- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Heyyo,
Part 2
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Ok, now, this one took me a while to figure out, but I did: how HaloPC's server-side netcode affects the warthogs. Now, with the warthogs you have to have a completely different outlook on the netcode. You see, when players move on your screen, they're not exactly in sync with your ping right? they're only what your computer thinks they are at that point in time, this especially rings true with the warthogs. Sadly, netcode heavily affects the warthogs, they take it the worst. The netcode, in general, just tries to sync the server with what's happening on your screen, although nice n' smooth for you when going along onna flat surface, it's deadly when any bumps or crashes happen, cause when a bump or crash occurs? the server takes charge. It can even take charge if you're going on flat terrain! Always keep in mind the server has supreme control, so it decides if something is wrong, and makes you conform to how it thinks, which's usually inaccurate on your screen. So if you pull a U turn and you're pretty far away from what the server thinks you are? it'll say "hey, no I think you're having a problem, go to where I believe you should be." and that causes your vehicle warp, same for on foot when you warp actually, but that's more rare. Now, the main part that rips the vehicles apart but makes them soo cool is the physics. There's not much physics prediction in this beaute of a game. They're extremely random. I bet they didn't do a lot (if any..) vehicle physics prediction to keep the game from using too much bandwidth to make it more dial up modem user friendly.. I'll talk more aboot dial up users in another HaloPC topic.
Ok, so yeah, if your hog takes a ramp n' does a lot of spins? you're guaranteed to have a lot of warping. The server tries to synch you by saying "ok, you're at this location and height, moving this direction, and spinning this way" but the server doesn't predict the latency of this info getting to you, so the client's always 1 step behind, and so the server keeps trying to get you back into sync.. but yep, always 1 step behind. when on flat surfaces, or stopped usually it does a better job of keeping you in sync with what the server believes is going on. So yeah, if trying to ram an enemy? you still have to predict where he'll be in about 1/3rd of a second, even more if your latency's higher.
Now, let's move onto the minigun hog, and the next to impossible to use already passenger seat, lol. Ok, so for the netcode on the minigun hog, it's an instant projectile, but don't use the same logic as on foot. Now, the main part you have to calculate is the actual warthog you're in! What you need to predict now is where that damn hog will be within 1/3rd of a second or more depending on your ping. Now I'll tell you to aim at the enemy, in the opposite direction of where the warthog is moving. So if the warthog's moving to the left of the enemy? aim ahead to the right. If your hog's in the air moving up? aim lower on your opponent, lower than the feet is possible. If the hog's in the air coming down? aim higher on your opponent. So yes, you need to lead depending if the hog's moving up, down, left or right to your opponent. Always do the opposite of the hog. Now to help you grasp this idea, here's an example that helped me nail it down:
You're aiming 1-2 inches to the left of your opponent, the hog's driving full speed to the right, not somewhat to the opponent, but not away from your opponent, just right, you're circling him. By the time you shoot, the info packet will be sent saying "you shot the minigun warthog turret aiming in this direction", after the delay, the server will simulate this, but the time the server simulates this, the hog will have moved farther to the right eh? and so then your actual shot path is 1-2 inches to the right from where it looked on your screen, so the server will say "ok, you hit him" and send you the acknowledgement, "beep of pain." After you hear that beep? remember this, and learn to predict your warthog. :)
Now, the rocket warthog's turret is probably the 2nd worst done place to try n' kill someone from. Why? 2 of the 3 rockets aren't synced at all! yep. Only the 1st rocket's pretty accurate, the other 2 aren't synched and vary heavily. The rocket hog still has the same logic as the minigun hog, as you need to lead your shot depending on where your hog's moving. Now after that first rocket of the 3? just hope that the server's blessing you and that your rockets go at least somewhere close to where it looks on your screen. If you want proof of this? read the improvements on HaloCE. On there they say something like "rocket hog now properly synched." lame how they messed it up in the first place eh? but oh well... not like they're gonna do anymore overhauls, time to learn to deal with what we've got, so that's why I made this guide. ;)
Now, the worst place to try n' kill someone from: the passenger seat! w00t! lol, not only is it affected by the problems of the warthog's movement affecting how the server simulates your attacks, but you get a horrible bumpy camera angle and not a lot of space to aim. For this I suggest you use your grenades since those always seem to be properly synched, but if ya wanna give a weapon a go, try your luck with a rocket launcher, plasma rifle, flamethrower, and if you're feeling lucky, the shotgun. :P
Now it's time for the ghost. This one's good, very good... for those with pings below 180ms or so, lol. So you wanna learn how to pwn with the ghost eh? well, it's pretty much a hovering set of akimbo plasma rifles of.. doom or something, lmao. So yeah, you have to do a bit of leading, but the slow movement of the projectiles usually give you a good hint into how much to lead. Remember, this guide's not teaching you strats, it's teaching you how to aim, so yeah, just remember it's a slow moving projectile so they're usually good for low to high pings. When ya wanna ram someone down with a ghost? predict where that bugger will be within 1/3rd of a second.
Aright, lastly, something I've been working quite heavily on mastering: the sniper rifle. I'm getting deadly with this beast, I've been starting to even snipe people outta moving vehicles by actually sniping them out instead of just hitting the vehicle! w00t! I so far have headshot 2 guys outta ghosts at pings of 60ms, and headshot 2 guys outta turret positions on warthogs n' maybe 4 norm kills for drivers n' turret.. I'm quite proud of myself. :P Lol, ok, now time to try n' teach you guys how to do so as well. So, for the sniper rifle, it's quite heavily affected by ping. Since ti's truly the most instant projectile weapon of the bunch? learn to predict as if you were a Buddha or something, lol. Lead your shots aboot 1-3 inches to where you think he's gonna be. Most snipers run back n' fourth inna tight spread, so if you're lagged just aim between n' take your 4 shots n' reload. Since it's already uber hard to just smoke them, I myself have just been aiming chest-height so I can get down the leading to just well, hit them. Now vehicles? these can be really nasty to try n' take down. You'll need to lead quite a bit. I find the Ghost easiest to snipe since the only person innit is extremely vulnerable to attacks anywhere besides their front. K, so to snipe them, you'll need to lead as if your ping's about I'd say 180ms. So lead depending on their speed and where they're going by aboot 2-4 inches. It's hard, but it's possible to take those buggers down. Now, let's say a hog's coming straight at your base on sidewinder, and you're up top your base with a sniper rifle (GREAT map, I'd say the best to practice taking people out that are in vehicles with a sniper rifle) your ping's aboot 60ms and you wanna snipe out the guy in the turret. Aim aboot where the T-bar in the middle of the hog is and fire. Of course the usual of your comp sends the info packet to the server and after the delay the server simulates your shot, by then, the guy in the turret should be aligned with your sniper trajectory, if you're really lucky, maybe even his head's aligned. n' pow, there ya go, you're 1 step closer to kickin' butt with the sniper rifle against people in hogs. ;)
Ok, well I hope my geekish thoughts into how HaloPC server-based netcode works helps you pwn more in your HaloPC and CE gaming. Hope to see some of you guys inna server. We can help each other practice our sniping skillz against those in vehicles. :D
Later-a-much, n' LONG LIVE THE D!,
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