<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Find vantage points in your base where you can see all paths to the flag. [/b] Any time you are standing anywhere other than one of these spots, you might be missing a runner.&nbsp; Go back over your tracks often.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Move the D up.[/b]&nbsp; These points are in some order further from the flag and closer to the mid.&nbsp; Your goal is to move from point to point successively without missing any runners until you are at the mid.&nbsp; The reason for this is that many runners are better than you, and the only way to stop them is to fight them over the course of several lives.&nbsp; By moving the D up, you can start damaging enemy runners early on.&nbsp; Additionally, do not let them get behind you.&nbsp; Block them with your body if you have to, but kill them or make them kill you, spawn, and repeat.&nbsp; One advantage of being the D is that you get to spawn where the fight is taking place.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]As you&#039;re doing this, check your corners. [/b] Runners will often camp corners on the outside of the base and wait for you to move up past them.&nbsp; Map07 is notorious for this.&nbsp; As you move up, keep looking behind you to make sure this is not happening.&nbsp; In fact, DOOM Guy only sees 90 degrees around him at any time, so the D should pretty much be constantly spinning about like a lighthouse.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Time the enemy O&#039;s arrival. [/b] If it has been 20 seconds (+/-10 based on the size of the map) and you have not seen the enemy runner, he is behind you stealing your flag.&nbsp; Go back and sweep your base out.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Use sounds. [/b] You don&#039;t always have to see the runner to notice him: you can hear the lift on map07, the tele on map20, the doom guy oomph from the sludgefall on map15, and a hundred other things.&nbsp; If you hear a gunfight coming from a certain hallway, there is a good chance that a damaged enemy runner will be along in a second.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Camp.&nbsp; [/b]Another advantage of being the D is that you have the element of surprise.&nbsp; If you can start the fight out with a good 80% shot to the butt, you&#039;re doing good.&nbsp; Obviously, do not use the same spot more than once or twice consecutively, or else it will not be a surprise.&nbsp; One thing this does besides giving you a leg-up in the fight is that it forces the runner to start checking his corners, which slows him down significantly.&nbsp; Slower running for him means fewer runs per game, which lowers his chances of getting flags.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Do not fall for jukes. [/b] Very often the runner will pretend to go one way to get the D to go in that direction, and then suddenly go the other way.&nbsp; Try not to put yourself out of position based on what they do.&nbsp; If they are coming in, stay between them and the flag no matter what; if they are leaving, stay between them and the mid.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]If you are low on health, kill yourself. [/b] If you have just killed the enemy runner and are left with less than 40 health, you will be ineffective in stopping him the next time; the easiest way to get back to full health is to die.&nbsp; You can rocket yourself in the face, jump in the shit, or, what&#039;s riskier but more helpful, run out into the mid, shoot the runner at long distance for a little of his health, and let him shoot you dead.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Push up when the flag is incoming.[/b]&nbsp; There will be many times when the enemy flag can only make it to your doorstep; it is your job to bring it the rest of the way.&nbsp; When the enemy flag has been taken for sufficiently long, or your runner is spamming someting relevant, head to the front door to greet him, kill any chasers, and, if necessary, pick up the flag and score it.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Let the M know when you need help as soon as possible. [/b] He is busy camping the enemy D and it will take him a few seconds to get back to your base.&nbsp; If your sixth sense tells you that you are going to fail it in the near future, start screaming for help, and your M will be happy to head in your direction.&nbsp; False alarms are better than losing flags.<br /><br />[/li][li]Unless you are returning the flag, [b]do not leave D[/b].&nbsp; If your flag gets out, it is your first priority to go and get it back.&nbsp; (There are some maps on which this is arguable, and if your flag gets out, it is up to your mid and runner to get it back, and up to you to stay in the base and prevent successive flags from being stolen.) If you accomplish this and you are standing next to the enemy flag, you might as well take it and head back.&nbsp; Otherwise, you should never be found on the other side of the map; it is impossible to manage the the enemy runners from that far out.[/li][/list]<br /><br /><br />[size=4]HOW TO M[/size]<br /><br />[list][li][b]Keep track of where everybody is.