From: tw1r+@andrew.cmu.edu (Timothy C. Worsley)
Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek
Subject: Fooling the into thinking you have a clue.
Date: 23 Jul 92 23:38:59 GMT
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


	One thing that a lot of new players want to know is, "How can I
convince people that I'm not clueless?"  It's a pretty good question. 
It sucks to be spotted as clueless, because your teammates will insult
you, and your enemies will try to scum kills off of you.  So here are
some general tips to keep people from thinking you're clueless.

General

1) Keep moving.  Nothing gives away a total lack of clue like not
moving.  Moving at the right speed is important too.  When you don't
need to turn, maxwarp is good.  When you do need to turn (like when you
want to fight) slow down to about 3 for BB, 4 for CA or AS, 5 for DD, or
6 for SC.  As you get better, you will end up finding lots of other
speeds to be useful.

2) Look at the galactic map often -- every time you have a chance.  You
have NO EXCUSE for not looking at it as soon as you come in every time. 
If you see a cloaker nearby, check your alert status to see if there is
an enemy nearby, or it it's a friendly cloaker.

3) Read the player list so you have some idea of who's dangerous, and
check the message board.  Again, you have no excuse for not doing this
whenever you've just died.

4) Read the archives, and R.G.N..  Not everything you will read is
necessarally right, but you can at least get some idea for people's
thoughts.  if you're really unsure, post.

5) Always ID all the planets to see which at Agri.

6) Play for a few hundred hours.  Nothing fools people like seeing your
name a lot :)


Fooling you Foes:

1) Rebind you keys so that you can use all of the useful ones easily
with your non-mouse hand.  MAKE SURE to rebind "tractor" and "det own
torps".

2) If you know that you are going to die, charge your opponent, and make
her pay for it.  This is a good rule of thumb.  Crippling opponents is
often better, but very difficult to get right, so stick with the basics
at first.

3) Learn your phaser ranges.

4) If you are phasering, you should always be tractoring or pressering.

5) Watch your fuel.  If you are flying fast, watch e-temp too.

6) If your foe does something really obnoxious, remember it, and try to
learn it.

7) If you do something really well, remember it, and look for your
opponent to do it.

8) If you are going to die, try to give the kill to someone who can't
use it (SB, ship with many kills, crippled ship).


Fooling your friends:

1) Read the team bboard.  Respond if it seems appropriate.  If you have
nothing better to do, help your friends do whatever they do.  This may
include Ogging a base, escorting, or clearing a planet.

2) If you and a friend are both going to get hit by torps, det them.

3) Avoid the enemy base unless you're Ogging it.

4) If armies are scarce, ask where they should be put.  If they're
common, drop on any unguarded non-agri.  You should try to pick planets
which are as close to home as possible, lower on armies already, or
which have better resources.  If you have enough to actually take a
planet, this is obviously better than reducing it, especially if it is
Agri.

5) Don't be afraid to ask for help.  You may not always (or even often)
get it, but it doesn't hurt to try.  Distress whenever you pick up.  If
you want your friends to find you quickly, flash your cloak on and off
(WARNING: this may also alert foes).

6) Be bold.

ZZnew guy
Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek