The Top 25 HLDM/Op4DM Newbie Mistakes

9. Don't turn your back on me!

Sometimes running away from a fight is the right thing to do. (Those RPG-vs.-wrench encounters we've seen will bear this advice out.) But there's a right way and a wrong way to do so: Always back away shooting--don't turn your back. Facing your opponent and firing while you run away backwards gives him disincentive to chase you (he may be low on health); otherwise, you're just a big dumb harmless moving back with a bull's eye on it. Make him earn the frag; you may be rewarded.

10. They're not for your Mag-Lite.

Can't figure out why that fool gman just ate your MP5 grenade and keeps coming? He's been munchin' Duracells. Ignoring HEV batteries is a criminal oversight, yet a very common deathmatch mistake. Those batteries you see scattered around give you HEV armor, which, um, helps keep you from dying. So juice up at every opportunity. Don't neglect the HEV stations, either.

11. Be the coward of the county.

Spawned into the gaping maw of hell? It happens to the best of us. But real men run away--only fools stand around to pop 9mm shells at the bunny-hopping, tau-phreaking leet you see levitating like a UFO and raining down RPG rockets. When you are overmatched or outgunned, there is no shame is fleeing--why give that freak another easy-as-pie frag?

12. Into the great wide open.

Splash damage: Know it, use it, avoid it. The scatter/blast effect of certain weapons only occurs when a round strikes a solid surface--the ground, a wall, the ceiling, your forehead. Standing too close to walls/upright objects when blast-damage contact-detonation weapons (notably rockets and MP5 grenades) are being fired at you maximizes your chances of getting reamed. When the rockets and grenades start flying, out in the open is the place to be: You're still in grave danger, but depth perception is tougher without upright objects for your opponent to judge by.

13. "This is a .357 Magnum, the least powerful handgun in the HL world."

Using the Magnum at all (unless you're an MOC member--talk to Laten_A to enlist) is generally a bad idea. It's slow to fire, superslow to reload, and generally doesn't kill with one shot unless you manage a headshot. If you're that desperate for a weapon, you're better off with the faster-firing default 9mm pistol. Bottom line: Don't monkey with the Magnum.

14. Two barrels, too far? Too bad....

Using secondary fire (two barrels) on the shotgun from more than a few feet away is almost guaranteed to be ineffectual. While there's no doubting that two barrels at very close range are as deadly an HL tactic as there is, a double-barrelled blast from more than a few feet away is about as effective as tossing a handful of grapes at your opponent. Save your ammo.

15. Moby Trip: Thar he blows!

Tripmines are great for fetching you sneaky "gift" frags, but you need to careful when laying them. Laying trips to discourage better-armed pursuers can work--if the enemy isn't armed with an explosive weapon such as MP5 grenades or an RPG. Obviously, laying trips while you're under fire from these types of weapons will fetch you an instant express ticket to Noob Valhalla. Don't do it.

16. Big dope with the scope.

There's a reason the Op4 sniper-rifle scope magnifies the field of vision--it's intended to be used on targets FAR AWAY. Don't try using it on close-up targets--the field of vision is so narrow that it's a piece of cake for your target to sidestep out of the scope’s view. While you're searching for the target all over the place, he is standing on your periphery, guffawing, and depositing lead into your account. Hint: The sniper rifle can be surprisingly effective in non-scope mode when skirmishing--it's generally one shot, one kill. Try it, you'll like it.

17. Twice the lead, half the calories.

We are all reborn with a 9mm pistol; some of us just use it better than others. Don't neglect the secondary-fire (rapidfire) function on the default 9mm. In a duel between two 9mm-wielding fools, the master of the right mouse button will generally win the match because he's pumping out twice the lead of the left-mouse monkey. Rapidfire, while less accurate, is much more effective at close range--don't neglect it.