10-21-2003, 08:45 PM
DM1 Etiquette
___I've noticed a few players, when talking about certain moves or about the habits of other users, mention things they would not do; unwriten rules that most regular players usually pick up on. The following is a list of common mannerisms that I've noticed other people exhibit and I have come to adopt. Most of these points can be easily translated over to Arena, but I'll leave that decision up to someone who plays that map regularily.
1. 'Spamming' : Having the fast shot combined with the triple shot (plus the addition of any third power-up) allows anyone to 'spam' their target. Essentially, you are using almost no skill to kill someone since, used at the right time, there can be almost no defense against it. It's the equivalent of bring a machine gun to a knife fight. Yes, you still need SOME skill to know when to fire the gun, but the amount is very minimal and its too easy of a kill.
2. Spawn Shooting : Firing off shots towards a spawn point when there is NO ONE THERE is frowned upon. We all do it by accident sometimes, but you should not fire shots at an empty spawn point with the goal of killing someone before they have the ability to react. This includes camping on a 1st level pad and ricocheting push discs to the opposite or adjacent 1st level pad to hit people when as soon as they spawn.
3. Double-Killing : Some servers have fixes that nullify this exploit, but not all. NEVER intentionally fire a push disc on a dead corpse (decap discs are not affected). Doing so once will force the spawned player to be hurled into the abyss before their feet touch the ground. Two or more shots will do the same but give the shooter a free point. This rule is STRICTLY enforced in most DM1 servers so I think I can speak for most DM1 server admins when I say that double-killing will get you banned in a hurry.
4. 'USE' Key Exploit : As per the last point, some servers have fixed this problem. If you are hit with a push disc, DO NOT press down the 'USE' key to stop your movements to avoid being thrown off a pad. Fortunately, this exploit does not work against decap discs, so if you're a num-nuts, by all means the press the 'USE' key to stand your ground when a decap disc is coming at your head! :blink: This goes for landing on a pad too. If you're coming in hard and fast from the 2nd level onto a 1st level pad, press the opposite directional key to counter your momentum. I admit I do that sometimes, but I'm trying to wean myself from the 'USE' key teet. :drink: And just like the last point, being caught doing this will bring the admin's wrath down upon you.
5. "Sry" and "Np" : We all make mistakes. Running into each other in mid-air, accidently double-killing, headstomping, etc. Almost all of the arena players I've gone up against follow this unwriten rule. Say "sry" (sorry) when you make a boo-boo (even if you're not sure if it was you're fault) and if you were wronged, say "np" (no problem) to forgive the person. I know this is obvious, but I'm a perfectionist and I like to be thorough. :D
6. "Ns" and "Ty" : Players of all differing skill levels will get in some really good shots on us...some fewer than others. In any case, when someone pulls of a shot that you feel was kick-arse, give them a "ns" (nice shot) to make them feel all warm and fuzzy. Also, be sure to say "ty" (thank you) when someone does say "ns" to you to return the favour. I don't look down on anyone who does not do this because obviously not everyone wants to say it for whatever reason...but it's still nice to hear it from time to time.
7. Killing AFK's (Away from Keyboard) : This one only really applies to friends on a DM1 server. Even then, it's really up to you. It's the same as which sort of friends you can call a "arse-hole" and ones you could only get away with calling a "fecal-matter-exit-point-void-area". I have no problem killing AFK's if they're newcomers who decide to take a little potty-break because their lifeless bodies get in my way in a crowded server. You should not try to kill someone when they are typing (if you know they're responding to something your or someone else said) since it IS a cheap shot. Same goes for when someone's practicing a certain move when there's only 2 or 3 people on a server. But like I said, it's largely situational.
___These are the basic unwriten rules I've adopted and observed over time. They are there to ensure we don't piss-off other players. Some rules are simply a matter of being polite and generous...if those are not some of your qualities, than such is life and we just won't have to take it personally. But regardless of whether or not the Ricochet community will live on in HL2, we should do little things like these to help build a fun place for people to slice off other people's heads. :kiss:
___I've noticed a few players, when talking about certain moves or about the habits of other users, mention things they would not do; unwriten rules that most regular players usually pick up on. The following is a list of common mannerisms that I've noticed other people exhibit and I have come to adopt. Most of these points can be easily translated over to Arena, but I'll leave that decision up to someone who plays that map regularily.
