Skumball player guide
by Kimball Kinnison · in ThinkTanks · 05/13/2003 (12:02 pm) · 18 replies
I have really enjoyed this game and got addicted to skum ball.
highly recommend registering and using the Light tank. So far that is the only one that is able to score more. Speed makes it easier to avoid being shot at, and almsot nothing can outrun you.
First goal should be getting the ball. if you cannot do that place yourself somewhere between the ball and the goal so you can intercept and maybe steal the ball away. If you have no clue where the ball is, head to where the crowd is, or go in the same direction as the bots.
if you have the ball, unless no one is near you, you should not make a straight line for the goal. Use terrain to block any shots on you, and try to get a boost if you can. If there is a person camping out at the goal, approach the goal at an angel so he cannot charge in and bump you head on to steal the ball. It is most rewarding when you can stop it.
If you dont have the ball, but have hte ball carrier in site, intercept him, and get behind. Start blasting away at him, or if your luck ram them to get the ball. sometimes you might play a little dirty and soften them up before they ever get a chance to get the ball.
Skum is by far the most fun game in Think tanks, your bouncing around zooming and catching some air.
Tell you freinds to get the Demo and play some skum. They might not be good at it until they register, but hopfully you have before them and can kicks some major tank treads
suggestions? comments?
highly recommend registering and using the Light tank. So far that is the only one that is able to score more. Speed makes it easier to avoid being shot at, and almsot nothing can outrun you.
First goal should be getting the ball. if you cannot do that place yourself somewhere between the ball and the goal so you can intercept and maybe steal the ball away. If you have no clue where the ball is, head to where the crowd is, or go in the same direction as the bots.
if you have the ball, unless no one is near you, you should not make a straight line for the goal. Use terrain to block any shots on you, and try to get a boost if you can. If there is a person camping out at the goal, approach the goal at an angel so he cannot charge in and bump you head on to steal the ball. It is most rewarding when you can stop it.
If you dont have the ball, but have hte ball carrier in site, intercept him, and get behind. Start blasting away at him, or if your luck ram them to get the ball. sometimes you might play a little dirty and soften them up before they ever get a chance to get the ball.
Skum is by far the most fun game in Think tanks, your bouncing around zooming and catching some air.
Tell you freinds to get the Demo and play some skum. They might not be good at it until they register, but hopfully you have before them and can kicks some major tank treads
suggestions? comments?
About the author
#2
05/13/2003 (5:29 pm)
This strategy is often a successful one, but it can be beaten. in large games, being in the little pisher tank can be a liability. tally ho is back baby :).
#3
but the optimum place would be to the left or right, just withen your turret arc.
05/14/2003 (8:02 am)
actaully, when it becomes a high speed race to the goal i often have no where to go but directly behind, especially whe nthe terrain is bad.but the optimum place would be to the left or right, just withen your turret arc.
#4
Here is a couple of scrum tips from me:
(1) Keep to the sides of hills when running... sure its tougher to drive.. but try hitting someone doing this and you will see what I mean. Generally speaking, the harder time you are having driving.. the harder you are to hit.
(2) Use even the slightest embankment as cover. It is alot harder to hit something low to the ground.. so any cover is better than no cover.
(3) Use trees, wrong pointing arrows, ammo station, rock, etc. to block your opponents, when someone is barreling down on you quick turn past one or powerslide to the opposite side as close as possible. (Takes alot of practice)
(4) Propelling pad (ones that throw you in the air) will allow you to go farther faster.. it may not seem like it but they do if you hit them at full speed.
(5) If you land backwards from a jump.. continue travelling backwards and "J" turn to keep momentum.
(6) Use speed arrows even if they aren't pointed "exactlly" in the direction you want to go.. even one at a 90 degree angle will help.. sure it will throw you a little sideways but you will get a burst of forward speed.
(7) NEVER GIVE UP! Even if you get boggled at the goal and spawn in across the world, race back.. I have managed to score many times doing this because "goal battles" can last quite a while.
If someone scores while you are enroue you will have momentum to change direction and chase the new scrum.
(8) Temp goal sitters into charging the wrong way by approaching the goal to one side then crossing back over to the other... doesn't always work.. but if not.. try to blast them as you approach, then refer to #7.
(9) Try to vault into the goals.. most goals are situated on terrain with many natural ramps or bouce pads around. You can't ram what you can't reach.. and it looks really cool. =)
(10) Know your radar. The white dot is a loose scrum. The white/red stacked dot is an opponent with a scrum. The blue curcle is the ammo station. The purple circle is the goal. The little red dots are your opponents. The center of the crosshair is your current position... you can learn to drive by it and angle in on opponents for a ram without even seeing them on the screen.
(11) Watch out for Tally Ho.. he is everywhere you want to be.
The rest I will keep to myself..
"Loose scrum!"
