Any tips for a Call of Duty newbie?

[DrEmo]

Like most gamers nowadays, I love shooters. Give me a game with some guns and a few opponents and I'll enjoy it (most of the times), but there's one shooter I had never played despite its popularity: Call of Duty. Even after the success of Modern Warfare, World at War, Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops, most recently, I had never played it. I decided to give it a try last weekend and I rented Black Ops. I started playing and realized... I didn't know what I was doing. It was a shooter like any other, but my k/d ratio was 0.3 after a few matches and I found out I was dying more than I should.

I know it's normal for that to happen, but ending matches with 4 kills and 15 deaths isn't my idea of fun. I kept playing to try to get better at it but I'm still coming out with negative scores. The game itself is ok. It's not a bad shooter, just not that magnificent. I know a lot of you are going to say "Maybe you just don't like it." or "You just suck at it" or "Bad Company 2 is better, anwyays." (Last one is true.) but, the thing is: A.) I actually like it. It's not the mind-blowing life-changing explosion of gaming perfection everyone makes it out to be, but it's a decent shooter that provides some tasty entertainment... and you can shoot knives at people.
B.) I suck at it because I'm just starting out.
C.) I know Bad Company 2 is better, but none of my friends have it. Playing with a bunch of silent, uncoordinated teammates is not as fun as playing with your loud friends.

Seeing as how I kind of enjoy it and would like to continue, I thought I'd ask other people for advice to see if I can get better or at least stop sucking enough to help the team rather than be a liability.

What I do during a match:
I use mostly a Silenced M16 with a reflex sight, Lightweight, Warlord and Tactical mask (I use nova grenades) or a Silenced MP5K with an extended magazine, Lightweight, Warlord and Hacker (I hate claymores).
My play style is run 'n gun. I'm constantly moving around, mostly around the outside of the map, picking off any unlucky players who happen to be there. I'm pretty accurate with the gas grenades and I can use them effectively since I can walk through the gas using the T. Mask perk (I throw a grenade then walk straight through it to ambush whoever's on the other side of the cloud.) I also enjoy using the ballistic knife and can calculate its trajectory on an ok level.


Ways I keep dying:
Killstreaks. I'm that unlucky guy that gets napalm strikes dumped on him. It's happened twice already. I always get killed from the back, too. If I die 10 times in a match, 9 of those deaths will be from an enemy standing behind me. I'm pretty bad at calculating the appropriate melee distance, too.

So, Escapists, any tips?


EDIT
A lot of people have told me to not get pissed off if I get killed. Well, that's definitely something I didn't take into consideration. I get stark-raving mad after dying 3 times in a row. I guess that breaks my concentration.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

1. Stick to the outside of the map.... this is one thing you're doing right. The middle is a deathtrap in COD.

2. Don't sprint everywhere... move carefully from cover to cover. Use the level geometry to your advantage. Get to high ground or try to find chest high objects to shoot from behind.

3. Learn when to use your sights and when to hip fire. This will come with practice.

4. Learn the spawns. This is very important. The spawns in Black ops are pretty dire sometimes and you need to learn the spots where people might spawn behind you, and when the spawns are going to flip (i.e. when your team pushes into the other team's spawn)

5. Don't use a silencer if possible. They rob you of a lot of stopping power and usually require 1 more bullet to kill.

6. Learn to use iron sights. Frees up another attachment like Dual Mag, which gives you faster reload and extra ammo.

7. If you have bad luck with M16, try a fully auto like the FAMAS or AUG. They are very effective once you get the (minimal) recoil under control.

Get Hardened Pro as soon as you can. You can shoot through walls better and the pro-version stops you from flinching when you get shot.... great for winning 1v1 battles.

8. Unlock the AK74-u. Every other SMG is shit compared to it.

9. Practice... I know it's obvious but it's true.

10. Most importantly:

WATCH THE KILLCAM

This way you will learn how other players out-played you.

COD4 was my first ever shooter, I was awful when I started. Negative in every game.

Now in Black Ops I have a 1.56 K ratio which isn't bad for a 30 year old with terrible reflexes... it's all about playing smart and using the maps to your advantage.

Hope this helps

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Also, go on Youtube and watch gameplay commentaries by:

Blame Truth
Xcalizorz
Hutch
Seananners
404Thunder404
WingsOfRedemption
Woody's Gamertag

Here's a good one by Woody:


...there's a whole COD tips/commentaries community out there. Enjoy!

 

[DrEmo]

don't type so much, we don't like reading.

Wow! Thanks to your post my K/D ratio is now 4.0! Thank you, sir! Thank you ever so much for sharing this nugget of pure wisdom with me.

1. Stick to the outside of the map.... this is one thing you're doing right. The middle is a deathtrap in COD.

2. Don't sprint everywhere... move carefully from cover to cover. Try to find chest high objects to shoot from behind.


3. Learn when to use your sights and when to hip fire. This will come with practice.

4. Learn the spawns. The spawns in Black ops are pretty dire sometimes and you need to learn the spots where people might spawn behind you, and when the spawns are going to flip (i.e. when your team pushes into the other team's spawn)

5. Don't use a silencer if possible. They rob you of a lot of stopping power and usually require 1 more bullet to kill.

6. Learn to use iron sights. Frees up another attachment like Dual Mag, which gives you faster reload and extra ammo.

7. If you have bad luck with M16, try a fully auto like the FAMAS or AUG. They are very effective once you get the (minimal) recoil under control.

8. Unlock the AK74-u. Every other SMG is shit compared to it.

9. Practice... I know it's obvious but it's true.

10. Most importantly:

WATCH THE KILLCAM

This way you will learn how other players out-played you.

COD4 was my first ever shooter, I was awful when I started. Negative in every game.

Now in Black Ops I have a 1.56 K ratio which isn't bad for a 30 year old with terrible reflexes... it's all about playing smart and using the maps to your advantage.

Hope this helps

Now that you mention it, I sprint everywhere. I should stop doing that.

About the killcam: Once, the killcam showed how I got killed by some dude with an AUG. I had my ballistic knife out, rounded a corner and saw him right in front of me so I shot the knife and he killed me. Baffled by this, I check the killcam to see what happened and why my knife didn't kill him and, according to the killcam, I shot my knife directly upwards. My guy was looking forward the whole time, but the knife flew directly upwards.

 

[Infinatex]

Camp. It's sounds dog but this is a good way to get those killstreaks going.

Silencer. This is key. You are quieter and you don't appear on the map when you shoot. Useful in every game, but crucial in FFA and SnD.

Learn to use all weapon types. Nothing is worse then being one or two kills away from that Rolling Thunder to find you've run out of ammo. Know all weapons is useful as you can pick up anyones weapon and still be deadly.

Learn the maps. The more you play, the more you will know how the maps play out.

UAV. Keep tabs on enemy positions. This is a great killstreak, useful all the time.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

[
Now that you mention it, I sprint everywhere. I should stop doing that.

About the killcam: Once, the killcam showed how I got killed by some dude with an AUG. I had my ballistic knife out, rounded a corner and saw him right in front of me so I shot the knife and he killed me. Baffled by this, I check the killcam to see what happened and why my knife didn't kill him and, according to the killcam, I shot my knife directly upwards. My guy was looking forward the whole time, but the knife flew directly upwards.

Well, the killcam does lie sometimes.

Did you get view kicked perhaps? It's when getting shot knocks your body upwards and sends your aim off. Get Hardened Pro and this won't happen. I never use anything other than Hardened Pro as it also lets you shoot through walls as if they were paper.

Killcams also lie when it comes to lag.

If you want to get into COD, be prepared to rage at killcams that show you not fire a single shot, even though you emptied an entire magazine into someone's face.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Camp. It's sounds dog but this is a good way to get those killstreaks going.

You'll never get better at the game doing this. I would advise against this course of action unless you're a K whore.

Silencer. This is key. You are quieter and you don't appear on the map when you shoot. Useful in every game, but crucial in FFA and SnD.

Again I disagree... Black Ops can be very slow and boring due to everyone using Ghost, so I like them to know where I am and come to me.

Learn to use all weapon types. Nothing is worse then being one or two kills away from that Rolling Thunder to find you've run out of ammo. Know all weapons is useful as you can pick up anyones weapon and still be deadly.

Learn the maps. The more you play, the more you will know how the maps play out.

Agree with both of these, good tips.

UAV. Keep tabs on enemy positions. This is a great killstreak, useful all the time.

I would add to this that when the other team are all using Ghost the UAV will just get you killed more than help you. So if you see lots of Bush Wookies running around don't trust the UAV too much, just use it to get a general idea of where they are spawning.

 

[e2density]

Play something else...
Seriously. You will never progress in a game like that. You will learn the mechanics, start to learn a little bit, and finally hit that spot where you realize what you are doing. You notice what you are doing wrong, and you are working to correct them.

And then they release a new game. Congratulations, time to start all over again.

 

[FlyAwayAutumn]

don't type so much, we don't like reading.

Wow! Thanks to your post my K/D ratio is now 4.0! Thank you, sir! Thank you ever so much for sharing this nugget of pure wisdom with me.

-Snip-

Now that you mention it, I sprint everywhere. I should stop doing that.

About the killcam: Once, the killcam showed how I got killed by some dude with an AUG. I had my ballistic knife out, rounded a corner and saw him right in front of me so I shot the knife and he killed me. Baffled by this, I check the killcam to see what happened and why my knife didn't kill him and, according to the killcam, I shot my knife directly upwards. My guy was looking forward the whole time, but the knife flew directly upwards.

That's because when you get shot any projectile you're shooting off will go in any random direction. If you want more kills, don't use ballistic knife. It's O.K to use and tons of fun but you can't use it and expect to murder with it.

Other than that go with MiracleofSound he "Sounds" like he knows what he's doing! Huh? Huh?

Seriously though.

 

[RheynbowDash]

Only advice i can give you:

PRACTICE. PRACTICE. PRACTICE.

 

[Sacul]

1. Stick to the outside of the map.... this is one thing you're doing right. The middle is a deathtrap in COD.

2. Don't sprint everywhere... move carefully from cover to cover. Use the level geometry to your advantage. Get to high ground or try to find chest high objects to shoot from behind.