1. 'Spamming' : Having the fast shot combined with the triple shot (plus the addition of any third power-up) allows anyone to 'spam' their target. Essentially, you are using almost no skill to kill someone since, used at the right time, there can be almost no defense against it. It's the equivalent of bring a machine gun to a knife fight. Yes, you still need SOME skill to know when to fire the gun, but the amount is very minimal and its too easy of a kill.
2. Spawn Shooting : Firing off shots towards a spawn point when there is NO ONE THERE is frowned upon. We all do it by accident sometimes, but you should not fire shots at an empty spawn point with the goal of killing someone before they have the ability to react. This includes camping on a 1st level pad and ricocheting push discs to the opposite or adjacent 1st level pad to hit people when as soon as they spawn.
3. Double-Killing : Some servers have fixes that nullify this exploit, but not all. NEVER intentionally fire a push disc on a dead corpse (decap discs are not affected). Doing so once will force the spawned player to be hurled into the abyss before their feet touch the ground. Two or more shots will do the same but give the shooter a free point. This rule is STRICTLY enforced in most DM1 servers so I think I can speak for most DM1 server admins when I say that double-killing will get you banned in a hurry.
4. 'USE' Key Exploit : As per the last point, some servers have fixed this problem. If you are hit with a push disc, DO NOT press down the 'USE' key to stop your movements to avoid being thrown off a pad. Fortunately, this exploit does not work against decap discs, so if you're a num-nuts, by all means the press the 'USE' key to stand your ground when a decap disc is coming at your head! :blink: This goes for landing on a pad too. If you're coming in hard and fast from the 2nd level onto a 1st level pad, press the opposite directional key to counter your momentum. I admit I do that sometimes, but I'm trying to wean myself from the 'USE' key teet. :drink: And just like the last point, being caught doing this will bring the admin's wrath down upon you.
5. "Sry" and "Np" : We all make mistakes. Running into each other in mid-air, accidently double-killing, headstomping, etc. Almost all of the arena players I've gone up against follow this unwriten rule. Say "sry" (sorry) when you make a boo-boo (even if you're not sure if it was you're fault) and if you were wronged, say "np" (no problem) to forgive the person. I know this is obvious, but I'm a perfectionist and I like to be thorough. :D
6. "Ns" and "Ty" : Players of all differing skill levels will get in some really good shots on us...some fewer than others. In any case, when someone pulls of a shot that you feel was kick-arse, give them a "ns" (nice shot) to make them feel all warm and fuzzy. Also, be sure to say "ty" (thank you) when someone does say "ns" to you to return the favour. I don't look down on anyone who does not do this because obviously not everyone wants to say it for whatever reason...but it's still nice to hear it from time to time.
7. Killing AFK's (Away from Keyboard) : This one only really applies to friends on a DM1 server. Even then, it's really up to you. It's the same as which sort of friends you can call a "arse-hole" and ones you could only get away with calling a "fecal-matter-exit-point-void-area". I have no problem killing AFK's if they're newcomers who decide to take a little potty-break because their lifeless bodies get in my way in a crowded server. You should not try to kill someone when they are typing (if you know they're responding to something your or someone else said) since it IS a cheap shot. Same goes for when someone's practicing a certain move when there's only 2 or 3 people on a server. But like I said, it's largely situational.
___These are the basic unwriten rules I've adopted and observed over time. They are there to ensure we don't piss-off other players. Some rules are simply a matter of being polite and generous...if those are not some of your qualities, than such is life and we just won't have to take it personally. But regardless of whether or not the Ricochet community will live on in HL2, we should do little things like these to help build a fun place for people to slice off other people's heads. :kiss:
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New computer: $1500
Optical mouse: $45
Leather chair: $250
Half-Life CD: $60
Hearing the sound of a some poor Ricochet s.o.b.'s head being decapitated: Priceless.