The Call of Duty Thread

[falafel]

8 rounds. Reloads can be a bitch. I try to never spend the full 8 before reload and I will hide if I do. I switch guns way more than I reload.

8 rounds is a ton compared to the 2 rounds in the rangers.

[Coach McGuirk]

Man, I am going to miss this game.

[FN Phat]

I have the most kills with the AA-12 shotty. The one thing that you need to keep in mind is to not hold on to the trigger. Only blast as many rounds as you need. The last prestige I used the Striker with great success. There a ton of rounds in that bad boy and it has decent range. I hate the Rangers. Once I got the models, I used them a ton but you can get caught cocking them for the next blast. I prestiged again yesterday and started using the SPAS. That thing is bad ass. It has incredible range and Coach is correct about the 95% one shot kill. I am a big fan of that shotty now. It is a little slow in pumping the shotty but you can compensate it with well placed shots.

Today I was on Skidrow. I came up the stairs (from the hallway that niku hates...I love it!) and blasted a fool that was trying to lay a claymore. I switched to my M4 with the Nube Tube and rounded the corner killing 2 that were camping at niku's spot at the stairs. I turned and ran to the "green room" that has the window. I killed one more with the nube tube, out of the window, that was going up the stairs to the back alley. I switched back to the SPAS and watched the doorway that is at the stairs coming up (that I just came from). I blasted 2 that were coming out of the doorway. I hide behing the boxes and reloaded the shotty. When I popped up from the boxes there was a guy entering the room and blasted him for the game winning kill. 8 kills in about 30 seconds, a winning kill cam, and a lobby full of whinning and bitching. I loved it.

[Pheidippides]

Okay guys, here the first of a series. This is my approach to the Terminal map. Note that this doesn't cover everything - I have several other strategies I use, depending on gameplay, but this is the gameplan I usually go in with.

LEGEND
Yellow Shaded Areas: DO NOT ENTER
Pink Shaded Areas: Roam If You Want To
Pink Hearts: Favorite camping spots
Red Triangles: Claymore positioning
Blue dots: Safe places to use a killstreak

LOADOUT

Primary: TAR w/ silencer
Secondary: Ranger Akimbo
Special 1: Claymore (note that I vary these slightly depending on a number of factors)
Special 2: Flashbang
Perk 1: Scavenger Pro
Perk 2: Danger Close Pro
Perk 3: Ninja Pro
Death streak: Final Stand

Killstreaks: Predator, Harrier, Attack Chopper

INITIAL MOVES

If I start in the lobby:

The first thing I do is sprint as fast as I can to the plane, straight across the tarmac and up the ramp. I then place my claymore in the plane, as shown. You will beat the other team there unless somebody has lightweight and marathon pro, and maybe even then.

If I start in security:

I run into the bookstore as fast as I can and plant the east facing claymore. Then I retreat back to the camp spot just by the bookstore. The corner near Burger Town is invariably the first hotspot, and I just wait. One trick is to jump on the tables, because people usually don't expect you there. Hugging the inside walls generally in that waiting area/burger town area is counter intuitively good because people expect the opposite.

GENERAL STRATEGY

Usually I will roam the outside in the roaming areas (I like being under the plane), hang out in the control room, or hang out in the waiting area (the last two in the spots shown). Note that you should not camp there for more than two or three kills - if you just waxed three people in the control room, look for an opening, and get the hell out of there. Eventually they will come and get you. My tactic is to (1) kill somebody from my chosen spot, letting them know where I am (2) scavenging their corpse and putting a claymore where it will kill them when they come back (3) scavenging again and putting the claymore in a different place that will kill them when they come back and (4) finding somewhere else. Anything else is pushing my luck. Usually I don't like to hang with my teammates, but this map is an exception unless I am outside.

TIPS

1. Do not go in the yellow areas. Seriously. Just don't.

2. Be careful going up on top of the control room. It's exposed - you can make kills, but you can get killed. If you see a guy up there, empty a clip into the tank.