Tank Dork
05/19/2003 (9:18 am)
I try to stay off to the right since I seem to turn to the left alot easier. (guess because I am right handed/brained) I pelt the scrum holder and scoop the scrum up when he boggles never having to slow down.Here is a couple of scrum tips from me:
(1) Keep to the sides of hills when running... sure its tougher to drive.. but try hitting someone doing this and you will see what I mean. Generally speaking, the harder time you are having driving.. the harder you are to hit.
(2) Use even the slightest embankment as cover. It is alot harder to hit something low to the ground.. so any cover is better than no cover.
(3) Use trees, wrong pointing arrows, ammo station, rock, etc. to block your opponents, when someone is barreling down on you quick turn past one or powerslide to the opposite side as close as possible. (Takes alot of practice)
(4) Propelling pad (ones that throw you in the air) will allow you to go farther faster.. it may not seem like it but they do if you hit them at full speed.
(5) If you land backwards from a jump.. continue travelling backwards and "J" turn to keep momentum.
(6) Use speed arrows even if they aren't pointed "exactlly" in the direction you want to go.. even one at a 90 degree angle will help.. sure it will throw you a little sideways but you will get a burst of forward speed.
(7) NEVER GIVE UP! Even if you get boggled at the goal and spawn in across the world, race back.. I have managed to score many times doing this because "goal battles" can last quite a while.
If someone scores while you are enroue you will have momentum to change direction and chase the new scrum.
(8) Temp goal sitters into charging the wrong way by approaching the goal to one side then crossing back over to the other... doesn't always work.. but if not.. try to blast them as you approach, then refer to #7.
(9) Try to vault into the goals.. most goals are situated on terrain with many natural ramps or bouce pads around. You can't ram what you can't reach.. and it looks really cool. =)
(10) Know your radar. The white dot is a loose scrum. The white/red stacked dot is an opponent with a scrum. The blue curcle is the ammo station. The purple circle is the goal. The little red dots are your opponents. The center of the crosshair is your current position... you can learn to drive by it and angle in on opponents for a ram without even seeing them on the screen.
(11) Watch out for Tally Ho.. he is everywhere you want to be.
The rest I will keep to myself..
"Loose scrum!"
Tank Dork
#6
05/19/2003 (11:41 am)
Another strategy for out witting goal campers is to pull up to the goal and stop. Or come in slow so you don't have enough speed to transfer the flag if you run into them. Often they will be so fixed on getting the flag by ramming, they wont bother to shoot you (even if your smoking like the tailpipe on a '79 Volvo). They will often come charging out of the goal trying to build enough speed to ram you. At this point (if you're in a light) you can pretty easily out maneuver the adrenalin infused, bull like charge, and nip into the spot in the goal they just left behind.
#7
Keep the comments coming, we are loving it. We also want, if the players are into it, to try to facilitate the creation of a scrum leauge, and possibly have some organized online team scrum action going on.
05/19/2003 (12:21 pm)
My favorite tactic is to go toward the goal, angle away, wait for the camper/rammers to charge, slam it into reverse, and watch them zip by, right in front of me, and then putter into the goal.Keep the comments coming, we are loving it. We also want, if the players are into it, to try to facilitate the creation of a scrum leauge, and possibly have some organized online team scrum action going on.
#8
For team scrum I am great at protecting my carrir. Often i will sit back and if possible ram the opponets. both slowing them down and ruining shots. I may not score big, but my team wins
What are peoples favoite maps for scrum? I like the Craters one. I like the big hills and rocky areas. I really dislike the Flat places. makes it boring
05/20/2003 (6:50 pm)
If anyone camps at the goal the only way they can ram and steal is by going full throttle. Often i will come to the goal at an angle or curve into it. If i see them coming to me I WILL break since they often need ot lead the ram and often overshoot.For team scrum I am great at protecting my carrir. Often i will sit back and if possible ram the opponets. both slowing them down and ruining shots. I may not score big, but my team wins
What are peoples favoite maps for scrum? I like the Craters one. I like the big hills and rocky areas. I really dislike the Flat places. makes it boring
#9
05/22/2003 (7:25 am)
Of the ones we have have been playing primarily.. I like them all... My worst scores though are usually on the one with the large rock pile and the huge hill in the center, although it is the funnest since you get alot of airtime.
#11
And sometime unwary oponents end up in the fog too!
05/23/2003 (6:48 am)
One of my fav technique is to use the area borders to 'hide' when running to the goal; there is most of the time a slight depression there, and even if it's the long way to the goal, you can end up pretty well hidden for quite some time. Takes good driving skills too, since there are hills and stuff.And sometime unwary oponents end up in the fog too!
