Pickup Questions

[Relentless]

First things first, hello to everyone as I'm new to the forums. Nick Relentless, I migrated over from TF2 to FF. I still play TF2 (also competitively, my team placed first in ETF2L's Div4 last season), I just dont enjoy the public gaming on the afternoon anymore and TF2 Pickups are lame since everyone's just raging at the newcomers (and for Invite Pickups I'm neither good enough nor do I have enough time )

Thats where I filled the gap with FF, I fell in love with it when I downloaded it 4 days ago. The fast-paced gameplay makes it very enjoyable to me.

However, I dont want to make the same mistake as in TF2 and play 6 months of public before getting involved into the clanwar/pickup scene.

I checked out the Homepage of the #FF.Pickup Channel but I still have some questions that arent in their FAQ's. I'd appreciate it if you guys could help me out.

Afaik 4v4 att vs def is the most popular format for pickups. Are there any classlimits in pickups (besides only 1 mirv class/no snipers/no scouts, medics, spies for defense/no hwg for offense)?

Friendly Fire on/off?

Which maps are popular/can probably be played in pickups? So far I've only played Dustbowl and Cornfield once each (simply because I like ctf more^^). I do know how annoying it is when someone doesnt know the map routes/medpack & ammo positions and goes straight into pickups.

Whats the usual setup for Attack and for Defense?

Do the people there rage at newcomers?

Cheers

[MonoXideAtWork]

In pickups, insecure players will always rage at anyone within striking distance.

maps to get:

phantom
mortality
siege
plasma

things to practice: flag routes (learn the names of all the zones!!!!)

Concing (concussion jumping, using the scout and medic's conc grenades to accelerate your movement.)

communication is the biggest necessity, if you can't stop an attacker, tell the defenders where they are coming from and what class to expect.

Other than all that, GL HF.

[squeek.]

Originally Posted by Relentless

Afaik 4v4 att vs def is the most popular format for pickups. Are there any classlimits in pickups (besides only 1 mirv class/no snipers/no scouts, medics, spies for defense/no hwg for offense)?

Basically, no. Certain people don't like it when pyro is used, though.

Friendly Fire on/off?

On.

Which maps are popular/can probably be played in pickups? So far I've only played Dustbowl and Cornfield once each (simply because I like ctf more^^). I do know how annoying it is when someone doesnt know the map routes/medpack & ammo positions and goes straight into pickups.

There's a pretty large list. Most are remakes of TFC maps. Off the top of my head:

ff_destroy, ff_schtop, ff_monkey, ff_openfire, ff_mortality_gz_b1, ff_2mesa3_classic, ff_siege_classic, ff_siden_b2, ff_plasma_beta1, ff_nyx_b2, ff_bases/ff_bases_leaked, ff_chimkeyz_b5, ff_raiden_classic_b1, ff_phantom_classic_b2

You can get them all in IRC using !ffmap <mapname>, or by going here: http://www.ffpickup.com/?p=files

Whats the usual setup for Attack and for Defense?

Defense: Some combonation of soldiers, a demoman, a HW, and an engi
Offense: Medics, scouts; occasionally a spy/demo/soli/engi

Make sure to communicate with your teammates on defense to decide what class you should play. On offense, it's always better/safer to be a medic, unless you're a really good scout.

Do the people there rage at newcomers?

Certain people do. If you don't fuel their fire and make an honest attempt at improving, hopefully you'll be just fine (but no guarantees, sadly).

If you have a microphone and communicate well (call incomings/outgoings, etc) during the pickups, it'll make things go a lot smoother.

[Relentless]

So ctf-maps are played as well? Which format is it there then? I guess 4v4 for a map like monkey might be a bit too less players but apparently 8v8 isnt popular anymore since the playerbase is much smaller.

Oh and one more question, does the pickup channel use Mumble or Ventrilo for communication?

[squeek.]

Originally Posted by Relentless

So ctf-maps are played as well? Which format is it there then? I guess 4v4 for a map like monkey might be a bit too less players but apparently 8v8 isnt popular anymore since the playerbase is much smaller.

4v4 OvD is almost exactly what an 8v8 full game is (just done in 2 rounds instead of one). It also allows for all players to play both offense and defense in 1 pickup (to improve both skillsets).

Also, CTF is played almost exclusively. Every once in a while there'll be a pickup on ksour_classic or avanti_classic, but they are pretty rare.

Oh and one more question, does the pickup channel use Mumble or Ventrilo for communication?

Usually just ingame voice.

[Relentless]

Ah alright, I quite misunderstood then. I think I got it now. Eg the map is lets say ff_destroy, the blue team only attacks for 15mins and the red team only defends, and then another 15mins red only attacks and blue only defends, right?

I thought 4v4 OvD means only maps like dustbowl, cornfield, anticitizen etc are played.

[squeek.]

Originally Posted by Relentless

Ah alright, I quite misunderstood then. I think I got it now. Eg the map is lets say ff_destroy, the blue team only attacks for 15mins and the red team only defends, and then another 15mins red only attacks and blue only defends, right?

Yep; but, the players of each team switch after the first round, not the roles of each team (blue is always offense).

[Relentless]

Ok thanks for the kind responses. See you ingame soon (hopefully)