3. Never go up the back of the airplane. In fact, never go into the airplane after the start unless your team already holds it.

4. If you have a killstreak like harrier coming, shoot out the ceiling glass first. Likewise, if you don't, leave the glass there (not applicable to killstreaks that are user-controlled).

5. If you start in the lobby, shoot one bullet into the big window near the baggage area. It will prevent people from looking in, and you will know people are on that flank when you hear the window go down (unless a teammate took it out).

I'll admit this isn't my best best map, but I do well enough at it that I feel okay giving some tips.

[wuapinmon]

Okay guys, here the first of a series. This is my approach to the Terminal map. Note that this doesn't cover everything - I have several other strategies I use, depending on gameplay, but this is the gameplan I usually go in with.

LEGEND
Yellow Shaded Areas: DO NOT ENTER
Pink Shaded Areas: Roam If You Want To
Pink Hearts: Favorite camping spots
Red Triangles: Claymore positioning
Blue dots: Safe places to use a killstreak

LOADOUT

Primary: TAR w/ silencer
Secondary: Ranger Akimbo
Special 1: Claymore (note that I vary these slightly depending on a number of factors)
Special 2: Flashbang
Perk 1: Scavenger Pro
Perk 2: Danger Close Pro
Perk 3: Ninja Pro
Death streak: Final Stand

Killstreaks: Predator, Harrier, Attack Chopper

INITIAL MOVES

If I start in the lobby:

The first thing I do is sprint as fast as I can to the plane, straight across the tarmac and up the ramp. I then place my claymore in the plane, as shown. You will beat the other team there unless somebody has lightweight and marathon pro, and maybe even then.

If I start in security:

I run into the bookstore as fast as I can and plant the east facing claymore. Then I retreat back to the camp spot just by the bookstore. The corner near Burger Town is invariably the first hotspot, and I just wait. One trick is to jump on the tables, because people usually don't expect you there. Hugging the inside walls generally in that waiting area/burger town area is counter intuitively good because people expect the opposite.

GENERAL STRATEGY

Usually I will roam the outside in the roaming areas (I like being under the plane), hang out in the control room, or hang out in the waiting area (the last two in the spots shown). Note that you should not camp there for more than two or three kills - if you just waxed three people in the control room, look for an opening, and get the hell out of there. Eventually they will come and get you. My tactic is to (1) kill somebody from my chosen spot, letting them know where I am (2) scavenging their corpse and putting a claymore where it will kill them when they come back (3) scavenging again and putting the claymore in a different place that will kill them when they come back and (4) finding somewhere else. Anything else is pushing my luck. Usually I don't like to hang with my teammates, but this map is an exception unless I am outside.

TIPS

1. Do not go in the yellow areas. Seriously. Just don't.

2. Be careful going up on top of the control room. It's exposed - you can make kills, but you can get killed. If you see a guy up there, empty a clip into the tank.

3. Never go up the back of the airplane. In fact, never go into the airplane after the start unless your team already holds it.

4. If you have a killstreak like harrier coming, shoot out the ceiling glass first. Likewise, if you don't, leave the glass there (not applicable to killstreaks that are user-controlled).

5. If you start in the lobby, shoot one bullet into the big window near the baggage area. It will prevent people from looking in, and you will know people are on that flank when you hear the window go down (unless a teammate took it out).

I'll admit this isn't my best best map, but I do well enough at it that I feel okay giving some tips.

[RobinFinderson]

Great work Niku!

[falafel]

yeah, great work Nik. I look forward to you doing this for the entire series of maps.

[FN Phat]

Great write up, niku. I agree with your strategy for the most part. I feel comfortable enough to rush the Burger Town at the start. I usually throw a semtex to the corner. That allows me time to get to the planter boxes. I lie down on the north side and throw my 2 stun grenades. That allows me to army crawl to the edge of the planter box and start picking people off. I usually can get 3-4 kills on the break. Another place I like to "camp" is at the staircase leading into the plane. You can pick people off leaving the plane and going into the plane. The downside of this is the large glass window behind you that people can drop down from and get you from behind . The other place I have great success is setting up shop at the Security Office. From the SO you have a great view of the platform (what the hell is that called?) attached to the plane as well as those that make that turn from the hallway of death (the yellow shaded area). If the enemy is coming from Burger Town or the Bookstore, they will not be expecting you to be in the SO. The entrance is out of the way and have a few pillars and planter boxes that allow some cover, yet, do not obscure your view.

