:: Cap Stealing Bastards

Yeah, I know you think you're entitled to pick it up and cap it, and that Team Fortress Classic is supposed to be a team effort and success, but you've gone to far.

Have you ever stopped to ask who's flag it is that you conveniently picked up, just outside your base, or God forbid, right outside your respawn room? How do you suppose it got there? Do you think it floated there by itself? No! In some cases, one of your teammates has fought his way into the enemy base and back just to meet his death just short of a well-earned cap of 10 points.

Nothing is lower in common decency or respect for one's fellow teamplayer, then by taking his flag and capping it. I'm not talking about the panicked frenzy of grabbing the flag and capping it for the good of the team, but the selfish opportunistic nature that some people exhibit on the server sometimes.

I, for one, am quite fair. If I see a flag sitting there that obviously is easy pickings, I pick it up for the security of the team, and not for myself. I will escort it back to my teams cap point, then ask "Who's cap is this?" In most cases, my fellow player will say "Mine, but cap it anyways." That is true teammanship and sportsmanship. In return, if I lose my flag after battling 3 soldiers and dodging sniper bullets and finally get taken down by a stray MIRV, the favor is usually returned. But I also say "It's mine, but cap it."

I've never been one who plays just to rack up the points, at the expense of my team, and gameplay in general. I have enough self esteem to realize what points I would have had, if I had not allowed others to cap "my flag", or if I had not been given a flag of my own to cap on someone else's behalf. I play to overcome my own obstacles, or to challenge another player that is higher skilled then me, or to work out new tactics. ON the way I support my team to the best of my abilities.

But you, you cap stealing bastards, have no common courtesy. You don't bother to ask if somebody wants to claim their flag. You just take it and cap it. In some cases you'll do it several times in a row. You are not an opportunist at all, you are a cold, calculated flag thief. You have no honor, you have no loyalty to your team, and you only play for yourself. Well, my cap stealing bastard friends, soon you may end up playing alone. People notice your actions, and will not be as generous with you.

Here's a polite suggestion. Before capping that flag, extend the courtesy that you would like, and ask "Who's cap is this? Is it alright for me to cap it?" If the owner wants it, give it to him. If he gives permission, then cap it, and return the favor to someone else when you are in the same position.

This is what good sportsmanship and teamwork is about. After all, your team is there to win, so anything you can do to facilitate their success, and get them to like and respect you, is in your best interests.

Have fun on the server.
 

:: n00b Spies Like Us

Ok, you stupid n00b spies. You are really pissing me off. Defense is hard enough without you coming into my flag room distracting me with your n00b antics.

I must make note, however, that it isn't just n00bs doing this. It may be seasoned veterans that are simply bored with the game and are doing it. I am guilty of doing similar actions( sneaking up on sniper [s0d] -ronin- as an enemy engineer ), but that was just having fun, yet never putting our flag in jeopardy.

Here's the scenario. I'm an engineer defending the flag on a map called Well. I have just fought off an attack to capture the flag and I'm running low on grenades and ammunition.

From the bottom, an enemy soldier appears. He runs across the bridge. I fire a few shotgun blasts at him, and prime my grenade. He uses the elevator to come up and I det the nade on him, sending him flying.

He runs around the back of the well, so I jump down and prime my last grenade in preparation for the kill. The nade detonates at his feet as he comes around the other side of the well. A perfect kill except he doesn't die...

Suddenly I am hit from the rear with an enemy rocket. Another soldier has come up from the water and spotted me. A second rocket and I am a pile of gibs.

I have just been the victim of our own spy's n00b antics.

"Why are shooting at me?", the n00b spy asks

I am seeing red. Especially since the soldier manages to make off with our flag. This would not have happened if our spy did not enter the flag room and act like the enemy.

On well2, my teammates (a medic, soldier and I as pyro) leave our base. We spot an enemy soldier going up the ladder to our roof, so we open fire. I hit him mid-air and push him up. The grenade that follows punches him up higher. I'm slightly confused as to why he is not burning, so assuming I have missed him somehow, I continue my barrage. The medic nails him with a concussion grenade before being taken out by an enemy sniper. I release a napalm grenade and miss. Then an enemy HWGuy comes out of the middle and riddles me to death with his bullets. Thanks, again, asshole.

"You guys should have known it was me, by my name displayed underneath", is the answer I get most times this happens. Like this is an excuse. Look, you moron, in the heat of battle this little fact may not be noticed. With server messages displaying in the center of my screen, along with the numerous messages from players and team alike, I do not have the time to sort it out. I have to assume you are the enemy if you enter our base or flag room, and take appropriate action.

Enter the enemy base and flag room and do that, you n00b. That's what you're supposed to do. A spy's job is to infiltrate the enemy forces and sabotage their defenses and morale from within.. Not to sit in the flag room or the base and screw up your teammates and make them waste precious ammo, nades and time on you. Put your disguise on outside on the way to the base, and move towards the enemy base.

Stupid n00b.
 

:: Spam vs Tactical Detonation

What is spam? Everyone seems to have a differing opinion on this matter while playing on TFC servers, including our beloved MIS.

PooPuppet's Tactical Manual 10.subsection 33. item 3-A, states;

'Spam' or 'spamming' is throwing one or more of your primary or secondary grenades into an area without first having acquired a target.

I agree that 'spamming' as it is defined, can be effective at times for holding the enemy at bay, for getting lucky and easy kills, and also for having fun, albeit at everyone's expense. Spamming can actually raise your frag score. Due to the random nature and radial extent of your explosions, you can expect you will get several kills, whilst not improving your playing skill in the slightest.

Spamming can kill you. A new study put out by the TFC Spammers Anonymous Group (TFCSAG) concluded that priming a grenade without first having an intended target may be harmful to your health. Many studies relayed stories of how spam addicts primed a grenade, then running into an enemy and detonating themselves at the last second by accident. Another study detailed the exploits of a mad spam addict demoman, who regularly detonated himself with his own mirvs, because he had the habit of carrying primed mirvs and dropping them or misdirecting their explosive impact.

Dr. Greh Nade, of TFCSAG states, "Spamming has also been found to be highly addictive, destructive to the environment as well as community gameplay, yet is seldom recognized by the player as being a problem"

Some good players may even be accused of spamming because their skill at using their grenades has become a high art. An engineer kills you in the flag room with an EMP, you complain he is spamming you. A soldier spots you crossing the bridge in 2Fort, and kills you with 2 grenades, and you complain he is spamming you. A pyro pummels you from the air in low grav with flame rockets, whilst lifting you off the ground with nepalm grenades and you complain about spamming. A demoman bounces his pipes around the corner to lay a nest under your SG and detonates you and it in one fell blast and you complain he is spamming you.

But I'm sorry, my friend, you were a selected target, and have been the victim of a much more streamlined grenade attack called 'Tactical Detonation'.

PooPuppet's Tactical Manual 9.subsection 1. item 1-B, states;

'Tactical Detonation', the opposite of 'spamming', is the targeting, priming and release of one or more primary or secondary grenades intended to incapacitate, maim or destroy an enemy unit, weapon, or fortification to advance the team effort in capturing said enemy's flag or position.

Primary and secondary grenades can be used as tactical weapons quite efficiently. One can use them to block the enemies advance, take out sniper positions quickly, destroy SG emplacements, bounce opponents carrying flags off their intended course, etc. see PooPuppet's Tactical Manual 'Multiple Target Detonation' for more details

If we can move players from 'spamming' to 'tactical detonation' by simply describing the difference between the two terms, and encouraging fair and skilled gameplay, we will see some good times ahead on them TFC servers, especially MIS.
 

:: "Hey! That's my cap, you f****ing retard!!

I have heard, or seen this statement on MIS and a host of other servers.

This statement is usually heard from an individual who believes that he alone is responsible for taking a flag from the enemy base.

This may appear to be the case. The individual has entered the base, disabled security (if any), fought his way through a host of enemies, grabbed the flag, and fought his way out through a host of enemies, gets killed, and another team mate grabs the flag and caps it.

Some servers have rules regarding what is considered "your cap". For example, on 2Fort, the players will agree that if you carry the flag over the bridge to your team's side, it is indeed your cap, and will hold the flag for you to cap.

However, if the individual starts to whine "Hey! That's my cap, f$%&*%!!!", in most cases, I believe the individual is out of line.

I sincerely believe it is by team effort that any of us can grab and cap the flag for the team. Through his team's effort, he can actually make it to the flag and come back again. If this individual disagrees, let's see how many times he will cap without any team help whatsoever. ie. 1 against the enemy team. It would be a rare occurrence if he was successful.

How does the team help? May they be by his side, slaying any opposition so he can make it through the enemy defense? Maybe. Or are they unseen by the complaining individual, causing havoc in the enemy base so he can make it through. Maybe your team is helping you get that flag by suppressing enemy snipers, or going toe to toe with enemy HWGuys. Maybe before you attained that glorious run into the enemy base, your team spy took out 2 SGs that would have surely stopped you.

I understand your frustration. I've been there. When some n00b grabs your flag and caps it and you did all the work. Ok, I'll give you that one.

However, if it is I, or another regular team member, don't get so mad. I am not out to steal your flag, your glory, or your points. If I grabbed your flag, it is because it was needed. I will in most cases give it back to you, but if you are rude, forget it. I'll cap it in spite. So calm down.

Most games, I don't even go for the flag. You probably saw me terrorizing snipers, burning SGs and engies with fire nades, and circling around HWguys. I have no interest in points. I like it when my kills are higher than my deaths, but other than that, I am not out to set records, or increase my 'status'.

My goal is simple when I play TFC. Help my team win.

So as much as I appreciate your frustration. Remember, you are nothing without your team. Be glad I am watching your back as you run with the flag to your 'individual glory'...