Topic: Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 - OT

@kyleforrester87: That was one of the things that drew me to Blops 3.

@BAMozzy Thanks for all that info. I haven't been able to play last night due to playing Dragon Age but tonight I think I might start a campaign.

@Tasuki: No probs. If you (or anyone else) fancies a game or 2 let me know - I prefer to play Hardcore MP and happily pay Zombies anytime!

When I played Battlefield Hardline I felt like I was progressing as I played more matches I killed more people and died less the maps felt like a decent size. I play BO3 and it feels exactly the opposite die so much it puts me in matches with people ranked 40+ I am ranked less than 5 so I am like cannon fodder.

@dryrain: I admit that CoD in general can be a bit hard on lower ranks. Obviously you lack the customisation options to build your class to suit your playstyle due to the fact that these are locked until you reach a certain rank. There are 'default' classes though that can be utilised with these 'perks'.
Map knowledge is key though. It can take a while to get used to the Maps. I know BF maps are larger but that can help as you also have more 'space' and a greater chance to actually move round the maps without getting shot. I would suggest jumping into 'local' matches and practising against AI whilst getting to know the maps and used to the pace and new movement mechanics. It will also give you an opportunity to use the weapons and find what works for you. The starting weapons - those available at the Start are certainly not weak. They maybe not 'specialised' like others maybe - for example the Kuda is a good all rounder SMG where as others are better at CQC or range, The KN-44 AR is a good all rounder AR too. None of this matters too much if you don't know the maps and potential places where the enemy could be or come from - especially with the new movement which allows them to 'flank'.

I am getting to know the maps slowly some quicker than others. People always seem to want to play Combine for some reason. I am using the Kuda weapon but I picked up a 205 Brecci off another player and got so many more kills. Not sure when that is unlocked though. I noticed people jump a lot in the game that takes a while to get used to.

@dryrain: Yeah the jumping and wall running takes a bit to get use to, but once you do it adds a whole new level to the game. I actually like it alot.

I know what you mean by dieing alot, I am not the best FPS player using not even coming in the top three against bots even, but it just takes time. Right now for me it's just a matter of finding which weapon I am most comfortable with. Especially as my son says I do alot of hip firing lol.

So I started up a campaign with my son, I have to say, it was alot of fun. Plus we also played some Dead Ops 2 as well (I am a sucker for twin stick shooters).

In multiplayer, I redid some of my weapons so I am doing alot better in it plus I stuck to a strategy that works for me. I almost took the match, we do the defult 30 kills FFA with 6 bots and we did the combine map (I think it was) and the final score was me 29 my son 30. The only reason he won was because a bot stepped on one of his H.I.V.E.

Overall I am having alot of fun with this game and for me to say that. Still have alot of improvement to do but I have never been this into a FPS since GoldenEye on the N64. I can say with each game I can feel I am improving.

@iDangerMouse_: Yeah last CoD I played was the first Blops and I didn't even get into it this much. Honestly I never been much for online play in these types of games unless I can silence the other players lol. But yeah ow that I got a few load outs that I like as well as I figured out what type of guns I like I can feel a huge difference.

@iDangerMouse_: I have not played Zombies that much, I have been wanting to check it out but everytime I do I end up playing MP lol. Plus I want to get a bit better with the various guns. So far my best weapon is the Haymaker shotgun, but that's what works best with my playstyle, which rely more on CQC due to my majority of FPS experiences being corridor shooters like Doom and Quake. Honestly I am horrible at using assult rifles and snipers. I can do ok with the SMGs but I am still trying to find a good SMG for my style of play. That's where I am having alot of fun though just experimenting with each gun though.

@iDangerMouse_: Yeah good advice. As for Zombies I might save that for multiplayer night with the guys from work the next time it's my turn to have them over. Last time we just did some MP to get them use to the new stuff like wall jumping and such.

@Tasuki: A good SMG is the Razorback - its more a hybrid SMG/AR but very accurate. If you prefer the up close and personal, the VMP is good. The Pharo is good to but its a burst fire - not everyone likes burst because it generally requires more accuracy than a fully automatic spray and pray weapon. The Kuda is a good all round SMG too.

If you have the Giant Zombies map (available with the hardened+ editions and if you own the Season Pass), I would recommend you start with that. Its a very old-school Zombies map and a remake of one of one of the World at War DLC maps. Compared to the Shadows of Evil, its far less complex. Zombies itself doesn't have the new movement mechanics - well apart from one small area near the Pack-a-punch on SoE. Unless you know what you are doing though, its unlikely you will get to this room.