[Pheidippides]

Map #2 - Wasteland. This is one of my favorites, unless you get a team of guys who are super snipers and work together, in which case I pack it in. Same legend as before.

LOADOUT

I have two loadouts I use here Alternative in parenthesis where applicable.

Primary: M16 w/ Holo sight (Barrett .50 w/ FMJ)
Secondary: Akimbo 1887s (PP2000 w/ silencer)
Special 1: Claymore
Special 2: Flashbang
Perk 1: Scavenger Pro
Perk 2: Cold-Blooded Pro (Stopping Power Pro)
Perk 3: Ninja Pro
Death Streak: Final Stand

Killstreaks: Predator, Harrier, Attack Chopper

INITIAL MOVES

If I start near the Chopper:

I run as fast as I can to the House (see pink heart) and look for the guy on the North Road sniping. I plant the claymore next to the house to protect a blind spot if I start sniping the trench. Be sure to go BEHIND the school (i.e, the west side) or you will give away your position.

If I start at the Church:

I run as fast as I can to the fence just shy of the tanks and look for people passing over the plain near the trench or coming from the shed. Keep your eyes peeled, and look for people near the edges of the map before you peek in.

GENERAL STRATEGY

As you can see, I do not go into the middle of the map or in the bunker. This reflects my playing style. Instead, I stay to the outside, pick people off in the middle, and countersnipe. I like the M16 for countersniping - I'll often see people getting a bead on me with their Barret or Intervention only to hit them before they can get aimed in. This is the only map on which I use a sight other than iron sights (other than Afghan if I am using the Barrett). The biggest key here (and I can't say this enough) is to try to avoid dying. Worry about staying alive first and getting kills second. If you can get to your first killstreak, you can really rack up some carnage. Attack choppers in particular are deadly deadly on this map. Remember to go prone when you use killstreaks - with that and cold-blooded, you are nearly invisible in the grass.

Shotguns and claymores are of less use on this map for me than any other.

TIPS

1. Do NOT hug the interior ridges when going from one side to the other. You are a sitting duck. Go the long way around. Actually, try to stay on one side or the other if you can and don't cross at all, because you are exposed no matter where you cross. I prefer the side with the tanks.

2. The gravedigger's house near the cemetery is a crappy place to hang out. The roof is even worse. Dumb people try to snipe from there. I kill them a lot.

3. This is not a good map for camping. This is a great map for roaming. Stick and move, stick and move. But be patient.

4. When countersniping (or playing against a team with a lot of snipers generally), it's key to keep to the edges as much as possible. Most snipers focus in and ignore their periphery. It is also important to see them before they see you. As a decoy, I'll often toss flashbangs toward snipers and then run the other way if my situation is disadvantageous.

5. Make sure you have a backup class with cold-blooded and a launcher (preferably the stinger). Air support on this map is murder on the unprepared.

[Pheidippides]

Great write up, niku. I agree with your strategy for the most part. I feel comfortable enough to rush the Burger Town at the start. I usually throw a semtex to the corner. That allows me time to get to the planter boxes. I lie down on the north side and throw my 2 stun grenades. That allows me to army crawl to the edge of the planter box and start picking people off. I usually can get 3-4 kills on the break. Another place I like to "camp" is at the staircase leading into the plane. You can pick people off leaving the plane and going into the plane. The downside of this is the large glass window behind you that people can drop down from and get you from behind . The other place I have great success is setting up shop at the Security Office. From the SO you have a great view of the platform (what the hell is that called?) attached to the plane as well as those that make that turn from the hallway of death (the yellow shaded area). If the enemy is coming from Burger Town or the Bookstore, they will not be expecting you to be in the SO. The entrance is out of the way and have a few pillars and planter boxes that allow some cover, yet, do not obscure your view.

