Split-Screen :: The Game-Geek’s Daily Read

by Sumedh Balan

Welcome to Level 2 of Loading. This week we are going to break down every aspect of the word Clan from what it means to how you can form your own. The highest level of CS through which you get maximum thrill and get your adrenaline pumping is clanning. A clan is a team of at least 5 individuals that play together. Clanning is basically playing against another team of 5. It’s not like a pub match where it’s free for all (FFA). Here you work as a team to achieve one of two goals. Either you diffuse the planted C4 or you plant the C4 or eliminate your opposition of 5.

Now in order two form a clan you will have to find 4 other willing players of equal skill level. It rarely ever works out when you have one seasoned veteran and a bunch of noobs together. The noobs always get scolded by the experienced player and they never seem to improve. Rather they play in a constamt state of intimidation, I saw this team once where the experienced one was such an imposing person that his team would rather stay alive and not get scolded than try and go for a kill and get appreciated for it!

The best way to start are to just get a bunch of friends together and start playing — that’s how I started as a matter of fact. Once you find your 5 either through online contact or through social networking, head down to a LAN Cafe or a Reliance Web world or one of the new Zapak Gameplexes and start playing together. Please avoid having an online team. Rather have 5 members who live close by and can come to the same venue on the time agreed upon and play. Clanning should start only once all members of the team are comfortable with the game. You must know all the main maps i.e. Nuke Inferno Dust2 and Train. These maps end up coming in the main tourneys such as ESWC and WCG.

Once your are familiar with the maps and know each other well enough to start, make sure you assign positions to each person as Counter Terrorists (CTs). For example in Dust 2 your default should most likely be 2 at B, 3 at A.

B being the smaller site of the two there is no hard and fast rule about this so you can keep on experimenting. One person in the team should play the role of the Awper the rest should preferably all be assaulters. If possible, have one captain who calls your strategies as terrorists. Also remember as you are a new team and you are most likely to be playing teams that are of a way higher skill level than you, its more important to stay back, camp, and pick but DON’T BAIT. Baiting is the worst thing you can do in CS. Baiting is basically when you watch your teammate die you let him die and pick the guy who killed him while he’s distracted. This wont earn you any smiles from your teammates so DON’T do it.

When you feel that your team is finally ready to play your first match ask a team to sit and play against you don’t go and challenge the No.1 Team in the city. Just challenge a team that probably is still new or started a few months before you. They will probably win the match. Don’t worry. That’s good. Instead of shouting at your peers - ‘you suck’ or ‘you dint kill’ try and understand what mistakes you made and sit and discuss the game afterward.

Remember to Record your demos by opening you console and typing Record and watch your POV (Point of view). To record an HLTV ask your Zapak Admin to connect the HLTV to your Server and record in the same way. The HLTV demo gives you access to the full team view as well as third person and map overview.

Now the most important the thing to becoming a good clan isn’t aim. It’s dedication; try to devote at least 2-3 sessions a week. Zapak also holds weekly tourneys Go for those and you will find teams that have been playing for years. But the more exposure you and your team get the better. Practice makes perfect.

Try not to change your lineup each and every week. I am sure once in a while one or another of your teammates will have a reason not to come. For those days keep a substitute or keep a 6th player who knows everything about your clan and someone who you as a team are compatible with. The more games you play - especially on LAN - the better your team will do.

Online is also excellent for practice but your coordination suffers. Save online play to improve your aim and personal skill level. Play on LAN to improve with the team. Online if you get into clan servers. play clan whenever possible. It helps you judge situations, understand money systems in CS, helps you improve your clutching (1 on 1, 1 on 2, and 1 on 3 situations) and above all it helps you get the feel of the game situations.

Have fun with your new team. I can assure you at the end of the day it’s a computer game and you are bound to have a lot of fun. CS gets interesting at this stage. Only no matter how much PUB you play it just doesn’t get better than clanning. The fights, the intensity, the drama, and the adrenaline is all worth it and it all pumps you to play more and more and more. So here’s to your new team! Have fun and I will probably see you at Zapak this Saturday for their weekly tourney.