Rolodecks and Medic Strategies for Pl_goldrush ...

1) snipers
Rolodecks :  About the snipers.
Rolodecks :  Know who he is and check the scoreboard often.
Rolodecks :  You HAVE to communicate when he's down.
Rolodecks :  That's the time-frame when it's absolutely safe for you to roam around.
Rolodecks :  Whoever takes him down.
Rolodecks :  I constantly check that shit.
Rolodecks :  It's highlander, not 6v6 where there's a potential class change.
Rolodecks :  So just match the name up with the class.
Rolodecks :  Not that hard to do, but keep up on it.
Rolodecks :  If he gets...
Player Ms. Awesome joined team Spectator
Player Ms. Awesome joined team RED
Rolodecks :  Just join red and walk around with me.
Rolodecks changed team name to D: :<
Rolodecks :  But, anyway, stay on top of the sniper.
Rolodecks :  Because...
Rolodecks :  The only way you'll keep him in check is with your own sniper/spy.
Rolodecks :  Which is important because like I said...
Rolodecks :  You're his number one target.
Rolodecks :  If they're good no amount of dodging/cover will save you.
Rolodecks :  Well cover saves you but it's map specific.
Rolodecks :  And there are "holes" so to speak.
Rolodecks :  I tend to jump around alot, strafe unpredictably.
Rolodecks :  CROUCH
Rolodecks :  Because this throws them offf.
Rolodecks :  Certain guys hit moving targets well but can't hit a still target for shit.
Rolodecks :  Um..
Rolodecks :  Yeah just communicate about their sniper, it's key
Rolodecks :  Unless he's shit which in that case still worry about it.
Rolodecks :  Whoever takes him out..
Rolodecks :  Let the team know it.
Rolodecks :  They can't fake death like spies anyway, so it's surefire.
Rolodecks :  If they don't have a mic then have them tell you some other way.
Rolodecks :  Or just watch the kills in the upper right.
Rolodecks :  Or check the scoreboard.
Rolodecks :  You all have a mic?
Rolodecks :  Oh, good!
Rolodecks :  That solves that then.
Rolodecks :  Um...
Rolodecks :  If the sniper's up...
Rolodecks :  Kinda look around to see who he's shooting at.
Rolodecks :  If you wanna chime in at any time feel free to.
Rolodecks :  I"m just ramblin' on.

2) healing orders/when to heal

Rolodecks :  Yeah this map ain't too health friendly.
Rolodecks :  They should be leaving them for you.
Rolodecks :  Uh...
Rolodecks :  Well that's not always good, consider respawn times.
Rolodecks :  Of the packs.
Rolodecks :  The smaller ones pop up more frequently.
Rolodecks :  Not sure but it's map specific.
Rolodecks :  Believe it or not.
Rolodecks :  I don't have it memorized, just something I've noticed.
(Voice) Ms. Awesome: MEDIC!
Rolodecks :  I think all valve maps are pretty much a straight ilne.
Rolodecks :  Uh...
Rolodecks :  Everybody's gonna want heals when they're "in the red."
Rolodecks :  Just how it is.
Rolodecks :  The key to winning...
Rolodecks :  Out of the gates or just in general?
Rolodecks :  Out of the gates...
Rolodecks :  If you have to do a rollout like...
Rolodecks :  On push maps like badlands...
Rolodecks :  5cp maps...
Rolodecks :  Always..
Rolodecks :  ALWAYS
Rolodecks :  Soldier, then demo...
Rolodecks :  Reason being...
Rolodecks :  You'll always heal at the max rate during the initial spawn.
Rolodecks :  Meaning...
Rolodecks :  Don't let the soldier/demo do their jumps....
Rolodecks :  UNtil they're full buffed by you first.
Rolodecks :  You can heal before you "move" during the initial start.
Rolodecks :  Y'know?
Rolodecks :  Before you unfreeze...
Rolodecks :  So tag them and have everybody else crouch.
Rolodecks :  Well yeah but same concept.
Rolodecks :  Scouts are very important to keep buffed.
Rolodecks :  In highlander anyway.
Rolodecks :  Just gotta know where the sentry is.
Rolodecks :  But...
Rolodecks :  Keep him buffed as much as possible, he'll thank you.
Rolodecks :  He's about in the middle of my general heal order for highlander, depending on his individual skill.
Rolodecks :  Alright, I was saying...
Rolodecks :  Good heal orders...
Rolodecks :  Goes like this...
Rolodecks :  Bleed/fire first.
Rolodecks :  Always.
Rolodecks :  Unless somebody else is at critical/red health.
Rolodecks :  And you're not in a warzone situation...
Rolodecks :  Reason being, the fire/bleed makes your uber charge faster.
Rolodecks :  Makes you heal more health before they get to 150% overheal, which is the sweet spot.
Rolodecks :  For uber percentage rates.
Rolodecks :  Which is also key.
Rolodecks :  You don't wanna like...
Rolodecks :  Constantly heal just one or two guys unless you're making a push.
Rolodecks :  But I'm sure you know the relationship already.
Rolodecks :  It's a trifecta.
Rolodecks :  Heal rate/ubercharge rate/overheal.
Rolodecks :  Uber charges at anywhere from 40 sec. to 80 sec.
Rolodecks :  Kritz is 35-70 I believe.
Rolodecks :  No, no...
Rolodecks :  You're gonna max out your ubercharge rate if you heal...
Rolodecks :  If you heal guys until they hit overheal.
Rolodecks :  And you stay on them and just overheal them, that's when it slows down.
Rolodecks :  You can, but...
Rolodecks :  The rate gets halved.
Rolodecks :  You ubercharge the fastest doing raw healing.
Rolodecks :  Once they're topped off and you're just maintaining, you're losing the race.
Rolodecks :  I mean, it's good to keep 'em overhealed....
Rolodecks :  But keep it in mind.
Rolodecks :  Would you rather have a kritz in a minute or 35 seconds?
Rolodecks :  Word.
Rolodecks :  Ubers win games.
Rolodecks :  Warpy?
Rolodecks :  Yeah he's a god.
Rolodecks :  Don't get careless.
Rolodecks :  I never was a big fan of running kritz in highlander, to be honest.
Rolodecks :  Reason being, you don't have the firepower much.
Rolodecks :  I know, but...
Rolodecks :  Preference I guess.
Rolodecks :  But keep the ubercharge rates in mind.
Rolodecks :  You only charge at "fast" or "slow".
Rolodecks :  There is a third rate, but that's only when you're healing somebody who's already being healed by a second medic or a DISPENSER
Rolodecks :  Which is why I ALWAYS ask them to step away from the dispenser.
Rolodecks :  Don't have them do that.
Rolodecks :  Ask them to step away.
Rolodecks :  Because it turns your rate to shit.
Rolodecks :  Yes, you're aware of the conccept then.
Rolodecks :  You don't have to worry about a second medic, so we'll skip that.
Rolodecks :  Just a refresh.
Rolodecks :  :D
Rolodecks :  You gotta grind it into your head.
Rolodecks :  Anyway, who are you generally rolling with?
Rolodecks :  Class-wise?
Rolodecks :  Like who do you stay around?
Rolodecks :  And heal most of the time?
Rolodecks :  Oh, go ahead then.
Ms. Awesome :  demo, solly, pyro
Ms. Awesome :  since our heavy seems to come and go...
Ms. Awesome :  as of late
Rolodecks :  Is your soldier jumping alot and getting picks?
Ms. Awesome :  yes, tinkelp has been doing pretty well with helping me build
Rolodecks :  Oh, good.
Ms. Awesome :  and our demo, warpy, also helps me build quite a bit
Rolodecks :  That's why I'm a fan of sticking with the soldier.
(Voice) Ms. Awesome: MEDIC!
Rolodecks :  Easiest class to build uber with.
Rolodecks :  Demo's not feasible.
Rolodecks :  Most of the time.
Rolodecks :  High self damage.
Rolodecks :  Slow reload.
Ms. Awesome :  the solly generally sticks with me quite a bit
Rolodecks :  Needs to be on the offensive.
Rolodecks :  You need to stick with the heavy.
Rolodecks :  Well...
Ms. Awesome :  and he watches my ass when we are about to make  a push
Rolodecks :  HE needs to stick with you.
Rolodecks :  Because to be honest...
Ms. Awesome :  yes, the heavy really does
Rolodecks :  He's helpless without a med.
Ms. Awesome :  yeah
Rolodecks :  And if the enemy heavy's stickin' with their med...
Ms. Awesome :  i agree
Rolodecks :  Game over if you run into them.
Rolodecks :  Because he's easily one of the best classes with a medic up his ass.
Rolodecks :  Unstoppable.
Rolodecks :  Don't care what they say.
Ms. Awesome :  the heavy does help us push quite a bit
Rolodecks :  On a map like this...
Ms. Awesome :  but again, our heavy has changed so much...
Rolodecks :  Well just kinda guide him.
Rolodecks :  Ask him to kinda just follow ya around.
Ms. Awesome :  ok
Rolodecks :  He's obligated to.
Rolodecks :  Also, have him pack some form of healing for you.
Rolodecks :  No shotgun allowed, that's my rule. :p
Rolodecks :  Minigun's so great of a weapon anyway.
Rolodecks :  In maps like this you want the high ground.
Ms. Awesome :  since working with warpy, he sarted using the fists of steal
Rolodecks :  Your soldier's not gonna be sticking with you much I hope.
Rolodecks :  He's got the mobility on his side.
Ms. Awesome :  yeah
Rolodecks :  Just buff him up and let him fly.
Ms. Awesome :  he genearlly romes
Rolodecks :  He's gonna get picks easily.
Ms. Awesome :  *roams
Rolodecks :  Demo is necessary to stick with.
Rolodecks :  not only for sentry nests...
Rolodecks :  But it's warpy, he's a god.
Rolodecks :  He needs you like you need him.
Ms. Awesome :  true
Rolodecks :  Heavy/demo is all I really use 99% of the time.
Rolodecks :  Soldier depending on their playstyle.
Rolodecks :  Because...
Rolodecks :  Scout's gonna be poppin' in and out, heal him whenever he lets you.
Rolodecks :  Don't really run to him, it'll get you killed.
Rolodecks :  let him come to you for heals.
Rolodecks :  Tell him to grab healthpacks in enemy territory.
Rolodecks :  It's his job anyway, to flank and get the medic.
Rolodecks :  Find the sentry.
Rolodecks :  Etc.
Rolodecks :  He's kinda pairin' up with the spy to be honest.
Rolodecks :  Both need to be sneaky bastards.
Ms. Awesome :  who is, the scout?
Rolodecks :  So neither are really on your list of concerns.
Rolodecks :  Yes.
Rolodecks :  He's most effective behind the lines
Ms. Awesome :  true
Rolodecks :  It's easy for him to do so, being 1 of each class.
Ms. Awesome :  i never thought of it that way
Rolodecks :  Even if all he's doing is just running in there and getting killed...
Rolodecks :  A distraction of sorts...
Rolodecks :  It'll focus attention on him.
Rolodecks :  Have your spy cloak, and get behind there without a scratch.
Rolodecks :  Wreak havoc.
Rolodecks :  Diversion.
Rolodecks :  Psychological warfare.
Rolodecks :  But anyway....
Rolodecks :  Get ubers as fast as you can, maintain overheal.
Rolodecks :  Also, remember...
Rolodecks :  Sometimes I'll have really heavy combat classes stand for about 5/10 seconds then heal them.
Rolodecks :  Reason being is that your medigun heals at 3 rates.
Rolodecks :  24/48/72 health/sec.
Rolodecks :  Depending on how fresh their wounds are.
Rolodecks :  i.e. when they last took damage, seconds ago.
Rolodecks :  If they took damage less than 5 seconds you'll heal at 24/sec.
Rolodecks :  Which is nice for building uber, but not so good for healing raw health output.
Rolodecks :  5-10 sec (I think?) is 48/sec.
Rolodecks :  Middle ground for health/ubercharge rate.
Rolodecks :  Until you cap overheal.
Rolodecks :  After 10 sec. it's 72/sec.
Rolodecks :  Just keep that in mind.
Rolodecks :  I'd have guys stand around for a few seconds, it's more efficient really only with the heavy and soldier.
Rolodecks :  Since they have the most health and the math adds up.
Rolodecks :  Efficiency, but not really practical.
Rolodecks :  Since you want that uber.
Rolodecks :  But anyway...

