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ZA Tips and Strategies: How to PwN as Humans/Zombies
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:21:09
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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This is for ZA admins/members, allies, friends, foes, rivals, archrivals, 1337s, n00bs, and all other Halo CE players on the ZA Servers.
Yes, Halo is just a game, and I totally respect those who play it for pure leisure without getting too serious at it. However, if you truly want better at it, and have the deep-seated desire to obliterate all your [virtual, fictional] competitors around you, this thread is just for you. My goal here is to provide tips, tactics, and insights for anyone to improve his or her skills and step up his or her game. Although this thread will be mostly tailored to the players on ZA Pro Stats Test, the server I'm most familiar with and the one where you can rank up, some of the tips and strategies here can be applied to any zombie servers, ZA Servers or others. However, this thread will NOT help on Slayer, CTF, and other non-zombie games, because um...camping doesn't really help. 
I understand that there is a diverse range of players here, in terms of skill level and experiences. Some of the beastly players, such as most ZA and other clan members, will find some of the tips/strategies here to be obvious, intuitive, or second-nature to them. Other less veteran players, on the other hand, will find them too difficult and inapplicable to use in an actual game. Nevertheless, I hope all of us, including myself, can learn and takeaway something from this thread.
I will try my best to pull as much tips/strategies from my mind and motor memory as I can. But I also STRONGLY ENCOURAGE anyone (good player or not) to respond to this thread and share their tips/strategies/insights as well. I understand some of the tips/strategies will be opinionated and will not benefit everyone. So please please respond to this thread if you disagree with me, or anyone else, and/or if you have better or alternative tips/strategies you like to share.
Without further ado, let the thread begin! 
Edited by Hotpot on 07/01/2012 18:20:55 |
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| ZA BrickSquad |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:28:52
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 5303
Joined: 12.05.11
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-Reverse Psychology when I'm zombie trying to get humans.
-Double Reverse Psychology when it's experienced players as humans.
Example: That's how I got Ezrab today!! He thought he was one step a head of me, but I was actually 2 steps ahead on his point of view, and got him xD Get me? |
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:29:40
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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To get started, the first tip is to change your Halo Setting that can best enhance your performance. Even experienced players can forget to use their setting to their advantages. For example, I recommend changing the sensitivity level to 5, 6, or 7 (mine is 6) both vertically and horizontally. Therefore, you can respond more quickly to a threat, but not over-respond! As for the video setup, simplify the texture as much as you can (such as setting the particles to low). The Halo screen may not look as pretty, but your performance will be improved! |
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| MasterA |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:31:35
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Super Admin
Posts: 2582
Joined: 21.07.11
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i have wrote up an article on performance vs quality pls feel free to check it out!
http://foodclan.c...post_52551
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:35:54
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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Yea, Master A wrote a much more detailed thread about how to change your settings to improve your performance you should definitely check it out! |
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:52:34
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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I am starting out with really general tips so hang in there guys!
My next tip is to formulate a game plan for each and every level as human. For example on rat race, I prefer to camp on the invisible side and on high-em-high, I enjoy sniping on the pillar (b/c i <3 sniping  ). If you are not a wuss like I am and prefering hand-in-hand combat (like wu and MasterA) than camping, find a comfortable place to fend off the zombies (usually a place where the zombies have to go on an incline). However, be flexible with your game plan, becuase situations will arise that your original game plan will ultimately work against you. For example, if most players turn into zombies or the overshield side is taken over by zombies, it it best for humans to stop doing hand-to-hand combat to move to a safer location, preferably a camping spot.
Edited by Hotpot on 06/14/2012 23:24:23 |
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 21:12:01
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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Forming a game plan applies for zombies as well. Unless if you want humans surviving when the game ends, it is best for zombies to strategize how to infect humans one-by-one. For example, in the beginning of each game, one common approach for zombies is to get the overshield, especially in the maps like chill out, gephy, rat race, death island, danger canyon (aka noob map) putty, basically all the maps. Another more specific strategy is try to surprise/ambush the humans instead of charging them straight on. For example in gephy, if all the other zombies are charging from on end of the end, try to go from other end to sneak up on the humans while their attention is diverted to the mass horde of zombies on the opposite. Also, there will most likely be a os waiting for you as well. Everyone has different game plans for different situations, but at least try to brainstorm and formulate a generic strategy for each game, instead of randomly shooting at zombies as human or randomly charging at humans as zombie in open areas. |
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 21:39:02
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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My third tip is to get familiar with different players on the server. Each player has his or her distinct personalities, game plans, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Yes this will require a heck a lot of playing time, but if you want to get any better, you should start using these traits to your advantage.
