5
Well fear not sad pandas, your troubles are over. With our throughly researched and detailed guide, you too can PUG for FUN and PROFIT.
After learning and putting into play these cutting edge techniques, you too can become Lord of the PUGs, leading your own little army of scabs and cutthroats to your own little puppet dance.
Previous satisfied comments include:
'Thanks guys, you've made me realise how silly I was expecting human decency from the internets. I feel better now knowing and expecting everyone out there is a *#@(#'
'$*#& you noob!'
'PONIES!'
'Your guide is awesome! I now have become a professional manipulator of those below me. My real life career of middle management has taken off as well! Thanks!'
So without further ado:
Stage 1: Denial
This can't be happening, surely people aren't all complete tards, I'm sure things can only get better and PGI will somehow become competent and give me proper matchmaking.
What are PUGs?
Pugs are:
- Not the elite killer team of Kuritan robot samurai or hardbitten warriors with a heritage dating back to the Star League you were hoping for.
- Not there purely to raise your blood pressure.
- Not ALL suicide farmers or advanced AFK bots.
- Often misunderstood and equally frustrated individuals like yourself.
Stage 2: Anger
Why are you all so crap! I hate all of you, I hate this game. You're all out to get me. Screw you PGI!
Expecting team play? Frag that crap and vent it through an airlock. You want a team who listens, join a clan, or download a VOIP client.
You have a bunch of 7 people, who at worst will be AFK suicide Chinese-Nigerian Farmer Bots, and at best a set of derpy companions with the equivalent use of the average Friendly AI in most video games. With the occasional decent player thrown in.
Let's start from there.
Stage 3: Bargaining
Okay, maybe I'll bring a good build, and if I try my best, people will get that and try their best too. I'm sure people will appreciate it if I use TAG and call out targets.
Want to play your LRM boat? Good. Stop pugging, get TS/Vent/Mumble, find a team.
Otherwise realise that coming in with any build that requires teamwork is like expecting to find the kind of camraderie that puts the noble nature of the human spirit on display at a Black Friday sale.
As such, bring something with punch that can hold its own. A brawler, a scout hunter, a light striker. Basically something that will allow you to do a Cartman, and still do something when you take your toys and go home.
Stage 4: Depression
Why bother, they're all terrible anyway. All that will happen is that they'll die. I best accept it. Hell, maybe I should invest in a Chinese-Nigerian Suicide Bot program.
For those of you who are more idealistic, you can first try to ORGANISE the PUGs. Yes, I know, why should you, someone else should do it, or they're all useless whoresons who belittle you anyway.
If you think like that, then perhaps I could interest you in picking up some self-help literature on entitlement.
http://www.amazon.co...t/dp/1416575995
However, if you're a normal, decent person, who knows the fact that sometimes you have to make the first step, then yes, by all means try. Sometimes, people still have the ability to surprise you.
A friendly message on team chat, a suggestion as to what plan to take, big things often start from small gestures.
And if they do, then by all means, enjoy the shred of human decency you've managed to scrounge up from this cesspit of scum known as the MWO pugging community.
Of course, in general, there's a reason why stereotypes exist. If you're met by silence, or witty questions as to the chastity of your dear mother, then by all means, move on to Step 5.
Stage 5: Acceptance
You're all crap. But I'm better than this.
First, let me quantify this. If you're lousy at the game, at least in holding your own in a brawl, the game is now doing quite a good job of letting you know this fact.
And if you being lousy, is in fact, fact, then stop reading this guide, get off your high horse, and go learn to get better.
Join a clan, join TS, or read a few guides and watch a few videos. A good team doesn't want to carry your sorry behind either, so don't expect it to.
If however, you're of a decent standard, then you're now looking to salvage whatever you can out of this miserable, misbegotten bunch of derps.
Winning is no longer the goal. Putting yourself as far up the leaderboard, and winning as much XP and monies as you can is the best you can hope for.
Making Lemonade
1. Stick together (conditionally)
A smart man knows that no tool is useless. One day, even that square wheel or that helicopter ejection seat could come in useful.
So, when possible, stick with the sheep. You can't use a tool you throw away.
1.5. Don't lemming.
Pugs will be Pugs. Should they choose a path of colossal stupidity, you may wish to exercise your discretion and refuse to follow.
However, please note that often, you're better off pushing with them, then selling your life as dearly as possible, since capping no longer has much value, and your damage potential falls the less fodder you have to soak damage for you.
2. Use the PUGs. Unflinchingly.
At this point, having failed to find any redeeming qualities in your PUGs, you can safely relegate them to the same level of respect you have for disposable sporks.
Never lead the pack. Hang back, and focus on maintaining good situational awareness.
When a brawl breaks out, never draw aggro. Always fade back if you begin to draw attention, while maintaining as much damage output as you can.
If you're a straight out frontline brawler, then your best bet is to throw it all into the main brawl when it breaks out. Look for wounded or vulnerable targets, and aim for those. LRM boats, Long Range Direct Fire support that is more fragile, depending on what you run, go for those.
If you're a light striker or scout hunter, then find something to kill. LRM boats, other lights, vulnerable brawlers with a turned back. If you're a light striker/scout hunter worth his salt, then you're probably pretty independant even when playing in a team anyway.
And if you have the speed to run, do so if the brawl goes bad. Normally lights will chase you leaving their heavier team mates behind, allowing you a chance to pick them off without suffering from focus fire.
2.5. Prey on the Weak
Lone wolves don't have a pack backing them up to take down the harder targets. And in cases like these, its the hyenas and jackals among us that prosper.
Always be on the lookout for vulnerable targets. Cycle through targeting, and find those who are ready for the coup de grace. Circle around the battle if you must to reach the weak.
Never, I repeat NEVER, try to revert back to expecting something from the team, and doing something silly like helping them altruistically. Why? See the next point...
3. Never. Rely. On. Anyone.
Once you're set on your path, do not, under any circumstances, expect help from a PUG. You live by the sword, you die by the sword.
If you want to yell on teamchat for help when all hope is gone, by all means. Miracles may happen.
But save yourself the apoplectic fit trying to figure out why that bloody Raven is trying to kill an Atlas with a small laser rather than going to cap.
4. Finally, and most importantly, realise this is a team game.
The equation is thus:
Quote
No skill < Personal Skill < Teamwork < Personal Skill + Teamwork
Until we have FFA deathmatch, you're going to have to accept that there are people out there who have teamwork, and seeing as to how this is a team based game, there are plenty of them, and they will kick your teeth out.
That is the whole idea, more than the sum of its parts and all that.
So make the best of it, with the hope PGI releases a mode more suited for the Lone Wolves among us
Happy Pugging. I hope this at least helps a few of you avoid smashing your monitors in
Edited by Valore, 17 January 2013 - 08:08 PM.