3) Who NEEDS to stay with you at all times?
Rolodecks :  Stick with heavy/demo mostly.
Ms. Awesome :  so about staying alive when using crits (even though you don't like kritz)
Rolodecks :  Let the sniper go after their sniper.
Rolodecks :  He's the only counter to that.
Rolodecks :  Did that help a bit?
Ms. Awesome :  definitly
Rolodecks :  I'm not done yet. :p

4) Crits/Uber 
Ms. Awesome :  but what about staying alive when using crits?
Rolodecks :  I'd like to show this in action but am unable to do so at the moment, so this is all you'll get from me.
Rolodecks :  Nothing much you can do about that.
Rolodecks :  The reason being you've got no overheal.
Rolodecks :  Since there's no second medic.
Rolodecks :  Which is why I never was a fan of kritz much in highlander.
Rolodecks :  You're too vulnerable.
Rolodecks :  The only way it works is if you catch them off guard.
Rolodecks :  Which in maps like granary/badlands it's great.
Rolodecks :  Payload, not so much.
Rolodecks :  Espeically if you're on defense.
Ms. Awesome :  yeah
Rolodecks :  Which is the only viable option to use it anyway.
Rolodecks :  You need to get that sentry.
Ms. Awesome :  so from what i am understanding from most players is...
Rolodecks :  If it's in a good spot the only way you'll push through is with an uber.
Ms. Awesome :  crits = defense; uber = offense
Rolodecks :  Not exactly...
Ms. Awesome :  at least for payload/this map
Rolodecks :  More like...
Rolodecks :  Uber = Safety/passive playstyle.
Rolodecks :  Kritz = Aggressive/ambush.
Rolodecks :  Kritz is very situational.
Rolodecks :  And 90% of the time the uber's gonna be a better option.
Rolodecks :  If not just as effective.
Rolodecks :  Kritz is great for chokepoints.
Rolodecks :  If they're all bunched up, kill 'em before they can retreat.
Ms. Awesome :  good point
Rolodecks :  Which is why heavy's a bad kritz/uber target in almost every situation.
Rolodecks :  Because he's gotta spin up.
Rolodecks :  And can't move.
Rolodecks :  Kritz soldier can rocket jump while keepin' the beam on him...
Rolodecks :  Launch some krit rockets...
Rolodecks :  Game over for them.
Ms. Awesome :  but when are good times to use crits on this map?
Rolodecks :  Same with crit demo, lob pipes/stickies over a hill outside of the line of sight.
Ms. Awesome :  that you can think of?
Rolodecks :  Up here if your engi gets a foothold...
Rolodecks :  Reason being...
Rolodecks :  If you can sneak through here...
Rolodecks :  It's not feasible, but if you get a kritz back here...
Rolodecks :  Sticky here.
Ms. Awesome :  game over huh...
Rolodecks :  Edge their gun here...
Ms. Awesome :  at their spawn
Rolodecks :  Sniper's gonna be here most likely.
Ms. Awesome :  oh damn
Rolodecks :  Boom.
Ms. Awesome :  that is leathal
Rolodecks :  Problem is...
Rolodecks :  It's hard to do.
Rolodecks :  Because...
Rolodecks :  Look here...
Ms. Awesome :  and spawning
Rolodecks :  Too easy to see.
Rolodecks :  So you gotta be careful.
Ms. Awesome :  sniper could spot me pretty easy
Rolodecks :  NEVER STAY UNDER HERE.
Rolodecks :  EVER.
Rolodecks :  Death trap.
Ms. Awesome :  i've noticed
Rolodecks :  This is literally a shit map for highlander..
Ms. Awesome :  death valley
Rolodecks :  For two reasons...
Rolodecks :  1. snipers have too much line of sight on this last cap point.
Rolodecks :  2. sentries also have too much line of sight.
Rolodecks :  3. It's hard to push becasue their pyro's gonna push ya back.
Ms. Awesome :  yeah
Ms. Awesome :  we have been working on that
Rolodecks :  4. Don't really use kritz.
Rolodecks :  I mean...
Rolodecks :  No matter where their gun is, if the engi's alive...
Rolodecks :  And whackin' his buildings...
Rolodecks :  You're not gonna out-damage him.
Rolodecks :  His repairs, anyway, unless you all team up on him.
Rolodecks :  Which is only gonna get you killed.
Rolodecks :  Use your ubers for dealing with the sentries.
Rolodecks :  Have your team mates push up behind ya and clean house.
Rolodecks :  Don't focus fire on sentries, ever.
Ms. Awesome :  plus, that peskey wrangler
Rolodecks :  That's what they want you to do.
Rolodecks :  EXACTLY.
Rolodecks :  Kill the engi when you uber sentries.
Rolodecks :  Espeically if they're wrangled, they're always close by.
Ms. Awesome :  good point
Rolodecks :  Shuts down the gun, take it out.
Rolodecks :  Get close.
Ms. Awesome :  good point
Rolodecks :  Always do the demo in this case.
Rolodecks :  Soldier if you have no one eles
Ms. Awesome :  sniper needs to know his que to get the engi
Rolodecks :  Heavy's not good unless you jump from above.
Rolodecks :  Sniper should focus on the enemy sniper above all else.
Ms. Awesome :  ah
Ms. Awesome :  true
Rolodecks :  If he can take out the engi, then the engi ain't doin' a good enough job of hiding. :p
Rolodecks :  Like I said earlier, sniper's your number one thread.
Ms. Awesome :  very true
Rolodecks :  Threat.
Rolodecks :  Meaning...
Rolodecks :  He, along with a lesser extent, the spy, can take you out without you even seeing him.
Rolodecks :  Or doing anything about it.
Rolodecks :  I always play cautious until I know their sniper's down.
Rolodecks :  Or when I know I have some cover to walk around in.
Rolodecks :  But this map doesn't have that saving grace.
Rolodecks :  Because like I said, wide open areas at both cap points.
Rolodecks :  As you know by now.
Ms. Awesome :  oh yes
Rolodecks :  Not much you can do about that, hope they miss.
Rolodecks :  ALWAYS pop if necessary.
Rolodecks :  Just intuition, sometimes I've hit it and felt the little "ping" as they've pulled the trigger for a headshot a hair too late
Rolodecks :  It works.
Ms. Awesome :  so earlier, i was fussed at by some of my team members for poppoing too early
Rolodecks :  Wait...
Ms. Awesome :  *popping
Rolodecks :  What caused you to pop uber?
Rolodecks :  And by what class?
Ms. Awesome :  i just felt that it was unsafe for me to jump out there with just one person
Ms. Awesome :  i knew the entire team was out there
Rolodecks :  Don't push like that.
Ms. Awesome :  i know
Rolodecks :  Stay with at least TWO other people at all times. Sorry, continue.
Ms. Awesome :  people were off classing
Ms. Awesome :  in a lobby
Ms. Awesome :  so yeah, i was quick to hit that uber
Rolodecks :  What caused you to pop?
Rolodecks :  And which class made you do it?
Ms. Awesome :  heavy
Ms. Awesome :  demo
Ms. Awesome :  but yes, i realise i popped to early
Rolodecks :  Don't ever let their demo start bombin' stuff your way.
Rolodecks :  You're fucked 99% of the time.
Rolodecks :  Blast radius.
Ms. Awesome :  but the team work was not there  (in the earlier match)
Rolodecks :  Understandable.
Rolodecks :  What health were you at when you normally popped?
Ms. Awesome :  full
Ms. Awesome :  oh normal
Rolodecks :  ???
Ms. Awesome :  umm
Ms. Awesome :  generally under 50
Rolodecks :  Alright, general rule of thumb...
Ms. Awesome :  when i decide to pop and there are many players surrounding me
Rolodecks :  105 or under, and feeling doubt, pop it.
Rolodecks :  Over 105, keep it.
