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Need some help
1
#1
0 Frags +

Hello TFTV, I'm an open scout and I have a problem : I feel like I'm choking all the time when I play scout. Most of the time when I play scout, I feel really stressed because I know I'm bad, in both DM and positioning(like 75 DPM and 3-22 bad). . This type of thinking leads to 2 things : 1) if I whiff my first scattergun shot, there is a good chance that I will start panicking and miss the next 5 as well. 2) I start overthinking every action that I do, which is not super fun.

I've talked about that and did some demo reviews with with my much more experienced scout partner and the conclusion reached that I need to practice my aim and start believing in myself. I've played DM somewhat regularly the last month and a half (like an hour per day) and I don't really see an improvement outside of DM. I mean, I feel like I'm a bit better when I'm in DM servers, but its mostly because there is no pressure in those I think. Recently, I've put off DM a bit and started playing TF2center lobbies with an agressive playstyle, in the hopes that I can build some confidence here. It's working to an extent, but I still have mediocre performances at best and still whiff shot, and since I usually feel way more stressed when playing with my team, I don't know if it has been actually efficient.

I understand that it's mostly a matter of playing more, but if anyone has tips, I would appreciate it.

(Maybe this is more suited for mentoring, but I'm not really asking for a mentor so I put it here. Apologies if it's the wrong place).

Hello TFTV, I'm an open scout and I have a problem : I feel like I'm choking all the time when I play scout. Most of the time when I play scout, I feel really stressed because I know I'm bad, in both DM and positioning(like 75 DPM and 3-22 bad). . This type of thinking leads to 2 things : 1) if I whiff my first scattergun shot, there is a good chance that I will start panicking and miss the next 5 as well. 2) I start overthinking every action that I do, which is not super fun.

I've talked about that and did some demo reviews with with my much more experienced scout partner and the conclusion reached that I need to practice my aim and start believing in myself. I've played DM somewhat regularly the last month and a half (like an hour per day) and I don't really see an improvement outside of DM. I mean, I feel like I'm a bit better when I'm in DM servers, but its mostly because there is no pressure in those I think. Recently, I've put off DM a bit and started playing TF2center lobbies with an agressive playstyle, in the hopes that I can build some confidence here. It's working to an extent, but I still have mediocre performances at best and still whiff shot, and since I usually feel way more stressed when playing with my team, I don't know if it has been actually efficient.

I understand that it's mostly a matter of playing more, but if anyone has tips, I would appreciate it.

(Maybe this is more suited for mentoring, but I'm not really asking for a mentor so I put it here. Apologies if it's the wrong place).
2
#2
6 Frags +

Yo, this is from the POV of a roamer main who only pugs so take it with a pinch of salt.

Took a quick look at your logs.

Your scattergun accuracy is consistently around 60-80% which is pretty decent. (Don’t think it’s a problem with your aim.)

Your K/D is pretty bad for a scout. You seem to be dying too much and you take really little heals.

Maybe it’s a problem with communication? You may not be relaying enough info to your team / playing off damage or comms from the others / asking for enough heals / etc.

There’s no need to push for an aggressive playstyle if you’re uncomfortable with it, it’s better for you to play a style that keeps you alive and a threat to bombers than one where you try to force your way through a choke, do 5 dmg and feed. (Don’t bait your team for stats though :3)

About the stress, the only real way to counter that is to try and think positive. We all make mistakes and sometimes whiff shots we shouldn’t have, it’s just how it is. Keep practicing and someday you’ll grow that confidence.

It’s a videogame, GLHF :)

Yo, this is from the POV of a roamer main who only pugs so take it with a pinch of salt.

Took a quick look at your logs.

Your scattergun accuracy is consistently around 60-80% which is pretty decent. (Don’t think it’s a problem with your aim.)

Your K/D is pretty bad for a scout. You seem to be dying too much and you take really little heals.

Maybe it’s a problem with communication? You may not be relaying enough info to your team / playing off damage or comms from the others / asking for enough heals / etc.

There’s no need to push for an aggressive playstyle if you’re uncomfortable with it, it’s better for you to play a style that keeps you alive and a threat to bombers than one where you try to force your way through a choke, do 5 dmg and feed. (Don’t bait your team for stats though :3)

About the stress, the only real way to counter that is to try and think positive. We all make mistakes and sometimes whiff shots we shouldn’t have, it’s just how it is. Keep practicing and someday you’ll grow that confidence.

It’s a videogame, GLHF :)
3
#3
0 Frags +

Alright, thanks for the tips man. It is true that I should listen more to the comms.

Alright, thanks for the tips man. It is true that I should listen more to the comms.
4
#4
2 Frags +

If you're bad , you're bad and there is no pressure because you can't be expected to do great stuff.

Imo scout aim is all about composure . Try and switch off from your aim so it's almost nonchalant. It's a bit like football; if you try and smash a volley really hard you ll likely fuck up the technique. The best volleys are an almost lazy swing where the technique is spot on and that generates the power. Like zizou in the cl final Vs Leverkusen.

You just relax and let muscle memory take over

If you're bad , you're bad and there is no pressure because you can't be expected to do great stuff.

Imo scout aim is all about composure . Try and switch off from your aim so it's almost nonchalant. It's a bit like football; if you try and smash a volley really hard you ll likely fuck up the technique. The best volleys are an almost lazy swing where the technique is spot on and that generates the power. Like zizou in the cl final Vs Leverkusen.

