Left 4 Dead Confession- Team Killing for a Reason

[Bofus Teefus]

-The Background-

Since the game's release, there have been countless threads on any given site addressing the douchebaggery that goes on in L4D's multiplayer community- especially with the 360 players like myself. It seems to boil down to few categories- glitching, horrible playing, mic vs no-mic and team-killing. You can make more up, this is just how I simplify it.

As for me- I wear a mic, do not glitch in versus, don't suck, do look out for incapped teammates, and have never ever team-killed. I've also had pretty good luck in finding good people to play with, so I've looked down at all of the complaining about the community, and from the comfortable seat of my high horse, have usually said "well I don't have that problem."

-The Story-

A few days ago, I started a game of No Mercy with one good player, (who will be called Good Guy #2 to protect his identity)notoriouslynx and two guys with no mics. It seemed like the mic-less guys were having a hard time navigating or something. It took a couple minutes to get them down to the first floor and into the street, and they just seemed to stand around alot. It was confusing. The first level took way longer than it should have.

The second level (subway) went somewhat smooth until after the horde that is activated by opening the door (in the room with the generator things.) They wouldn't follow us up the stairs. At this point, Good Guy #2notoriouslynx and I decided to go on ahead. We got to the saferoom and waited, watching as they struggled. Finally, they made it to the street, where one died, leaving the other incapped. Since we couldn't otherwise communicate with them, the decision was made to shoot the remaining one in the head as a statement.

As soon as we spawned in the saferoom of the next level (sewer), the mic-less guys opened fire on us. Good Guy #2notoriouslynx and I raced to the diner while shooting back at them and slammed the door shut. Once they had struggled to the door we were standing behind, we opened fire, incapping one of them, and ran around a corner so the standing one couldn't shoot us. When he went to revive the one who we'd incapped, I went and threw a molotov through the hole we'd shot in the door, leaving both incapped and on fire. They died, dropped the game, and were replaced by to non-wanks.

-The Questions-

- Have I crossed the line and become a team-killing douchebag based on these two morons who's misery I helped put them out of?
- Does it help that I was laughing my ass off as I threw the molotov?
- Was it justified? - We did fire the first shot.
- If you raise the douchebag flag, then how would you handle it? (Can't kick- it would be 2 vs 2)
- Do I have to trade in my high horse for something else now...like a pony?

 

[Krakyn]

Nah, you're fine. I don't have Xbox live or anything, never played online multiplayer with mics or anything, but the way you describe it, you're in the clear.

If they don't use mics and can't take the cues you guys give to move on, then on top of that fail miserably, then you have a right to move on without them. And I assume that if you're incapacitated, you need somebody to help you. If you had to go back out and risk losing the game because they were holding you back, getting rid of them Old 'Yeller-style was the best thing you could do.

 

[TimeLord]

- Have I crossed the line and become a team-killing douchebag based on these two morons who's misery I helped put them out of?

I think you over-reacted but if they really were as bad as you say I can see how it could have gotten very frustrating.

- Does it help that I was laughing my ass off as I threw the molotov?

I can see how it would have been funny to set them on fire

- Was it justified? - We did fire the first shot.

You fired first, your fault, you could have waited or left the game to find new players

- If you raise the douchebag flag, then how would you handle it? (Can't kick- it would be 2 vs 2)

I wouldn't say douchebag, just don't make a habit of it.

- Do I have to trade in my high horse for something else now...like a pony?

No, you have fallen off said horse and others who are on said horse are looking down at you.



P.S I would like to point out I have done something similar to you and so I am on no such animals

 

[Rossmallo]

I think it was incredibly justified, so don't worry about it. People have to do worse than that to get truly blackmarked.

 

[ObadiahBlack]

While I cannot say that team-killing is the best or most efficient course of action, these people have no business playing a multiplayer game without the necessary equipment or experience, i.e. mics. The ability to communicate and cooperate is vital in a highly Co-Op necessary game like L4D, and the fact that they couldn't makes them little more than a liability.

All in all, I would have to say that your actions were negative, but at the time necessary.
And that they were just being dick players.