Rolodecks :  Until you take another hit.
Rolodecks :  Because that's the general damage cap for rockets and demo nades.
Rolodecks :  So unless you get headshot or backstabbed...
Rolodecks :  That 105 health gives you some time to react.
Rolodecks :  If you pay attention.
Rolodecks :  Because..
Rolodecks :  You'll never see that dive-bombing soldier behind you...
Rolodecks :  Who fires a rocket at your ass and drops your uber...
Rolodecks :  If you're at 50 or so health and just hanging on to it.
Rolodecks :  Don't be that person.
Ms. Awesome :  soldiers do not really bug me too much
Rolodecks :  105 is the magic number here.
Rolodecks :  Yeah but some will.
Rolodecks :  The good ones are gods at killin' medics.
Rolodecks :  I've had it happen to me, heh.
Rolodecks :  105, 105...
Rolodecks :  Magic number.
Rolodecks :  When in doubt, pop.
Rolodecks :  Because a shit uber is still better than none at all.
Ms. Awesome :  so yeah
Rolodecks :  I don't recomment kritz on this map at all.
Rolodecks :  I mean if you absolutely HAVE to use it...
Rolodecks :  Use it on defene.
Ms. Awesome :  tomorrow, i think i need to play it safe
Rolodecks :  Defense.
Rolodecks :  But even then...
Rolodecks :  Abuse the chokepoints, like where you're standing.
Rolodecks :  A single crit rocket, fired about here...
Rolodecks :  Or here...
Rolodecks :  Splash is lethal.
Rolodecks :  Other than that, if they're medic's smart he's not gonna be on that cart when it's going around that bend.
Rolodecks :  Snipers watch that.
Ms. Awesome :  note, i generally crit the demo because of his tremendous experience
Rolodecks :  Kritz medics love that spot.
Rolodecks :  they're gonna be up here...
Rolodecks :  Ubering outside of this.
Rolodecks :  Out the window, hit the underpasss.
Rolodecks :  The only good time to be here.
Rolodecks :  With a demo, hole up here.
Rolodecks :  Don't uber unless you have to, on offense.
Rolodecks :  Cut up here...
Rolodecks :  Uber here if you want.
Ms. Awesome :  yeah i've been sniped by snipers up in the left window
Rolodecks :  There?
Ms. Awesome :  yes
(Voice) Ms. Awesome: MEDIC!
Rolodecks :  Have your spy get up there.
Ms. Awesome :  good idea
Rolodecks :  Spy/scout are the best at calling shit out.
Rolodecks :  Sniper to an extent too.
Rolodecks :  But he's got tunnel vision.
Rolodecks :  once you know...
Rolodecks :  Their sniper/sentry spot...
Rolodecks :  If you have an uber you can most likely win with a little teamwork.
Rolodecks :  If you uber that way with the demo, here...
Rolodecks :  Good idea to have..
Rolodecks :  Another class come through here...
Ms. Awesome :  so, when holding good choke points use crits on this map
Ms. Awesome :  otherwise, uber is better
Rolodecks :  Well kritz is risky because...
Ms. Awesome :  continue
Rolodecks :  It's only really good when the cart's right here.
Rolodecks :  This map is far too wide open.
Rolodecks :  For kritz to do much damage.
Rolodecks :  At the key areas.
Ms. Awesome :  right, but warpy can really spread out damage
Rolodecks :  I know, but if they're really bunched up they're a stupid team. :p
Ms. Awesome :  unlike a solly
Rolodecks :  I mean there's gonna be guys around the med...
Rolodecks :  But other than that it's in vain.
Rolodecks :  Do what you want
Ms. Awesome :  ok
Rolodecks :  But a demo like warpy is just as good with an uber.
Ms. Awesome :  i'll have to remind him of this... :P
Rolodecks :  But then again I focus heavily on sentry gun destruction.
Rolodecks :  Mostly, on blue.
Rolodecks :  On maps like this.
Rolodecks :  Because there's nothing you can really do about a sentry here.
Rolodecks :  Even a soldier here...
Rolodecks :  Can't outdamage the repairs.
Rolodecks :  Yeah they like to put nests up here.
Rolodecks :  It's easy to take out there though.
Rolodecks :  Very easy.
Rolodecks :  You can edge the stairs.
Rolodecks :  Well...
Rolodecks :  Like I said, have your heavy stick with you.
Rolodecks :  Always.
Rolodecks :  Well, don't let him slow you down if you know what I mean.
Rolodecks :  He's a horrible uber target most of the time...
Ms. Awesome :  yeah
Rolodecks :  But probably the best bodyguard.
Ms. Awesome :  good point
Rolodecks :  Demos are the shit with ubers.
Rolodecks :  But are shit at defending you.
Rolodecks :  Unless they can aim their nades.
Rolodecks :  Because stickies don't fire fast enough.
Rolodecks :  Also self damage.
Rolodecks :  Soldier's middle ground but I liked to have ours on our last team go for flanks/dive bombs/sneaks/medic picks.
Rolodecks :  Kind of a spy lite version.
Rolodecks :  But that's up to you, I'm sure my team is a lot different from yours.
Ms. Awesome :  ours is special
Rolodecks :  If you're gonna use kritz then use it at the choke points.
Ms. Awesome :  lol
Rolodecks :  But don't use it all the time.
Ms. Awesome :  but yeah
Rolodecks :  Switch if you have to.
Ms. Awesome :   oh and what about that vita saw
Rolodecks :  But uber is extremely effective, if not necessary, on both sides of this map.
Rolodecks :  I never was a fan.
Rolodecks :  Like I said, if you do the math..
Rolodecks :  40-80 sec. range on the uber.
Rolodecks :  35-70 on the kritz.'
Rolodecks :  It's not saving you much.
Ms. Awesome :  true
Rolodecks :  Ubersaw does more for you in ONE SWING.
Rolodecks :  And you'll still have your ten extra health.
Rolodecks :  Which comes in handy.
Rolodecks :  I've wrote the damn thing off, honestly.
Rolodecks :  The buff it got...
Rolodecks :  About seeing enemies' health...
Rolodecks :  Is that in the beta only?
Rolodecks :  Still?
Ms. Awesome :  yeah
Rolodecks :  Well either way...
Rolodecks :  It's pretty much useless.
Rolodecks :  Because with damage indicators on...
Rolodecks :  You see the damage your pocket does.
Ms. Awesome :  i actually haven't see anything about seeing the enemy's health
Rolodecks :  You can just add it up.
Ms. Awesome :  *seen
Rolodecks :  And kinda tell if they're in the red.
Ms. Awesome :  k
Rolodecks :  I honestly don't use it, ever.
Rolodecks :  I know some top medics that do but I call 'em craz.
Ms. Awesome :  i get it.. i get it...
Rolodecks :  Ubersaw's just too good.
Ms. Awesome :  yep
Rolodecks :  Use the amputator as an alternative, but I never was a fan of standing in one spot.
Ms. Awesome :  same here
Ms. Awesome :  i never use it
Rolodecks :  it's all about uber advantage.
Rolodecks :  And using them wisely.
Rolodecks :  Do you...
Rolodecks :  Aside from that...
Rolodecks :  It's all team specific, really..
Rolodecks :  Unorthodox strategies work.
Rolodecks :  If you practice.
Rolodecks :  I have a vid I wanna show you.
Rolodecks :  Later.
Rolodecks :  About a minute long.
Rolodecks :  Oh.
Rolodecks :  Well I hope this helped.
Rolodecks :  What uh...
Rolodecks :  What's the map after this?
Rolodecks :  D:
Rolodecks :  You disappoint me.
Rolodecks :  Anyway...
Rolodecks :  I hope this helped, it's hard for me without a mic...
Rolodecks :  But that's just general overview
Rolodecks :  Uh...
Rolodecks :  Stick with 2 people.
Rolodecks :  Heavy and whoever else at the time.
