The Fields of Glory (Shatter)

[Eorzean_username]

tactics

Thank you Februs, that actually helps a lot. I admit it's very hard to take initiative when I'm still relatively green to both the map and PvP in general, I feel so lost and indecisive when there isn't a commander providing instructions in chat (♥ commanders).

It doesn't help that when I have tried to go off and do something on my own, I tend to get disoriented by Shatter's hostile terrain (either totally lost, trapped somewhere in the middle of nowhere, led into a cliff by the confusing 2D map, stumble right into the enemy's traveling caravan and spend 5 minutes playing Kill the PLD ... etc) and waste so much time that I think I just caused more harm than good.

But you're right — at least getting practice making tactical decisions and trying to do something is probably better than just standing around or making pointless half-hearted swipes at a giant blob full of healers. Maybe I'm letting my team down more by being over-cautiously passive than I am by taking a risk and sometimes losing.

[Februs]

Snip.

Not knowing the map is definitely a challenge. If you don't know where you're going, then it's a little difficult to take the initiative. That said, learning the map comes with experience. Even Seize's map gave people headaches for the first little while (you might remember the north spawn being a point of issue in the community), but if you can learn to take advantage of the changes of terrain you'll give yourself a leg up on enemies. Personally, the map in Shatter is probably one of the only things I actually like, because it's not nearly as transparent as previous maps. It allows for the possibility of surprise attacks and unexpected encounters ... or it would, if people would actually fight each other.

Regardless, making map errors is not always a bad thing. Running into the enemy means that you know where they are and can alert your team to their position. If they engage you, then you can serve as a distraction or lure. Five minutes of kill the Pld is five minutes in which you delayed the enemy. You could also be the sacrificial lamb that allows your team to get away; or, if you're quick on the chat box, you could also alert your team to the incoming, and lure the enemy into an ambush. You can die doing any of these things, of course, but that doesn't mean that your death was worthless. It just depends on the circumstances, and if you can turn them to your favour.