* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * COUNTER STRIKE STRATEGY GUIDE * * * * THE STEALTH PLAYING STYLE * * * * * * * * WRITTEN BY evapilot * * * * COPYRIGHT 2002 * * * * November 27, 2002 * * * * * * * * Jeff Poole - JPoole010@yahoo.com * * * * AIM - JPoole010 * * * * * * * * Version 1.2 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Note: This strategy is based on my playing style (which seems to work pretty well) but may not blend well with your own play style. Also, if you're one of those players whom doesn't care about sound and choose to play music instead of having counter-strike sound, then don't bother reading this strategy. Every good player uses sound, and headphones to hear it with. Also, some players frown upon this type of play style, calling it "camping" and not what it truely is; a stealth play style. I believe that even camping is a legitemate play style. It's part of the game though it may seem annoying. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS * * * * * * * * 1. Stealth - Defeat your enemy before he knows you're even there * * * * 2. Conservation of Ammo - When to reload and when not to * * * * 3. The Ambush - Let the enemy come to you * * * * 4. Sniping - All it takes is a single well aimed bullet * * * * 5. Conclusion - Combine all that you have learned * * * * 6. Legal Stuff - I wrote this strategy guide, thanks :) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. STEALTH * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To begin with, the main theme so to speak of my strategy is stealth. My play style also relies heavely on defence more so then offence. But like they say, "the best offence is a good defence." In my oppinion, stealth is one of the more important aspects in winning at counter-strike. It is especially important when dealing with a few amount of enemies in which you are unsure of where they are (toward the end of a round for example.) Walking is the key to stealth of course, and knowing when it is safe to run. Knowing when it is safe to run can be tough but there are a few things to keep in mind; If you know where the enemy is and he does not know where you are, then walk (this is obvious;) If you both know where each other are, then you have 2 choices. Either run and rush your enemy, or change your position as quickly as possible by walking. Reach a better spot and wait for your enemy to give away his position, then move in for an ambush. Dependent of the situation, either can be falable. If you have given away your position and are unsure where your enemy is, do not ever attack blindly; Your enemy will have an easy kill. Instead, you should always reposition yourself. Evaluate your soroundings and react. Either get to an easier defendable area or find a hiding spot and wait in ambush or until your enemy leaves the area. To be good at stealth and ambush techniques, it is important that you are good at locating your enemies. Always listen for footsteps, jumping, changing weapons, reloading, etc.. If you have located your enemy and you hear him begin to reload, this is obviously a great opportunity for your attack but be quick because you have little time. Also the split second after your enemy throws a grenade is a small opportunity for attack. Your enemy will least expect an attack directly after he has thrown a flash bang in your direction. Knowing when to make your move or attack is an important aspect of stealth. If you spot an enemy, think before you make your attack. First make sure he is alone. If he isn't, plan how you will dispose of any other enemies in the area or how you will make your escape after you make the initial kill. Speed is not always the most important part of all this. If you spot 2 enemies, wait for the perfect moment to kill them. Wait for them to drop their guard or for them to be occupied in something else. Using a decoy is an excellent wait for preoccupy an enemy. If you use a friend to lure an enemy away, you can easily make the kill without even alerting him of your presence. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2. Conservation of Ammo * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The next step in the "know when to do" list is conservation of ammo and knowing when to reload. Knowing when to reload can mean the the difference in you dieing or living. For example, an enemy has just come from a hallway and instead of looking left in your direction, he ran to the right. You easily shoot him in the back and are left with 17 bullets left in your mp5. Now is NOT a good time to reload. For all you know, that enemy's buddies were right behind him but waiting for him to give the coast clear signal. While you are reloading, they rush in and dispose of you like yesterday's trash. Unless you know for fact that this is not going to happen, then don't do it. Instead, back your way out while focusing on where the enemy came from. Rapidly change your position and retreat to a safer spot before reloading. Let's back track a second. Now, instead of 17 bullets remaining let's say you emptied your gun. Now is the time to pull out your side arm. The only time you should ever reload while under fire is when you have back-up with you providing defence and cover fire. Now let's say you were able to dispose of the enemy using only a few bullets, and you think there were one or more enemies following behind the one you just killed. What ever you do, you're going to have to move. You could however make a surprise move on the other enemies. As soon as you kill the first one, pop out and rush the area from where he just came. You may be able catch the others by surprise. My last point is about conserving your ammo. Here is an example: You have just ambushed an enemy and his backup, 2 more enemies, rush in thinking you will be low on ammo. Little do they know, you used little ammo disposing of the first enemy and have plenty to kill them with too. Being able to conserve your ammo can only come with practice and good aim. You will need to be able to always keep your hand and mouse steady during a fire fight. Try to always aim at the enemy's head or at his chest; these wounds will inflict the most damage and require the least amount of ammo. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3. The Ambush * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * My next point accross is the art of the ambush. Some call this camping, I call it ambushing; there is a difference. Camping, in my mind, is when a player goes straight to a hiding spot at the start of a round and just sits there. An ambush however comes when you know where the enemy is so you hide yourself near the enemy's path. Emedietly after, you are moving on to the next kill; not camping, and never staying in the same spot for long. One good oportunity for an ambush is when you have given away your position and the enemy is moving in on you. As quickly as possible, hide yourself where you will have an easy shot at the oncoming enemy. Giving away your position can also be used to your advantage, however. If you let your opponent know where you are, he may attack you blindly in all his excitement. Little does he know, though, that you are laying in wait for him to carelessly stumble in. Another oportunity is, like I said above, when you know where the enemy is and predict where he is moving to. Quickly position yourself near his path of travel and wait for him. Lastly, a good strategy of ambushing is not always hiding in the good yet obvious hiding spots. If you can position yourself in another spot to where you can watch the "good yet obvious" hiding spot, you can wait for an enemy to come and check it. It is then that you recieve your easy kill. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4. Sniping * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The sniper rifle is an excellent tool for the stealth player. But before you can become a great sniper, you must learn how to stay in stealth. (Make sure to read section 1 before reading section 4.) Knowing when it is safe to make a kill and give away your position is a very important part. Sure you may be able to make a kill, but will you get away with it alive? Learning to aim the sniper rifle is the toughest part of sniping but will only become better with practice. When sniping, I reccomend always using zoom level 1 which means zooming in only a single time; not zoomed in all the way. In zoom level 1, you should be able to aim at any enemy anywhere on any of the official counter-strike maps with relative ease. If you find that you cannot get a precise shot, use zoom level 2. But do not stay zoomed in at level 2 for long because your field of vision is very small and your defence severely limited. Your reaction speed is an important factor in your aiming skill. You will need to able to kill your enemy before he sees you. If he sees you, or even better yet, sees you holding a sniper rifle, he is going to rethink his positioning or at the bare minimum he is going to try to dodge your sniper fire. Either way, you will be in a bit of trouble so you must learn to make your decision quickly. Either make the kill emedietly or wait for the enemy to make his next move, risking the above scenerio. The next step in becoming a good sniper is training yourself with a pistol. At some point in time, you will find your position compremized and the enemy in your persute. A keen skill with the side arm will become very handy in this scenerio. The enemy may blindly think you are defenceless as a sniper but on the contrary, you are prepared to defend yourself with your side arm. My pistol of choice is the USP. Although not as powerfull as the DEagle, it has a low recoil rate, fires faster, and has more ammo. If you are able to easily make 1 shot kills, then amount of ammo should be the deciding factor in your choice anyways. The pistol can also help in your escape if you are forced to flee or reposition yourself. Placing cover-fire, or shooting at or near the enemy's location, may give you the precious time to make your escape. In fear of being killed, the enemy may take cover for a brief moment; long enough for you to get away hopefully. The last part and perhapse the most important aspect of sniping is your positioning. You will need to learn the good sniping spots of each map and teach yourself what to do in every scenerio. When chosing your sniping spot, ask yourself these questions: Is it easily defendable? Will you have an escape route if your position is comprimized? Do the enemy often travel through your spot's line of sight? If you can answer yes to all three questions then you have a good sniping spot. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5. Conclusion * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To sum things up, as long as the enemy never knows where you are, you will always triumph. Knowing when to attack, when to not attack, when to move, when to not move, and when to just stay put will be your keys. By combining all 4 aspects of the stealth playing style, you will become a fierce killing machine. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6. Legal Stuff * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This guide was written for gamefaqs.com by Jeff Poole but feel free to post it on your website so long as it is kept unaltered and free of charge. Also, if you chose to post it on your website, please contact me and let me know you are doing so. This is simply because I like to know and keep track of which websites are posting my guide. You can always find the most up to date versions of my guides at www.gamefaqs.com. Please contact me via email or AIM if you have any questions. My email is JPoole010@yahoo.com and my AIM is JPoole010. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *