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Every
game that involves playing with other people has
its own rules and standards of etiquette and MechWarrior Online is no
exception
to this rule. Unfortunately, it’s not always obvious what
these unspoken rules
are and that can cause some clear confusion, especially when some
jackwagon
goes off and verbally berates you for violating these. Fortunately for
you,
we’ve taken some time to gather all the etiquette tips you
could hope for in
one location. Obviously, these relate mostly to PUGs (pick up groups),
but
everyone could learn a thing or two from them so let’s get
cracking!
Before
we get into tips that are specific to MechWarrior
Online, let’s go over some clear rules of player etiquette
that apply to all
games:
Do not be an ass
This is easily the most
useful and rarely adhered to rule
in the list. It’s a simple fact of life that everyone has the
occasional bad
day. Hell, I’ll even give you the benefit of the doubt and
say that you have a horrifically
stressful job and often have bad days. Even so, I have a news flash for
you –
no one wants to be around someone that is a total asshat. If
you’re having a
bad day, shut up and take it like a man (or woman) and don’t
take it out on
everyone else.
We were all noobs
at some point
You’d think I
wouldn’t need to bring this one up, but
just like the tip above, this one is also continually forgotten.
“ZOMG! If
someone asks how to turn on night vision one more time, I’m
going to lose it!”
Well guess what? The game gives players ZERO indication how to do that
along
with a bunch of other things. Hell, most players don’t even
know the option
even exists until they’re in spectator mode and see someone
else switch vision
modes. The game could be out for months and you’ll still get
the same questions
because new players will always be joining the rest of us. Get used to
it.
Either answer politely, or do everyone a favor and simply remain silent.
Both
of the above tips really boil down to one thing –
you don’t want to scare off new players with toxic community
behavior. Take a
few seconds to give someone a quick, clear, and simple answer when
questions
are asked. If you’re not in the mood to help anyone out,
great. Just don’t
shoot your mouth off instead. Everyone will thank you for it.
These
two general rules cover every game on the planet.
They’re basic rules of conduct and should become part of your
psyche if they're not already. Learn them,
love them, live by them. It’s as simple as that. Other rules
of MechWarrior
Online etiquette may not be quite as clear,
so let’s go over them now.
Do not be the boss
Now when I say
don’t hop in and become the boss of a PUG,
I don’t mean don’t give advice during the match, or
spit out a quick suggested
plan of attack, or some verbal form of coordination. Hell, I encourage
you to do
so! What I mean is don’t be that bossy player that demands
everything be done
exactly as they say and flip out when it’s not. Keep in mind
that while you may
be a person that plays a number of hours each day, most PUG players are
just
hopping in for a few matches here and there throughout the week.
They’re just
there to have some fun and blow shit up. Don’t berate them into
quitting because they
have other ideas about what they want to do.
Help coordinate
attacks in spectator mode
It may seem odd, especially
since it’s rarely seen, but
PUG teams could benefit a great deal from it. If you’re taken
out of the match
early, start swapping between teammate view screens and start calling
people to
different map sections to assist their fellow players. As an example, advise teammates
about
which members are being harassed by fast light mechs. Two light mechs
can make
life hell for a heavy mech. The addition of another teammate from
outside the
circle of gnat-death those light mechs have created can mean a world of
difference.
Don’t be afraid to
speak up
If there’s
something you’re not sure about, or if you
have an idea for an attack plan, speak up! Too many times, a PUG will
hit a
map, split into 1, 2, or 3 groups and then just go wandering into the
path of
destruction laid out by a coordinated team of opponents. Take a minute
to pipe
up and spit out an attack plan. Even if it falls apart, at least there
was some
semblance of trying. I hate feeling like my team is just running out
into the
field like lambs to slaughter.
When in an Assault
game, do not rush to the enemy base
I see it all the time, and
it drives me a little crazy.
If a match is just starting, your team needs you spotting, doing
damage, and
providing another body in the field of battle. If you’re team
is up, or all the
other mechs are otherwise occupied, then feel free to go for the
capture. The
problem is that capturing a base takes so long, that unless
there’s a concerted
effort by the team to do it, having one mech off the battlefield hurts more than the attempt at a capture helps.
Friendly fire is
not friendly
I realize that things can
get hectic in combat, but pay
attention to your map and be aware of your teammate’s
locations. Not only is
damaging your teammates a horrible idea if you want to have any chance
in hell
of winning, but you will also be penalized by the game for doing so. So
don’t!
These
are just a few of the biggest tips you should be
aware of when playing MechWarrior Online. If you have some of your own,
feel
free to share them in the comment section below!