For example, there are several elite, beastly zombie players in this server (wu or +, skyline, S E N, boxhead, aero, mitsumi, A, bagels, exile, dancer after the rust comes off, etc.). If any of them starts out as zombie, you should better watch out as a human. If there is an opportunity to infect, they'll definitely exploit it. However, if they are humans, they should your primary targets; if you infect them, this will pay you dividends! As a word of advice, it will not be easy because if a player is beastly as zombie, chances are he or she is beastly a human as well.
On the other hand, you should also take note on the not so good players. They are easier to infect as humans but will help little as zombie. In fact, they are more likely to rq. If the not-so-good player is persevering and refuse to rq, he or she is an easier zombie target. However, most players fall in between these two extremes. Some are very talented as humans, but are terrible as zombies. This is why you should be familiar enough to distinguish between each player, so you can use this to your advantage.
Also, watch out for douchebag players. If you know anyone of them, keep a distance from him or her (in Halo and in real life). If the d-bag goes through a teleporter, up a ladder, or into narrow corridor, don't directly follow him or her because chances are he or she might end up blocking your path. Also, if you are a human and is on a same team as a d-bag, don't go too close to the edge of a ledge or else he or she might frag you off that ledge and into a mosh pit of brain-starved zombies.
Most of all, watch out for the player with the server name called "noob". He isn't who you think he is. 
Edited by Hotpot on 06/14/2012 23:27:03 |
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| RazNinjaMike |
Posted on 05/23/2012 21:50:11
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 4586
Joined: 20.11.10
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i find using tank. to blow people up very effective... |
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| Kitty |
Posted on 05/23/2012 21:53:30
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Wanker
Posts: 816
Joined: 29.11.11
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Great thread so far.
I tend to find when meleeing to aim just where the zombie or human is going, it tends to work better, and the same goes for shotty
[ZÅ] Major General Rcon Holder
[ZÅ] Site Admin
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| nygiants88 |
Posted on 05/23/2012 21:59:17
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Super Admin
Posts: 1707
Joined: 24.07.11
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ZA daNcer's guide to being a better player
Human Tips-
For Campers:
1 Know the people you are camping with
2 If you are camping with noobs, watch your back, an experienced zombie can take them down and get to you while your back is turned.
3 Know 100% sure EXACTLY where every single exit is
4 Be aware for ladders, if a smart zombie coordinates a ladder and you dont see it, you die
For Runners/Lappers:
1 every 5-10 steps do a quick 360 and make sure your being followed
2 keep a shotgun in one of your weapon slots, if you get surprised its handy to 1shotkill a zombie.
3 dont go running around blind corners, toss a grenade first or avoid them like the plague
For Zombies:
Starting out as a zombie:
1 Know where humans camp and the route they take to get there, if you cut them off and infect a few early, your chances of winning vastly improve
After being infected:
1 If humans are camping in a crowd, hide by a dead body with a shotgun next to it, chances are a human low on ammo will make a dash for that ammo and make it easier to kill them
2 Make it a point to learn exactly how to effectivaly kill humans such as my method on "Longest"
I shall not go into details otherwise, lol, it wouldnt be effective.
Hit humans thru a wall in longest. thats all i shall say.
I am effective as a zombie, because i know at least one way to get humans that they rarely watch, on almost every map
Hope these tips help.
Add nygiants8 on xfire if you need more help with being an effective and annoyingly good zombie and a pretty dang good human as well.
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| collegenet |
Posted on 05/23/2012 22:18:56
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Member
Posts: 62
Joined: 21.03.12
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collegenet's tip to make you the best human ever
dont die
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 22:18:59
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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If you are RAGING  , take a deep breath
Bros call it "losing your cool", psychologists call it "emotionally unstable/volatile", military troops call it "belligerence", athletes call it "mental frustration", poker players call it "tilt mode", and Halo, CoD, and other multiplayer gamers call it "rage mode". However, no matter who you are, getting pissed off will generally worsen your focus/concentration, and in turn can adversely affect your Halo playing performance.
I speak from experience, not only for Halo, but also from varsity tennis, Texas Hold'em, or just chilling with a group of friends (real-life friends per se). In Halo, I admit I do rage, mas o menos. Since I am a competitor and a "try hard", I do get downright frustrated when I am unable to meet my sometimes overly-high playing expectations. Yet, I also realize raging (mostly mentally) will not make the situation any better. Therefore, breathe deeply. Calm yourself down in one way or another. I admit that typing one or mulitple profane words on chat will help me blow off some steam, but don't spam curses and don't direct curses at other players (read ZA Server Rules for more information). There are other ways to come down as well. Ambling around your computer table/desk helps. Staring at the ceiling for several seconds (while you wait to respawn) helps as well. Taking off your earphone/headphones and pressing your palms on your ears also helps. If you must, RQ. It is better to rq and get humiliated by other players while you are not there than continue playing with your head on fire and risk smashing your monitor the way you want to destroy your nemesis. 
Edited by Hotpot on 06/14/2012 23:29:38 |
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 22:24:03
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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I really appreciate the responses so far, and your insights!
Sorry I am going slow, but I am trying to post the tips and strategies I can think of one at a time.
Edited by Hotpot on 05/23/2012 22:26:20 |
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 22:35:20
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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An indicator that you are on top of your game is when other players keep on screaming that you are a "HACKER" or "BOTTER" or "LAGGER" or "WARPER", even though you never touched any hack or mod in your life before, and you have a constant 67 ping using a wired ethernet cable on an university internet service provider in a large urban area.
Edited by Hotpot on 05/24/2012 18:19:15 |
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| stunt1man |
Posted on 05/23/2012 22:49:51
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 2148
Joined: 20.02.12
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i didn't read the whole thing i am just going to give my opinion here.
as a human always watch your back and don't depend on anyone to kill a zombie for you and always keep your eyes on camo zomies. don't worry about refilling your ammo and don't go towards ammo-ammo will come to you. don't get tempted by them.
as a zombie- always try to get os in the beginning of game-os share is something new people have learned recently-thats some great strategy. never go for humans in a straight angle always zigzag. always try to get few humans in the beginning of game which will help a lot to get through the game. esp the camping maps such as ratrate or danger canyon. and for the mid game all zombies needs to get together and rush that will end the game quickly. rush never fails. probably will talk more about it later.
i didn't worry about grammar. i just got break from my sem and i didn't want to feel like i was going back to school. lmao |
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 23:10:06
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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Time to get a bit technical. This is what I learned from business school which I applied it to playing Halo: cost-benefit analysis. I can finally put my academic studies for good use! YAY!!
Yes, analyzing things can be cognitive burden, or to put it less eloquently and more coarsely, a pain in the a**. But in order for you play at a higher level, that is what your brain's gotta do. In order to excel in Halo, you have figure out what are the best weapons to use for what situations, where you want your fighting locaton to be, who you want or don't want to team up with, or whether or not you should go solo.
An obvious but essential example is whether to use a shotgun or sniper rifle. Of course both have their distinct benefits and weaknesses. SR can kill enemies at longer range but leaves you exposed to closer-quarter combat. Shottie helps you kill zombies in close quarter but you won't be able to kill them at farther distances. Therefore humans should use snipers in Death Island, Gephy, and the Danyon Canyon while they should use shottie in Chill Out, Rat Race, and Longest. *Personally, I feel that I am much better with the sniper than with the shottie but since noobs always choose shottie maps, I am constantly in a disadvantage. 
Edited by Hotpot on 06/14/2012 23:32:25 |
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| MasterA |
Posted on 05/23/2012 23:11:01
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Super Admin
Posts: 2582
Joined: 21.07.11
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I'm probably a better zombie in the server than I am human. Their are MANY tricks as dancer stated to get better. One way that most people don't realize is GET OUT OF SIGHT. On maps like Blood gulch or Hang em High zombies spawn right out in the open were the humans see u before u even move. DO NOT try to camo up and run at the humans, they already have seen you and will still be tracking you while your putting camo on.
The best method when u spawn out in the open is to actually run away into a base or to another area were you can get out of sight. Then you can put your camo on and go/sneak for the humans, they won't be able to instantly track you and you can now try and sneak up on them.
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 23:27:10
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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Continuing from my last post, another obvious but essential decision-making is whether you should kill n00bs or 1337s (if on different teams) or group up with n00bs or 1337s. I mentioned this from my previous post but here is to pro and cons regarding n00bs and 1337s, from your standpoint.
n00bs
Pro:
easier to kill, more credits (if you are either human or zombie)
Con:
have difficulty infecting other humans (if you are zombie)
tendency to rq (if you are zombie)
can't be unrelied on to watch your back (if you are human)
1337s
Pro:
more reliable to watch your back (if you are human)
*although I agree with stuntman that you cannot solely depend on any human to protect your back
infect more humans, end game (if you are zombie)
Con:
Harder to kill, more likely to die (if you are either human or zombie)
killstealers (if you are human)
Most players are somewhere in between so the pros and cons will be different for each individual. |
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| Hotpot |
Posted on 05/23/2012 23:34:42
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Senior Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 25.05.11
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Concluding my previous two posts, the examples I gave for the cost-benefit analysis should be common sense for a typical Halo player. However, there are many important cost-benefit analysis in Halo that are not so obvious, which I may explain more later on in this thread.
One of the greatest strength experienced players have other new players is that they can calculate these cost-benefit analysis in a flash and intuitively, often making the right decision. However, once when you begin thinking this way for many different scenarios, you will always have room of improvement and learn from your mistakes. |
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