How to be a better team player in BGs

Aurielle

I run a lot of BGs, and I mostly run them while queued solo. Since it’s the holiday season, it seems there are more people playing BGs than usual, as I’m seeing some new names for a change. Some tips for those of you who might be new to BGs, or perhaps even run them regularly:

1. Don’t go it alone. I’m looking at you, stamNBs who peel off from the group to find a secure spot from which to snipe spam. You help NO ONE with your selfish attempt to pad your K/D ratio. By leaving your team outnumbered, you leave them more susceptible to dying, which ultimately hurts your team’s chance of winning the match. “But Aurielle!” you say, “I’m on a glass cannon build to maximize my snipe spam, so I melt when I stick with the group!” Well, consider NOT trying to solo gank in BGs, and build for more survivability. Or, if you absolutely must gank, stay within range of your team — not camped on some remote ledge. This isn’t Battlefield or COD. Be a better team player.

2. Wait for respawns. If you die and the rest of your team is on the other end of the map, looking like they might die as well, don’t head out immediately upon respawning. Wait for your team. When you trickle into the battle in ones and twos, you simply make it easier for the other teams to farm you. Moving as a unit is always a better strategy, and that means waiting for your fallen teammates if you die first.

3. Don’t let a strong team farm you at their respawn base. If the team with the most points keeps luring you back to their base, so that they can easily farm you by minimizing their time between occasionally dying and getting back into the match, don’t fight them there. Back off. Let them come to you.

4. Don’t get sandwiched. You need to ensure that there are always two teams in front of you. Unless you’re about to wipe one team, this means you need to MOVE BACK when you notice another team has come up behind you. Staying in the middle is poor positioning that almost always results in a wipe.

5. Don’t drop group after one death. I get it, you have a fragile ego and dying in a PVP zone threatens your very sense of yourself. However, by dropping group after ONE death, you’re leaving your three teammates hanging until a replacement queues in. Don’t be that person. Try again; your group’s wipe may have been a fluke. Stick it out for at least five minutes. If it’s obvious that you’re up against a premade and have no chance of winning the match or of placing second, leaving your team is still kind of a **** move, but at least it would be somewhat justified.

6. PTFO. The above tips are for deathmatch mode, obviously. Remember that not every mode is deathmatch mode, though, and if you play every mode as deathmatch mode, you hurt your team. While you’re off padding your K/D ratio, which means absolutely nothing in non-deathmatch modes, your poor teammates are struggling to take flags because they’re outnumbered by teams who are PTFO. If you’re not sure how to play a particular mode, look it up — there are plenty of guides around out there.

Anyway. Just a few tips to get you started.

Waffennacht

Agreed. Only read the bold, but very accurate

The sandwich sucks when you don't see it coming

Bashev

Nice tips.

And these NBs I really dont want them in my group. 90%+ are bad.

When I see that I am grouped with 2+ NBs I know that it will be a bad game. I play only death match mode.

The point is to share damage with your teammates but when 2 players cloak then the other 2 takes way more damage. As OP said the others suffer.

Rebirthment

Glad to see someone spreading this around. A lot of times, I do get paired up with NBs most just camp up in a corner snipe spamming or just 'spectate' the game waiting for the 'right moment' to strike which ends up taking half the game usually.

Not all Nightblades are like this though, I've been paired up with those have a much more active role in the match by constantly moving and harassing the enemy teams to ease some pressure off of us or playing the objective if it's not DM. Those types of Nightblades are a great example of what I hope many people would follow.


Some of these types are basic and common knowledge but its good to help those that might not know

Undefwun

I am guilty of 1) sometimes...

Sometimes I try to flank to break focus and it goes wrong...

I am also a champion of "The Yolocopter". When obviously outnumber and out gunned, yell YOLO and engage anyway. especially on my stam sorc who is faster than most of my team mates...

but other than that.. good list..

Mureel

@Aurielle I really liked this post. Lots of great points!
Happy Holidays!

