What am I doing wrong? What's the secret?

[LoopbackZero]

Hey guys..

I just started playing back again this week. I never really got into the game the first time I played. What's the secret to 1v1 infantry combat? If it's medium range, I burst with the Cycler. If it's close range, I burst with the MCG. It seems like no matter what, I can only kill those who are already being shot at and aren't shooting at me. What do I need to do differently?

[Canaris]

Hey guys..

I just started playing back again this week. I never really got into the game the first time I played. What's the secret to 1v1 infantry combat? If it's medium range, I burst with the Cycler. If it's close range, I burst with the MCG. It seems like no matter what, I can only kill those who are already being shot at and aren't shooting at me. What do I need to do differently?

took me about a two weeks before I was comfortable in 1vs1 action, with the cycler vs the other factions at medium range I do alot of crouching and tapping the fire button, for accuracy the NC and VS win almost everytime you need keep the COF down in order to stand a chance, the bloom is still as silly as I remember.
For close action with the likes of the MCG I find moving like a demon in random directions and keeping your weapon trained on the target will out damage them in the end, doesn't always work but such is life in Planetside.

Others might have better strats.

[Robert089]

In my squad I'm generally not on point HA grunt but I will give you the tips I can.

First of all, medkits, popping one of these in the middle of a fight will increase your survivability a lot so keeping 2 or 3 in your loadout is pretty useful.

Secondly you have to learn how to strafe, I'm no expert but some guys in my outfit even have different strafe patterns they use when fighting against a lasher or a jackhammer, all I can see is someone jumping left to right while shooting.


My tip for you as a fellow TR MA user is try the Punisher out. I find it has better accuracy with sustained fire over range and while running compared to the cycler and the frag nades (or plasma if you wish) allow you to hit them behind cover.

[Effective]

Basic stuff.

Medkits, Strafing, Aiming/leading. These 3 things are key, especially the last 2. Aiming always comes first, for 1 reason, if you can aim better then your opponent then you'll almost always win, adding in strafing makes you harder to hit, and can let you kill multiple people. Medkits, should have at least 3 in rexo and 1 in agile, more doesn't hurt in either. (On a side note, Audio amp, is the BEST implant in the game for a newer player)

Key binds, resetting key binds to be more efficient helps alot.
For me my keys are.
F = Jump
Space bar = Crouch
Shift = inventory
Mousewheel forward = Audio Amp
Mousewheel back = Medkit
Mousewheel push = Surge
Mouse Button 4 = Talk button for Vent/TS/Mumble
Mouse button 5 = Third person
Ctrl = 3rd Implant, ET, DL, Sensor shield, or Pshield if I felt like abusing broken game mechanics.

These key bindings look weird, and it does take time to adjust to it, but this way, my fingers never leave my movement keys and my mouse, i can strafe and aim with no interruptions.

Last but most certainly not least (arguably the most important thing) is situational awareness.

A little more advanced stuff for improving is hardware/accessories. Buy a good headset, being able to hear which directions things are coming from is helpful. Buy a decent mouse (a MX518 is what I use to use, now I'm using a G500) and a nice big surface. Get your sensitivity to where you are comfortable with it (too high and you'll always overshoot a target, too low and you can't keep up with a target that's warping). Do what you can to keep your FPS as high as possible.

There's so much more I could put up. But I'm not feeling it in me today. If you see me online feel free to send me a tell with any questions you may have (I don't play as often as I use to though). If I don't answer I'm probably afk or getting shot at).

TR = TRxEffect/TRxEffetive/GIGANTORtr
NC = DeltaFX/TauFX/Effective
VS = xLostCause/Effectivexx/GIGANTOR86/GIGANTOR89

edit= as far as TR weapons are concerned the MCG will almost always lose at pointblank range, contrary to popular belief it's TTK is slower then a JH or Lasher. Exploit it's range whenever possible, since the other 2 HA aren't quite as effective at said range. Avoid using the cycler unless absolutely necessary, it's the trashiest MA in the entire game (a suppressor with 5 more rounds and a 4x zoom would be better).

[Baneblade]

I miss the 30 round Suppressor.

[Canaris]

some great tips there that I'm going to have to YOINK ;)

[Effective]

some great tips there that I'm going to have to YOINK ;)

Feel free to :P I could spend quite awhile elaborating on infantry combat, but I'm far to lazy to type everything like that out.

[LoopbackZero]

Great response, Effective. I think you hit the nail on the head with keeping range while using the MCG. I was always rushing the enemy and getting destroyed by the Jackhammer and Sweeper.

I actually didn't know it was the plain jane Sweeper that a lot of opfor were using until I made a VS character. I'm actually getting really good with it and may use it instead of the MCG on my TR char. I'm really enjoying the VS though. :S

[Firefly]

Sweeper owns face.

Loot enemy weapons. I love Jackhammering the NC and Lashering the VS.

Never quit moving - ADADADDDDAAAADDDDADADADADADDADDDDDDAAAA should be the left hand, mouse-clickmouse-clickmouse-clickmouse-clickmouse-clickmouse-click is the right hand.

I've heard Rexo and P-shield, but haven't used it in forever.

Med-packs. Med-packs! MED-PACKS!!

[Sgt Grizzly]

The cycler is deadly at medium range. Pull a 1 second burst. A little longer than a tap and you'll rip through 'em. Also a trick I found is that I do more dmg, consistently without using the scope.

So if the target is in range for the 2x scope, just target him with the crosshairs instead and fire in burst mode. There is more accuracy without the scope I guess.

Shotgun is a great alternative to Heavy Weapons for towers. I can one on one most jackhammer players and win. I seem to do better with the cycler vs the lasher, however.

Other than that just use all the typical tricks; circle strafe, moving back n' forth, tactical advantage like keeping your distance from JH players, maybe the odd plasma nade to give you the one-up in a fight, etc...

edit: yes, totally agree with the above user: medpacks.

[Amdefor]

Medkits cannot be overemphasized. Be sure to use them when in a fight. Too many new players just don’t have them in their loadouts, or drop them when they pick up the med cert.

Also, don’t forget to turn off the music. I personally like the PlanetSide music, but there’s no place for it in the game if you want to be successful in fights.

[DarkSkyes]

Would also advise dueling with your friends, as long as you both don't see the competitive side of it or get annoyed if you lose and think of is as training then dueling can be very valuable in learning 1v1 tactics and combat.

This way you can try all the weapons and load outs you like and it will make you much better at 1v1 combat.

The main things i would say is aim and strafe, if you can get those right you can kill multiple enemy at the same time, just takes a little time to get right. Also if you see a player that seems to be very good, shoot him or her a tell. Im sure most people would be more than happy to give you some tips.

Good luck buddy.