.jpg)
Once we hit our fifth straight win, I started to wonder just what makes me so much much better than my lower-level opposition. Jon was owning nubz too, don't get me wrong, but this was more of a philosophical contemplation.
Over the 1500 games or so I have logged under Pavilion Party, I've long since realized that the best Halo isn't about being a wizard with your thumbs. Playing smart and using solid tactics will beat sheer godliness with the analogue sticks 99% of the time. No matter how consistently you can 4-shot with a BR, if I pre-nade an entrance and you rush right in, no level of accuracy changes the fact that I only need one burst to kill you in the time that you need four.
This really hit me last night. Me and Jon had a commanding lead in a doubles Slayer match on Boundless. We were holding the main tunnel area, where the three entrances meet the shotgun ramp. The callout for this area is Bottom Mid, for future reference (I know all the callouts to most all of the matchmaking maps, so I'll be using those frequently.) However, with some good nade bounces, our two foes were able to rush us and take us both out. But on the respawn, I sought vengeance.
We decided to give them a slight pincher. I came through BR Base tunnel while Jon ran in through Carbine. Boundless replaces the Spazer with Beam Rifles on both sides, so I was well equipped coming in. I turned the corner, and what did I find? Both of them were wandering aimlessly right in the middle of the clearing. They weren't covering entrances or even hugging walls for a vantage point; they were walking around right in the open. Beam Rifle in hand, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. I sniped the first who had started running to Carbine to rush Jon. The other, who was a short distance away directly in front of me, rushed me with dual Spikers. His dome = split as well.
Check the video here - sorry I couldn't post the video, but I'm running short on render minutes.
What's the moral of the story? Intelligence. Use it. These two guys were nomadically waiting to die. My sniping aside, had both of us simply naded the hell out of them with some BR to back it up, it would've been over just as quickly.
The same premise came into play again today. I was flying solo in Lone Wolves - Slayer on Construct. I spawned sword, had radar blips in each of the purple rooms, so I had to get shifty. I naded glass room just to get the jump on anyone rushing, but none were so foolish. I threw an energy drain in and headed under sniper spawn. From there, well, you get the idea...
And it was just that easy. Where do 99% of players go when they spawn sword? Right through glass room, into one of the purples. But when traffic is gridlocked, always look for a shortcut. Break out of the habits that everyone expects and outthink your opponents; don't just outrush. This could very easily be you.
