How NOT to Look Like a n00b!
Part III: Fighting Style
By {ICoP}Lich
"There are no advanced techniques, only advanced thinking."
- Anonymous
There is no ultimate fighting style. There are however, fighting style's that are "n00bish". As tempting and even as effective as it may be, running around flailing your saber in all directions in blue stance is considered a n00bish style. The JK2 community values precision and timing over repeated light swings and spins. You look very pathetic when you chase an opponent around swinging madly, even when you're well out of range. So ease up from that fire button, and swing only when you expect to hit. Feinting is an exception here. While combo's aren't n00bish, you should try to avoid letting them become too long (more than 4 or 5 attacks), or continually swinging. Blue stance flailing is probably the second most obvious sign of a n00b (Laming coming in first).
So, you've learned some special moves? Got the DFA's and lunge down? That's good... but overusing them is another way to appear "n00bish". Even though red's DFA may be a very powerful attack, doing it over and over again is both bad for your chances of winning, and for your reputation. Doing nothing but lunges may work well, but you'll also be branded n00b and considered to be without standard fighting skills. So, other than the obvious disadvantages to your survival chance, doing specials repeatedly can also be harmful to your reputation.
The lack of rolling and jumping can also cause your being branded "n00b". Not only can rolling and jumping increase your over all skill, it makes you look like a more experienced fighter. While I prefer to strive for effectiveness, even I kick off the wall or roll under my opponents saber because it looks cool, even if I could have avoided that blow another way. If you care about your appearance, rolling and jumping occasionally is a must.
Yet another way your fighting style can make you appear a n00b is if you continually do the same swing. Pressing a direction + your attack will do a swing. Each direction has a different swing. Mix it up a little. Doing the same vertical and horizontal slices over and over looks EXTREMELY n00bish. In contrast, doing the same SET of moves repeatedly (left horizontal, right horizontal, left horizontal, right horizontal, etc) is also a way to appear a n00b.
Now... this is a very controversial rule. At certain servers and among certain people, to knock your opponent down (Whether with a saber lock or a kick) and attack him while he is down and defenseless is a n00b act. IMHO (which matters, because this is my article) this is NOT a n00b act. As long as it is done in moderation, and you do not go looking to kick, attack while down, kick, attack while down, repeat until dead. In my mind, things like saber locks are useless if you cannot attack the loser. But... if you don't want to appear lame in the eyes of about 50% of the players, don't do it.
Now, these are general rules. There are exceptions, and some places will not follow these rules at all. But generally, if you do not want to appear n00bish, try to avoid doing the above things. As {ICoP}'s leader loves to say "Perception is reality". Appear n00bish, and you are n00bish.
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