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LF Medic/Calling Mentor
posted in Mentoring
1
#1
2 Frags +

Hi there. I'm towel.

I've been playing Medic since I got this game in 2010. I've been around the competitive scene for a while. I've been doing mostly backup work, and now that the teams are disbanded, I'm on my own and have joined both a HL and a 6s team as a Starter Medic.

I'm hoping to find a really skilled Medic willing to help me improve my 6s Medicing. I'm pretty rusty with 6s, though this competitive type is where my heart is, and I really wish to improve.

My calling is also kind of pretty terrible. I'm really quiet, and I don't really talk much, which usually makes me go unnoticed in most mumbles I go around. I would love nothing more than for a really strong main caller to help me get around my inability to properly talk and call things.

If you're interested, please add me so we can talk! thank you!

http://steamcommunity.com/id/towel101/

Hi there. I'm towel.

I've been playing Medic since I got this game in 2010. I've been around the competitive scene for a while. I've been doing mostly backup work, and now that the teams are disbanded, I'm on my own and have joined both a HL and a 6s team as a Starter Medic.

I'm hoping to find a really skilled Medic willing to help me improve my 6s Medicing. I'm pretty rusty with 6s, though this competitive type is where my heart is, and I really wish to improve.

My calling is also kind of pretty terrible. I'm really quiet, and I don't really talk much, which usually makes me go unnoticed in most mumbles I go around. I would love nothing more than for a really strong main caller to help me get around my inability to properly talk and call things.

If you're interested, please add me so we can talk! thank you!


http://steamcommunity.com/id/towel101/
2
#2
1 Frags +

hey towel if you need some tips add me, i can help make the transition from silent med to extra caller extraordinaire if you please

hey towel if you need some tips add me, i can help make the transition from silent med to extra caller extraordinaire if you please
3
#3
RGB LAN
2 Frags +

Honestly, the only mandatory things you should be communicating as a medic is where you currently are and if you're being attacked. If you cannot do that, then you absolutely cannot play medic to the point where it wouldn't greatly affect your team. Other good things that you should communicate but aren't absolutely mandatory is calling when you just used uber (though you can just have the bind where it says in team chat that you ubered, but this isn't always accurate if you're trying to uber at 95% while you're under attack), what your uber percentage is, and keeping track of who has uber advantage (and by how much). The reason those aren't mandatory is that someone else could communicate all of that just fine without it being a problem. Also, if you see someone hurt who is getting out of a fight, just tell them you're in back of them and don't assume that they remember where you said you were 10 seconds ago. Depending on the situation, I might call a push when I see a great opportunity, saying something like "go in now, they are all bunched up in their yard and they are very weak." However, that's just through my intuition playing TF2 and that's not a necessity for inexperienced or newer medics.

When I think about it, it's hard to talk too much as medic. Start implementing the things above to start out. If you find it hard to remember these things, try to remind yourself or write yourself a note. Eventually, you'll get the hang of it and it'll become normal for you.

Honestly, the only mandatory things you should be communicating as a medic is where you currently are and if you're being attacked. If you cannot do that, then you absolutely cannot play medic to the point where it wouldn't greatly affect your team. Other good things that you should communicate but aren't absolutely mandatory is calling when you just used uber (though you can just have the bind where it says in team chat that you ubered, but this isn't always accurate if you're trying to uber at 95% while you're under attack), what your uber percentage is, and keeping track of who has uber advantage (and by how much). The reason those aren't mandatory is that someone else could communicate all of that just fine without it being a problem. Also, if you see someone hurt who is getting out of a fight, just tell them you're in back of them and don't assume that they remember where you said you were 10 seconds ago. Depending on the situation, I might call a push when I see a great opportunity, saying something like "go in now, they are all bunched up in their yard and they are very weak." However, that's just through my intuition playing TF2 and that's not a necessity for inexperienced or newer medics.