I should include as a caveat to all my maps that they may not fit your style specifically. In fact, I'd be interested to see your take on the maps because our styles are so different.

[Pheidippides]

Last one of the night - Skidrow

Loadout

Primary: Tar-21 w/ silencer
Secondary: Akimbo Rangers
Special 1: Claymore
Special 2: Flashbangs
Perk 1: Scavenger Pro
Perk 2: Danger Close Pro
Perk 3: Ninja Pro
Death Streak: Final Stand

Killstreaks: Predator, Harrier, Attack Chopper

INITIAL MOVES

If I start near the Parking Lot:

Sprint up the stairs - do NOT run down the west alley, but be ready for encounters. Turn down towards the main hall and plant the circled claymore. More on that later.

If I start near the House/Playground:

Game on! Run through the house, plant a claymore just near the exit to the tunnel. Run to the top of the stairs (where the heart is), watch that hallway like a hawk (stay at the bottom of the topmost set of stairs). Fire at anything that moves.

GENERAL STRATEGY

I love that spot at the top of the stairs, so long as I am properly claymored. But you can't just stay there forever. I usually spend most of my time in the main hall, even though it's marked yellow. The trick is to never be in the main hall itself if you can help it. If you enter from the west, don't turn into the hall - run straight out onto the roof. Go east on the roof. Then dart south straight into the kitchen. Go east through the kitchen. Then dart north into the study. And so on. You cover ground but do not leave yourself exposed to people camping in my favorite spot.

Shotguns are a must here. Claymores are magnificent. There are so many places to put them - I haven't even scratched the surface on this map.

Oh, and see the claymore I circled? That claymore is money. Money, I tell you. I get so many kills with that thing. Be sure to angle it as shown.

As you can see, I don't really have any places I roam on this map.

TIPS

1. Never use the tunnel. Ever ever ever. Unless you are very brave and very certain it is unprotected.

2. Stay the hell out of the movie store too.

3. Periodically, if you have nothing better to do, go clear out the apartment. It's best to approach it from the House - make sure nobody is watching the stairs, sneak up, let loose with your shotguns.

4. By the way, the apartment is a crappy place to hang out unless you have double claymores. Then it is quite a good place.

5. A word on claymore placement. Make sure that you place the claymore such that the red lines cannot be seen by anybody, if possible. The trigger range of a claymore - as well as the damage range - is farther out than the red lines. Also, when placing them near doors, think through where people are going to be looking when they come in, and then place them opposite. One of the reasons why the circled claymore works so well is that people are coming in running with a tendency to look to the right - both because of the direction they came from and because of the main hall they are scared of - and the claymore is on the left.

6. Killstreaks don't work as well on this map because of all of the shelter.

[FN Phat]

Map #2 - Wasteland. This is one of my favorites, unless you get a team of guys who are super snipers and work together, in which case I pack it in. Same legend as before.

LOADOUT

I have two loadouts I use here Alternative in parenthesis where applicable.

Primary: M16 w/ Holo sight (Barrett .50 w/ FMJ)
Secondary: Akimbo 1887s (PP2000 w/ silencer)
Special 1: Claymore
Special 2: Flashbang
Perk 1: Scavenger Pro
Perk 2: Cold-Blooded Pro (Stopping Power Pro)
Perk 3: Ninja Pro
Death Streak: Final Stand

Killstreaks: Predator, Harrier, Attack Chopper

INITIAL MOVES

If I start near the Chopper:

I run as fast as I can to the House (see pink heart) and look for the guy on the North Road sniping. I plant the claymore next to the house to protect a blind spot if I start sniping the trench. Be sure to go BEHIND the school (i.e, the west side) or you will give away your position.

If I start at the Church:

I run as fast as I can to the fence just shy of the tanks and look for people passing over the plain near the trench or coming from the shed. Keep your eyes peeled, and look for people near the edges of the map before you peek in.

