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Tribes 2 full game now available free! >Download<
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Becoming overwhelmed with Tribes 2 is fairly easy, but first lets get back to basics. Tribes 2 is a first perspective shoot-them-up (FPS) where you have one clear objective, and the only thing stopping you claming this objective is the enemy. Running around like a headless chicken trying to do everything a team asks of you, whilst you try and stay alive is not easy. You may also not like helping others and just want to waste the enemy, yet in Tribes 2 without working as a team, you will lose a lot of games. So what can you? One player in a large team do? What options are available? How can you work together with your team mates, all of whom you have never met before and still enjoy the game? Well sit back as I show you. I don't want to bore you with pages and pages of text so I've broken everything up so you can digest it easier. Teamwork is like a machine. If all the parts are well oiled, and do their job then the whole machine will run efficiently. But if one piece fails, or does not perform its job, then the machine as a whole will be effected, and the efficiency of the machine will drop. Doing your bit for the good of the team
If you are unable to get a repair pack, or the nearest station is miles away then you can still help by defending the destroyed item of equipment, like generators. Keep the area free of the enemy and a team mate should arrive with a repair pack. Watch Your Flanks! Take this situation below...
Visualise an area which covers your whole base and a bit beyond. Now any of the enemy entering this should be classed as a threat and be met by someone from your team. Try not to let the threat get any closer. If you are ever going off to attack, use the Command Circuit first. Check the battlefield situation. In the example (left) you can see the 'red' team's attack is on it's way down your right flank. If your defence is up then you can head off safely down your left flank. Before leaving your base, and depending on the actual situation. Think: If you see your team has most of the right flank covered. I.e. they are all down it, chances are the enemy will be coming down your left flank. This is where you come in. Try to plug gaps around the map. Most attackers will follow the routes of past attacks, so keep your eyes peeled. If the same section of your base is being targeted again and again, be ready. Upon killing an enemy attacker they will rearm and return. Timing is the key so once you've killed an attacker, and it's safe to do so rearm and set up defences the way he last came. When he returns he will have a harder job getting near your base.
If option 1 checks out, where am I best to attack? Your base is well defended and you can't see any enemy attackers on your Command Circuit. It's time to attack. A direct assault will usually fail (depending on the map layout). Running off the map edge and heading towards the back of the enemies base usually catches enemy defenders off guard. Although your element of surprise will only last until one of the defenders checks their Command Circuit and sees you in there sensor network. Attacks from the flanks work well, especially if you follow other team mates. A two (or more) team attack will put more pressure on the enemies defences, although if you see a team mate attacking the right hand side of the enemy base, the defenders will be distracted by him, leaving you a possible window to enter the left hand side, and allowing you to reach generators and other key objectives. Keep looking for defenders who are distracted which allows you a route to bypass them. EXAMPLE: Well say there is a game of 8 v 8. You spot 5 of the enemy on your right flank. Due to the range of your sensor network you'll have to take an educated guess about the positions of the other 3 enemy players. The chances are they are defending their base or have been killed and are returning back to the game. This will mean you'll have a easier time attacking down the left where there's a weak spot in the enemies defences. Always check how your defence perimeter is holding up. If you see a large attack wave on one of your flanks then try to intercept the enemy or make in that direction and set up a small defensive position in the direction they are heading. Of course attacks may come from the front and/or behind, but these are rare and as long as enough team mates are near the heart of the base you should be safe from these attacks. Someone has to do it. Defenders can sit at their base in juggernaut armour and wait for the enemy to come to them. On public servers there is almost always a lack of defenders. Why? Firstly take a look at the defenders job. In Tribes 2 defending means ensuring the following:
There's enough there to keep anyone busy, but for some reason everyone has 'attack, attack' on their minds. Maybe it's because players don't like enemy players messing around with their team and objectives, and they see the only way to stop them is by constantly attacking them back. Every team game in the world has a defence, or some kind of defender protecting a key area. Tribes 2 is no different. After all how is your team suppose to capture the enemy flag if yours is never at your base? Or your team can capture objectives, but can never hold them? In both cases you will have a hard time winning. So next time you are on a public server make sure there is at least, and this is a bare minimum, two defenders actually defending. I.e not wandering around. A real defender should be doing stuff listed above.
Before attacking have one clear aim in your mind. Of course you want that flag, or want to take the objective, but most of the time you'll not make it. Instead of going for the overall goal, which everyone of your team will be doing, how about making it your job to take out the generators? If you can take out the enemy's power then the rest of your team will have an easier job when they attack. So instead of going for the main game objective (e.g. the flag in a CTF game) how about...