When I think about it, it's hard to talk too much as medic. Start implementing the things above to start out. If you find it hard to remember these things, try to remind yourself or write yourself a note. Eventually, you'll get the hang of it and it'll become normal for you.
4
#4
0 Frags +

Is it possible to main call as medic? I seem to be the most vocal on my team as well as the person that likes to lead the most yet most of the time I don't see what my pocket/ demo sees. I know the medic is the core of the team but it seems to hard to make the right calls because I don't see nearly as much as the people in front of me.

Not to hijack your thread intentionally towel. :>

Is it possible to main call as medic? I seem to be the most vocal on my team as well as the person that likes to lead the most yet most of the time I don't see what my pocket/ demo sees. I know the medic is the core of the team but it seems to hard to make the right calls because I don't see nearly as much as the people in front of me.

Not to hijack your thread intentionally towel. :>
5
#5
2 Frags +

It is most definitely possible to main call as medic. Main-calling involves primarily calling pushes and holds, and you don't necessarily need to be able to see all the action to do that. The main skill involved is being able to immediately recognize picks, uber advantages, and positional advantages, and turn all of those into a call quickly.

You'll need to become highly addicted to your scoreboard and be able to sift through teammate comms to figure out positions. You should also be able to call uber advantage to within a few percent. This stuff is all a bit easier as medic, as you don't have to worry about hitting anything that comes close, but rather just dodging damage.

Unfortunately, you can't really practice these things on your own as easily as your soldiers can practice jumping or your scouts can practice DM. The best advice I've been given is to find a higher-level player who will let you spec their scrims and sit in their mumble just so you're exposed regularly to high-quality comms.

It is most definitely possible to main call as medic. Main-calling involves primarily calling pushes and holds, and you don't necessarily need to be able to see all the action to do that. The main skill involved is being able to immediately recognize picks, uber advantages, and positional advantages, and turn all of those into a call quickly.

You'll need to become highly addicted to your scoreboard and be able to sift through teammate comms to figure out positions. You should also be able to call uber advantage to within a few percent. This stuff is all a bit easier as medic, as you don't have to worry about hitting anything that comes close, but rather just dodging damage.

Unfortunately, you can't really practice these things on your own as easily as your soldiers can practice jumping or your scouts can practice DM. The best advice I've been given is to find a higher-level player who will let you spec their scrims and sit in their mumble just so you're exposed regularly to high-quality comms.
6
#6
0 Frags +

Hi, TheFragile.

I completely agree with most, if not all, of your post. And I already know how to call and communicate with my team. It was the first thing I had to learn when I started out.

I'm not concerned with not knowing how to call, or remembering things.

My main concern is not being able to voice those calls. As I've stated, I'm really quiet and I don't talk much. My inability to properly voice what I'm calling in my head is something of a hindrance. Usually my words come out twisted and tongue-tied, and I end up making some weird dying whale noises which often end with the word "cunt". It's something I would love and hope to overcome with some proper training for the sake of my current team, and my future teams.

I thank you for your advice though. It's much appreciated.

And mario.

Way to hijack my thread, bro. x3

Hi, TheFragile.

I completely agree with most, if not all, of your post. And I already know how to call and communicate with my team. It was the first thing I had to learn when I started out.

I'm not concerned with not knowing how to call, or remembering things.

My main concern is not being able to [i]voice[/i] those calls. As I've stated, I'm really quiet and I don't talk much. My inability to properly voice what I'm calling in my head is something of a hindrance. Usually my words come out twisted and tongue-tied, and I end up making some weird dying whale noises which often end with the word "cunt". It's something I would love and hope to overcome with some proper training for the sake of my current team, and my future teams.

I thank you for your advice though. It's much appreciated.

And mario.

Way to hijack my thread, bro. x3
7
#7
1 Frags +

I actually had the exact same problem that you did (and I probably still do, if you ask my teammates).

When in game, do you use push to talk on mumble, or voice activation? I noticed that when I switch to voice activation my comms are much cleaner because I don't have to worry about hitting the wrong mouse button with all my other responsibilities. I can just talk.