GENERAL STRATEGY

As you can see, I do not go into the middle of the map or in the bunker. This reflects my playing style. Instead, I stay to the outside, pick people off in the middle, and countersnipe. I like the M16 for countersniping - I'll often see people getting a bead on me with their Barret or Intervention only to hit them before they can get aimed in. This is the only map on which I use a sight other than iron sights (other than Afghan if I am using the Barrett). The biggest key here (and I can't say this enough) is to try to avoid dying. Worry about staying alive first and getting kills second. If you can get to your first killstreak, you can really rack up some carnage. Attack choppers in particular are deadly deadly on this map. Remember to go prone when you use killstreaks - with that and cold-blooded, you are nearly invisible in the grass.

Shotguns and claymores are of less use on this map for me than any other.

TIPS

1. Do NOT hug the interior ridges when going from one side to the other. You are a sitting duck. Go the long way around. Actually, try to stay on one side or the other if you can and don't cross at all, because you are exposed no matter where you cross. I prefer the side with the tanks.

2. The gravedigger's house near the cemetery is a crappy place to hang out. The roof is even worse. Dumb people try to snipe from there. I kill them a lot.

3. This is not a good map for camping. This is a great map for roaming. Stick and move, stick and move. But be patient.

4. When countersniping (or playing against a team with a lot of snipers generally), it's key to keep to the edges as much as possible. Most snipers focus in and ignore their periphery. It is also important to see them before they see you. As a decoy, I'll often toss flashbangs toward snipers and then run the other way if my situation is disadvantageous.

5. Make sure you have a backup class with cold-blooded and a launcher (preferably the stinger). Air support on this map is murder on the unprepared.

My favorite place to set up sniping is at the fence line of the church. Set a claymore at the gate opening on the east side of the fence and position yourself behind the statue and out of the line of sight from the Gravedigger's house. You can generally see everyone before they see you. If you are in trouble, go prone tight to the fence and throw a flash bang. This will be you time and you can retreat (not really for me) or move up the fence line to the claymore that you set to the east. You can snipe people at the GD's house, cemetary, the north trench and finally the north road. If you spawn near the chopper, I like to set up shop on the grassy knoll in the Front Yard. You have a good view of the turn at the North Road and also of the West Trench. People will be looking for snipers at the School and the House, so this will position should give you the jump on them. If you position yourself with a shrub to your left or east), you will be shielded from those that come from the South Ridge or the Shed.

Now, if I am not sniping, I spend most of my time in the trenches and set up above the underground entrances. On occasion, if the other team has set up shop underground, I will get my nube tube class with Danger Close (aka For Bitches ) and blast them out and then follow up with my shotty blazing. I have had some of my greatest games on Wasteland (thank you Chopper Gunner) and some of my most miserable games (sorry for the cussing guys )

[FN Phat]

Last one of the night - Skidrow

Loadout

Primary: Tar-21 w/ silencer
Secondary: Akimbo Rangers
Special 1: Claymore
Special 2: Flashbangs
Perk 1: Scavenger Pro
Perk 2: Danger Close Pro
Perk 3: Ninja Pro
Death Streak: Final Stand

Killstreaks: Predator, Harrier, Attack Chopper

INITIAL MOVES

If I start near the Parking Lot:

Sprint up the stairs - do NOT run down the west alley, but be ready for encounters. Turn down towards the main hall and plant the circled claymore. More on that later.

If I start near the House/Playground:

Game on! Run through the house, plant a claymore just near the exit to the tunnel. Run to the top of the stairs (where the heart is), watch that hallway like a hawk (stay at the bottom of the topmost set of stairs). Fire at anything that moves.

GENERAL STRATEGY

I love that spot at the top of the stairs, so long as I am properly claymored. But you can't just stay there forever. I usually spend most of my time in the main hall, even though it's marked yellow. The trick is to never be in the main hall itself if you can help it. If you enter from the west, don't turn into the hall - run straight out onto the roof. Go east on the roof. Then dart south straight into the kitchen. Go east through the kitchen. Then dart north into the study. And so on. You cover ground but do not leave yourself exposed to people camping in my favorite spot.

