Communication
This is the key to teamwork. If you don’t have a microphone, buy one. Communication through voice is fast and effective when used correctly. The radio commands or say_team are rather limited and slow respectively. Being able to talk directly to teammates and have them being able to talk back is most important in teamwork. Consider the difference between using the radio command "Enemy spotted" and simply saying, "Enemy in top right window and one at bottom window".
Voice chat can easily turn even a group of intermediate players into a well-oiled killing machine.
How to use the voice communication
The voice feature is a great add on to Half-Life. It has limitations though. Try not to talk when someone else is talking. Nobody hears what both of you are saying and you have to repeat everything you said. Also try to be as short but precise as possible when you use voice communication. Keep the line open.
When you play in a team you sooner or later get to know the people. They become your friends and enjoy your company. It is really easy to start talking about stuff that is not associated with the game. Know when to talk about everyday life and not. By you chattering you may conceal enemy sounds from a teammate which could lead to his death. When you are dead it is a good time to talk about this stuff. Remember to stop when the new round begins. If you don’t your teammate might mute you and when you scream for help he won’t hear you …
It is very important to speak the same language. Assigning general, simple and descriptive names to features of the map is a good way to start. By doing this the communication will be short and precise. Avoid using “left†and “right†if there are possibilities to interpret “left†and “right†in many different ways. E.g. on de_centurion the left bombsite could be the statue or the amphitheatre depending on what direction you spawn as a T. Saying “statue†or “theatre†makes it much clearer.
But only assigning the two bomb spots will not get you far. For example on Rio de Janeiro (cs_rio) there are many positions that need to be assigned and have been. Water tower, kitchen, toilets, soccer field, basement etc. are commonly used names even on public servers. Learn them and use them. “Sniper in water tower†is way faster to say than “sniper on the cliff above the soccer field between the small cliff and the house on the rockâ€.
If you tell somebody “Follow me†it is good if you hold your voice button down for a few more seconds so the teammate is able to locate you (with the help of the yellow speaker symbol above your head ) and see where you are going.
When spotting an enemy (or an enemy attack) tell your team first then engage. If you engage first and die your team will not know if it was one enemy or the entire enemy team that came through your position. It is better to tell your team about the attack and then dying than you maybe getting one kill.
Warning!
If you use voice_loopback 1 make sure that you do not cause any feedback. If you are using a directed microphone (most stand alone desktop mics) then do no point it at your speakers.
If your microphone picks up sound from all directions (some headset mics), then do not put it in front of the speakers, or turn your speakers off.
You will recognise feedback by a high pitched whining sound whenever you press the speak button, as well as people using the "admin_vote_kick you" command!
by Sadako and Wintermute
Don't forget to use the basic radio commands that are in the menus. Use the roger that/affirmative command when you have got the order. By using the radio command you keep the voice comms clear. But as stated above they are limited but still good for confirmations.
The "enemy spotted" command could be useful within a smaller group if the team is split up and the group is advancing in a certain direction.
The in position or reporting in is also useful when reaching a pre-determined spot for you or your group.
Bind the keys that you frequently use (or should use) nearby your movement keys. By default you have the menus on z, x, and c, but do you really need the menus there? If you only use 3 or 4 commands and you should consider to replace the menus by these commands.
You can easily do this in the Nextwish's buy script. You will find the link in the downloads section.
http://www.deadmen.co.uk/downloads.html (http://www.deadmen.co.uk/downloads.html)
personally I only have 1 bind for ingame radio commands "enemy spotted" is bound to c. You might want to add some commands to close the radio menu. Mine is overly complex and needs changing...
// voice binds
alias "msg_spotted" "radio3; ms2"
unbind c
bind c "msg_spotted"
I also made a little script that cycles through the 3 radio menus so you only need one button for them, just in case you fancy using the other commands.
//Radio command menu cycling...
alias "vm_1" "alias vm_cycle vm_2; radio1"
alias "vm_2" "alias vm_cycle vm_3; radio2"
alias "vm_3" "alias vm_cycle vm_1; radio3"
alias "vm_cycle" "vm_1"
unbind x
bind x "vm_cycle"
Bear in mind that your voice-comms have 1 to 2 seconds delay in the game whereas the radio commands are as instant as shooting at someone.
Sad to say, I have become conditioned to ignore radio commands after having been exposed to indiscriminate 'need backup NOW!' 2 seconds out of spawn. Not to mention other mindless radio calls perpetrated by idiots!(can't think what they are now)The only one I acknowledge is 'roger that' in response to something I have said.
Also, having heard 'enemy spotted' or suchlike, it's then too late to check the radar to see where the call came from. Unless of course you are blessed with the ability to see all things at all times. Unfortunatly, I'm not. :(
Be pro, get a mike. :)
The only problem that I can see with the standard radio commands is that they can give your position away. If you are hiding close to the enemy they can hear them too.
QuoteThe only problem that I can see with the standard radio commands is that they can give your position away. If you are hiding close to the enemy they can hear them too.
That used to be the case but it was removed in 1.5 8)
I'm pretty sure that the enemy can see the radio gubbins that lights up above your head when you speak. For example as a CT at last nights practice I could see TeaLeaf's radio graphic above his head when he was speaking. He was a T at the time. You can obviously see it poking up above boxes etc.
Seems stupid and I hope they fix it in 1.6/CZ
TL had switched 'All Talk' on I presume as it doesn't happen normally.
QuoteTL had switched 'All Talk' on I presume as it doesn't happen normally.
thats correct oldie TL had all talk on thats why it could be seen
Ah ha
It made fraggin a darn sight easier, can we always have it on, plz????
I´ll use my mic from now on....finally got it to work!
Somebody, I don´t remember who, told me to fix it while playing, so I did...
Located the problem and solved it, but I won´t tell you what the problem was...It´s to ridiculous.... :roll:
You hadn't plugged it in had you??!!
Nah, it was plugged in he just kept forgetting to speak!
QuoteOi[-Rooster"]I´ll use my mic from now on....finally got it to work!
Somebody, I don´t remember who, told me to fix it while playing, so I did...
Located the problem and solved it, but I won´t tell you what the problem was...It´s to ridiculous.... :roll:
Clue: His lube purchase requirements have dropped 80% since his discovery that the long boom arm with the ball on the end was not a Microsoft ForceFeedback product 8O
TL. :wink:
TL, sometimes there's a darkness about you I find quite unsettling :? :wink:
:evilbat: Muhahahaha !! :evilbat:
TL. 8)
As I said, it´ll be my own secret... 8)
Clue! It worked just fine with msn messenger,but not in cs...
Now it works in both... :D
Not "There's a mute switch" ?
now now good boy you have been here long enough to have voice. Nice job.
Och hursomhelst är jag Hajen som undrar hur du hamna här?
Muppetspeak?
Quote
Och hursomhelst är jag Hajen som undrar hur du hamna här?
pm sent...