Rolodecks :  Mainly.
Rolodecks :  105 is the magic number.
Rolodecks :  Uber rates.
Rolodecks :  Overheal's important.
Rolodecks :  Just prioritize.
Rolodecks :  If you have 5 guys shouting for heals.
Rolodecks :  Tell them to calm the fuck down.
Rolodecks :  And wait their god damn turn. :p
Rolodecks :  Because you can't fight physics.
Rolodecks :  I hope this helped, I feel like I'm just telling you shit you already know.
Rolodecks :  Just trust your team mates
Rolodecks :  Use them as meat shields.
Rolodecks :  Crouch.
Rolodecks :  Zig zag.
Rolodecks :  Always watch your back.
Rolodecks :  I turn a 180 at least every 5 seconds in-game.
Rolodecks :  It's very rare for a spy to kill me.
Rolodecks :  Anyway...
Rolodecks :  Copy the chat log if you want.
Ms. Awesome :  thank you
Rolodecks :  But just keep those points in mind.
Rolodecks :  I'm sure you'll do fine, talk to the team about what we discussed.
Ms. Awesome :  i think you covered everything i needed to understand
Rolodecks :  I'm sure you'll pull something out of this.
Ms. Awesome :  oh i will
Rolodecks :  :D
Ms. Awesome :  :)
Ms. Awesome :  again, thank you
Rolodecks :  Glad to be of service.
Rolodecks :  I mean, strategy gets a lot deepr.
Rolodecks :  Like I'm not sure if you know how to cheat the healbeam. :p
Ms. Awesome :  i am willing to learn
Rolodecks :  But that's for another time.
Rolodecks :  Deep shit
Rolodecks :  Oh.
Ms. Awesome :  umm.. i wouldn't mind hearing about that
Rolodecks :  Please, don't use the crossbow.
Rolodecks :  At least in highlander
Rolodecks :  Piece of shit weapon.
Ms. Awesome :  lol
Ms. Awesome :  i hate that weapon
Rolodecks :  It's really up to you if you use blut/syringe gun.'
Ms. Awesome :  i never use it
Rolodecks :  Both are pretty much equal in my eyes
Rolodecks :  I like blut alot in highlander though.
Rolodecks :  To be honest.
Rolodecks :  The extra heal rate...
Rolodecks :  Is good when there's alot of bleed/afterburn...
Rolodecks :  But...
Rolodecks :  You've got healthpacks.
Rolodecks :  And a heavy with hopefully a sandvich.
Rolodecks :  Which is very necessary.
Rolodecks :  No shotguns allowed!
Rolodecks :  Uh...
Rolodecks :  Anything else you need?
Ms. Awesome :  nope
Ms. Awesome :  i think that's it
Rolodecks :  OH
Rolodecks :  Bind a key to your "Ubercharge ready!" command.
Rolodecks :  I have mine bound to "r".
Rolodecks :  Fake 'em out.
Rolodecks :  Don't overdo it though.
Ms. Awesome :  except for good places to keep hidden on this map
Rolodecks :  OH'
Rolodecks :  They're kinda obvious.
Rolodecks :  Anywhere their sniper can't get y a.
Rolodecks :  You talkin' red or blue?
Rolodecks :  I like the rocks here.
Rolodecks :  The phallic, penis shaped rocks are your friend.
Rolodecks :  As you see here.
Rolodecks :  Reason being...
Rolodecks :  Here...
Rolodecks :  They can drop down, true.
Rolodecks :  But you'll always see it.
Rolodecks :  You've got...
Rolodecks :  A nice pocket here.
Rolodecks :  Here too.
Rolodecks :  use the cliffs.
Rolodecks :  NEVER stay in the house.
Rolodecks :  Too cramped.
Rolodecks :  Splash/sniper kills ya.
Rolodecks :  It's hard, so just try to keep a minimal line of sight.
Rolodecks :  If their sniper's down and I'm feeling aggressive...
Rolodecks :  Then I'll usually hook up here.
Rolodecks :  And uber
Rolodecks :  To buy some time.
Rolodecks :  Only do that if you know you can get their med.
Rolodecks :  Otherwise you lose uber advantage.
Rolodecks :  Just know the status of their medic/sniper at all times.
Rolodecks :  And kinda have a rough idea of his ubercharge percent.
Rolodecks :  And just beat him to the punch.
Rolodecks :  Don't overextend thoug.
Rolodecks :  You're on defense, kinda let them come to you;
Rolodecks :  I mean, once they hit a certain part of the map lock it down with your sentry and other sorts...
Rolodecks :  But there's no need to play offense on defense.
Rolodecks :  If ya catch my drift
Ms. Awesome :  yep
Rolodecks :  It does your team no good if you, the medic, are behind the enemy team if you're red
Rolodecks :  If you're blue it's a different story, like I showed you.
Rolodecks :  But defensive flanks are no where near as effective.
Rolodecks :  Mainly because blue has the upper hand on spawn times.
Rolodecks :  And they spawn so much closer to the action.
Rolodecks :  So it's kind of a waste.
Rolodecks :  It all boils down to team chemistry.
Rolodecks :  And communication.
Rolodecks :  Come up with shit on the fly, try it out..
Rolodecks :  If it don't work then find something else.
Rolodecks :  Other than that that's about it.
Rolodecks :  Cover is your friend.
Rolodecks :  Rocks are good on defense.
Rolodecks :  But try and keep the high ground.
Rolodecks :  It's easier to kill guys who are below you
Rolodecks :  Especially with your projectiles like nades/rockets/etc.
Rolodecks :  So try and have your soldier keep the high ground.
Ms. Awesome :  alright
Ms. Awesome :  well, its been nice chatting with you
Ms. Awesome :  i think these tips are going to help tomorrow
Rolodecks :  WHOA
Ms. Awesome :  ?
Rolodecks :  Shit TF2 freezin' on my ass.
Rolodecks :  Well I hope this helps you guys.
Ms. Awesome :  i hope it does too
Rolodecks :  I gotta get some rest, big day tomorrow!
Rolodecks :  D:
Rolodecks :  Talk it over, do you need a copy of the chat log?
Ms. Awesome :  whats going on tomorrow for you?
Ms. Awesome :  oh sure
Rolodecks :  Nothing except sitting on my ass
Ms. Awesome :  lol
Rolodecks :  Wishing I could walk up and down these things we call "stairs".
Rolodecks :  :p
Ms. Awesome :  would you like to specate our match tomorrow?
Rolodecks :  Depends on the time.
Ms. Awesome :  9pm cst
Rolodecks :  Central time?
Ms. Awesome :  yes
Rolodecks :  So 8pm my time...
Rolodecks :  Gotcha.
Rolodecks :  Oh, one more thing...
Rolodecks :  Watch this.
Rolodecks :  Back up a bit.
Rolodecks :  Little more.
Rolodecks :  Alright come forward a bit.
Rolodecks :  Just until my beam breaks.
Rolodecks :  Alright.
Rolodecks :  Stay there.
Ms. Awesome :  ok
Rolodecks :  Notice I can't lock on to you anymore.
Rolodecks :  With my medigun.
Rolodecks :  Even though I was just healing you at that range.
Rolodecks :  That's cheating the beam.
Rolodecks :  You're always gonna have a longer range when you keep your beam on them...
Rolodecks :  Then after it breaks.
Rolodecks :  This is why rocket jumping soldiers are so good when you keep your beam on them.
Ms. Awesome :  nice
Rolodecks :  It's not a very big distance, no...
Rolodecks :  But most guys don't know about this.
Rolodecks :  Abuse it with kritz.
Rolodecks :  It makes a difference, trust me.
Ms. Awesome :  so what do you do after it breaks?
Rolodecks :  You gotta get closer to them, of course.
Ms. Awesome :  lol
Ms. Awesome :  yes
Rolodecks :  See?
Rolodecks :  But, yeah, just a neat little trick.
Ms. Awesome :  oh do you use any special config files?
Rolodecks :  That you can add to your gameplay.
Rolodecks :  Haha, my config is all my own tweaking.
Rolodecks :  I don't have access to my cfg files though.
