Whyyyy am I so bad at Dirty Bomb?

(Sinee) #1

I’m almost level 15, I’ve clocked 220 hours, and I’m still in the running for the Death Olympics. I feel like 9/10 times I’m in the lower 50% margin of the scoreboard. I feel like I bust my chops for such small scores. Even when I white-knuckle it for hours to the point my hands are in physical agony, it’s still a struggle.

I’m sort of at a point where I’m having to question if this game is right for me. It’s the first FPS I’ve ever played, but I think I should have started doing better by now…

I’ve done everything I know to do… I’ve got a Razer mouse and based on things I’ve read, I’ve changed my dpi to 800, ingame sens to 10, turned off accelerations/windows sens 6/11. I’ve tried merc after merc and spent a lot of money in the process. I’ve adjusted all my graphics settings and done everything I know to do, but I’m still struggling so horribly.

Anyone have any advice? Any tips?

(Yes) #2

Try to find a merc that suits you. I was struggling too, but I found the mercs which play the way I like too and now I go positive K/D most games (depends on the merc I play) and near the top of the scoreboard. Also, if you aren’t great at killing enemies then just go engineer or medic and focus on objectives/reviving. Those are really my best tips.

(IcySkyz) #3

[left]What mercs do you usually play?

In my opinion there are two main ways of scoring points: 1. Doing Objectives 2. Getting kills

Doing Objectives (ex. repairing EV, planting C4 etc…) is probably one of the easiest ways to get points, even more so if your an Objective Specialist. You can go like 7/20 kdr in a game and still be first place in points if you ended up doing all the objectives for your team.

Using a mercs “special ability” is also an easy way. (ex. if your skyhammer, are you throwing ammo at your teammates? or are you just using it for yourself? are you saving airstrike to damage the EV or are you just using it whenever to kill 1 enemy?).

Remember that this game is objective based. Alot of points are awarded for doing things like giving ammo, reviving players, repairing items etc… If C4 is planted and no one is around, start defusing it, dont just think “o we have an objective specialist, I’ll just let him/her do it instead”

These are just some things to consider. Hope this somewhat helps. [/left]

(Eox) #4

Keep playing ! You’ll surely do fine at any point. :stuck_out_tongue:

Just find a merc you like and have fun. Let your skill increase at its own rythm.

(Backuplight) #5

This might have a good deal to do with it, there’s a certain amount of awareness and muscle memory that goes into moving in the right way, making the right tactical calls as to when and how to engage. To anyone else, I’d just say “Practice, practice, practice!” and this is true to a point, but you clearly have been! So instead, I’d just say try not to force it. Enjoy yourself, and don’t get to the point where you’re physically hurting over the game for sure.

DPI wise, I know its’ “recommended” for pros but I can’t play with 800 DPI. This can be pretty personal, just find a level that works for you and feels right (assuming 800 doesn’t!).

What servers do you play in? The rank 10+ are a much bigger challenge, though a different kind of rewarding. Competitive has this same feel to it much of the time I believe, though comp hasn’t pulled me in just yet, so I can’t say for sure.

Perhaps others will have some more technical tips, I’m by far no expert in the game, but I score well and tend to maintain a decent average - something I’ve seen get better from when I first started DB until now. Just keep at it!

(Gestankfaust) #6

You have to find your niche…then you will excel…maybe :stuck_out_tongue:

(CCP115) #7

I’ll let the others cover the game play tips.

Technical wise, maybe send me some info regarding your mouse. It is better to have high DPI and lower ingame sense, I am running 1800 DPI and 4 ingame sens, and I could run even lower if I wanted to.
6/11 is good.
Acceleration off is a MUST.
Large mousepad is also a must, a lot of people overlook this.
Lower sens is always better than high, this isn’t Quake.

You may also run into hackers, and that may put you down, but don’t worry too much about it.

If you are really not feeling this game, try something like TF2, which is marketed to be more casual. Or CS:GO, or even Quake Live if you can find a populated server.

