With multiple cooperative and competitive game modes,Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® 3 has challenges for every type of gamer. It can be daunting for a newbie to go online and just start playing, but there are some basic communication skills that every player needs to employ in every game. Rainbow Six 3 is a team effort, after all, and each one of the many online game types will require you to interact effectively with your squad.
Cover all exits.
Team, Meet Teammate Whether you’re playing Co-op Mission or competitive Team Survival, the first thing each teammate must do is get acquainted. This means much more than simply telling your squad what your Gamertag signifies or how to pronounce it. You can do that, too, but you need to compare experience levels and equipment load-outs, so that your teammates have the appropriate weapons for the map and everybody knows what everybody else is packing. For enclosed areas with lots of narrow hallways, make sure your team has enough shotguns and sub-machine guns for those close-quarters firefights.
Also, always tell your teammates what you’re doing once the game begins. If you’re planning to make a direct charge at the enemy, or if you want to camp at the crossroads and let them come to you, tell your team. Everyone has to know the location of each teammate so that:
1. They can provide support when the shooting starts, and 2. They don’t kill each other in a friendly fire mishap.
More bang for your buck.
Strut Your Stuff Don’t be afraid to share what you know. If you’ve played a certain map often enough to know its layout or which secondary equipment works best, speak up in the lobby. This is also a great time to compare the map to the weapons your team is carrying. If you know of a perfect sniper spot, tell the group. Make sure at least one of you has a rifle with a powerful zoom, and lead them to the spot, if necessary. If two of you want to be the sniper, decide who’s going to take it and who’s going elsewhere at the outset. (For example, the first one there gets it.) Otherwise, you’re likely to get in each other’s way en route, and the confusion will make you easy pickings for the other team. One additional note: Never climb a ladder to the high ground unless you’ve got someone covering you or you’re absolutely sure you’re in the clear. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting sniped on your way to a sniper perch.
Also, be up front about your preferences and your level of game expertise. If you’re new and a little uncertain, say so. Offer to follow someone else’s lead or watch their back as they take the initiative. Not only is it better to stick together, but it’s also a good way to learn the map and some sound strategies for it. In the example above, offer to cover the sniper’s position while he exploits it. Sometimes, a soldier in the right place with enough frag grenades can keep an entire opposing team at bay, while his teammates circle around to outflank the enemy.
Taking the high ground.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3 is designed to test your team strategy skills as well as your itchy trigger finger. The most effective teams are the ones with the best communication. With the right weapons, a solid plan, and everyone on board, you can be on the low side of the learning curve and still be an effective member of your team.
