CommunityFortress

Article One, Series “Into the Unknown”... A little series on breaking into the competitive scene.

In response to the call for new writers in the CommFT site, I’ve been recruited by the powers that be to write.

So here I am.  Since I’m a nub in terms of competitive TF2, I’ve been persuaded into writing the blogs instead of botching up whatever articles I may have written in terms of league coverage.

And in lieu of this, I am taking the helm at a unique project, which I like to call Into the Unknown.  Quite simply put, this will be a rather anecdotal series in which many of the veterans can laugh at my attempts to break into the TF2 scene.  But in the end, perhaps it will be useful for some of you pubstars who wish to get into the action yourself.

So let’s start this out.  Where am I? First off, my team does not have a mumble, or a ventrilo.  We do not have a server we can practice, so we use a special technique called lobby jacking, and to compensate for a lack in a communications server, we use yet another special technique called channel jacking.  More info on these later.

On the bright side, I do have a (rather) steady team.  Mostly chill, but not too hardcore or set on winning.  I also have a good mentor (who incidentally promised me a sponsor -> meaning a mumble and a server, if I showed him “good promise.”  Note, this was before his team lost their sponsor so…), but we haven’t done much together.

Here we are, in the beginning stages of an epic tale, which hopefully won’t be ended prematurely by silly things like real life or whatnot.

Now that we have these housekeeping things set up, let’s rewind a bit, and review how I got to this point.  I first began to want to join the competitive scene after my friend (from here on out called “Squishy” to protect his privacy) joined a mid-level team right off the bat.  He had lots of help, thanks to his habit of “discreetly” friending the upper echelons of competitive TF2.  He’s a decent gamer, unlike a certain writer, and so my highest hopes were simply to join a team and have some fun, and not necessarily rise to the top.

So it is at this point, I’d like to advise those people who are interested in breaking into the competitive scene to go read the many great articles that have been written before me, and to go visit tf2lobby.com.  Seriously.  But before this, I have a few suggestions I’d like to make based on my prior experience based on your class of choice.

Scout: Go on a DM server and PRACTICE.  A lot.  Since this is one of the most popular competitive classes on the scene, it’s hard to get in a lobby, and it’s likely that when you’re doing your job combatting other scouts, you’ll get destroyed many, many times unless you DM and build up your combat skills.

Soldier: Please memorize the jumps.  Although for your own pleasure this won’t do much, but as a basic courtesy, please know how to do the jumps.  It’s very frustrating for your teammates if you’re not there to the mid fight.  In TF2, create a server, and just practice the jumps over and over again with SV_Cheats on.  And secondly, try not to abandon the medic too much.  Any other comments I have would be covered in much detail in the aforementioned articles.  The dead horse needs not more equalizing.

Demoman: Again, like the soldier, please know the jumps.  As for using things like the Charging Targe or the Scotsman’s Skullcutter, try to stay away from them.  It makes other rage (unless you’re Solid Snake, in which case you shouldn’t be paying attention to anything I say), and you won’t get a feel for competitive.

Medic: My first instinct is to scream “get out of there.”  Since lobby has a very loose sense of the meaning of “team,” most likely, you’ll be abandoned to die in a ditch, and then get raged at for not being around when your “teammates” wants heals.  However, the only real way to attract people into hiring you on the recruitment forums is lobby stats/hours, grit your teeth and wait it out.  Alternatively, you can just give up and make a team (like me) or be like Mr. Squishy (who’s not a medic btw) and hope you get good contacts.

Sniper/Heavy/Spy/Engie/Pyro: If you’re trying to screw around fine, but really, in order to get a feel for competitive and the class you want to main, you really should be playing the cookie cutter classes to start out with.

After a good while of lobbying, go visit the recruitment forums in CommFT, and post yourself.  Just remember, if you’re actually listening to my advice, then you’re a low.  Even if you feel like you’re amazing, low.  If your level is higher, than the people that see you play during lobby will likely come and vouch for you.  But as for what you claim to be, it’s low.

And after a while no one picks you up, consider creating your own team.  But I do warn you, making a team from scratch is a hard and arduous process.  I’ll discuss this next time.

Definitions:

Lobby Jacking: Create a lobby (perhaps valve servers), finish the match, and make sure your team stays in the server, and everyone else leaves.  And ta-da, you have yourself a practice server

Channel Jacking: The art of connecting to a server without paying for it.  Use a server that’s owned by your Pub Community, otherwise you’ll piss people off.

Well then, til next time~

Alar Ensis (Pronounced Ah-Lar Ehn-cys, NOT Ae-Lar En-sas)