The problem with a lot of F2P games is that the veterans always stomp the scrubs, so if you are getting stomped by a level 20+ don’t be surprised.

(umberInlet) #8

Hipfire. Improve your aim. Tweak settings. Yadda yadda. I can’t say to find the merc best suited for you yet, as not all of them have been released yet. :sweat_smile:

(Jojack) #9

If I find my self struggling, I go watch some pros. Just watching them lends so much insight into positioning, aiming techniques, awareness and all the other habits that separate good players from bad players. The aiming will come. Try to stick to mouse sensitivity for awhile before trying something different. Messing around with it too often leaves you in a state where it’s impossible to develop muscle memory and will really screw with your aim. Just get it to where it feels “normal” and leave it for awhile.

Check out this video for aiming tips and controlling corners etc. (pretty basic stuff but not really intuitive to people who have never played an FPS before):
twitch.tv/pansy/v/5982921

Follow these streams and watch these guys play when they stream and watch their videos:
http://www.twitch.tv/art1er
http://www.twitch.tv/outc1der

There are a other good streams too, but I don’t have them off the top of my head.

(PlayingUndead) #10

First FPS you ever played? Keep playing, and enjoy the game if it’s a game you like. Remember that winning isn’t everything, and even if you’re not doing great, you can still help your team a lot and hold your own enough to be on winning teams, meaning that you don’t have to enjoy being brutally slaughtered to enjoy playing the game.

Look, I’m really not a good player myself, probably never really will be, but I can at least tell you that if this is the first FPS you ever got into, hell even just the first PvP multiplayer FPS you ever got into, it takes a loooonnngg time to have winning rounds, especially on PC and especially since the folks you’re going against are often, though not always, really experienced with this kind of thing. You know I remember playing Halo 3 back on 360, even CoD, and with that kind of thing, it was really anybody’s game to win, I won plenty. But with this stuff and being on PC, it’s much more of a challenge, and me personally I like that, though I mostly lose on it.

Also, Dirty Bomb has a lot going on to process if you ask me. Now I won’t say CS:GO is an EASIER game, it’s probably harder but there’s less stuff happening on your screen and no special class abilities or possibilities of airstrikes or anything crazy like that, so my point there is even for me with all the stuff I played, Dirty Bomb feels kinda overwhelming in that “too much happening” regard, maybe spin some more straightforward shooters like CS:GO to familiarize yourself with the basics of operating an FPS.

Sounds to me like you got a classic case of over thinking it and stressing about it to the point where you actually jam yourself up. Take it easy and have fun, that’s the most important thing. Unless your goal in life is to go MLG. Then, disregard everything I said and never read anything else from me again because I’m of no use to you, hah.

(Rokkamaisteri) #11

Also it takes time and practice. :slight_smile:
Depending what your previous experience with shooter games was it can take long while to get adjusted to style what Dirty Bomb has. I have friend who is struggling with the same, but he has kept going a good while now. Also asking randomly things from other teammates doesn’t hurt, they can usually hint something what you can practice to learn the game step by step.

(ThatRandomGuy) #12

OK… I will give you some tips…

Lower your sensitivity to a point where it only moves a little bit when you flinch !
Get a mouse with that can set DPI to 1000 (or below)
Start by using SMGs. Absolutely DO NOT use Blishok !
practise !
go offline mode, point your aim at something. Now move around while keeping your crosshair on that target.

I wont actually recommend watching random streams…These things wont give you skills, but it can show you some tricks (obviously you can still perform real good without these tricks).

In the end, it all depends on you.

Personally, if im sad or havent had a good sleep, i cant concentrate properly and i would miss even the easiest shots… At that point, i would simply quit and get a good sleep ! ( pretty sure a lot of other players has this as well)

(Keldrath) #13

Are you just having trouble landing shots on target or something? 800dpi at 10 is low enough, but try lowering it more and keep lowering it until you feel comfortable with tracking and landing your shots. 10 might be too high for you. It’s about what works for you to be able to land your shots and still be able to react.

