Check your mic
This should be pretty self explanatory, but there are some steps you need to go through to not be a pain in the ass.
- Identify an easy to use echo service (TeamSpeak has it in the settings pannel and Skype has an echo call contact on your contacts list)
- Wear your headset or place your mic how it will be when you're gaming. Don't set it perfectly... as if that's how it will end up... put it where it will actually end up when you're playing.
- Talk LOUDLY into the echo service. Now, talk really quietly as if you're trying to speak without waking people up in the same room. Set your outbound volume to not blow out people's ears when you're excited while still letting us hear you clearly when you're calm.
- UNDERSTAND THIS: Your nose and mouth both breath. Air comes in and out both of those places. Headsets have a tendency to stroll up near the ol' sniffer and make you sound like a gross mouth breather. Stand alone mics tend to be super sensitive to air. If you breath into your mic we're all going to be sour. Nothing is worse than a mouth breather in voice coms.
- IN ORDER TO AVOID SOUNDING LIKE A MOUTH BREATHER WHEN YOU HAVE ALL YOUR CHROMOSOMES... blow air like a dumbass all around while echo testing. If you can snort out your nose and puff air out your mouth without it being picked up then it won't pick up you breathing normally.
- If someone says your mic is FUBAR... IT IS! Don't go "Who? Me?" because at the moment it got so bad that someone said something, the last they want to hear back is "How could this be?" Even if you've gone through all these steps, don't hesitate to fix it even when it ain't broke.
Know your audience
Some people want to be entertained both on mic and in game with silliness and jocularity. Other people want to be a srs bsns all the time. Most people are in the middle and have norms and expectations that they will make clear if you give them the opportunity. Most people (even Jay) don't want to be a tremendous douche to you, so if you're not living up to the cultural norms of the group you're playing with, they will drop hints... TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY. "Hey, is your mic on?" Probably means "Feel free to talk more." "We get it" probably means "Talk less." And there are plenty of places for hints and suggestions throughout your time online. We all enjoy a good personality when it's warranted, but sometimes we all need to either tone it down or bring it up to match our audience.
If you're new to the group, spell out what you bring to the table
If we're playing team games of StarCraft 2 together, let me know what you're planning to do so we can work together. If you can only 6 pool as Zerg, lay that out before I go Nexus First. If you can't play a certain way or have philosophical or skill based limitations, SAY SO. AKA, let me in on what is in your head because my skills at reading minds aren't up to par.
If we're playing League of Legends and we're trying to figure out who is going to play what role and there's only one role you can play, get that out front so we know how to pick around you. It's not a big deal if we know, but if you can only go jungle and someone else has already picked a jungler, don't just quietly go mid with a free week champ that you've never played before... SAY SOMETHING.
Don't expect everyone else to read your mind
The difference between random teammates and pre-made teammates is that we are allegedly working together which should give us an edge. If you take away that advantage by treating the group like strangers then why not just kick you out of the group and find someone who gives us that "strategy edge?" Working together on the fly with various different people is an art and it's not easy. It makes it no easier if you keep the plan to yourself.
Do what you do best
If your best race in StarCraft is Zerg... play Zerg first! If your best champ is Ezreal... play him first! Don't expect people to know you're typically better "but". Nobody wants "buts" when they are inviting you to a game. You need to establish that you are average +1 before you start trying out riskier strategies. If you are not going to be better than the average then why would you be invited? This doesn't only mean skill. This means effort, communication, personality, etc. If you're not that great, the least you can do is try your best to work with your team. Sometimes that's more important than anything else. Just be that average +1 somehow and you'll be a welcomed member of the group.
Take advice. Give advice. Ask for advice.
Part of working together is lifting each other up. If someone is hinting at something you could be doing to help the team, take that advice and be open minded. Online gaming is not the most open minded place when it comes to things like "I have a better idea how to do what you're trying to do." It's hard to give advice un-prompted. If you're having a particularly hard game, ask if anyone has any ideas. If they give you BS like "play better" then maybe you're not in the right group of people... but challenge that. "I'm being serious, I'm having real trouble laning vs Teemo, is there something I can do to win this lane?" Most jerks have only one jerk bullet in their jerk chamber and use it as a defense mechanism just in case your question was meant to bait them into a trap. If you can shake off the jerk bullet and get real advice then you're in a better place in the game or at least within the group.
If you see something that could be improved, let them know, but understand that they may not take it well if you don't phrase it properly... or if they don't know you well enough. This can be tricky and every situation is different, but when you find a group you like and have proven you're average +1 you can build good relationships by navigating the "I know you're frustrated but try THIS..." scenarios.
When someone offers advice... even if it's a between the lines type hint, follow it if you can. Effort is appreciated and being an open minded teammate is awesome. If someone hints that the bottom lane could use more ganks, try to gank bottom lane. Acknowledge that you have received the information and tell them what you're going to do to fix it.
CONCLUSION
If your mic works properly, you are communicating with your group, your team work is outstanding and you do what you do best then you'll be a welcomed member of the team. I'm not just talking about playing with me and my friends... this is for everyone you meet online. I dare you to find someone who doesn't care that you're always huffing and puffing into your mic. Everyone hates that even if it's just a little bit.
When you DON'T live up to the Average +1 standard it's more frustrating than having a lousy random person on the team because the expectations are higher. On top of that, you're sticking around. Now, we all have to learn how to work around whatever it is you're doing poorly. Is it that your mic is garbage and we've been trying to tell you all night to do something about it? Is it that you keep trying outlandish stuff and we're losing close games together (making it hard to not blame you)? Are you not keeping up with the culture of the group? Are you giving non stop play by play when everyone wants voice coms clear for important information? Are you being silent when people are asking what's up?
The average +1 standard isn't much to live up to. There are so many ways you can be more fun to have around than a random, but it's up to you to make sure you have the right mind set and equipment to get the job done. So, fix that mic, get your game face on, and let's go kick some ass.
No comments:
Post a Comment