EPT![[image loading]](http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k47/number1gog/halo3.jpg)
Hi there,
My name is Sean Mills, and I love first person shooters. I would stay up for hours on end playing Goldeneye 007 on the N64, and FPS have been my favorite games since then. Perfect Dark, Counterstrike, the Halo trilogy, and Call of Duty, they are my passion. In fact, I believe that if I would take all the hours I spent on shooters and put it into Starcraft, I'd be A+ rank ez mode. I'm not even joking, I spend a lot of time gaming
Anyways, today I want to do a little writeup on one of my favorite gametypes in one of my favorite games: Team SWAT in Halo 3. My hope is that everyone can learn at least one thing from this thread, and maybe there is someone out there who wants to take it a step further and start playing some high level SWAT with or my friends.
![[image loading]](http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k47/number1gog/goodluck.jpg)
The default gametype of Team SWAT is a gametype where the players all have no shields and low health, making one shot kills possible with if shot in the head. The starting weapon is a BR, secondary is a pistol, and Carbines are on the map. Teams of 4 battle to the first to 50 points. There are other gametypes within SWAT but they all suck so Veto them.
Some of the things you need:
▲Halo 3
▲An Xbox Live account with Gold Membership
▲All of the updated map packs for Halo 3
There are also some little tips and tricks that you can use to get an edge over the competition that you should do before going into your first match:
▲Play as an Elite!
Yes, this actually matters. Two of the most obvious reasons are that Elites are harder to hit from behind, and that when jumping, the position of their head changes, making it harder to track their head with your sight.
Beyond that it's a mental thing. There are purists who think SWAT should be spartans-only, and if they get robbed of a kill because of advantages in your Elite model, it will put them on tilt. And any poker player can tell you about the advantage of putting your opponent on tilt.
▲Choose the right armor!
Halo 3 allows you to change what armor you wear ingame. Choose the Flight or Assault helmet, because they are smaller and harder to hit. The default helmet is absolutely massive and easy to one shot. Leave the shoulder pads as default, because they are tall enough that they actually protect your head from certain angles.
Note: The Flight helmet isn't unlocked by default, it requires beating the story mode on heroic or legendary difficulties. Most of you will be using the Assault helmet.
▲Play on Bumper Jumper!
One of the controller settings in Halo 3 is Bumper Jumper, which puts the Jump command on the left bumper. What this allows is the ability to move around and constantly jump without taking your right thumb off of the right joystick. Before, to jump you would have to move your thumb from the right stick and hit the B button, which wastes time that you could be using to aim.
SWAT pros jump constantly, because it changes the elevation of the head and makes it harder to hit them. You too should be jumping constantly, and playing on bumper jumper makes it easier to aim and jump simultaneously.
![[image loading]](http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k47/number1gog/BumperJumper8thful.jpg)
▲Warm Up!
Before playing for realz, I recommend a warm up game on either a custom gametype, or in a social playlist. The first shot in SWAT is the only one that matters; gunbattles usually never go past two shots. So getting that first shot on target is crucial, and cold thumbs are no excuse. Hearing "oh man I'm not warmed up yet" from a teammate with 20 deaths is my pet peeve.
When I get home I'll upload a good custom gametype and map to my fileshare for you guys to use. For now just hang out in social slayer. Grab a BR and start shooting! Focus on tracking your target's head. In SWAT it's the only target that matters.
So now you guys are all looking sexy in your Elite armor, your thumbs are all warmed up, you're ready to jump into action, right? Not quite!
I'd like to impart some more little tidbits of wisdom while I have your attention. These are tricks I've learned over my time in the playlist and I think you guys deserve to have an advantage over the rest of the noobies you'll be facing:
▲Control the engagement!
Basic fact: It's easier to turn and shoot someone that's to the left than it is to turn and shoot someone that's to the right. It's easier for your thumb to push the stick to the left and it's easier to see a person to the left because you don't have the gun model in your way.
So if you're about to run around a corner to the left, you have the advantage over the person that's on the other side. Inversely, if you're about to run around a corner to the right, you're at a disadvantage. How do you use this knowledge? Don't run around right hand corners! I know that sometimes that can be hard to control, but it's a good tip to keep in the back of your head.
![[image loading]](http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k47/number1gog/gunnnn.jpg)
▲Lead your shots at range!
Halo 3 has a decently realistic physics engine that requires you to lead your shots at range. Like passing a football to a reciever running an in route. It's hard to quantify exactly how much, it's something you have to practice to get right. But at least now you're not one of those kids shooting directly at a strafing target and wondering why you're shots aren't counting!
![[image loading]](http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k47/number1gog/lead.jpg)
▲Play Conservatively!
Nothing irks me more than a teammate that sucks, knows it, but still insists on running out in the open where everyone on the other team can see him. Play tight, play conservatively, dare I say.... camp. Okay don't REALLY camp, but have a little bit of campyness to your style. This goes along with controlling the engagement. Only come out when it's on your terms!
▲Know the callouts!
This might require some research on your part. There are callout to every map that make it easier to identify exactly where the other team is. The best teams out there have excellent communication and they all call out to their teammates, which leads to more dominant team performances.
If we're playing on Guardian and I say "Elbow to S2!!!" do you know what I'm talking about? If you know the callouts, and you're calling out to your teammates, they will love you. You'll get more kills and do better as a team if everyone knows whats going on.
I'd recommend this thread as a start. Grab the headset that comes with your box that you've probably never used, slap it into your controller, and start talking!!!
Anyways, now all that's left to do is jump in and get dirty! The best way to learn is by doing! Hopefully some of these tips will help you. If you want some help or assistance in-game, post here or add my gamertag on xbl! I play pretty frequently, and I'm always willing to help out. I have a few low level accounts that I can use to play with you and ease you into the process, but here's my main:
![[image loading]](http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k47/number1gog/bwwaaaa.jpg)
My Xbox Live profile (must be signed into your own xbl profile to view, I think)
My Bungie.net stats page (no special login needed)
Hopefully the formatting wasn't too horrible. I tried to make it semi-legible, but if it gave you a headache then I'm sorry.
That's it for now, if you have any specific questions feel free to post or message me. There are some pretty in depth things that I didn't want to go into here, but if someone asks a specific question I'd be happy to give a specific answer.
![[image loading]](http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7016/halomyfirstfpse.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://explosive.today.com/files/2009/03/goldeneye1up.jpg)