Rolodecks :  They're on my computer, this is my brother's...
(Voice) Rolodecks: Thanks!
Rolodecks :  I use a custom hud.
Ms. Awesome :  oh right
Rolodecks :  The Community Hud, with some medic tweaks...
Rolodecks :  And...
Rolodecks :  A custom autoexec file too.
Rolodecks :  Among numerous other things.
Ms. Awesome :  i have one to help ping
Rolodecks :  Hmm...
Ms. Awesome :  in autoexec
Rolodecks :  What's the file look like?
Rolodecks :  Is it a buncha cl_ stuff?
Rolodecks :  interp and such?
Ms. Awesome :  cl_cmdrate "67"cl_interp "0.016" // Change to 0.024 for hitscancl_interp_ratio "1"cl_lagcompensation "1"cl_pred_optimize
Rolodecks :  Hmm...
Rolodecks :  Well the cmdrate's fine...
Ms. Awesome :  warpy gave me the commands
Rolodecks :  But everything else you'll have to change depending on your raw ping to the server itself.
Rolodecks :  Because...
Rolodecks :  It's all ping specific in the end.
Rolodecks :  cl_forcepreload 1 should be in there.
Rolodecks :  Somewhere.
Ms. Awesome :  no, actually it is not
Rolodecks :  cl_updaterate 66
Ms. Awesome :  that must be in the config file
Rolodecks :  It's probably not.
Ms. Awesome :  this is autoconfig
Rolodecks :  All your autoexec file does is just input those commands in the console when your game boots up...
Ms. Awesome :  right
Rolodecks :  It's not in your settings nor the steam cloud....
Rolodecks :  Needleguns fire ten syringes a second.
Rolodecks :  Uh...
Rolodecks :  Never get in the habit of huffing your kritz for health.
Rolodecks :  Unless you're gonna die from afterburn/bleed.
Ms. Awesome :  oh and how do you bind your mele wepon to mouse 3 again?
Rolodecks :  Uh...
Rolodecks :  I don't know I just use my mousewheel...
Rolodecks :  I do have my viewmodels turned off though.
Rolodecks :  So I don't see them, I go by sound/indicators.
Ms. Awesome :  oh
Ms. Awesome :  i cannot do that
Rolodecks :  I don't know the specific command for scripting like that...
Ms. Awesome :  i need to see things
Rolodecks :  I use a custom crosshair too.
Rolodecks :  So it never changes either.
Ms. Awesome :  same here
Rolodecks :  Like how different weapons have crosshairs different.
Rolodecks :  So it's really key for me to hear stuff and stay on it.
Rolodecks :  But in the long run I've found it's worth it.
Rolodecks :  But different strokes for different folks.
(Voice) Rolodecks: Help!
Rolodecks :  So...
Rolodecks :  I'm sure En Ex could help you on that one.
Ms. Awesome :  oh yeah
Rolodecks :  Because I'm about as useful as tits on a boar hog.
Ms. Awesome :  haha
Rolodecks :  With this stuff, honestly.
Ms. Awesome :  why?
Rolodecks :  Because I've never bothered with scripting.
Rolodecks :  Or keybinds or shit like htat.
Rolodecks :  Except for my fake uber call.
Ms. Awesome :  yep
Rolodecks :  I suggest you do the same.
Ms. Awesome :  so when do you use that call?
Rolodecks :  I mean it's on your voice menu...
Rolodecks :  x + 8.
Rolodecks :  Uh...
Rolodecks :  Just whenever.
Rolodecks :  Like I really only use it when...
Rolodecks :  I can get them to bluff theirs.
Rolodecks :  But even then..
Rolodecks :  You'll wanna bind a second key to...
Rolodecks :  Your...
Rolodecks :  Third voice menu...
Rolodecks :  The C one.
Rolodecks :  C + 6.
Rolodecks :  And use it for when you DO get an uber you won't shout out like this..
Rolodecks :  Because that's loud.
Rolodecks :  And gives you away.
Rolodecks :  c + 6 is the most quiet voice commands for medic.
Rolodecks :  So that's what I hit as soon as I get 100%, so it overwrites the "I am fully charged!" voice command.
Rolodecks :  So it's more quiet.
Rolodecks :  More sneaky.
Rolodecks :  So fake it once with your fake call.
Rolodecks :  But when you actually hit uber hit that other key.
Rolodecks :  So they can't hear it as well.
Rolodecks :  And they'll never know when you actually have a charge or not.
Ms. Awesome :  oh nice
Ms. Awesome :  lol
Rolodecks :  So, yeah...
Rolodecks :  Hope that helps.
Ms. Awesome :  so instead of uber charge ready... you hit c+6
Rolodecks :  The less knowledge you give them, the better.
Rolodecks :  Yes, because you'll always call out when you hit 100% y'know?
Rolodecks :  So you just hit that key instead.
Rolodecks :  Of just doing nothing.
Ms. Awesome :  ok
Rolodecks :  So you'll stop that original line from triggering.
Ms. Awesome :  sweet
Rolodecks :  And instead it'll sound like this...
Rolodecks :  A little less obvious.
Ms. Awesome :  yeah i wouldn't know what that meant
Rolodecks :  You don't understand?
Ms. Awesome :  plus, i communicate when i have the uber/crits
Ms. Awesome :  so everyone would know
Rolodecks :  I'm talking about the other team, they'll hear you.
Rolodecks :  They hear that voice line.
Ms. Awesome :  true
Rolodecks :  Instant give away.
Rolodecks :  here's a demonstration, watch my ubercharge.
Rolodecks :  percent.
Ms. Awesome :  lol
Rolodecks :  Now if you didn't know...
Rolodecks :  You'd never know I had an uber.
Rolodecks :  Unless you looked at my gun.
Rolodecks :  Because the barrel glows...
Rolodecks :  When you have a charge, it's easy to tell.
Ms. Awesome :  how did you change that? just a bind?
Rolodecks :  Just the same thing you do for the fake call out.
Rolodecks :  Aww you missed it. :D
Rolodecks :  Now I know you're charged.
Ms. Awesome :  haha
Ms. Awesome :  well, i can't change it now
Rolodecks :  Just ask en ex about binding voice commands.
Rolodecks :  Or somebody, not much help here...
Rolodecks :  Sorry!
(Voice) Ms. Awesome: Yes
Rolodecks :  But those two are key.
Ms. Awesome :  i can figure it out
Rolodecks :  Everything else, fuck it.
Ms. Awesome :  haha
Ms. Awesome :  that's my #1 strat
Rolodecks :  You'll do well.
Rolodecks :  Pretty sure I'll be able to spectate.
Rolodecks :  If I do I'll watch you.
Ms. Awesome :  cool
Rolodecks :  I won't ghost or nothin'.
Rolodecks :  But there's gonna be a delay on the source tv anyway.
Rolodecks :  if they're smart.
Ms. Awesome :  source tv
Ms. Awesome :  yeah
Ms. Awesome :  send me a message if i don't send you one
Rolodecks :  Pretty sure I'll remember.
Rolodecks :  It's on a sticky note on my monitor onw.
Ms. Awesome :  wow
Ms. Awesome :  i feel special
Ms. Awesome :  haha
Rolodecks :  Well my brother's monitor.
Ms. Awesome :  anyways, thanks again
Ms. Awesome :  maybe someday i'll be giving the tips...
Ms. Awesome :  lol
(Voice) Rolodecks: MEDIC!
(Voice) Rolodecks: MEDIC!
Ms. Awesome :  uh how did you  do that?
Rolodecks :  Timing.
Ms. Awesome :  haha
Ms. Awesome :  well, i have no timing
Rolodecks :  You'll get it.
Rolodecks :  There's a reason it's banned...
Rolodecks :  Allows you to move while you're kill taunting.
Rolodecks :  YOU GOT IT
Rolodecks :  Can't do it on stairs.
Rolodecks :  Ledges/drops only.
Rolodecks :  Anyway...
Rolodecks :  Gonna hop on main for a bit.
Ms. Awesome :  kk
Rolodecks has found: The Sandman
Rolodecks has found: The Ullapool Caber
Ms. Awesome :  oh was there a link you wanted me to see?
(Voice) Rolodecks: Help!
Rolodecks :  Oh, right.
Rolodecks :  Watch this for inspiration really quick.