(avidCow) #14

the folks you’re going against are often, though not always, really experienced with this kind of thing

This is a big deal. A lot of people playing also play other shooter games continuously and have been playing FPS for a great many years. They have expert hand-eye coordination and game sense, and these are the things you will need to train to get better.

I’ve been playing casually for many years, and it still takes me a few hours just to get into a proper groove and warmed up to a point where I can track targets without random twitches and spasms throwing my aim off.

edit
I guess my point is, you’re probably not bad. You’re a complete beginner. You just need practice. I’m bad at FPS because I’ve been playing a long time and my aim is still average. B)

(srswizard) #15

Like some other people who posted above, I also recommend going for an even lower mouse sensitivity.
I used to have my sensitivity at 7,7 and 600DPI, which was very close to my “cm for 360°” in the previous shooter, that I played, however, it didn’t feel right for this game, and I lowered it, down to 5 and 600DPI, which according to mouse-sensitivity.com, is around ~55cm for a 360° spin, in DB.
It really depends on how much space you have available for your mouse hand, and ultimately, what feels good to play with (although it might take a moment to get used to a new sens).

Secondly, you really want to have a monitor, with a refresh rate of 120Hz or higher, and a PC, that’s capable of running the game at 120FPS, or higher.

A good optical mouse is also a must have.
I’ve been using Logitech’s G400s and I’m currently using a G502, and I really like these mice.
You can’t go wrong with Zowie FK1 and FK2, either.
Whenever you’re getting a new mouse, do some research, before buying.

My #1 advice, after all the tech, and mouse sensitivity stuff, is:
Focus.
Just try channeling all your focus onto your crosshair, and keeping it on the heads of your enemies.

Then it’s just practice, practice, practice.

I’m not on the level of the best aimers in this game, but that’s exactly what keeps me practicing.

Some videos related to the topic:



(sinKrin) #16

Fair play to you for making your first FPS game an objective based one rather than a campy DM one.

Keep at it, find a sensitivity, FOV and control system that suits you. As others have mentioned, practice will help a lot.

Just don’t see it as a chore, especially if you’re playing for fun :slight_smile:

(opicr0n) #17

Gaining an advantage by positioning and insight of the current situation will help you al lot!

(Glot) #18

overal tips:

  1. get comfortable. you need comfort in everything.
    -your chair
    -your mouse
    -good sound, so that you hear the game, not neighbours
    -find your sensitivity and FOV. this can take some time. i suggest 80-90 FOV, and lower sensitivity. and low DPI.
    -set graphics on low, so that you get max frames per seconf possible
  2. play with friends in teamspeak. you will get better faster with friends.
  3. find you niche in the game. medic? object man? gunner? support? close range? long range? find it!
(Mescman) #19

Also keep in mind that some have played online fps games for almost 15 years (10 years might be pretty common), so it’s OK to be “bad” if you just started.

(B_Montiel) #20

If it’s your first fps, I’d advise you to look to some other games that may help improving your aiming skills : Quake Live, TF2, both are free and are good training anyway. Just go do some quick games on them when you are bored. But don’t be worried, especially if you face some 20+ players, most of us are fast paced shooters vets (SD games as well).

Concerning sensitivity, I’m not so direct compared to the other posters because I’ve always played with awfully high sens and acceleration (and I’m using my mouse with my left hand on top of that). I really don’t feel comfortable with low sens. I feel completly lost in my aim with it. The most important thing is that you need to be comfortable. Once you get a gross idea of what feels better to you and get a good grip with your sens setup, adjust it from there. Personally, I just keep lowering/highering it during game sessions. If you start from an average point and if you prefer low sens (like 95% of players), go lower every time you’re used to a new setup. This means you should be able to look/move around smoothly and track down an enemy wihtout being late on his movements. On high sens, that’s pretty much the opposite but with some others constraints.