BART'S PODIUM EPISODE 1: CNCNET5: THE RETURN OF THE NOOB

A guest journalistic contribution submitted by the Four Letter Word of CnCNet, an individual whom many believe to be the reincarnation of Ehy.

 CnC Net 5: The Return of the Noob

   It's the beginning of your ra1 career, a journey everyone will take. Most start at the very humblest of beginnings.

Rarely do players join the CnCNet 5 server with the knowledge and experience to match the skills of a veteran pr0.

The pr0, although greatly outnumbered is not difficult to find. You may have noticed a clan tag for instance, someone with gold medal and colored font in chat.

Most will be identifiable by peacocking (visable flair). this attracts the noob. inexperienced players will admire a pr0 with these cosmetic features.

Unbeknownst to them that this distingquishable trait is more of a percieved social status then a reflection of skillset and character.

"Our community is like a wolfpack. Youngsters wanna prove themselves and become leaders by beating elders. It's OK. It must be. Youngsters must surpass elders some day. That's the way of the nature." -boke yuzgen circa 2016.

Much like in pr0 sports, often times the best players are just that. a better player then others, and nothing more.

This unfortunately doesn't translate into role model and leadership positions. And much like pr0 sports, just because someone is a better PLAYER at a videogame doesn't make them a better PERSON. Thus resulting in the current pr0 scene and the server in general.

Fanboys Beware I suggest with caution, to The noob and average player, or fellow pr0 do not appoint false idols soley based on playing abililty. The future of your gaming career and overall experience on the server are dependent on it! (think i'm kidding?!)

[9:05 PM]

Wait so noobs and average players actually matter? Of course! Actually more then you would ever realize... In this game of who's who, The numbers suggest the pr0s are vastly outnumbered by the common man.

The reason you may ask? there is no relationship with the pr0 community bridging the gap to future pr0s on the verge of making the next step in their play.

Lack of opportunity comes to mind as the pr0 scene gameroom is almost impossible to join. That's joining the room without being banned or kicked. 

If you do manage to find a seat, better not expect to play. you will be told to change your country as spectator. pr0 rooms are 2v2 teams (only 4 players playing) and usually 4 spectators.

1 room, usually full room 8/8 and played with preset teams further removing anyone;s chance at "jumping in" for a round. When "chanced" with playing in such room Ego, Expectations, and Emotion are set high.

Often even other fellow pr0 players are on a short leash. Only getting only 1 chance to prove themselves in game. Winning? its simple the Wins are expected. period, no excuses. And losses??

As the game ends, Losses will be met with partner blame as in game frustrations bleed into the main lobby for everyone to see.

Often times forgetting they were once that very same hungry player just looking for a shot, to improve their game and get a chance in the ring with the pr0s.

ironically enough dont be surprised when the very player you fanboyed for, looked up to, and supported when you were noob, later find out is the same pr0 guy pissed with you after the game...

[9:06 PM]

Is the grass greener on the other side? To the average player or noob who has a passion for the game. Learning build orders, understanding soviet and allies factions. playing in 1v1 and team games.

Players who don't want to be kicked from game rooms anymore and are stacking some wins. Gaining some reputation from peers alike. Building confidence wanting to take the next step to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Striving for greatness, improving To get your skills up to a point where you can finally play amongst some of the highest rated pr0s within the community. Just to come to find out, a small sub group of the community, who are considered the best is actually home to some of ra1s more interesting & controversial characters. This group of players consists of but not limited to: 

cheaters: (multiple offenders) some caught multiple times. some players know, some don't. (It is what it is.)

Trolls: oh ya. believe it or not some of the most toxic trolls happen to be pr0s. Weak minded pr0s who cant handle them usually tattle tale and becomes known as: a rat or snitch. (tell on other players to admins.)

Speaking of admins and admin wannabes: also are part of the pr0 community these guys have a false sense of entitlement. abusing their limited power to satisify personal needs.