Team Fortress Competitive Medic Tips from Pure

Medic strategies from pure---- (http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1735510&page=7)

1) Pocketing:

A)Soldier only?
Pocketing a soldier A LOT is a thing of the past. You can view
Pandemic-Reptile demos and you will see the exact way to do that.

The new style and most effective style, is having a more aggressive
pocket. This means that he isn't always just jumping in, but he chooses
the right time to completely leave his medic, to use his ability and 300
health to cause havoc.

The best time for a pocket soldier to do this is when he knows his
roaming soldier just respawned and is 3-4 seconds away, and he decides
it is worth his life to go RocketJump in.

2) Kritz or uber?:

Kritz, good ole Kritzzzkreig.

At the high level the legitimacy of Kritzkreig tends to come and go.

People get better at defending against it and teams come up with more
creative ways to use kritz.

Rule: Never use kritz on defense, unless you're back is against the wall
and you think the faster build rate will help.

Try to use kritz when you are attacking a teams last. Aim to get 2-3
kills with the kritz. Does not always have to be the medic. Often
killing 3 people is better then dropping the med.

Gravelpit = Use the kritz a lot on demos. Aiming at spire, aiming at the
back of B house from long, etc

Push maps = Kritz to surprise at middle or pushing on teams lasts. Kritz
soldiers in tight areas.

In general though it is best to just use Uber and master an aggressive
uber, a defensive uber, a multi-uber, and FAT* ubers.

When I was on complexity and we were destroying everyone, we ran kritz
in scrims just to make the games interesting. I used a tactic called
grinding the kritz. whenever I got it, I would basicaly just hit it, so
no one knew when to attack us, they just kept randomly dieing to kritz.

*FAT uber means you are only keeping it one person and they get a very
nice and long UBER.

3) Healing orders

A) General tips--
The best way to get better at Medic is actively practice healing
orders.

What is it like to give the pocket soldier A LOT of heals....

What is it like to give the scouts A LOT of heals....

Depending on your team and your teams strengths you should heal
accordingly.

Identify on your team who is the best and explain to your team, " I am
going to be healing (this scout) and (this soldier) A LOT this game."

See how it works out, and then try the opposite the next game.

B) Mid-fight healing orders--

Quote: Pure, tell me how my team can win midfights on badlands because
we're VERY inconsistent! What can I do as a medic other than having the
best heal order I can on the rollout, and surviving to get outside and
heal the demo+everyone else?

Answer:
You need to watch your STV demo from a 3rd
person point of view. View the mid fight from a birds eye view:

See who is attacking together

Who is attacking alone

Who is running from the fight

Who is missing their shots

See if you are healing the right person

See if you just got out dm'd

See if you just got out strat'd

There is no one way to play badlands mid, and its constantly evolving.
Why don't you come up with a new strat and set the scene on its heels?


C) Healing Scouts--

Question:
How dependent should the roamer and scouts be on getting heals or buffs
from the medic? I feel like it kills momentum and leads to the pocket's
death sometimes, but I could be wrong.

Answer:
Yes it is up to the medic to deny the roamer/scouts, and it is up to the
medic to communicate that they are pushing. Often as roamer i just want
a quick tap, not a heal. Im 80, I want 130. I am 160, I want 200. I try
not to stop the momentum. "DONT HEAL ME" The medic needs to make the
decision on who to heal. Let people die if you want, its your show. Well
the pocket, uhm, generally you want the pocket alive all the time, but
that is a symbiotic relationship. The pocket must realize the situation
his team is in and make the best push or hold decision.

4) Medic self defense

Question:
Do you have any tips on self defense as Medic? I'm already pretty good
at stutterstepping thanks to playing Scout as well and faired decently
when being attacked by a Scout, but I got divebombed by the roaming
Soldier quite a few times. How do I escape those? And when on my own,
should I try to go for the saw hit or SPAM needles?

Answer:
Well generally you need to start identifying when a roaming soldier is
coming. Either very early in the fight, when your team takes a lot of
damage, or when you have yet to see him and are in a commited position.
Try to position yourself to surf the rocket. Practice the timing of
jumping and crouching. The big trick to rocket surfing... besides
watching a 10 minute tutorial on how to do it... thank you
blackymonster... is to take the rocket on your side, don't be afraid to
take the damage, the damage is propelling you. Defending yourself is
also highly dependent on the skill level of player you are dealing with.
Certain escapes against HIGH level players just do not work against low
level players.

I have played turbine with European teams, and complexity. We destroyed
EG and Nexus on Turbine. I am always very aggressive in the initial mid,
giving my life to get my players in the key positions to max buff. The
next trick is to sit on the upper left stairs, and use the high ground
to you advantage. If you honestly want to win, you just need to wait,
wait, wait, wait for them to push out and then you counter uber. Yes on
turbine one of the biggest skills is knowing when to go to your base or
to go to mid. When in doubt everyone meet in your base and "stop the
bleeding." Do not let 2 caps, turn into 5 caps.



5) When to leave your team

Quote: See, I play with guys that aren't exactly the brightest crayons
in the box, you know? And so they often run in and then I get killed
along with them. Should I run away when something like this happens to
save my uber? I feel a little guilty just abandoning them to their fate
like that.

Also, regarding loadouts, I heard you mention that you like using the
Syringe/Blut with the Ubercannon and Ubersaw. When do you use the
Kritzkrieg?

And finally, when a team mate goes down, or when they're at a point
where healing is no longer effective (they're missing a lot of shots and
aren't really able to kill the person that's fighting them, but the
person fighting them isn't aiming too well either), should I pull out my
gun and try to assist in killing instead of healing them and waiting for
them to kill them? And when should I use my ubersaw? Very good question
about when to leave your people.

Answer:
If your uber is above 70 you should almost always run. It is much better
to meet up with your team again and have uber immediately than to be
agggresive when you almost have uber.

Secondly, you need to learn the range of your pocket soldier's
intelligence. You said you have some dumbos on your team. Well, you
should message them in private before the game and say: Please make an
effort to realize when it is just me and you and we need to escape. I
need you.

He should listen, if he does not, I would get a new pocket.

Depending on the style and aggresion of your team you should create your
own little ruleset on when to leave your team to live another day.

I follow a pretty straight forward ruleset. I focus on the initial picks
of the push. Who goes down, who gets rolled, etc. If our team gets two
picks at the beginning of the push, we know we can push and do it up
big. If we LOSE two members prior to the push, we know immediately that
our flank is in trouble and eventually we will have people on us.
Backup? Sure, but why not take one person into the whole team and uber,
making them multi uber and freak out?

Pay attention to who dies at the start of the push. Do a +/- quickly in
your head. Keep your players health all above 100% percent as best you
can. But most importantly develop a relationship with your pocket. Or
break up :")

When to aid in your teammate?
You should aid him when the enemy he is attacking is totally oblivious
to you or is it out of ammo. When they are out of ammo, peoples heart
rates pick up, and their aim starts to suffer. So why not get a free
ubersaw. Do not be limited in your Medic play, test the craziness, test
the conservative style, and see what works best.


6) Dodging spam:

Medic Tip: On cp_badlands when you round the corner approaching your
enemy's spire, stay in that area and practice dodging spam.

Stay in harms way on purpose and see how long you can dodge spam and
maintain good heals.

