[MessiaH]

Communication is an integral part of any competitive game, even more so in the team game Counter-Strike:Source. This guide explores and explains the different techniques gamers can use to communicate effectively with their teammates to give them the edge over the competition. From the basics most of us know in theory but forget to practice, to the advanced strategies used by top tier gamers, this guide will have it all. Enjoy.


Contents

1.0 Programs Used for Voice Communication
1.1 In Game
1.2 Teamspeak
1.3 Ventrilo


2.0 Calling 101 for Players
2.1 Footsteps
2.2 Being Flashed
2.3 Damage
2.4 The Bomb
2.5 Backseat Calling
2.6 Killing the Enemy
2.7 Counting Grenades
2.8 Calling your Position

3.0 Calling 101 for Captains
3.1 Base/Default Strategies
3.2 Money
3.3 Employing Strategy
3.4 Call the Shots
3.5 End Game

4.0 Advanced Strategies for Captains
4.1 Advanced Terrorist Strategy
4.1.1 The Flank
4.1.2 Fakes
4.1.3 The 2-1-2 Slow Push
4.2 Advanced Counter-Terrorist Strategy
4.2.1 Probing Pushes
4.2.2 Goblin Holds and Stacks
4.2.3 Random Positions
4.3 Counter Strategy



1.0 Programs Used for Voice Communication
This section of the guide will list the different programs that can be used for voice communication with your team mates, listing the differences and benefits of each.


1.1 In Game
In game voice communication is not widely used in the competitive scene. Not being able to call for your team mates while dead is a huge disadvantage to any team so it is not recommended that you use this method of communication. That said it is the easiest to use for a new team who may not have the knowledge required to set up a channel for another 3rd party voice program.

1.2 Teamspeak
Teamspeak is the first of the two third-party voice programs which will be explored in this guide. There are a number of free providers of Teamspeak servers out there and with a little effort; it shouldn’t be hard to find one.
Teamspeak is a better method of voice communication than In Game as you have the ability to call once dead. Another advantage is that Teamspeak sound quality is much better in game and you have a better chance of hearing (and understanding) your team mates.

http://www.teamspeak.com/

1.3 Ventrilio
Ventrilo or vent as it is more commonly called throughout the community is similar to that of Teamspeak. Ventrilo however is more widely used than any other of the 3rd party voice programs for one simple reason, it’s just better. The sound quality of ventrilo due to the codec’s they use makes it far better than any other program and in addition, its interface is very user friendly.

There are a few providers of vent channels the best of which being the Tomato Family and Reality Gaming. Both will generally be happy to set up a channel for you so find them on #tomatofamily #reality-gaming or #gotgames on irc.gamesurge.

http://www.ventrilo.com/

2.0 Calling 101 for Players
It is no longer enough to just call positions of enemies and leave it at that so it’s time to explore the basic techniques of good calling. You have chosen your method of voice communication, you have everyone in the server and you are about to war. Good. Let’s get started.


2.1 Footsteps
Just because you can’t see a player does not mean you can’t call. Take up a goblin spot and just listen. Most of the time you will be able to hear the opposing team making noise. Listen for their numbers, learn to differentiate between one set of footsteps, two, or a whole team AND THEN CALL IT. This information will give your team the advantage because your team mates will have a better idea of the entire situation if they know the numbers of the enemy near a particular position on the map. This will result in good controlled pushes as CT if they are confident that they will be pushing a lightly defended position, or potentially and undefended one and come in for a flank attack.

2.2 Being Flashed
Well you are now blind, can’t do much to help your team, right? WRONG. Being flashed gives you three vital pieces of information which, if relayed to your team can be highly beneficial. First, if you are blind this means there is an enemy nearby. Secondly, after being flashed there will most likely be a push. Thirdly, you know where you are but the enemy doesn’t (if you are hiding) so for all they know, you were not able to call their position.
If you are blind, call that you are blind and call WHERE. This gives any of your nearby team mates the opportunity to react and cover you. If you don’t call, you will be flashed, pushed then killed. If you do call, the pushing enemy will be caught off guard by your team mate covering you and the tables will be turned.

2.3 Damage
If you have been involved in a gun fight with one or more enemies and are killed, check the console and see how much damage you did to each player. This information relayed to your team can be vital in winning the round. Two players on 20 health can easily dispatch your last remaining member if he is kept in the dark about how much health they have. However, knowing that the enemies are low, the round can be won with a simple well placed grenade. On the other side of the coin, if the remaining enemies are on full health, knowing this your last remaining member may choose to save, or pick up an AWP to get long range kills.

2.4 The Bomb
When holding an area as counter-terrorist, if you see the bomb, CALL IT. If you don’t see the bomb and you are being rushed, CALL THAT ALSO! Far too often teams will fake a site with three while the bomb and another sneaks into the other site. Unless the bomb is called, good players will not rotate, so if you are playing on a team and you don’t call the bomb if your site is under assault, don’t expect any backup.
Bomb down is also another vital call. If you have bomb with you call it IMMEDIATELY. All the remaining members of your team should set up camp around that area to prevent the opposition from collecting the bomb and taking the round.

2.5 Backseat Calling
When you are dead and you have called information pertaining to your demise, unless you are the captain of that team, sit there and be quiet. There is nothing worse than a backseat caller stuffing things up for the alive players. (This rule is void if you are actively coaching a player). Leave the calling up to the captain, alive or dead.

2.6 Killing the Enemy
When you kill an enemy, call where he died. This information will paint a picture for the captain in order to make his move. On DUST2 for example, if you killed on short, and then long and you called both of them. Chances are you have a pretty easy run to A. If you don’t call where you got the kills, you have the opportunity of being picked off by the remaining members which would be the exact opposite of what you would want.