[/b]&nbsp; The M is sometimes reffered to as (and sometimes distinguished from) what Mr. Jolly calls &quot;the floater,&quot; which is the player who goes where he is needed whenever he is needed.&nbsp; Unfortunately, it is difficult to explain exactly what needs to be done when.&nbsp; Only years of practice will show you the answer, you must pay attention to the flow of the game in order to begin to do this at all.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Do not let more than one dude in your base.[/b]&nbsp; If this happens, go back and help out.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Warn the D about incoming dikheads.[/b]&nbsp; Let your D know (preferrably over teamspeak but, if not, then through binds) how many guys are coming in and where.&nbsp; This will help him anticipate when/where they will arrive.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Damage, do not kill the enemy O. [/b] Killing the enemy O every time he leaves his base makes him spawn back in his base and makes it impossible for your runner to score.&nbsp; It is better to damage the enemy O and let him get killed by your D.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Kill the enemy M. [/b] Do not let him massacre your O or bother your D.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Distract the enemy D. [/b] Take long-distance shots at him (or use the chaingun!).&nbsp; Mess with the enemy teleports/doors to make noise.&nbsp; Hopefully this will cause him to get out of position and/or pay attention to you instead of your O.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Steal the enemy health and powerups.&nbsp; [/b]Anything at mid or the enemy base is free for the taking.&nbsp; (Items in your base have specific assignments: see Ladna&#039;s post.)&nbsp; Even if you are about to die, it is better to deny them the blue armor and waste it.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Get the lift/door for your runner. [/b] On any map that has a special way of getting out that requires activation from the outside, that is obviously your job.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Spawn camp the enemy or camp the enemy gun. [/b] In your free time, this is an effective way to piss off the enemy and get them out of position.&nbsp; Some will make the argument that this keeps your runner from scoring, but more often than not it is actually distracting and helpful.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]When the opportunity presents itself, you are the O! [/b] This includes getting the megasphere or for whatever reason finding yourself alone in the enemy base.&nbsp; Let your team know this.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Err on the side of D. [/b] Your first, primary job is to make sure you do not get flagged on.&nbsp; Your secondary job on the side that you should only do in your free time is to help the O.[/li][/list]<br /><br /><br /><br />[size=4]HOW TO O[/size]<br /><br />[list][li][b]Keep track of where everybody is. [/b] You cannot avoid or trick people if you do not know where they are.&nbsp; You cannot guess where the D is camping if you do not take stock of where he has been camping the whole game.&nbsp; Adapt your running game to suit the habits of the enemy M and D.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]If the enemy M or D are somewhere, go the other way.&nbsp; [/b]Your primary tactic should be avoiding conflict.&nbsp; Most defenders are better shots than you, and you will not often win against them.&nbsp; You will have more luck if you can go around.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Take different routes to the flag. [/b] Obviously, if you run the same way every time, the D will anticipate this and you will never score.&nbsp; Change it up.&nbsp; Be unpredictable.&nbsp; This applies to your journey to and from the enemy flag.<br /><br />[/li][li]Better yet, [b]juke the D[/b].&nbsp; Pretend to go one way, then double back and go the other way.&nbsp; Or, double-juke: pretend to go one way, wait a few seconds, and then actually go that way.&nbsp; This throws off the D&#039;s anticipatory timing.&nbsp; Triple-juke, quadruple-juke, you can never juke too much until you have a clear path out of the base and you do not take it.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Let the enemy O and enemy M leave the base[/b], preferrably without seeing you.&nbsp; If you are keeping track of everyone, and find that they are all in their base, chill out.&nbsp; You cannot take three dudes.&nbsp; Instead, find a corner to hide in and wait until you see them leave.&nbsp; Then, quietly sneak inside.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]If the M or the D does not notice you, do not alert them to your presence.[/b]&nbsp; If the D has his back toward you and does not know that you are there, [u]do not shoot him[/u].&nbsp; The 35 health you knock off is not better than the opportunity to touch the flag unnoticed.&nbsp; Once you grab it, however, all bets are off, and you may shoot like crazy.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Let the mid know you need help ahead of time. [/b] If you have snuck past the D, or you are near the flag and have just killed the D, spam binds to have your M come help you out.&nbsp; In all probability you are going to die and will need him to pick up the flag.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Grab the flag from behind.[/b]&nbsp; Running into the enemy flag head on, turning around, and running out of the base puts another three seconds between the steal announcement and you getting out, which might give the enemy M or O enough time to double back and stop you.&nbsp; Instead, especially if you are trying to make a speedy escape, get behind the flag, and run through it, toward the exit.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]If you are low on health, kill yourself.[/b]&nbsp; If you have 20 health, there is probably no reason for you to even try a flag run.&nbsp; To do so is to wastes times and reduces the number of legitimate flag attempts for that game, and thus your chances of scoring.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Fall back when absolutely necessary. [/b] It is more important that the other team not score a flag than that you do score a flag.&nbsp; If your flag has been out for a few seconds and the D is spamming help binds, slow down, take a peek behind you, and see if you can&#039;t help out.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]If you (or somebody else) have just scored a flag, stick around until the base is clear. [/b] If the enemy flag gets to your base, usually the enemy D, M, and O follow it.&nbsp; While this seems like a great opportunity for a double score, it is an even greater opportunity for a rebound flag.&nbsp; As soon as the situation resumes, it&#039;s back to positions.<br /><br />[/li][li]Otherwise, [b]do not leave O[/b].&nbsp; Do not stick around to D.&nbsp; You may shoot the enemy O or M as you run to the enemy base, but do not chase them back.&nbsp; In fact, unless you are juking the D, do not take a single step toward your own base until you have the flag.&nbsp; Leaving O allows the enemies to swarm your base, overwhelm your D, and steal your flag.&nbsp; Hanging out in your own base also gets in the way of your D and blocks his excellent shots with your fat DOOM body.[/li][/list]<br /><br /><br /><br />[size=4]HOW TO SUPPORT O[/size]<br /><br />[list][li][b]Do not Ralphis.[/b]&nbsp; See Ladna&#039;s guide.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Run directly behind the runner.[/b]&nbsp; This serves two purposes.&nbsp; First, it makes you a body shield.&nbsp; You are like his own personal soulsphere, and if runners had soulspheres on every map, well, that would be awesome.&nbsp; Second, and more importantly, it allows you to instantly pick up the flag without breaking your stride.&nbsp; On many maps, almost all of the caps are pickups.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Kill the chasers, starting with the one closest behind your O.[/b]&nbsp; Only do this if you can stay behind the O (or at least remain the closest person to him at all times).&nbsp; It is not helpful to kill one of two chasers if the other one returns the flag before you get to it.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Make sure the base is clear. [/b] If the D has come forward to finish off the chasers, feel free to go in front of your runner to make sure the base is clear.&nbsp; This is important on maps like zd15 and zd27, and sometimes the runner will hesitate in order to indicate this need.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Stay with the runner until the flag is scored. [/b] By this I mean what I said in the last bullet.&nbsp; Just keep in mind that the flag isn&#039;t in the bank until the announcer says so.&nbsp; Get it in the bank.[/li][/list]<br /><br /><br /><br />[size=4]GENERAL TIPS[/size]<br /><br />[list][li][b]SR-50 everywhere all the time.[/b]&nbsp; If you don&#039;t have binds that make this easy feel free to ask me or anybody else.&nbsp; This takes practice to do generally and on specific maps, and furthermore to do backwards when helpful.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Use headphones with 3D sound turned on.[/b]&nbsp; This gives you a better sense of what is going on than desktop speakers.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Use binds.[/b]&nbsp; Help! and Clear! are necessary; other helpful binds are Need help at mid!&nbsp; I&#039;m at mid!&nbsp; I got your back!&nbsp; Back me up!&nbsp; I&#039;m offense!&nbsp; Powerup recharged!&nbsp; Lift! And anything else you might have seen...<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Pay attention to announcements.[/b]&nbsp; They tell you what is going on in the game.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Pay attention to binds. [/b] They tell you what is going on in the game.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Pay attention to obits.[/b]&nbsp; They tell you what is going on in the game.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Always RTF.[/b]&nbsp; Without questions, if there is a flag on the ground, whether it is yours or the enemy&#039;s, your first instinct should be to run directly at it.<br /><br />[/li][li][b]Don&#039;t be a wigger. [/b] Nobody likes Kid Cudi.&nbsp; There are three black people in DOOM, and two of them are the whitest people in DOOM.&nbsp; The other one is Beast, who is actually the alive-and-well Biggie Smalls.&nbsp; [/li][/list]