Shotguns are a must here. Claymores are magnificent. There are so many places to put them - I haven't even scratched the surface on this map.

Oh, and see the claymore I circled? That claymore is money. Money, I tell you. I get so many kills with that thing. Be sure to angle it as shown.

As you can see, I don't really have any places I roam on this map.

TIPS

1. Never use the tunnel. Ever ever ever. Unless you are very brave and very certain it is unprotected.

2. Stay the hell out of the movie store too.

3. Periodically, if you have nothing better to do, go clear out the apartment. It's best to approach it from the House - make sure nobody is watching the stairs, sneak up, let loose with your shotguns.

4. By the way, the apartment is a crappy place to hang out unless you have double claymores. Then it is quite a good place.

5. A word on claymore placement. Make sure that you place the claymore such that the red lines cannot be seen by anybody, if possible. The trigger range of a claymore - as well as the damage range - is farther out than the red lines. Also, when placing them near doors, think through where people are going to be looking when they come in, and then place them opposite. One of the reasons why the circled claymore works so well is that people are coming in running with a tendency to look to the right - both because of the direction they came from and because of the main hall they are scared of - and the claymore is on the left.

6. Killstreaks don't work as well on this map because of all of the shelter.

Another great write up. I really enjoy these, niku. Keep them coming!

Originally posted by FN Phat
Today I was on Skidrow. I came up the stairs (from the hallway that niku hates...I love it!) and blasted a fool that was trying to lay a claymore. I switched to my M4 with the Nube Tube and rounded the corner killing 2 that were camping at niku's spot at the stairs. I turned and ran to the "green room" that has the window. I killed one more with the nube tube, out of the window, that was going up the stairs to the back alley. I switched back to the SPAS and watched the doorway that is at the stairs coming up (that I just came from). I blasted 2 that were coming out of the doorway. I hide behing the boxes and reloaded the shotty. When I popped up from the boxes there was a guy entering the room and blasted him for the game winning kill. 8 kills in about 30 seconds, a winning kill cam, and a lobby full of whinning and bitching. I loved it.

I play this map all over. It is funny how much are styles differ. This is the one map that you don't roam on and this is the one map that I ONLY roam on. I never stay in one area on the map. I utilize every square inch. I especially like the tunnel. There is good protection by the barrels and about half way down the tunnel is a nook. Not many people know that it is there and it is dark. Perfect place for a claymore to catch those that are walking by. Also a great place to play with the shotties. There is no where for you victim to run. I love the tunnel. You have to be careful not to go too far down the tunnel towards the Offices. People love to look through the hole in the wall and catch you with your pants down. On the flip side, if you are at the loading dock and know that people (niku) are camping the stairs, looking into the hallway, jump and throw a frag grenade over the tunnel. With a little practice, you will get 'em everytime.

[RobinFinderson]

All of the write ups and pointers are fantastic! Thanks to all for taking the time... it is amazing how deep and interesting this game can be, especially considering it is essentially a big game of tag, capture the flag, king of the hill, and all of those other childhood games that skinner our knees and chipped our teeth. Good times! By this point, thank goodness, no one is reading this thread except the true believers... can you imagine how unbelievably nerdy this would all sound to the uninitiated?

[FN Phat]

All of the write ups and pointers are fantastic! Thanks to all for taking the time... it is amazing how deep and interesting this game can be, especially considering it is essentially a big game of tag, capture the flag, king of the hill, and all of those other childhood games that skinner our knees and chipped our teeth. Good times! By this point, thank goodness, no one is reading this thread except the true believers... can you imagine how unbelievably nerdy this would all sound to the uninitiated?

I would have smacked the shit out of myself a few years ago, if I knew I would be a) posting on an internet forum and b) posting about strategy of a video game that I play with my internet friends.

Oh well, it is a blast and I look forward to the weekend gaming every week.