Aurielle

Bashev wrote: »

Nice tips.

And these NBs I really dont want them in my group. 90%+ are bad.

When I see that I am grouped with 2+ NBs I know that it will be a bad game. I play only death match mode.

The point is to share damage with your teammates but when 2 players cloak then the other 2 takes way more damage. As OP said the others suffer.

Yes. It’s very frustrating. I groan when there are two or even three NBs on my team, as I know we’ll almost certainly do poorly. It’s the (bad) luck of the draw when you queue solo, but it wouldn’t be a problem if more NBs supported their team. Leave the solo ganking for Cyrodiil, please!

Rebirthment wrote: »

Glad to see someone spreading this around. A lot of times, I do get paired up with NBs most just camp up in a corner snipe spamming or just 'spectate' the game waiting for the 'right moment' to strike which ends up taking half the game usually.

Not all Nightblades are like this though, I've been paired up with those have a much more active role in the match by constantly moving and harassing the enemy teams to ease some pressure off of us or playing the objective if it's not DM. Those types of Nightblades are a great example of what I hope many people would follow.


Some of these types are basic and common knowledge but its good to help those that might not know

My NB does not even use stealth. It’s really funny to see people wasting resources trying to “detect” me. I always want to whisper them with “honey, I ain’t even trying to cloak.” People forget that high damage saptanks and magNB healers are still a thing, because they’re so used to 99% of the NB class-base gravitating to the solo ganker role.

Undefwun

Aurielle wrote: »

My NB does not even use stealth. It’s really funny to see people wasting resources trying to “detect” me. I always want to whisper them with “honey, I ain’t even trying to cloak.” People forget that high damage saptanks and magNB healers are still a thing, because they’re so used to 99% of the NB class-base gravitating to the solo ganker role.

My magblade gets involved. Camping is a waste of time.

I run a vMA resto backbar so healing my team mates with mutagen actually helps with my sustain. So I tend to stay in mutagen cast distance.

Also since the healing ward nerf I run Blessing of Restoration instead. I can throw some pretty decent clutch heals, seen some 6k crit heals on team mates.

Lichbourne90

[/quote]

My NB does not even use stealth. It’s really funny to see people wasting resources trying to “detect” me. I always want to whisper them with “honey, I ain’t even trying to cloak.” People forget that high damage saptanks and magNB healers are still a thing, because they’re so used to 99% of the NB class-base gravitating to the solo ganker role.
[/quote]

Seeing the detect spam tickles the mess out of me when I'm playing my no cloak HA brawler alt. Everytime I que into a BG with it I sit there and buff and weapon swap constantly before the match hoping my teammates see I dont have a bow because seeing snipers on me team frustrates me as well.

Jeremy

Depends on the team, I would say.

If your team sucks or is completely out-classed (and believe me that happens) then staying with them isn't going to matter much.

My priority when I do battlegrounds is to have fun. If I can do that as a "team player" then that's what I'll do. But I'm also not shy about going my own way either if I need too depending on the situation. In other words: I'm not going to let some pre-made monster farm me just because that's what the rest of my team wants to do.

Urvoth

Bashev wrote: »

Nice tips.

And these NBs I really dont want them in my group. 90%+ are bad.

When I see that I am grouped with 2+ NBs I know that it will be a bad game. I play only death match mode.

The point is to share damage with your teammates but when 2 players cloak then the other 2 takes way more damage. As OP said the others suffer.

This exactly. Oftentimes you’d be better off with 3 players than a full team with one bad NB since they’re going to get farmed like crazy. 2 NBs in DM = guaranteed loss if the other teams are somewhat competent.

Aurielle

Undefwun wrote: »

Aurielle wrote: »

My NB does not even use stealth. It’s really funny to see people wasting resources trying to “detect” me. I always want to whisper them with “honey, I ain’t even trying to cloak.” People forget that high damage saptanks and magNB healers are still a thing, because they’re so used to 99% of the NB class-base gravitating to the solo ganker role.

My magblade gets involved. Camping is a waste of time.

I run a vMA resto backbar so healing my team mates with mutagen actually helps with my sustain. So I tend to stay in mutagen cast distance.

Also since the healing ward nerf I run Blessing of Restoration instead. I can throw some pretty decent clutch heals, seen some 6k crit heals on team mates.

Lichbourne90 wrote: »

My NB does not even use stealth. It’s really funny to see people wasting resources trying to “detect” me. I always want to whisper them with “honey, I ain’t even trying to cloak.” People forget that high damage saptanks and magNB healers are still a thing, because they’re so used to 99% of the NB class-base gravitating to the solo ganker role.

Seeing the detect spam tickles the mess out of me when I'm playing my no cloak HA brawler alt. Everytime I que into a BG with it I sit there and buff and weapon swap constantly before the match hoping my teammates see I dont have a bow because seeing snipers on me team frustrates me as well.

I’d be happy to have both of you on my team. *thumbs up* Three cheers for NBs who aren’t yolo solo gankers.

Jeremy wrote: »

Depends on the team, I would say.

If your team sucks or is completely out-classed (and believe me that happens) then staying with them isn't going to matter much.

My priority when I do battlegrounds is to have fun. If I can do that as a "team player" then that's what I'll do. But I'm also not shy about going my own way either if I need too depending on the situation. In other words: I'm not going to let some pre-made monster farm me just because that's what the rest of my team wants to do.

That’s a fair point. In those situations, though, I usually try to encourage my team to try a different approach (i.e. attacking the other team, not the cancer premade). They usually listen, unless they’re stamNB snipers.

Stebarnz

you forgot: Read group chat and follow simple instruction.

Aurielle

Stebarnz wrote: »

you forgot: Read group chat and follow simple instruction.

Whoops. Yes.

Shawn_PT

P!ss The eFF Off....

Put The Fork Out....

I give up. What does PTFO mean?

Aurielle

Shawn_PT wrote: »

P!ss The eFF Off....

Put The Fork Out....

I give up. What does PTFO mean?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=PTFO

idk

Nice piece but those that would need to read it the most probably will never see it. Most gamers do not visit the forums often, sadly.

Shawn_PT

Aurielle wrote: »

Shawn_PT wrote: »

P!ss The eFF Off....

Put The Fork Out....

I give up. What does PTFO mean?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=PTFO

Thanks. Never thought such an expression would pop up in such a well structured post. To be honest, I prefer people forget the objective. I do so enjoy capturing all those empty flags on my own because everyone else is busy killing each other.

Aurielle

Shawn_PT wrote: »

Aurielle wrote: »

Shawn_PT wrote: »

P!ss The eFF Off....

Put The Fork Out....

I give up. What does PTFO mean?

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=PTFO

Thanks. Never thought such an expression would pop up in such a well structured post. To be honest, I prefer people forget the objective. I do so enjoy capturing all those empty flags on my own because everyone else is busy killing each other.

I play Battlefield as well, and first became familiar with the term there. It is so widespread in those games, the devs have even created “PTFO” skins. May seem like a harsh term, but it’s really frustrating to be let down repeatedly by players who don’t play the objective in an objective-based match. There are times when I’m playing BGs and feel like a medic in BF1, just trying to help my team out, only to find that almost all of them are playing GD snipers.

LeagueTroll

Separate solo que and groip que. if everyone play solo in bg, it’s all good.

Callous2208

Number 6 had me feeling all type of ways. I'm tired of going into chaosball with people trying to just pad their k/d scores. At least 3 times a day I get this nonsense. Yesterday I was told to, "stfu about the ball scrub we're practicing our new builds." Yea...good times.

radiostar

Yes, BG are fun. But like pointed out sometimes the opposing team is more interested in PKing than completing objective. Easier than Cyro I guess

Bashev

LeagueTroll wrote: »

Separate solo que and groip que. if everyone play solo in bg, it’s all good.

