Build a Winning Cell

By Jim W. Gettys

So, you’ve already pre-ordered Counter-Strike™ for Xbox. You plan to pick it up on launch day, and you’ll be practicing strategies from day one, right? Well, before you can become a tactical expert, you’ll need to make some friends first. After all, killing in groups is much more fun than going it alone. Think of it as a party. How exactly will an XboxCounter-Strike mercenary get connected? Let me count the ways …

If you’ve been playing Counter-Strike for a few years on the PC, you’ve no doubt heard the term “clan.” You may have even had the pleasure of getting reamed by some of the more notorious ones out there. Given that Counter-Strike is a counter-terrorist simulation of sorts, it’s more appropriate to term those groups of players “cells.” Regardless what you call them, essentially, they’re just mini-clubs where members chat, practice strategy, and scrimmage against other teams in self-organized tournaments. Cells that have their act together may have even competed in professional contests for cash. It takes lots of practice to get to the big time, though. Here’s how you can get off to a good start.

Get Noticed
Think of recruitment as drafting to the minors. Play your best repeatedly on a familiar server, and you might just get noticed. If you’re any good, you may be approached by seasoned players looking to expand their cells. Chemistry and teamwork are paramount to building an effective squad, so don’t be in a rush to join the first group you meet. Shop around and get to know other players through pick-up games and conversation. In time, you’ll meet a fine bunch of killers to hang with online, and you’ll be ready to make your next move. Don’t take it too hard if you meet a few bad apples along the way—the village idiots of online gaming like to band together, too, and these clowns like nothing more than giving newbies a hard time. Don’t let it get you down, though. Just keep looking until you find greener pastures and friendlier folk to share a game with.

Speak Up
Forums are undoubtedly the best way to get to know—and to organize—effective Counter-Strike cells. You can drop a note on the Xbox Counter-Strike forum to make your presence known. Those with leadership skills may want to start their own cell. Natural-born followers or those without scads of free time, may prefer to join an existing one. Once you’ve joined up, organize your members through e-mail or chat programs. The team that plays together stays together, so try to pick a time conducive to everyone’s schedule to meet on a server. Time and time again, I’ve seen cells fall apart from lack of organization. Don’t neglect your schoolwork, job, or significant other, but if you’ve got the time to invest in a team, it’ll make your online games that much more satisfying.

Rehearse Your Strategies
I’ll say it again: Know your maps! If your cell doesn’t know where the objectives are, chances are, you’ll get wasted in the first 60 seconds of play. Practice with your cell to explore every nook and cranny of each environment. Learn which weapons work best and which teammates perform effectively in certain roles. Pick a leader who has the right stuff. Though life in a cell is about teamwork, every team worth its salt has a leader at the helm who brings it together. He or she will be responsible for decisions on how to approach the mission, how many of each player type should be deployed, and which target to attack. Members should voice their opinion, but ultimately, they need to follow the guidelines set forth by the squad leader.

Socialize
No cell is an island, so get out there and meet your competition, both in the game and on the forums. Be civil and introduce yourself. Make friends and get to know your targets. Counter-Strike is a team game, so build your cell with the same care that you would use to develop your own skills. If you find your team getting the snot beat out of them repeatedly, learn from your mistakes. What went wrong? What did the other team do right? Only through practice and analysis will your cell gain the skills necessary to go big time.

Comments about this article?