#12
"guess because I am right handed/brained"
A person that is right handed is usually "better" with things in the left side of the brain. Maybe that explains why you think you turn to the right faster! ;-)
05/28/2003 (7:18 pm)
Chris Infinger wrote:"guess because I am right handed/brained"
A person that is right handed is usually "better" with things in the left side of the brain. Maybe that explains why you think you turn to the right faster! ;-)
#13
whatcha guys think?
05/28/2003 (7:54 pm)
lately, a strange thing is occuring. i no longer *feel* like im dominating games. in fact, i get quite frustrated during games because goals are becoming highly scarce, even though, in the end, i'm still winning scrum games about half the time. does anyone else notice this? the whole scene is getting DAMN competitive, probably because of the increase in lights, probably because of the increase in experience?whatcha guys think?
#14
Good one Martin =)
The light tanks speed still makes it the scrum master.. however, they are VERY susceptible to fire.
The problem Tally is that with more light tanks coming into the game the light's weakness comes out quickly since others can keep up with you and pour on the rounds.
You definately have to use those speed arrows and launch pads alot more now and forget about driving anywhere in a straight line.
"Point me to the Ice world."
Tank Dork
05/29/2003 (8:31 am)
Yeah.. Tally I have noticed that you are not scoring as much =PGood one Martin =)
The light tanks speed still makes it the scrum master.. however, they are VERY susceptible to fire.
The problem Tally is that with more light tanks coming into the game the light's weakness comes out quickly since others can keep up with you and pour on the rounds.
You definately have to use those speed arrows and launch pads alot more now and forget about driving anywhere in a straight line.
"Point me to the Ice world."
Tank Dork
#15
12/30/2003 (4:33 pm)
Ah in the begining there was scrum! And scrum gave birth to team scrum and Scrum heads! The rest is history!
#17
.....
except on the scrum holder... :(
12/30/2003 (7:40 pm)
And when I'm there, shots are everywhere! .....
except on the scrum holder... :(
#18
Sometimes I end up on top, other times I completely goose egg and have to take a break. So, my advice may not be the best of methods. Feel free to counter.
I find that if you want to intercept a carrier, aim 1/3 distance from the goal to the carrier. You should end up just barely ahead.
I like to travel just behind and to the side of the carrier so that I can swivel the turret to beat him up. However, I like to soften him a little and then let him travel for a bit while he draws fire from the others. Then I'll put in the killing burst and take the scrum to the finish. (Deliciously evil, I know). This does not work with the likes of Tally Ho, MajorPain, Foul Play, etc for they will know exactly what you are planning and will just pound you first. THEN they will kill the carrier and take the scrum (Ultimately evil).
Oh, and for you new people: camping can work great (especially if you are up against the lesser experienced). But, if you use it, you will become severely hated amongst the community. Besides, you really are only playing half the game if you choose not to get in the fray to shoot and maneuver.
I can't wait to see what people have to say about Team Scrum. All I can say is, have a designated leader who directs who goes where. If your team doesn't clear the goal or protect the carrier, the other team will just pick off the carrier when he arrives and they'll walk it in themselves. Always pass the scrum to a more healthy tank to keep the scrum in the team.
-macr0t0r
12/30/2003 (7:48 pm)
I just came on the scene 2 weeks ago, so it always seemed this competitive to me. :-PSometimes I end up on top, other times I completely goose egg and have to take a break. So, my advice may not be the best of methods. Feel free to counter.
I find that if you want to intercept a carrier, aim 1/3 distance from the goal to the carrier. You should end up just barely ahead.
I like to travel just behind and to the side of the carrier so that I can swivel the turret to beat him up. However, I like to soften him a little and then let him travel for a bit while he draws fire from the others. Then I'll put in the killing burst and take the scrum to the finish. (Deliciously evil, I know). This does not work with the likes of Tally Ho, MajorPain, Foul Play, etc for they will know exactly what you are planning and will just pound you first. THEN they will kill the carrier and take the scrum (Ultimately evil).
Oh, and for you new people: camping can work great (especially if you are up against the lesser experienced). But, if you use it, you will become severely hated amongst the community. Besides, you really are only playing half the game if you choose not to get in the fray to shoot and maneuver.
I can't wait to see what people have to say about Team Scrum. All I can say is, have a designated leader who directs who goes where. If your team doesn't clear the goal or protect the carrier, the other team will just pick off the carrier when he arrives and they'll walk it in themselves. Always pass the scrum to a more healthy tank to keep the scrum in the team.
-macr0t0r
Torque Owner Dan MacDonald
You're tactics are all good ones. However I would suggest not getting right behind a tank carrying the flag. Often all the other tanks are further back and will be shooting at the flag carrier. If you are right behind him, you will take all the damage.
Better to hang back. and a little off to the side. Weaken him up, even kill him and then swoop in and get the flag. If you are right behind him when he dies, he will flip over in front of you and block you from making a clean getaway with the flag.
Happy hunting :)