note: if any players want to correct me on anything I write or give extra advice please do and I can incorporate it in to this main post.
Okay, a little less indepth than my strafe jump/movement tutorial but I'm just going to outline the basics of each game mode for newbies. Remember all this advice is if you really want to get better, if you're just playing for fun and are happy at the level you're currently at fuck it, just go find a server =). Also some of the advice I give here is just common sence, but I want to make sure everyone's aware of it so please don't feel I'm being patronising =).
Firstly I recommend you read my strafe jump tutorial (also in this forum) and try and get to grips with the basic coordination of movement, weapon switching etc. as well as just playing a few games and getting to grips with aiming etc.
Now make sure you have a decent config, as everyone's preferences are different it's best to build your own, but as a starting point here's mine
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ace262. Download it and put it in your baseoa file, then when in game bring down the console and type "/exec RAZ3R(baseoa)" then type "/vid_restart". Then from there adjust all the settings as you wish (/r_picmip 0 if you don't want everything looking like clay).
You should also download this bright skin pack from
http://www.sendspace.com/file/28fjl6 and put it in your baseoa directory. Now when playing on unpure servers or at time of writing also odigo's brutal ctf server all the enemies will have bright green, red or blue (depending on team) skins like here
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9845/shot0016cr6.jpg (the other graphics are just my config, this pk3 won't change the look of the actualy levels only the players). Notte for this bright skin pack to work properly from the options menu you should put your character as Sarge(Default) and have force player models on.
Alright, now on to how to approach different game modes:
DMThis is probably the mode you will of mainly played and it's a good starting mode because no one cares how well or badly you do and you can just get aquainted with the game. If you want to win though remember it's a race - check the score board, have identify targets on (so you can see an enemies name when you look at them) and go for the players lower on the score board, they will be easier to kill and get your frag count up higher.
Also remember you're in competition with the other players at the top of the score board, it is as bad to get killed by one of them as it is to commit suicide (you loose a point for that). You want to stop them scoring as much as you want to score yourself, so only attack them if you can help it when you have armour, health and good weapons. Killing them can slow down their fragging as they will now have 100 health and a machine gun, that's it. Also remember to control key point of the map - quad rooms (make sure you get the quad whenever it spawns), rail room etc. and make sure to stay around parts of the map people frequently meet up (just about all maps have them). Really deathmatch is just a fun mode though, for more serious play we move on =).
TDMTeam Deathmatch is where things start to get a little more tacticle. Here being killed you uust avoid AS much as you must try and kill the opposition. If you get killed the other team get a point, if you kill them your team gets a point. You should try and stay in communication with your team here (/say_team) and it is good to have binds, (e.g. /bind t say_team "stick togeather!"), now when you press t you say that message to your team. Really the best way to win in tdm is to stick togeather, and make sure you alll have weapons and armour before engaing the enemy. If they are disorganised and split up they should all be easy to take down. Also from the options menu you should turn on 'draw team overlay', this will put a box on your screen telling you at all times where you team mates are, what weapon they have out and how much health they have.
CTFTo do well in capture the flag you really need to be in contact with the rest of your team mates at all time, and I suggest you set up several say_team binds specificaly for capture the flag, as well as having draw team overlay on. Now CTF is the first mode where it really doesn't matter if you die. You should infact bind /kill to a key (e.g. /bind p kill), now when you press p you will kill yourself, you will loose a point to the score next to your name but that doesn't matter, at the end of the game all that matters if which team captured the eneemies flag more. "But why would you want to kill yourself?" I hear you ask. Well think of it just as a teleportter. If someone has your flag and you're desperate you can kill yourself and end up right at your base where the enemy flag carrier is (obviously with only 100 hp and no weapons though). Also if for example you land in water and it will take you ages to swim out it will often be quicker just to kill yourself and then recollect all the weapons etc. from around you base.
Right, now on to the team tactis - really this is why ctf clans are good, you can have proper games, unlike random public games where half your team run around like headless chickens. You should have half the team working as defence, half working as attack, that way you protect your flag while getting the enemies flag (just like your would do in a football match). Obviously this is flexible, if you are ahead on points and there isn't much time left then everyone just defend or visa versa =).
Now another important point - attackers attack TOGEATHER! you will be stronger that way and have a better chance of getting the flag and getting back out. Also don't all go for the flag at once, also hold off the enemy, and once your team mate has the flag nothing matters except protecting them! If there is armour, let them pick it up, same with health. stand in doorways after the flag carrier has gone past to block the enemy and slow down their persuit... also shoot at your flag carrier from behind, if you rail them for example you will increase their speed a lot. Also if you are infront of your flag carrier don't randomly spam missiles or plasma etc. at the enemy, if they hit your flag carrier they will stop/slow down! and if they're strafing towards you, get out the way or they will stop/slow down!
Okay, on to my next point - don't get in random fire fights with the enemy, it doesn't achieve anything, I actualy think it's best if you're attacking to injur the enemy as you go past them without stopping or killing them, that way they will be weak when they reach your flag and your defence will pick them off, therfore they wasted time. If you kill them they will respanw at their base and you will have to fight them again! Now when you get to the base make sure you have health and armour, get in and go for the flag. Once you have the flag don't hang about, attack the enemy as you're moving to the exit, if you stand there and fight you will never win as the enemy always respawn.
Now if you're in the situation where both flags have been taken (happens a lot) the flag carrier needs to stay hidden, depending on the map you either do this by constantly moving or staying in one place. Just make sure you don't hide in some small dead end where if the enemy find you you're trapped. Also remember your teams flag carrier needs defending, but you ALSO need to get your flag back, else you will never score.