Wether it be banning other pr0s for "spamming lobby" or altering the results on the ranked match system in their favor. Finally, Overrated players: players who are 1 dimensional. (SGQ tanker) 1 map wonder. (p4 2v2 only) 1 playstyle (gem builder with preset base) also players who have piggybacked off others success.

So are you getting excited yet? welcome to the big leagues, kid.

[9:07 PM]

My advice to the up n comer?! wondering what the room with the gold medal in Teal font is like. enjoy the process. some of the most fun ive had with the game is growing as a player. "(9) [05:43 PM] <xod7> 5 wins for me i'm almost medium". do not rush or skip this part. losing must be a essential part of any players game.

Taking losses is the only way to learn. the ability to learn from your mistakes as well as others is what will set you apart from your competitors. There is no better feeling then getting a few wins after all the beatdowns you've recieved. "(9) [05:16 PM] <DingFdong> Let me have my litlle victory they dont come that often".

The noobs greatly out number the pr0s. i think this is what cnc net 5 needs. a noob uprising. i declare this The Return of the Noob.

We aren't gaining new players, so for the game to continue we must take what we have and make it better. the noobs must become average. the average must rise up and become pr0. this is the way. pr0s need to give these on the verge players a chance to grow and become one of the pack.

most pr0s forgetting they were that same player looking for a chance years ago. From a tunnel vision point of view you could see cnc net 5 as being on the decline. maybe for the pr0 scene that is true. but overall for ra1. i see alot of opportunity for games of all types and styles.

are they going to be pr0? most likely not, but maybe with the help of a few players they could one day become "pr0 rooms", "(10) [11:17 AM] <[1]abc> someone make pro game pls" Whos next?

[9:07 PM]

example of game room selection random sunday:

(9) [05:10 PM] * Players in 1V1  NOT PRO: jack__ BombDiggity | Map: Rocky Mountain Goldr...

(9) [05:12 PM] * Players in NOOBS & MEDIUM: johto | Map: Rivers Wild (Mega 8 ...

(9) [05:15 PM] * Players in Gold Rush 3x3 SLIM: Lloyd Cp9 | Map: Rocky Mountain Goldr...

(9) [05:29 PM] * Players in [croboy-DP]-PRO P4: [croboy-DP] [BAT]Metz Zobbe [TKT]Ahlem |hK|STNK-PI [EV]-Ethia | Map: Official 2011 P4-Ras...

(9) [05:18 PM] * Players in [BAT]Hrvatska-ova igra: [BAT]Hrvats NastySant1 [BAT]Queza [BAT]Metz Jaquar [TKT]Ahlem [croboy-DP] MAMBOKING-W | Map: Official 2011 P4-Ras...

(9) [05:13 PM] * Players in [oP-Lordy]'s game: [oP-Lordy] [NM]leigh NastyRobska Dynamic |oP-Bea5ty| NastyNate t[A]nja | Map: T-Dawg by NN (Autoal...

(9) [05:18 PM] * Players in [NM]leigh's game: [NM]leigh t[A]nja RAM-yuzgen Dynamic ORA-Crushy NastyNate |oP-Bea5ty| | Map: Ad's Snowcut [2v2 In...

(9) [05:31 PM] * Players in crates t10: Bubblegum | Map: Crates of the Villag...

[9:07 PM]

Finally, a little poem:

Pr0 Scene; man it's not the same

Does it have to do with talent? it's about playing the game

The Pr0 Scene; real players is dying to get in

The Pr0 Scene; just to find they don't fit in

The Pr0 Scene; ain't what it used to be

The Pr0 Scene; trying to control the way you play

They want you to play like this and talk like that

But I'm gone play like this and talk with the smack

The Pr0 Scene; got y'all word meaning nothing

The Pr0 Scene; fuck what you heard cause he's bluffing

The Pr0 Scene; money, bitches, hate

But I dare you to try to take a fucking thing off my plate

The Pr0 Scene; if you ain't got a strong mind

The Pr0 Scene; will break you down its a matter of time

The Pr0 Scene; vultures with nothing to feast on

The Pr0 Scene; see me I'm getting my beast on

I'm not an industry artist, I'm an artist in the industry

That's why I do what the fuck I want, cause nobody can finish me

The Pr0 Scene; playing you like a Pr0 Scene bitch

They tried to finish me quick but I am long, so I stand strong...

To all dying to fit in, but born to stand out

[9:09 PM]

my shit is official

[9:09 PM]

i'm a fucking boss

[9:09 PM]

stop playing with me

[9:09 PM]

I AM NOT HUMAN

*MIC DROP*

Why Ribbon fell out of favour (Referencing Milo234) *FORGOTTEN MONEY SECRETS IN RED ALERT*

 

It's pretty simple. Look at the picture. Trucks act 100x better if your gems/ore are to the RIGHT of your ORE REFINERY. If your gems/ore are on the LEFT then your trucks go haywire (programming bug from original game - probably fixable). You will lose time consistently having to manually move your trucks, meanwhile your opponent has a nice easy life and can focus on combat and scouting/guarding/attacking. This is why the "old" ribbon has become known as a terribly unfair map. This is also a truth on other similar maps and is even worse on ore maps. Liquid sucks and is unfair for this reason. 

Know Your Enemy

[Copyright: Rage Against The Machine]

A wise man (Ford) once noted that many players like to play 1vs0. That is to say, they broadly play the exact same strategy every game and execute the same build order without really adjusting. Diaz (4+ wars GQ) and OldPro (straight cying into teslas) are classic examples of this: sorry guys.

Players like this, while good players, are easier to play against and more exploitable than players such as Lordy and Yuzgen, since Lordy and Yuzgen are capable of mixing up their play and being unpredictable. Because Diaz plays pretty much the same way every game, the majority of players find it more relaxing and easier to play against him than Lordy, even though Diaz is obviously stronger in terms of pure tanking.

Why do I mention 1vs0? Well it introduces a very important part of Red Alert which separates the very best players from the rest. The reason Bea5ty is perhaps the best active player right now is because he never lets you relax. You don't get to just sit and play 1vs0 against Bea5ty, he will make you chase his grenadiers or medium tanks and as a result he will make you sloppy and slower in your build order. 

I also try to put my opponent under pressure as early as possible by being aggressive with infantry or by sending a scout light tank for example. Your goal should be to make your opponent anxious. When  you make your opponent defend more and put them on alert, you ultimately cause them to make mistakes which gives you an advantage. 

Hezb is another good example of a player who exploits the opposition with his 4 early tanks rush. While using the 4 tanks to rush he slows down his opponent and buys time to make construction yards and teslas at home. He might even get a bonus with the 4 tanks and snipe the enemy construction yard or ore truck. This is an example of playing actively. 

Croboy is the allied player version of Hezb. No one gets to relax against the Pro Bro. Light tanks will swarm you and pound you into submission if you try to be passive and play 1v0.

Knowing your enemy increases your win rate. Over time and experience if you know how a certain player plays you can exploit them. For example if you know someone NEVER rushes, you can make extra CYs at the start and increase your building speed and gain a huge time lead. 

When playing vs Bart you need to be prepared for a circus type game where you enter the house of horrors. If you try to play ABC milo guide against Bart you will end up losing a lot of clown games. Against Bart you need to be actively aware of the possibility of a construction yard being dumped in your face on any map and flame towers going spaz mode on you. This is particularly relevant on Pico and KOTG maps. 

See where I'm going with this? Scouting and adapting to the game are some of the most fundamentally important aspects of the game. You cannot afford to just sit and play the exact same way no matter what. You need to be a jack of all trades to truly master this game. 

I've played so many games and have become so experienced that, believe it or not, I can tell who my opponent is by something as little as their rifle infantry positioning. This is particularly helpful on the Ladder where games are anonymous until someone resigns. If you can scout out your enemy earlier you can give yourself an advantage. For example, if I see my opponent making his rifle men behind his wall on 4c Niklas, chances are I know it is Katsh trying to build and I can rush early. 

The less predictable you are = the more anxious you make your opponents and that ultimately wins more games. 