You will be surprise if ZoS does it. There are so many false acquisitions.

ZoS just have to add an icon to the grouped players.

LeagueTroll

Bashev wrote: »

LeagueTroll wrote: »

Separate solo que and groip que. if everyone play solo in bg, it’s all good.

You will be surprise if ZoS does it. There are so many false acquisitions.

ZoS just have to add an icon to the grouped players.

Just separated the que already either 3 Groups of 4 or 12 solo que players.

Aurielle

LeagueTroll wrote: »

Separate solo que and groip que. if everyone play solo in bg, it’s all good.

Do you mean premade vs solo queue? If so, I agree. If, however, you mean “solo” as in “every man/woman for him/herself,” then I disagree. Even deathmatch mode is a team-based activity. I prefer playing against solo queued teams as there is more variety, not the usual and predictable cheese you see in premades.

ApostateHobo

Aurielle wrote: »

LeagueTroll wrote: »

Separate solo que and groip que. if everyone play solo in bg, it’s all good.

Do you mean premade vs solo queue? If so, I agree. If, however, you mean “solo” as in “every man/woman for him/herself,” then I disagree. Even deathmatch mode is a team-based activity. I prefer playing against solo queued teams as there is more variety, not the usual and predictable cheese you see in premades.

Psshhh noooooo premades are never cheese definitely not nooope

For real though premades get really obnoxious after a while. Especially when you encounter the same ones over and over. Would love a separate queue for them, then they wouldn't get to stomp on pug groups with 2 players all day.

Aurielle

ApostateHobo wrote: »

Aurielle wrote: »

LeagueTroll wrote: »

Separate solo que and groip que. if everyone play solo in bg, it’s all good.

Do you mean premade vs solo queue? If so, I agree. If, however, you mean “solo” as in “every man/woman for him/herself,” then I disagree. Even deathmatch mode is a team-based activity. I prefer playing against solo queued teams as there is more variety, not the usual and predictable cheese you see in premades.

Psshhh noooooo premades are never cheese definitely not nooope

For real though premades get really obnoxious after a while. Especially when you encounter the same ones over and over. Would love a separate queue for them, then they wouldn't get to stomp on pug groups with 2 players all day.

Yep. There are people on PS4 NA who leave BEFORE the match even starts if they see one of the more notorious premades in the lineup. I’m always kind of amazed by the lengths at which people will go to in order to secure themselves an easy win, or to simply annoy as many people as possible... Speaking of the latter: if you queue as a 4 man pet sorc premade or pack leader WW premade, there’s a special place for you in Oblivion. Get your freaking zoos out of BGs and engage in some PVP for a change.

Kel

#3 and #5 are definitely the most aggravating to me.
I can't tell you the number of times I had to tell my team to stop going to a base to get sniped...and the number of times I'm ignored. Gee...wonder why we lost....

It's PvP...if you don't go into it expecting to die, you are doing it wrong.

Think of someone you think of as a top tier pvp player....

Now realize that person dies constantly.
Everyone does in PvP.

Never understood dropping group even in a 3rd place finish. You still get gold, experience, and AP...7k I think for still finishing 3rd.
All you get for dropping group is a 15 minute penalty.

Not every match is going to be your kill/death at 18-4. If you can't deal with that, why are you queuing in the first place?

Rake

-don't die

NBrookus

One to add:

Don't assume the templar is a healer. They might be a stamplar or they might be a dps magplar: if they are trying to heal you because you aren't healing yourself, they will be OOM extremely fast.

PS4_ZeColmeia

I play my hybrid nightblade for everything, but when I do PvP I do my heal/buff blade build (SPC/PA). If you don't know how to build a good DPS build, heals are always welcome. Just make sure you resto with healing springs, mutagen, and you're pretty much gold in terms of support. It doesn't matter the game, keeping your team alive can make a huge difference.