CoD MP is the closest I have found to recreating that 'Goldeneye' experience. I know there are a lot of differences in the game itself but the feeling for me is similar. Its had me hooked since CoD4!

@BAMozzy: Thanks for the tips I will definitely check those guns out.

As far as the season pass goes I need to get it especially after seeing the new maps that will be coming next month perhaps next pay check.

I will say that yes Blops III has been the first FPS game that has hooked me this bad since Battlefront II to be fair though I havent played to many FPS games though. GoldenEye and the two Battlefront games were probably the ones I played the most. I did play a good amount of corridor shooters like Doom and Quake though as I mentioned before. I didn't even really get into Halo that much either or any other CoD games, though I did playthrough the campaign of the first Black Ops. I think part of that is because I just didn't have anyone to play them with and I am not that big of a online gamer especially with the random groups you can get with CoD. Anyway I just find those games more fun with people in the same room. Now I don't know if all CoD games are like this but one thing that I am enjoying with Blops III is how fast the gun play is which in away does remind me of GoldenEye. I really don't see people making much use in picking a stationary position and sniping at people, I see everyone just running around which is really fun. Even when you respawn it quickly puts you back into the action.

@Tasuki: All CoD games are fast paced - that's its defining characteristic and expected. Its one of the reasons that CoD has stuck rigidly to delivering 60fps - even if that means it isn't as pretty to look at as Battlefield or other games - its to deliver that fast paced arcade style shooter experience. Not every map though in CoD history lends itself specifically to a fast paced playstyle (Stonehaven in Ghosts for example) but 98% of them do. Most of the maps cater to a variety of weapons and even different playstyles. They often have long sight lines for more ranged combat but also a lot of areas that are more CQC. The Maps generally are not that large - even the biggest maps would be considered 'small' by Battlefield standards. That coupled with a relatively quick kill time means that you are never far away from the action and it feels fast paced. You do get the odd 1-2 who may be a bit more stationary, looking to hold down sight lines etc, but with the multiple flank routes and pace, they don't often last long. The longer range weapons certainly won't win in a CQC situation. There are also a few modes that are often more 'slow' paced - like Search and Destroy (no respawn) but that can get a bit hectic in the last minute of a round. Black Ops 3 is a very typical CoD game and plays very similar to others - just with its new movement mechanics as opposed to just boots on the ground. Its part of the reason that BO3 is far more popular than AW because it plays like a CoD game. CoD games are certainly playable solo. There is enough modes to suit how you want to play and enough challenges to keep going. It is obviously better with others and generally a team of average players can and do beat a team comprised of 'random' solo good players. A lot of my 'gaming' friends were met playing CoD - MP or Zombies. Some I have known since CoD4. If you don't want to 'talk/hear' others, there is a lobby muting option though. I do recommend playing with a good headset, one that has game sounds even if you have no intention of talking. CoD games have good 3D sound meaning you can hear where others are, which direction they are coming from, where they are shooting - essential in Hardcore (no mini-map) but very useful in Core too. It can make a lot of difference to your kill/death ratio.

Anyway, like I said, if you or anyone else fancies teaming up to battle the undead - or the Zombies then let me know

If you want to find out more about any of the weapons - effective ranges, damage, fire rate etc, I recommend watching drift0r on you tube - he does an in-depth analysis of each weapon and even gives a few recommendations on set-ups too.

@BAMozzy: Wow that's interesting. I remember a couple of coworkers saying that same thing about CoD and Battlefield (one likes CoD while the other likes Battlefield) a few weeks ago. I did try the beta of Battlefield Hardline and I wasn't impressed at all for pretty much what you said. I don't like huge maps for the simple reason I don't want to spend most of the match time just looking for people. I agree with the headset too, I havery a pair of turtle beaches I just like to mute others for the simple reason cause I don't needed a 12 year old screaming insults at me or a couple of drunken idiots dropping f bombs. I want to be able as you said hear where they are coming from.

And thanks for that youtube suggestion, I think I will check him out now to help deal with this case of insomnia.

@BAMozzy: Thanks for that suggestion, I checked out a few of Drift0r videos and they are very interesting. I like it when people break down the stuff with facts rather then just saying oh this is the best gun use it. Learned quite alot from him too (especially with the Firebreak charactr) now I need to redo my load outs again lol.

@Tasuki: I don't like watching 'game-play' videos - particularly of games I can be playing myself. Drift0r though is informative and gives the actual stats of things - mostly weapons but with BO3 he is branching into the specialists now as well. He also breaks down perks and attachments too - how effective they are etc. I've been a subscriber for quite a few years now myself.