 

[zacaron]

I say your fine a one time lapse wont hurt just dont make a habbit of it

 

[thiosk]

If the zombie apocalypse hits and two mutes are keeping my tight knit group of survivors from escaping, you can bet your sweet ass i'm popping one or both of them, taking their ammo and medkits, and going on my merry way.

Survival of the fittest during the zombie apocalypse, no room for idiots.

edit: more common than team killing i've seen people who during the last map, after getting pummeled, just sit in the saferoom and refuse to move. and you slowly have to tick them down, one hunter swipe at a time, with them typing profanity into the chat log.

 

[Flap Jack452]

That was totally justified, sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the benefit of those around you.

 

[ae86gamer]

You taught them a valuable lesson. Actually know how to play the game well and get mics.

 

[teisjm]

I wish i could teamkill in DotA from time to time

 

[Magnikai]

How did they not have mics? They come with the console.

 

[Mintycabbage]

I am on a low badger

 

[Jumplion]

Well, you had mics right? Did you tell the micless guys that you were going to shoot them and let them catch up at the next spawn point?

If you didn't, I'd assume that they assumed that you were being a douche and team-killing for no reason.

 

[Zersy]

You taught them a valuable lesson. Actually know how to play the game well and get mics.

I don't think mics are that much of a need to succes since if your a good player you should know what to do and when to do

mics just make it a funnier ...

then again this is only my opinion

 

[johnman]

While I cannot say that team-killing is the best or most efficient course of action, these people have no business playing a multiplayer game without the necessary equipment or experience, i.e. mics. The ability to communicate and cooperate is vital in a highly Co-Op necessary game like L4D, and the fact that they couldn't makes them little more than a liability.

All in all, I would have to say that your actions were negative, but at the time necessary.
And that they were just being dick players.

So becuase they didnt have mics they shouldnt be playing the game? Thats whats called a twat statement. I played L4d without a mic for the first month, and while its not as eas yas it could be, its entirely doable so long as your a good player.
Saying that they have no business play it is like saying somebody had no business play Red alert 3 because they havent played 1 and 2

 

[TimeLord]

Teamkilling only leads to tears in the end.

Was on CoD4 the other night, and was playing hardcore S+D. One idiot in our team had an RPG and every time we spawned, he fired it at the ground taking out 4-5 of out 6 man team. This is pure idiocy and people like this should be banned.

 

[Trivun]

While I cannot say that team-killing is the best or most efficient course of action, these people have no business playing a multiplayer game without the necessary equipment or experience, i.e. mics. The ability to communicate and cooperate is vital in a highly Co-Op necessary game like L4D, and the fact that they couldn't makes them little more than a liability.

All in all, I would have to say that your actions were negative, but at the time necessary.
And that they were just being dick players.

If the players didn't have mics then that doesn't mean they shouldn't have been playing the game. I have L4D and I don't have a mic. If somebody doesn't have a mic then it's no reason to stop them playing, that's just discriminatory and douchebaggy (assuming that's a word...). However, if they don't have mics then they should still know how to play the game, if not then you can I suppose be justified for wanting them out. If somebody doesn't have a mic then they should still be able to play provided they're decent players and can actually understand what's happening and what to do, otherwise yes, kick them.

In this case, I think Bofus can be reasonably excused for his actions, since the other two clearly had no idea what to do or where to go. There's a reason the game suggests you practise on the single-player campaign before trying online multiplayer (the bulk of the game) out. However, I would just mention that it's probably best not to do it again...

 

[Cliff_m85]

When everyone in my party (people I didn't know) told me to wait 30 minutes so they could go get high I decided to get my achievement of healing and giving pain pills to team mates.

 

[jsd379]

Yeah, trust me you are not a douchebag. I don't have Xbox live but watch my friend play and now all he does is team kill, it is kind of funny once or twice, but he doesn't even try to play any more. As long is your goal is to actually play the game and not ruin the online experience for anyone else, your ok.

 

[disturbed0ne]

I say you're fine. Shooting the guy in the head when he was already incapped is hardly the same as their response: trying to kill both of you as soon as the next round started. I would have laughed at the molotov too.

Teamkilling them at that point was videogame-self-defense, if anything. You've only crossed into douchebagdom if you continue teamkilling for the fun of it in every round you play from now on.