Work out your opponents' weaknesses and try to adapt with the best strategy. For example, if you are against Kicknass, go for a rush and try to kill him early you are stupid to go for a long game. Against robskate, try to avoid a Q battle and go for a longer Cying game. Do not play into your opponents' strengths if you can avoid it. Try to play the game on your terms and bring the parameters of the game to a battle which favours you. Obviously this isn't always possible and is easier said than done, but I hope you understand the general principle. 

In conclusion, I think this advice could be invaluable for a lot of players. If you are more actively thinking about game plan instead of just playing ABC 123 with no deviation, you will win a lot more games. I hope you enjoyed reading this. Stay tuned for more! 

Don't forget to follow! 

Most annoying things in Red Alert (Part 1)

 There are some things in Red Alert online play which really trigger me and speed up my hairline recession. I'll outline a few of these below.

1) Shifting ore trucks 

Omfg! I love to e-shift my tanks and bring them to the battlefield. There is nothing more annoying than an ore truck being a retard and getting in the way. This is an especially bad problem on Crush's Basement map where the ore truck drivers get drunk too easily. It is also especially painful on ore maps because your money problems will be accentuated. There is nothing that makes me want to Lordy-ogre-headbutt my computer screen more than my ore truck getting shifted along with my tanks. It releases my inner rage. I want to yell at the trucks "man fuck off back to your gems ffs" during the game. 

 2) Spectator cockblock

Nothing irritates me more than a selfish prick refusing to play instead of speccing when there is an odd number of players, eg if 3 waiting on 1 player for 2v2. If this player specs for 1 game then I can let it slide, but when the 3 warriors are waiting for more than 10 minutes and this 4th inconsiderate arsehole insists on speccing because of eating/painting his nails/checking tinder then I enter malding mode. I get really frustrated and end up either logging out or going to play ladder. Please do not spectate excessively as it is bad for my anxiety levels. A particularly enraging version of spectator cockblock is when someone wins ONE game and plays only 1 game then insists of speccing the rest of the night: just play you cunt. 

3) 1 or 2 annoying tanks in your base

I love doing this tactic to other people as I know how annoying it is. It is so distracting to have 1 half dead light tank running around your base while you are trying to execute your build order and fight on the battle in front. You are consciously under extra stress and your focus is averted because in the back of the mind you are aware there might be a light tank sitting in your ore ref or attacking your ore truck. This light tank is like a flea you can't swat. Super super annoying. A brilliant tactic, but annoying. 

There are many more things which fucking piss me off. I'll continue this list as part of a series. 

Part 2 to follow...

Official Best of 9 Map List for 1v1

The Quest for a fair Best of 9 Map List 

The concept of a Best of 9 (Bo9) has become very popular in modern Red Alert online multiplayer play. Here is the description on UrbanDictionary so casual players can understand its importance:

 

These can be very enjoyable events, especially for spectators. Often the community will come together and stream these matches and there will be great interest and banter. Until now however, there has never been a consensus on an official map list. The rule has usually been "I pick, you pick" and we gamble for which player gets the first map selection. The result that there have been many series which have ended either 5-4 because each player wins on their home map, or 5-0 because player 2 already gets demoralised after losing badly on the first map.

 As far as I'm aware, no-one has attempted to suggest an official list of 9 maps which players can choose from. We have had ridiculous maps played in Best of 9 over the years such as Equal Opportunity, Bay of Pigs, Ribbon Ore, Rasta etc. Below follows my suggestion for what would be a fair best of 9 list the players can choose from going forward. I've also only selected 9 maps because I feel that it would have the added benefit of encouraging players to learn in-depth these maps. Also they are fair and balanced and I have been objective in my selections. If you can play these 9 maps to a good standard you will be a strong all-rounder. Here is the official CrushyBoo selection which could be used going forward:

• P4 Rashowdown
• A Path Beyond
• 4c Niklas
• Ribbon Isle
• Keep off the Grass
• Shallow Grave
• X-gems
• HJK6
• Arena Valley Extreme

