Call of Duty 4 – Part 2: Online Play
Online Play
The online (xbox live) multiplayer aspect of COD4 is by far the best I’ve encountered. The realism (like I would know what combat realism looked like anyway) is the best I’ve seen. In my personal opinion I think the squad based groups where teams actually fight each other is most fun. On most occasions a team that consists of 6 people from around the globe will work as a team to eliminate the enemy team. Working as a unit and protecting each other and at passing off voice commands to warn soldiers of sneak attacks.
I can only really comment about the HardCore Team Death match because that is the game I play the most. The matches last 10 minutes or who ever reach 750 points first. A death of the opposing team is 10 points. You can earn 2 points if you wound an opposing player and a team mate finishes him off.
Everyone spawns at the same place and at the start of a match. As the game progresses the spawn points will move around the map.
There are 16 multiplayer maps that are extremely detailed and has multiple strategy that can be applied.
In addition to hardcore team death match there is sabotage, ground war, free-for-all, and quite a few others to mix up game play quite a bit.
Where hardcore differs from the rest of the game types is your HUD is removed so you can’t tell where other enemy players are. Damage from gun fire is also greatly increased. So, you don’t have to shoot someone 20 times before they die.
Also, there is a bonus map pack that can be downloaded from Xbox Live that adds four additional maps. The new bonus maps are also included in the game of year edition of COD4.
I will lay out part of my strategy for each map in future articles’. I also plan an in-depth article over PKs (player killers). It is a bane in every online multiplayer game and in COD4 is terrible.
Read More
Premium Hands
If you’re new to the game of Texas Hold’em there is one sure way to increase your chances of winning a pot. That is only entering a hand with a “Premium Hand”.
What is a “Premium Hand” you might ask?
Basically, it consists of the tops rated starting cards that has been shown to statically beat a majority of the other cards pre-flop.
Here is the list:
A-A
K-K
Q-Q
J-J
T-T
A-K
That’s basically it in a nutshell. However, depending on whom you talk to or what you read; the above starting hands will slightly change.
In my experience, if you sit around the table and wait on one of those hands you’ll most likely never enter a pot. So, here are a few variations of the list above:
A-A
K-K
Q-Q
J-J
T-T
A-K
9-9
8-8
7-7
Or
A-A
K-K
Q-Q
J-J
T-T
A-K
A-Q
A-J
9-9
8-8
7-7
By limiting that hands you enter only to premium hands you will vastly increase your success as a hold’em player. This is the most basic step a beginning hold’em player can do to improve there game.
On a side note:
You can go rounds and rounds with out ever getting a starting hand. That’s just cards. Roughly 221 times (I think that’s the number) will you ever be dealt A-A. So, if you are an individual that lacks the patience to wait on decent starting hands then poker might not be for you.
However, later on I will write an article that will discuss how to expand your starting hand criteria depending on the situation you are in.
Read More
Poker
I have played various forms of poker all my life. A few years back when Texas Hold’em was in it’s prime a few folks came to house and taught me how to play it. However, not playing for real money or really understanding the game lead me to just simply pass of the game and move on to something else.
Then I was invited over to a friend’s house that was having a Hold’em Tourney that had a $20 dollar buy-in and winner take all. I never played that style or even had and idea what to expect.
It didn’t take me long to figure out that when I had a great hand like flopping a full house (which I did) or trips that the 9 other people at the table couldn’t possible have any good cards that would keep them in. Yet, time and again when I had a strong hand (and I didn’t even know it) I’d get called to the river every time.
I busted out several folks and then the game turned ugly. Just by sheer observation I would fold crap hands and keep my high cards. By doing that I limited my losses but when I hit the flop I’d bet big and usually take down a pot because people were chasing straights or flushes with out knowing what the odds were. So, people started calling me a cheater and bitching about me winning. It climaxed to the point that I actually felt bad and just pushed all in on a marginal hand. I got beat and left the table.
I told myself I wouldn’t do that again. Then my nephew invited me over for a tourney he was hosting. I must say, it was 100% more pleasurable and a lot of fun. From that point on I was hooked.
I started reading articles on the internet and buying books at ½ price books. There was so much theory on a game that I though was based on nothing but luck.
Now, when I look back at the really first bad experience I realize a few things:
- By sheer chance I was playing tight by entering pots with a premium hands and folding trash hands. I had no clue this is what I was doing.
- Everyone (including myself) didn’t have a clue about how to play the game. That’s why everyone ALWAYS chased to the river.
- There were a lot of bad beats I was dishing out (and not on purpose) that everyone remember them. This put them on tilt and targeted me.
- I was completely %100 stupid for just pushing all in to get out of there.
Anyway, I have a new respect for the game and love playing. However, when starting out I had no clue what I needed to do, how to play certain situations, nothing. So, I’ve read, read, read.
I am not going to say I’m a good player because I’m not. I’m an average player who knows just a little bit more than someone who knows nothing. Yet, I will say out of the countless articles and books I’ve read, I’ve managed to pick apart basic play procedures that should help beginners out. I’ll post articles on my blog and look forward to comments and discussions about them.
Read MoreCall of Duty 4 – Part 4: Prestige
COD4 Medals
What is Prestige in COD4? In COD4 you level up with experience by completing challenges while online. You gain also points by winning matches such as cage, death, sabotage, etc.
When certain amount of experience points is gained you level up. Maximum level in COD4 is 55.
Once you reach level 55 a new menu item is available called “Prestige”. When you Prestige you are reset back to level 1. You lose all your challenges, weapons, etc.
So far there is only reason to do this in COD4: medals. When you start out in COD4 you are level 1 and your avatar in COD4 is the Navy Commendation medal. On your next Prestige then your next avatar medal is the Campaign medal. Prestige level 10 is the Navy Cross.
Pretty much you have 10 Prestige levels each Prestige level containing 55 normal levels.
Some people reach level 55 and never Prestige because they don’t want to lose their weapons that only come available at a higher level.
I’ve prestige to level 10 for one simple reason. As you play you continue gaining experience points unless your level 55. Then all the points you gain go no where. So, I figured since I play all the time might as well just start over and let the points be used.
Either way it’s your call. Here is a list of medals.
1-Navy Commendation
2-(RVN) Campaign Medal
3-(RVN) Staff Service Medal
4-Legion of Merit, Commander
5-Saudi Liberation Medal
6-(RVN) Special Service Medal
7-Distinguished Flying Cross
8-(RVN) Civil Action Medal
9-(RVN) Honor Medal
10-Navy Cross
Read More