Another thing I do to work on this is watch POV's of myself and other medics (both at my level and above) and practice calling things I see onscreen. That plus very thorough map review will make it so you're comfortable just using the game-specific vocabulary.

I also am in the habit of repeating all of my 'calls' (i.e. anything specific to the main caller role and not just regular comms). This has the dual function of allowing me to be much clearer the second time and also allowing teammates who may have been saying something to refocus on my call.

I actually had the exact same problem that you did (and I probably still do, if you ask my teammates).

When in game, do you use push to talk on mumble, or voice activation? I noticed that when I switch to voice activation my comms are much cleaner because I don't have to worry about hitting the wrong mouse button with all my other responsibilities. I can just talk.

Another thing I do to work on this is watch POV's of myself and other medics (both at my level and above) and practice calling things I see onscreen. That plus very thorough map review will make it so you're comfortable just using the game-specific vocabulary.

I also am in the habit of repeating all of my 'calls' (i.e. anything specific to the main caller role and not just regular comms). This has the dual function of allowing me to be much clearer the second time and also allowing teammates who may have been saying something to refocus on my call.
8
#8
RGB LAN
3 Frags +
marioIs it possible to main call as medic? I seem to be the most vocal on my team as well as the person that likes to lead the most yet most of the time I don't see what my pocket/ demo sees. I know the medic is the core of the team but it seems to hard to make the right calls because I don't see nearly as much as the people in front of me. Not to hijack your thread intentionally towel. :>

I mostly called as medic in ESEA season 6, but I really wouldn't suggest it for the reason that you stated: you can't see what everyone on your team sees because you're playing your angles properly so you don't take unneeded damage. It's still a feasible thing to do if you're the best at calling, but you need to make sure everyone comms what they see so you can call the play.

Mr_OwlI actually had the exact same problem that you did (and I probably still do, if you ask my teammates).When in game, do you use push to talk on mumble, or voice activation? I noticed that when I switch to voice activation my comms are much cleaner because I don't have to worry about hitting the wrong mouse button with all my other responsibilities. I can just talk.Another thing I do to work on this is watch POV's of myself and other medics (both at my level and above) and practice calling things I see onscreen. That plus very thorough map review will make it so you're comfortable just using the game-specific vocabulary.I also am in the habit of repeating all of my 'calls' (i.e. anything specific to the main caller role and not just regular comms). This has the dual function of allowing me to be much clearer the second time and also allowing teammates who may have been saying something to refocus on my call.

This is actually a really good idea for towel's trouble voicing his comms. Good stuff.

[quote=mario]Is it possible to main call as medic? I seem to be the most vocal on my team as well as the person that likes to lead the most yet most of the time I don't see what my pocket/ demo sees. I know the medic is the core of the team but it seems to hard to make the right calls because I don't see nearly as much as the people in front of me. Not to hijack your thread intentionally towel. :>[/quote]

I mostly called as medic in ESEA season 6, but I really wouldn't suggest it for the reason that you stated: you can't see what everyone on your team sees because you're playing your angles properly so you don't take unneeded damage. It's still a feasible thing to do if you're the best at calling, but you need to make sure everyone comms what they see so you can call the play.

[quote=Mr_Owl]I actually had the exact same problem that you did (and I probably still do, if you ask my teammates).When in game, do you use push to talk on mumble, or voice activation? I noticed that when I switch to voice activation my comms are much cleaner because I don't have to worry about hitting the wrong mouse button with all my other responsibilities. I can just talk.Another thing I do to work on this is watch POV's of myself and other medics (both at my level and above) and practice calling things I see onscreen. That plus very thorough map review will make it so you're comfortable just using the game-specific vocabulary.I also am in the habit of repeating all of my 'calls' (i.e. anything specific to the main caller role and not just regular comms). This has the dual function of allowing me to be much clearer the second time and also allowing teammates who may have been saying something to refocus on my call.[/quote]

This is actually a really good idea for towel's trouble voicing his comms. Good stuff.
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