Communicate
This goes beyond the obvious in-game communication. Let your teammates know when you have real life obligations, or anything that may conflict with practice. Having a flexible schedule is almost necessary to obtain Pro / Semi-Pro status.
Use the same callouts
Not similar callouts, the SAME ones. This increases teamshooting and puts your team on the same page. Get specific, but don’t add too many at once.
Get 3-4 days of solid practice each week
Be prepared to put the time in if you’re serious. Always have the latest MLG gametypes. Start a custom by yourself when your team isn’t on and look for ways to improve your strategies and individual skill. I would highly suggest using some practice time to review gameplays. Avoid over-practicing! It usually causes heavy frustration and arguments between teammates.
Use the Theatre
This is huge for competitive gaming! Each teammate should analyze and takes notes on the chosen gameplay by themselves. Watching from different perspectives is a crucial part of this process. Pay attention to where teams spawn according to your strategy, look at their setups, etc. Join up after and collaborate ideas. Download gameplays from top players / teams when available. A coach would be very helpful in this area for organizing and managing films.
Scrim better and better teams
Losing is a good thing ocassionally – it brings focus to the weak area(s) of your strategies. List your team in a scrim thread somewhere on the forums. Remove and update your Friends List with other GT’s on a team.
Have a positive attitude
One bad attitude can make a team play poor and bring down the morale. Random BS happens, you can’t control it. Keep a good attitude if you are part of a new team. Optimism can help your team win down the stretch. Take a break for at least a few hours if your team is in a slump, maybe even 1-2 days (Assuming the team has been getting solid practice).
Trust your teammates
I cannot stress how important this is. Part of it stems from the responsibility of being online when necessary. Trust is the core of great teams, but usually requires playing together for months.
Experience
It’s also good to have an experienced teammate who knows how to handle intense games. Just make sure the team has someone to keep everyone calm and reiterate strategy in tight situations. Participate in LANs, local tournaments, and MLG Online / Season events as much as possible.
Consider parting ways with your team if you meet ALL of the criteria below:
-Not satisfied with your team
-Consistently lose scrims
-Talked to your teammates and could not come up with a solution
-Exhausted all possible options (Tried using the suggested tips)
Conclusion:
It doesn’t matter if everyone on the team has ridiculous individual talent. A team is like a relationship: You can’t force it to work, there has to be some natural chemistry. Just don’t give up on it too soon.
Always try to leave a team with respect. Nothing is worse than a teammate who anonymously disbands, or doesn’t give an explanation why. There is no sense getting on someone’s bad side because the team didn’t work well together. Networking with good players is key, so don’t talk trash – you never know who the person may be friends with.
Tags: clan, halo 3 multiplayer, practice, team, tips, tricks, tutorial