1v1The most interesting mode imo, where everything comes down just to your skill (it's also the most demanding mode and really the hardest to get in to). You should of been playing a while before starting 1v1 I think, just get practice in the other modes first until you can atleast get in the top 3 of dm games regularaly.
Now 1v1 is ALL about map control, control the map and win the game =). What this means if you shouldn't have all the armour and stop the enemy getting any, same with weapons - when you have 300 health and a rocket launcher, against the enemies 100 and a machinegun it doesn't really matter who's the better shot =).
First you need to learn the maps you're playing on, learn where the armour is, learn where all the weapons are, learn where the teleporters come out, learn where the spawn points are, learn map shortcuts... Now when the game starts you want to rush for the armour (red armour is best!) and mega health, if you don't get the RA (red armour) in time go for YA (yellow armour). Before attacking your opponent you should have atleast 300 health and weapons. If at the beginning of the game you miss all the armour and your opponent gets it, then you should be hiding, waiting for it to respawn, now hiding can be being stationary or moving about away from the enemy, just rememebr to listen for soun, try and hear where your enemy is (same thing goes if you have the advantage in order to track them down), and also if you are at a disadvantage try and keep your own sound to a minimum, e.g. pickup up weapons makes a sound, jumping makes a sound, walking makes a sound (though less than jumping), teleporters make a sound...
Okay, now when playing a game you should ALWAYS be counting the health/armour... RA and YA both respawn after 25 seconds (in settings put the timer on so you can always accuratley count how long till these respawn), MH (mega health) respawns after 25 seconds, and weapons respawn after 5 seconds. When and item respawns, be there and deny your opponent it! Though if you see your opponent is closer to the RA don't still go for it, spam rockets/greneades at the armour, but unless you know they're low on health they will have the upper hand generaly, go for a YA instead. Also don't underestimate armour shards and health orbs, they are very important and all add up also. A good duel ends up like a game of chess for map control =).
Now remember to spam! That doesn't mean standing where the rocket launcher spawns and randomly firing at the same target until your enemy comes at you from the side and kills you
. You should as you're moving round the map fire at where you believe your opponent could be, or be in a few seconds, use rockets and grenades. And if you just killed your opponent fire rockets at spawn points, there's a chance they will spawn there!
Spawn rape's also important, if you just killed your opponent then you know they will be weak, try and get a few extra free frags in before they get a chance to get health and weapons!
Also remember to always try and predict your opponent, while not being predictable yourself. If the enemy goes through a teleporter don't just follow the mblidnly, it could be a trap for all you know, instead go to where that teleporter comes out and atttack them there. Same goes for not being predictable, don't just choose the obvious routes through a level, or your opponent will work out where you're going and be able to attack you.
WeaponsSo now just a general outline of when to use all the weapons:
Gauntlet:
This is qite powerful at close range but (unless for example you are waiting at one end of a teleporter ready to hit someone the second they come through) it's not really good to get out often, you will generaly die trying to use this.
Machinegun:
Not very powerful, but if you don't have a rail gun it's good for long range as it's instant hit, so while not 100% accurate it hits the second you press fire so you can still frag people with it at very long range when they can't really fight back.
Shotgun:
This is very powerful at exxtremely close range but not good at any other time really except for mid range if you have the quad =D. The shotgun fires 11 pelets, each doing 10 damage, so obviously at point blank you can kill most players in either 1 or 2 hits.
Plasmagun:
Good for long range spam, and a fine weapon at any range but the lightning gun, rocket launcher and rail gun all surpass it at their particular ranges so you won't generaly use this once you have these. Be careful though, the plasmagun has a small splash damage radius so firing this againsta wall or at your opponent at point blank will also injur you.
Grenade Launcher:
Obviously not for direct combat, this is a spam weapon - spam corridors where you think the enemy will be, spam spawn points and the entrances to rooms, or exits of teleporters, ues it to take down the enemies health while not in view. This is also good for protecting the flag in ctf.
Lightning Gun:
Often undervalued by newer players, if you can keep the lightning gun on your opponent it is extremly powerful at close to mid range (it won't hit at long range) and also has a knock back effect on your opponent, so you can hold your opponent in lava etc. with it and it generaly prevents your opponent from fighting back effectivley (with lag this weapon becomes pretty useless though).
Rocket Launcher:
One of the most used weapons in the game, gret for spam due to its slow prjectile speed, great for rocket jumps, and very powerful (a direct hit does 100 damage). When using this weapon you should not fire directly at your enemy though, fire at the ground around them, there is a MUCH higher chance of hitting them with the splash damage than with the actualy rocket. If your enemy happens to be above you the rocket launcher isn't the best weapon generaly, use the lightning gun, or plasma (unless you want to rocket jump up to them). Also if the enemy is in the air fire at them witht he rocket still, you might hit them and it's better than waiting over a second for them to land then firing (as I've seen some players do), in that time the rl will of reloaded anyway so you are essentialy wastting a shot in these situations if you don't take it).
Railgun:
Instant hit weapon, works up to any range though generaly not good at close range, does 100 damage on hit - once you learn to aim you will love this weapon. At first you might be reluctant to use it as you can't hit anyone with it, but to get better you need to practice =).
BFG:
Stupidly over powered, it's generaly unfair to use this on maps that have it and you will find players generaly don't pick it up just to be fair.
Now just remember practice makes perfect, the best players have played a lot, everything comes over time. Be polite in servers, watch the better players, you might learn something, and if you have questions generaly you will find the better players helpful (not always though). Hopefuly that covers all the basics of different game modes and when to use what weapon, and like I sai; any questions feel free to ask, and if you think somethign should be added or altered just tell me.
Oh, and if this wasn't really hepful tell me also :/. I can maybe find something more worth while to write next time =).