In a match you are going to want to enter the choke, navigate around
spam, staying in relation to your pocket, and try to over heal the
classes that go up to spire. Scouts, demo, and roamer.

After you have reached a safe point, and you dont feel the need to rush
in with uber, walk up the spire as a medic. It is much safer and allows
you to bypass 3-4 chokes where you can spammed.

7) Spies:

Quote: Anyways I was wondering about when a spy is ever run in 6 v 6 (I
know he's not used a lot, but are there certain situations in which a
spy would be better than a scout?), or do people just do it for fun?

Ans:
The spy has made its return to the scene with gunboats soldier being so
viable. This means that since the game is becoming even more aggressive
and less calculating that its sometimes much easier for spies to
navigate. Traditionally you would just have two stagnant soldiers
standing around, and two scouts not +forwarding. It is the opposite now.
The only classes around the medic are demo/pocket, so it is much easier
for a Spy to use an aggressive distraction to back stab 1-2 of the combo
on a repeated basis.

8) Scouts:

Question:
I'm having A LOT of trouble dealing with a scout when my nearby
teammates have died. What's your advice? Just keep running hoping your
team's scouts or recently respawned demo/roamer saves you? Backpaddel
while 'supressing' him with needles? Or fight him head on as the
situation is pretty much lost anyway, hoping to take him down with you?

Answer:
When it comes to escaping from scouts you need realize if you can book
it and make it, you need to immediately start fighting, or you can run
and suppress.

I always immediately just turn and book it. If the scout is far enough
away he will never catch you if you book it.


9) Medic targeting

Quote: In real situations, the medic is usually a much harder target
than his patient, usually because you can't actually see the medic,
while the patient is shooting your face.

One of the more important skills to learn is target selection. Always
going after the highest value target is not always the best solution,
because if the medic is any good, he's going to position himself to make
that difficult and costly.

Winning a point without a medic because the other team sacrificed too
many players for the medic pick happens all the time.

---

For sensitivity, just pick one and stick with it. There is no magic
number that will improve your aim, but constantly fiddling with it or
setting it super high or low because "that's what the proz do" will
certainly mess it up.

Ans:
Nail on the head. Choosing a target is tough
stuff. I am a roaming soldier now, and one of the main practice is
gunboat suiciding and target selection. I will jump 50 times in a game
and constantly practice which targets I should aim at in different
situations.

Zargon is right again when it comes to not overemphasizing the medic.
The whole reason some medics are hyper aggressive is that they enjoy
other teams going after them. Id rather keep healing everyone on my team
in the middle of the fight, dodging for the life of me, and dieing....
than sitting in the back doing absolutely nothing.

When it comes to sensitivity I would recommend staying near one
sensitivity but there is no problem occasionally moving it up and down.
Do not constantly do it, but, for instance, if you think you are not
hitting your flick rockets well enough, you can up your sens and it
might be easier.

10) Medic Loadout

Medic loadout: Syringe Gun, UberCharge, Ubersaw

When I am feeling fancy I will use Blautsauger. Ubercharge is standard. Ubersaw saves matches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab0J0Uqhmcc

11) Medic Communication:

A) Question:
I find it hard to direct my team and give them orders (scouts stick
together, roamer move in now, demo sticky up left side etc) while also
coordinating my pocket etc (scout flanking! Inc soldier jumping! etc)
AND dodge like a maniac. Should I expect my teammates to do stuff like
sticking up certain places and sticking together? or not?

Answer:
Really good questions guys, I appreciate it. The more effort you put in,
the more effort I put in.

You should not have to direct your whole entire team. To a certain
extent you are observing your team, like a commander at the rear of the
army, and therefore you should make Macro calls.

By having to focus on so many different variables you will eventually
slip up yourself. I will give you a real example.

When I first joined compLexity, the team was a machine. Enigma/Carnage
unstoppable, SolidSnake amazing, and very good soldiers. It was easy for
me to come in and just give them the sick heals and they would do sick
things.

After two seasons, SolidSnake stopped caring as much, and our scout
combo was slowly being caught up to. It got to a point where I would
have to micro way too much. So much to the point that it stressed me out
and made me not enjoy the game.

There is a limitation to what you should be saying and what calls you
should be making. My best piece of advice is to start small. Meaning,
say the things that need to be said not EVERYTHING. Whenever I have a
medic who is literally saying everything, I say: Would you please stop
commentating the either game.

It is important to have clear sounds so you can stay focused.

Good things to say:

Heals are at "house/back left/right side/on hill" You are my pocket It
is just us, fall back Our flank just died Medic
tagged/?????/weak/stacked You are all weak, relax Healing scout then
roamer then pocket


x) General Defense (concerning entire team)

Quote: So a rather general question about pushing. How should a team
practice pushing onto a defense? If you look at Invite level TF2,
Intermediate TF2, low-level competition, and public play, you will find
many attack styles that generally all miss the mark.

It is important to think about your attack from the defender's point of
view. Like, what would you NOT want an offense to do to you?! In general
you must do that.

First lets identify what the defense has setup:

Medic with Uber

Soldier with 300 health

Sticky Trap

Sniper

Roaming Soldier covering flank

Engineer with Sentry

Now, what do you have on offense:

Medic with Uber

Soldier with 200-300 Health

Roamer ready to spam sentry or engage the demo

Scouts ready to spring free once the sentry is down

Demo able to take down a sentry and sticky the point

The table is set.

PRACTICE

You need to practice three types of things.

1) killing the medic or forcing the uber with an isolated attack

2) killing the demo or forcing him to blow his trap with an isolated
attack

3) taking down the sentry prior to going in by double spamming with
soldiers/demo

A few things that are important to know:

Your scouts are useless unless the sentry is down'

Your demo needs to sticky the point

Your roamer and/or scouts need to work the point by either suiciding on
it or jumping on and off. This will bring the enemy  tot he point and
your demo will kill 1-4

The quality of your push is dependent on how clean you get into the area
and when you uber your soldier and demo. You want to make sure they are
ubered when they are max health, so when they leave you post uber, they
have a high chance of being affective.

Get back to me once you've practiced this stuff.


x) Map Tips:

A) Yukon

B) Granary
Quote: Originally Posted by breloom Do you have any advice on how to get
out of open?

Also adrenalynn, I'm not pyyyour, but in my as a soldier on granary,
it's really best not to jump the crates to try to control them, but to
just jump on the other team's heads at the same time. When the scouts
get to mid they should call out the scouts of the other team and sort of
check them, which is the best way to keep your medic alive, because if
you dedicate a soldier to babysitting your medic, the other team's
soldier ends up on your medic's head and your medic is respawning.
Basically, don't try to ward off attackers or hold crates, instead bring
the fight to them.

Answer:
Breloom hit the nail on the head. Soldier jumps on
Mid granary continue to evolve on a daily basis. Meaning the weak are
getting eaten alive and the strong survive.

I am literally playing a Granary match tonight where I am the roaming
soldier. So I guess I will just tell you exactly what I do.

Depending on where my medic spawns, depending on how fast my demo is to
mid, and depending on if we get an initial kill or death, I will do an
assortment of aggresive jumps.

Like Breloom said, just jumping on your box, and spamming and sitting is
relatively worthless. I do actually jump up there a lot but I move
quickly to my next target.

Assuming we go left to mid, and I equalize, here are 4 things I do as
roamer:

1) RJ to mid left and go onto point and spam whats on point and then RJ
at demo/medic

2) RJ to back left and spam their garage and then RJ at
scouts/demo/medic

3) Double RJ off crate into medic and kill him

4) RJ on crate, identify where combo is, jump in combos direction.

That is literally what I am going to be doing tonight.

Mid granary is an elusive situation. You can be destroying middle for
weeks and then the whole game switches up and your style is left in the
dust.

Practice being hyper aggressive, and really passive, see which pays off.

The 4 things i mentioned are mainly used to take pressure off of me team
and to put a kill strike at the more important targets. And since I use
gunboats I can escape post-kills almost all the time.

C) Freight

Question:
Any tips on Turbine and Freight? On Turbine the huge amount of SPAM
pretty much forced me into using Kritz because I hardly got the time to
get a full Uber, and the opposing Medic fell into that same strategy
after us. Positioning between offense and defending the Flag was very
troubling as well. My issues with Freight mainly lie in pushing last,
where the (when looking from last) left entrance gets you SPAMmed, the
mid entrance gets you Sniped, and the right entrance gets you SPAMmed
AND Sniped.

Answer:
Freight? God I loathe middle. Even when you middle it does not even feel
like you won anything of consequence.

When attacking last on freight you need to show multiple fronts and
activiely change where you are healing from in order to keep the sticky
traps guessing and sniper not very comfy.