Yeah I am not big on let's plays the only one I really watch is Roham Mythril's No damage no special Mega Man runs. Other then that I watch stuff on YouTube like The Angry Video Game Nerd and Pat the NES Punk.

But yeah watching Drift0r has given me alot to work with with my playstyle. I can't wait to try them out!!!

@Tasuki: It also helps to understand why you may lose certain gunfights - even within the same class - as he tells you the damage at different ranges and fire rate too. You can then factor these stats into your class build and adapt your playstyle to suit these. With the 10pt create a class system, you don't want to waste a point on something that doesn't benefit the weapon or your playstyle so understanding the weapon and the attachments I find very helpful. The effectiveness of attachments can and does vary from game to game and can vary on different weapons too. Some weapons for example get significantly penalised for using a silencer where as others not so much.

So I tried online multiplayer today and yeah that was a huge mistake, I won't be doing that again. Now I know I am not good at CoD games heck I will admit this is the first one I have actually put time into. The leveling system is interesting but here is my biggest turn off, how can I get better when they throw me in with people that have so much stuff unlocked that me starting out I have no chance. The should group you with people who have the same amount of stuff you have unlocked or same level or whatever.

Yeah online is not very casual or new player friendly. In a way it's almost a complete joke.

@Tasuki: Almost all MP games are like this. Whenever you start (unless you buy at launch) you are always going to play against people with more gear unlocked. CoD at least has a few 'default' classes that will have a few perks/weapons etc that are available if you haven't unlocked them yet. The starting weapons though are all 'good' and 'general' purpose for that class. Its not as if 'better' weapons or more powerful weapons become available as you progress. Often the other weapons are more specific to a play style, have a greater strength/weakness divide. For example in the SMG category, the Kuda is the best all round SMG. The Vesper is better at CQC because of its fire rate but will lose out to Kudas at mid range - mainly because of damage drop off and accuracy. The Pharo (burst) rewards accurate players but will lose out if you miss a shot.
With Call of Duty's levelling system, you can have more stuff unlocked than higher prestige players. A level 30 for example has more gear unlocked than a level 4, prestige 4 - although they could have access to a few things you don't - you get permanently unlock 1 thing with each prestige.
Its also important to pay attention to your mini-map. Knowing the maps, the potential routes across those maps and position of you and team mates really helps as it gives you an idea of where the enemy are, which way they are likely to come from, and the routes they are likely to take. If all your team mates are on the left side, most enemies are on the right. Having played CoD online since CoD4 and with probably around a 1,000 hrs per game, its become second nature to me. I certainly don't run blindly round corners (unless my team are already round that corner or I have a good idea that the enemy are not around it) but ADS in preparation. Another good way is to slide or boost jump as that doesn't give the enemy a chance to hit you as easily. I rarely use tacticals myself but throwing a stun can all so be an effective way of giving you the advantage in moving into areas.
If you want, I can certainly help by playing with you and the benefit of communication - letting you know where the enemy are etc. When I started, I would be lucky to get 1 kill for every 3 deaths - it was also much more unfair to lower level players as the starting weapons were 'poor' by comparison. That just made me more determined to improve. Its one of the reasons its a competitive eSport and annoys me when people say it doesn't take any 'skill' to play. Like 'Football/Soccer etc' - anyone can play and if you met up with a group of people - some are going to be a lot better than others. I used to play in the park with my friends and some could win matches on their own (give them the ball and they would beat every player on the pitch and score a goal) whilst others had 2 left feet (I swear) . Public matches in CoD are like this but with time, practice etc, you do get better and understand the game, the flow etc too.
CoD is a fast paced game but that doesn't mean that you need to run around everywhere - particularly if you don't have certain attachments (like quickdraw - unlocked at weapon level 3 - really easy) or perks (like Fast Hands and/or Gung-Ho - both starting perks) equipped. Without these, it takes longer to raise your gun and start firing (even hip firing) from sprinting than it does to be killed. One of the biggest causes of 'deaths' in CoD is lack of map awareness - running around without knowing where the enemy is and therefore not prepared to shoot back. get into the habit of ADS'ing around corners, checking the mini-map frequently and playing a bit more cautiously.
Combat training is good too but NOT if the enemy are set to the easiest setting as that is NOT representative of the MP experience. It helps to get to know the map layout but not for actual combat. There is also a 'speed run' mode which will help you get used to the movement and shooting whilst moving too.