FPS: Predicting Movements

Here is a critical topic for anyone who plays FPS games. Predicting movements can be a tough topic to master, but it is so crucial in giving you the upper hand. It builds upon the map understanding you gain from the previous FPS post.

In predicting the movement of another player, you need to get an idea of what most people will do in a given situation. For example, you see someone running behind a building or box, we can safely assume that as long as they know that no one is tracking them, they will continue to run out from the other side of the building (or box). However, if you shoot at them and they know you are tracking them, then you can't be sure what side of the building they will come out from, thus your element of surprise is lost. We'll discuss this more in a post on patience.

The general thought that you have to ponder is what would you do in a given situation. For instance, if you are approaching a camped defender, you probably wouldn't go charging at his fortified position, but try to find another way around to get a cleaner shot on him. So when you are the camped defender, think about how your team could really surprise and ambush someone who is trying to circumvent the set defenses.

The final point I'll make on this topic is predicting movements when you are locked in a fight. Generally most people will try to avoid fire however possible, by jumping, ducking, or strafing. If you are both doing the same things, then it comes down more to luck on who will come out alive. So think about the possibility of stepping out of the battle to entice your enemey to follow, then you have set a trap for him and you now have the upper hand again. We'll also discuss this more in a later post on turning the tables.

RTS Game: Spring

My next few posts will be about Spring, an open source real time strategy game based on Total Annihilation. The goal of this project is to create the best real time strategy game ever, and I think they are on their way to reaching that goal. To get started with this game, check out the Download section on the Spring website.

FPS: Learning Maps

This may seem like an obvious tip, but it is so crucial that I thought it should be the first place someone would start in improving their FPS skills. For any particular game you play, you should go through the multiplayer maps by yourself to run around and get a feel for the environment. Obviously each map will be different in its features, hiding places, and tricky locations. After you have had a chance to review the map by yourself, look up the map online to see if others have found some spots that you have missed.
I'll include some posts with particular maps and strategies for those maps, so send any requests for a map that you are looking to improve on and we can work through them together.

FPS: General Ideas

The main idea to consider with first person shooters (FPS) is how to get the first shot. Naturally getting the first shot will give you the best chance of getting the kill since, with both people at full health, your opponent's health should be going down first, and as long as you can maintain damage to him, you should come out on top. This makes sense, but how do you get the first shot? The major principles I will discuss are map knowledge, predicting movements, misdirection.

I will also go into other topics such as how to turn the tables when someone gets the first shot on you, knowing when to run for your life, and some ways to gain a psychological advantage in future posts, so stay tuned!

How Strategy Applies to Gaming

When studying military history, the most obvious application that comes to mind is for real time strategy (RTS) games. However, the principles learned through studying can be applied equally to any adversarial games.
In first person shooters (FPS), for instance, one of the main principles to apply to be successful is to mislead your opponent. While these games are often fast-paced games that rely a lot on reaction times, there are many things that you can do to throw your opponent off, giving you the upper hand. Using the indirect approach, you could get behind your opponent to give you the first shot, or predict where they are going and get there first to surprise them, throwing him off and giving you the planned first shot.

I will go into more detail about how to apply strategy principles for each style of game as well as particular games in greater detail in further posts.

Basics of Military Strategy

In my studies of military strategy, the most important idea I have learned is known as the "indirect method." This method basically describes that a direct attack against an enemy is never beneficial, even if your army outnumbers theirs. A direct attack means that you are attacking the enemy where they expect you. They have prepared for this exact route of attack and how to best defend it. The indirect method describes that you should always look to throw the enemy off guard. This is usually done with the positioning of your army. If you can get behind the enemy, or break the middle of an army, then you have thrown off the enemy, they are unprepared for what they are presented with, giving you the physical and psychological advantage.
Beyond positioning, the other ways to gain an advantage over your enemy are by having an innovational weapon or method, being aware of the movements of your enemy, and by reacting BEFORE your enemy acts.
Looking at some of the great leaders in miltary history can show us how they have become successful.
Napoleon is a good one to look at. Napoleon did a number of great things to become the powerful dictator and great military leader he is known for. Particularly, for the focus of this blog, he used the indirect strategy to always keep the enemy off-balance. For instance, Napoleon would attack an enemy's flank, forcing his enemy to focus some troops on this new threat. After the opposing army separated their troops, he would send a hard attack to the middle of the army, breaking it in half, giving Napoleon a physical and psychological advantage and forcing the enemy to surrender or flee.
We shall go into some other great military leaders on some later blog posts and how each was successful with their strategy.
The indirect method (as well as the great military leaders) is described in great detail by B.H. Liddell Hart in the book "Strategy". It is a great resource in learning more about this mindset and how it has been used by the great military leaders throughout history.