3. Learn when to use your sights and when to hip fire. This will come with practice.

4. Learn the spawns. This is very important. The spawns in Black ops are pretty dire sometimes and you need to learn the spots where people might spawn behind you, and when the spawns are going to flip (i.e. when your team pushes into the other team's spawn)

5. Don't use a silencer if possible. They rob you of a lot of stopping power and usually require 1 more bullet to kill.

6. Learn to use iron sights. Frees up another attachment like Dual Mag, which gives you faster reload and extra ammo.

7. If you have bad luck with M16, try a fully auto like the FAMAS or AUG. They are very effective once you get the (minimal) recoil under control.

Get Hardened Pro as soon as you can. You can shoot through walls better and the pro-version stops you from flinching when you get shot.... great for winning 1v1 battles.

8. Unlock the AK74-u. Every other SMG is shit compared to it.

9. Practice... I know it's obvious but it's true.

10. Most importantly:

WATCH THE KILLCAM

This way you will learn how other players out-played you.

COD4 was my first ever shooter, I was awful when I started. Negative in every game.

Now in Black Ops I have a 1.56 K ratio which isn't bad for a 30 year old with terrible reflexes... it's all about playing smart and using the maps to your advantage.

Hope this helps

That's all great advice and I'd suggest you listen to it but I have two more tips for you.

1. Don't stare at the radar just glance at it every 10 seconds or so.

2. Don't care about your deaths. You die check the killcam respawn and forget you were on a killstreak. It might just be me but whenever I actually try to get high killstreaks I have trouble even getting a spy plane half the time, but when I stop caring at all I can suddenly run around mowing down every enemy in sight. So basically what I'm saying is just have fun with it and try to not get annoyed or anything because you will just end up playing worse.

 

[Infinatex]

Black Ops can be very slow and boring due to everyone using Ghost, so I like them to know where I am and come to me.

Too true! I always have an unsilenced secondary for just this reason. Stick a claymore on the ground, fire a few rounds from my pistol, then leg it to a safe place to pick up the stragglers with the silenced rifle.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

2. Don't care about your deaths. You die check the killcam respawn and forget you were on a killstreak. It might just be me but whenever I actually try to get high killstreaks I have trouble even getting a spy plane half the time, but when I stop caring at all I can suddenly run around mowing down every enemy in sight. So basically what I'm saying is just have fun with it and try to not get annoyed or anything because you will just end up playing worse.

Totally this... best advice on the thread.

Can't believe I forgot to mention it.

Never play COD when you're angry or frustrated, stop immediately if you start to get annoyed with it because you'll more than likely start playing really badly when pissed off.

I learned this the hard way after one two many red-faced rage sessions

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Black Ops can be very slow and boring due to everyone using Ghost, so I like them to know where I am and come to me.

Too true! I always have an unsilenced secondary for just this reason. Stick a claymore on the ground, fire a few rounds from my pistol, then leg it to a safe place to pick up the stragglers with the silenced rifle.

Hehe.... sneaky tactic but it totally works

My favorite spot is the ruin on Jungle:

Stick a Claymore down beside the camping platform, fire off a shot or two then patrol the area between the chest high wall looking at the village and the back path through the archway. Easy 4-5 kills most of the time.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Play something else...
Seriously. You will never progress in a game like that. You will learn the mechanics, start to learn a little bit, and finally hit that spot where you realize what you are doing. You notice what you are doing wrong, and you are working to correct them.

And then they release a new game. Congratulations, time to start all over again.

The core mechanics stay the same through all COD games. Getting good at one will make you better at the next one.

 

[TerranReaper]

Don't be too concerned with K/D if you're just starting out. Unless you can magically play better when stressed and pissed off, you'll start making stupid decisions that make you play worse.

Despite what some people say, M16 is really not that bad of a gun if you know how to use it well (Though I used it a shitload in CoD4). Although automatics tend to be a lot easier to use and a lot more versatile in most situations.

Don't just run and gun, I've seen so many people ragequit a game just because they believe they are above using a certain tactic in a game, don't be afraid to camp and don't be afraid to run and gun, just have some kind of judgement on when you should one over the other.

Don't become too dependent on the spy plane or your minimap, I don't advocate not using it at all, but I can't count the amount of times I've died just because I was distracted on looking at the minimap. Considering the Ghost perk blocks the spy plane from spotting them, this is even bigger in Black Ops.

Remember the maps well, remember the popular camping spots and where people tend to run to.

Most importantly, practice. You actually learn more by playing against better players than playing against players your level. Although whether you can stand getting curb-stomped for a little bit is up to you.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

As for being the victim of napalm, look on the minimap and see what line the planes are flying in and get out of the way. It's pretty easy to avoid.

Anyway, some general tips would be to obviously, learn the maps and the popular camping spots and hot zones. Also, and this is key for me, don't forget to LISTEN. Hearing someone has saved my ass and gotten me more kills than I can count.

Just play around with different loadouts until you find something you like. I always use suppressed weapons with Ghost pro, Ninja pro, and Steady Aim pro. I just like playing that way.