Identify where the sentry gun is, see if you can jump your demo roamer
in.

Make sure to put pressure on the sniper. You should be able to uber in
with your demo and take out the sentry gun and force the uber.

That should be your continuous attack, ubering in with demo to take down
gun and medic, and hoping you win the post-uber fight.


D) Granary

Do you have any tips for pushing last on Granary when both teams have
uber and the defending team has a heavy? Sorry I have been planning
Valentines Day and have been relatively busy with my team. I have
already explained how to attack a heavy. It is in one of the previous
comments. Additionally though, the heavy requires a lot of resource, so
if you focus the other targets, the medic sometimes makes a mental error
and just lets everyone his team die by sticking on his heavy. But
please, read the first comment.

Learning Linux and programming C

After installing the virtualbox ubuntu machine on my Window 7 machine, I had some problems getting used to doing some basic commands (since I have been a Windows user my entire life). I have compiled a list of common commands I use.

Ps. I highly recommended adding the guest addons to increase the screen resolution for the Linux virtualbox. It looks lovely.  To do this follow these steps...

How to Install Guest Additions on Ubuntu 10.10?

Additional packages and updates released by ubuntu people to test with VB. You can download them and install by following method to get high screen resolutions. This worked in one host and not in other for me. So, I’m not 100% sure this will work for all. Please share your results on comments area.

Make sure virtual machine is having internet with download access. Open terminal ( Application –> Accessories –> Terminal)

Type

sudo apt-get update

and provide the root password, above command will check and download the updates available on internet server.

Type,

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Now, type,

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose-guest-x11

Restart and check the screen size, seamless and full screen mode on ubuntu 10.10, all should work.

Let me know how it worked for you.

Your screen will come out to a pretty resolution like follows.

----

My current list of common linux commands

cd: changes directory. Example) cd desktop

ls: shows contents of current folder

gvim: opens up graphical vim editor

chmod 777 <name of program to change permissions>: to change permissions when it states "./<nameofprogram> permission denied"

gcc -ansi assembler.c -o <programoutput>: to compile a file with gcc ansi-c compiler produces an executable file a.out (default) or <programoutput>

a.out <inputfile> <outputfilename>: If your program does not have any errors, you will notice that the above command produces an executable file
named a.out. This is the standard name for the executable created by gcc unless you provide your own preferred name.

./a.out <inputfile> <outputfilename>: If the above doesn't run your program try running it by typing this.

gcc -ansi -o assemble assembler.c: If you would like to call your executable with a different name, you need to use the -o option of gcc.
For example, if you want your executable named assemble, you need to compile the source code for your assembler (assembler.c) with the following command.

gcc -lm -ansi -o assemble assembler.c: If you decide to use any of the math functions in math.h, you also have to link the math library by using the command.

./assemble <inputfile> <outputfilename>: To run your assembler now, just use the following command.

man gcc: If you would like to learn more about gcc, try the following on the UNIX command prompt.

Video Laser Art

Something I wouldn't mind tinkering on in the future (http://www.muonics.net/blog/index.php?postid=15). My friend Cassy is working on a similar project like this. This looks pretty fun...

GRL Laser Tag Rotterdam - how to and source code

February 20, 2007

UPDATE: !!!!! LASER TAG 2002 IS RELEASED - Feb 2008 !!!!!

The main event of the GRL Rotterdam tour - 'L.A.S.E.R TAG' - 60mw geek graffiti madness. 
Watch the video here on the Graffiti Research Lab website.

In the spirt of GRL's and Eyebeam's open source beliefs, we are posting the code and executable 
for the Laser Tag application online for you to download, dissect, reuse and hopefully improve. The code is 
C++ and compiled in a super old school Codewarrior IDE for windows but it is oepnGL based and written 
using openFrameworks which is a cross platform library for writing creative code. So it should be very 
straight forward to run in Visual Studio, DevC++ or even xcode on a mac.

In its simplest form the Laser Tag system is a camera and laptop setup, tracking a green laser point across 
the face of a building and generating graphics based on the laser's position which then get projected back 
onto the building with a high power projector.

There are a bunch of things you need to do to get Laser Tag up and running yourself, so here follows the required 
equipment and setup instructions. This will assume that you using windows but it will also apply for other OSs too.


EQUIPMENT

We used:

1 PC Laptop - ASUS A8JS - Core 2 Duo 1.83 Ghz 1GB Ram Nvideo Geforce Go 7300 256MB - VGA and DVI out.
1 Pansonic PTD5600U 5000 ANSI Lumens 1024x768 DLP Projector.
1 Watec 221S Security/Astrononmy Camera with manual iris zoom lens.
1 Bogen magic arm and super clamp.
1 Pinnacle PCTV USB capture card.
1 60mW Green Laser (super illegal in a lot of places and very dangerous)
and loads and loads of AAA batteries.




SETUP

Location:

Choose a building or wall that the laser shows up well on. If using a building make sure the lights aren't on 
as this will make the tracking of the laser beam harder (also it is not a good idea to point powerful lasers 
at a building with people in it) . 

Pick a spot far enough back that the projector can overshoot the building by a couple of feet on all sides. 




Alignment and calibration:

If the building is vertically orientated and the projector can handle it, put the projector on its side so you are 
using the full image of the projection. 

Fix the projector in place and then fix the camera underneath the lens of the projector so that it is looking at the
projection area. Allow the camera to see a little more than the projection area so that you can designate an area 
as a clear button.

Make sure all the settings on the camera are set to manual - no auto exposure or gain control etc. Adjust the color 
balance of the camera so that it looks as natural as possible - make sure any lights in the shot don't look green as this
will confuse the tracking sytem. 

Software setup:

Set your resolution of your screen to 1024 by 768.

Connect the projector to the PC and in your display control panel set the display mode to horizontal span. 
This should span the Desktop across the laptop screen and the projector so that you have one large screen 
of 2048 by 768 resolution. If you have access to openGL and 3D preferences in the control panel, set all settings
to performance. 

Connect the camera to the usb capture card and the capture card to the PC. You can use Amcap
to make sure you can capture video okay.

Start the app and you should see something like the image bellow. 
Follow the instructions in the diagram to align the camera to the projection surface.



Once the camera is aligned to the projector hide the white alignment lines on the projected image by pressing L.
Turn down the iris of the camera to the point where the surface is as dark as possible but the laser still shows up strong.

Settings:

The settings for the app are saved in an xml file so once you have made your adjustments hit the S key to save your changes.
The up and down arrows on your keyboard will run through the list of settings and the left and right arrows can adjust the values.

The first settings you will want to adjust is the four at the bottom - which define the color tracking of the laser.

Hue Point - should be the value of green that the camera sees the laser as.
Hue Thresh - is how wide a range from the hue point it should consider.
Sat Thresh - is the minimum amount of saturation.
Value Thresh - is the minimum brightness.

Anything that is outside the range of these settings will show up as black in the Thresh Video anything that is whithin
(hopefully only the laser point) should show up white.

Here is an explanation of the rest of the settings:

Slide - slides the screen over so you can see what is being projected
Verticle mode - if the projector is being used on its side.
Use blobs - should stay on, blob tracking ended up being more reliable than motion difference.
Motion diff - don't touch
Use camera - toggle between using the live camera and an included test video.
Drips mode - when on, small drips of paint will descend from the letter forms.
Fade out - slowely fades the image over time - alternative to clear button.
Slant brush - toggles chisel brush and fatcap mode
Clear zone - Use an area of the image as a clear zone, if the laser is detected there it clears the image.

Brush width - Size of brush
Drips freq - How many drips you want - lower is more
Activity thresh - This determines the time before starting a new line, the background screen should flash red whenever a new line begins.
Min blob size - the smaller this value the more sensitive to noise it will be but also the smoother the line motion.
Jump dist - the max distance to draw a line between two captured points, any distance greater means it starts a new line.
Line resolution - how many points to interpolated a line with, higher number means smoother line but uses more cpu.
Clear X - adjust x position of clear area. 
Clear Y - same for y
Clear thresh - lower means a more sensitive clear area , higher less sensitive - adjust so that only laser point clears image.


NOTES

Once everything is setup be very careful not to bump either projector or camera as even a move of a 1mm will be
enough to mess the alignment.

The settings are saved in settings.xml file - if you want to back up your settings for a location just zip the file and rename it.

If you are pushed for framerate - try overclocking your graphics with hacked drivers from laptopvideo2go,
you will notice quite a difference!

Press h to hide all gui except the projected image, this can also give you a bump in the framerate too.


DOWNLOAD
UPDATE: !!!!! LASER TAG 2002 IS RELEASED - Feb 2008 - Download Here !!!!!