When attacking anything always try to alternate your attack routes. Most players attack via one direction or aim for one target. Be different. By your team attacking via set routes the enemy can be prepared, ready for you with mines, and turrets. Instead try to stay away from the 'typical' routes. For example the maps with the large bases. Aim to destroy the turret (use a vehicle and slam it into it), or head to the top of the enemy base and if you are fast enough you should be able to pass the turret before it gets a 'lock' on you. Once in the base via this route you have multiple attack routes. The typical routes in the bases are to the vehicle pad, or a path into the generator room. Of course if the enemy team is not defending well the main routes will be exposed and then you are free to pick a route. However aways remember to change routes after each attack to keep the enemy guessing. Team Situations and what YOU can do to help
If you have defence then they should be able to clear the enemy out. If not you'll have to go hunting. Check your Command Circuit to see exactly where the enemy are and go get them. This is easier said than done, especially if there are 3 or more in your base. Start from a key area in your base and work your way around. If you die then the second you come back head straight for the same area. Keep up the pressure on the enemy or they will have time to organise mine fields and fortify their positions. Try to rally the troops :). If your team is doing badly and they see their base is overrun they will usually quit the game. Instead call for support and try to organise a joint attack on the enemy camping out in your base. When/if someone comes to help follow them. The enemy player will do his best to kill anything heading his way so use your team mate as bait. There's no use both of you running into an area if you don't know where exactly the enemy are. You'll just get ambushed. Instead watch your team mate and see where the enemy gun fire is coming from. Then run in and let rip with a weapon of your choice at that area. Or bounce grenades in the general location. Situation 3: Your team is starting to lose the match...
Lack of skilled players on your team Most of the veteran players will have a tribe or 'clan' tag next to their name. These players know Tribes 2 inside and out. Since they will know all the tricks in the book, beating them with a low skilled team is nigh on impossible. Attacking is probably the key. Although you could defend alone, you will just take a battering and in the meantime the enemy team will be racking up the points. Someone needs to be out there causing the enemy defences problems and trying to intercept the enemy flag carrier or routing them out of objectives. This all depends on how good your Tribes 2 playing skills are. If you are deadly in combat then you can do a lot to help a low skilled team. Your actions will not go unnoticed by your team mates either and a few words of "Come on we can do this!" can rally a team. I've joined games where I've managed to rally the team's sprits and through good team play and a bit of luck the team successfully score a flag capture against all the odds. Once a routing team is back on it's feet it has a good chance of turning the tables and possibly winning the game. It is damn annoying when there are juggernaut armoured defenders protecting the enemy base and you are attacking with just scout armour. If the enemy defence is well organised then this annoyance is amplified. The question is what can you? How can one man break this kind of defence? Attacking with the default weapons and no mines e.t.c is just plain suicide. In this situation always tool yourself up with at least a plasma gun, and either an energy pack (more flight time), or a shield pack. A jammer pack is also useful and will allow you to sneak into the enemy base undetected. Before launching your one man attack scan the enemy base from a safe distance. Never run in, because the defence will either rip you to shreds or watch you come and block the route you are attempting to take, then rip you to pieces! First scan the defences, and when you feel there is no one in line of sight of you go for it. Remember time is your main enemy and the longer you take to enter the base the more time the enemy has to spot you. Once you are in (this may take a couple of times depending on the strength of the defence), go for the key areas. In a CTF game going straight for the flag more than once per attack is probably useless. If the first time you get into the flag room you see it's too well protected, why try again? Instead go for something else. The enemy generators should be high on your list. Also plant mines in places where the enemy are bound to run past. Never run around corners! Always take a peak around them first. If the enemy defence is very good turrets will be placed around key areas and you don't want to run into one! Once the generators are down the enemy defenders will be after your blood. Be ready for them. They will probably be wearing jugglernaut armour and you wearing scout armour will not last long in a firefight. So be tactful. The longer you stay alive in their base the more time they will have to commit players to find you. This will pull defenders out of positions and possibly open gaps for your team mates to exploit. Really team work comes down to each player giving his all. A good team player will sacrifice his life for the good of the team, and always be prepared to put himself (or herself) out to ensure the success of the team. After all it does not matter how good you are as an individual player. At the end of the day a team of players who work together will win the day.
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