You just relax and let muscle memory take over
5
#5
2 Frags +

During your scrims, focus on not taking any 1v1s. You can take fights when you have your medic with you or some teammates assisting. Do not engage enemies first and then ask for backup. Be always behind someone else.

Remember that in team games you have no pressure because your team is right there to back you up. Take 2v1s and you only have to deal half your opponent's hp in damage to secure the kill. That's already 50% easier!

Keep on playing DM, it's much more valuable than lobbies to improve your mechanical skill, if you can stand the boredom.
I don't know if you played any other skilled shooters before, but with only 2200 hours, it's perfectly normal to struggle with scout DM. You're doing fine.

During your scrims, focus on not taking any 1v1s. You can take fights when you have your medic with you or some teammates assisting. Do not engage enemies first and then ask for backup. Be always behind someone else.

Remember that in team games you have no pressure because your team is right there to back you up. Take 2v1s and you only have to deal half your opponent's hp in damage to secure the kill. That's already 50% easier!

Keep on playing DM, it's much more valuable than lobbies to improve your mechanical skill, if you can stand the boredom.
I don't know if you played any other skilled shooters before, but with only 2200 hours, it's perfectly normal to struggle with scout DM. You're doing fine.
6
#6
3 Frags +

Don't try to get kills or play aggressive to compensate for a negative kd, that just leads to you feeding more. Relax, clear your head and listen to comms. Play around your med, only take favorable fights (damaged players, 2v1s etc)

Don't try to get kills or play aggressive to compensate for a negative kd, that just leads to you feeding more. Relax, clear your head and listen to comms. Play around your med, only take favorable fights (damaged players, 2v1s etc)
7
#7
3 Frags +

Some suggestions I wish I had when I first played scout:

1. Track your aim, don't flick. Focus on your crosshair and track your targets, don't try to flick to them and shoot.
2. Don't necessarily shoot as fast as the scattergun can shoot. Shoot only when crosshair and target line up, not every 0.6 seconds every time.
3. Easier said than done but try not to worry about performance. If you fight in situations when you have the advantage, hopefully that can relieve some pressure.
4. Get more frames

Not sure if any of these actually apply to you since I haven't seen gameplay.

Some suggestions I wish I had when I first played scout:

1. Track your aim, don't flick. Focus on your crosshair and track your targets, don't try to flick to them and shoot.
2. Don't necessarily shoot as fast as the scattergun can shoot. Shoot only when crosshair and target line up, not every 0.6 seconds every time.
3. Easier said than done but try not to worry about performance. If you fight in situations when you have the advantage, hopefully that can relieve some pressure.
4. Get more frames

Not sure if any of these actually apply to you since I haven't seen gameplay.
8
#8
2 Frags +

You likely have a setup issue as well. Suboptimal frame rate, 60hz monitor, net settings, mouse grip, mouse polling rate, uncomfortable sensitivity, posture while playing, monitor distance and height etc can all have an effect on your aim. It’s important to iron these out but not obsess over them as many people have become quite good regardless of setup.

You will likely get more out of watching demos of top level scouts than your teammate as scouts that perform well at lower levels will still make many mistakes that you won’t realize. I like to watch demos in thirdperson as well to get an idea on how that player moves and try to mirror certain patterns that they do etc.

You likely have a setup issue as well. Suboptimal frame rate, 60hz monitor, net settings, mouse grip, mouse polling rate, uncomfortable sensitivity, posture while playing, monitor distance and height etc can all have an effect on your aim. It’s important to iron these out but not obsess over them as many people have become quite good regardless of setup.

You will likely get more out of watching demos of top level scouts than your teammate as scouts that perform well at lower levels will still make many mistakes that you won’t realize. I like to watch demos in thirdperson as well to get an idea on how that player moves and try to mirror certain patterns that they do etc.
9
#9
0 Frags +

Alright, thanks for the tips everyone, I'll try to keep them in mind, especially the ones about 2v1 and playing more DM. As for my setup, it is true that I'm due for an upgrade but I don't know when it will happen (might get a decent mouse for Christmas).

As for demos, I should really start to watch some of them, but Stv's don't seem to work for me for some reason, so I'll have to dig a little.

Alright, thanks for the tips everyone, I'll try to keep them in mind, especially the ones about 2v1 and playing more DM. As for my setup, it is true that I'm due for an upgrade but I don't know when it will happen (might get a decent mouse for Christmas).

As for demos, I should really start to watch some of them, but Stv's don't seem to work for me for some reason, so I'll have to dig a little.
10
#10
1 Frags +

the best way to practice scout is to play scout in real 6s games. dm only does so much unfortunately. play as many mixes and pugs as you can, that seems to be the way to improve.

the best way to practice scout is to play scout in real 6s games. dm only does so much unfortunately. play as many mixes and pugs as you can, that seems to be the way to improve.
11
#11
1 Frags +

First in foremost you need to be comfortable/relaxed, if you're stressed mid game it's gonna hinder your performance more than your dm or gamesense will in my opinion. Music really helps, but in the end it's up to you.

And for gameplay advice something that slin told me was to focus on playing with the medic, as I'd always get very low heal percentage. I haven't seen you play so I don't know if you have this problem to, but in general it's pretty good advice.

First in foremost you need to be comfortable/relaxed, if you're stressed mid game it's gonna hinder your performance more than your dm or gamesense will in my opinion. Music really helps, but in the end it's up to you.

And for gameplay advice something that slin told me was to focus on playing with the medic, as I'd always get very low heal percentage. I haven't seen you play so I don't know if you have this problem to, but in general it's pretty good advice.
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