These 9 maps are all ladder maps. I've also been fair in choosing 3 money maps (P4, HJK6 and Xgems) which gives building style a fair crack of the whip. The 3 money maps are also all unique to each other, P4 = deploy, Xgems = speed, HJK6 = map control. There are also 3 standard maps which test different skills, Path = Q-tanking and money management, Keep off the Grass = infantry micro and scouting, Shallow Grave = tactics and timing. I've excluded maps like V3 Rashowdown because we already have HJK6 and Ribbon, and NXNW didn't make the cut because we already have enough standards. 4c and Ribbon are 2 extremely pro maps that everyone knows and I'm sure no-one could begrudge their inclusion. Finally, Arena Valley is a very popular map which deserves its inclusion on the list as it is unique compared to the other 8 maps and requires good map control and awareness. 

 

In essence, I think this is a very fair 9 maps and well balanced, I've put some good thought into it. Hopefully other players agree. I suggest that in future instead of "my pick, your pick", we use the !gamble feature for each game, ticking off maps 1 by 1. As I touched on previous, only having 9 maps will allow players to improve their standard on all the maps on the list. For example, someone might not be very good on Arena Valley but knowing that it will be a Bo9 map will encourage them to learn it.

I look forward to seeing some Bo9s in this new format going forward. Comment below if you have any suggestions.

Don't forget to FOLLOW!

Best Red Alert Videos

The 5 Best Red Alert Youtube videos you should definitely watch!

YouTube Has been a big part of the Red Alert community for the past 15 years. It is probably the best way to learn for newer players, to see how "pro" players are playing. It is also a great way to attract new players to the game. Several players such as Dutchy have said they discovered CnCNet because of my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/CrushRAVids . Unfortunately some players think the primary purpose of YouTube is for "youtube revenges" (showing them beating a player with a condescending description). When used positively, youtube can be great and can showcase some excellent play and help educate the community. Here is a list of 5 of my favourite videos from other players:

 

5. "Cockiness punished by my sensei Katsh" [Boke Yuzgen]

The funniest title of any Red Alert video. A really encouraging video because it shows that even the absolute best players can lose. A rare loss for Ehy inflicted by a grandmaster opponent. No-one is invincible and this video is definitely worth a watch.
 

4. NateDiaz's fantastic speed tips video

This video will help you get better. Guaranteed. Most newer players don't do this. Every second counts in Red Alert and NateDiaz shows the importance of minimizing placement time. I watched EthiaVerna play live on Discord last night and he was making the mistakes that Diaz explains in this video. If he ironed these out his win percentage would automatically go up 10% in my opinion. This is an excellent instructional video and you should watch it if you want to get faster.

3. Rc + Crush vs Nate + Atom (P4). [RC1985]

Had to include this one 😆. New school outclassing 2 legends fair and square. RC's play is phenomenal in this game and Blank said it was the most impressive Red Alert video on youtube so it deserves its place. The music selection is also excellent. Enjoy.

2. Ford's elite allies demo vs Katsh on HJK 

Extremely impressive display from Ford. This is the video which made me realise he was the real deal. Even Ehy struggled to do this. Blank struggled too. Ford is the best German player of all against soviet builders on HJK6. High IQ. A wonderful exhibition that all Red Alert fans would be advised to watch. #Getsomepopcorn

1.  Ehy: "Too Late" [featured on Lautatube]

 

Grandmaster Ehy's best first-person video. Thanks to Lauta for saving this video after Ehy retired and deleted his channel. This video shows the true class of Ehy as he essentially wins 1v2 against 2 pros in NastyNate and Yuzgen. Ehy's partner is a complete noob and it is a 1v2. This video triggered Yuzgen who was butthurt and ended up creating his own YouTube channel. This video is an excellent demonstration of why we consider Ehy to be the best player of the CnCNet era of Red Alert. Surely the best Red Alert video on youtube.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy these videos! Remember to click FOLLOW to be updated regarding future content. Comments welcome for suggesting topics you would like me to cover.