Do you want to know a good way to make an uber fail? Just tell nobody!
Go in with your uber-mate, kill a few enemies, destroy a sentry and then either retreat or die a glorious death. While you teammates are fighting on another corner. And rest assured the enemy players will respawn and the sentry will be rebuilt just in time to greet any teammate of yours who’s making another run for the point.
See, often enough an uber isn’t enough to take a point. Most of the times you are lucky if the uber manages to clear the point from sentries and perhaps a few heavy classes. Not rarely all it achieves it weakening the enemy defense for a few precious moments.
Of course some people assume – with usual illusions of grandeur – that once the uber has run its course the uber-mate will simply kick the ass of all the remaining opponents and size the day. Do I really have to spell it out that often enough it doesn’t work that way?
And I’m not even talking about the high art of coordinating two (or more) ubers to maximize the effect of an attack. I’m simply referring to two little statements: “We have an uber ready” and “We starting our attack” [1]. That way the rest of the team is prepared, can try to get into position and either support the attack or create a diversion.
I know, I’m asking for much. Actual communication!
It sometimes amazes me how people can chatter all day long on their mics but suddenly don’t find it within their verbal skills to make such simply announcements. And more surprisingly there is often no shortage of commentary how well that uber went (or not). At which point – of course – it is too late.
Another interesting tidbit in that regard is that there is quite often no lack of information when the ENEMY is using an uber (not nearly as much as I’d like to, but hey, it’s a learning curve, right?). “Uber-Soldier. RUN!” [2]
Why, pray tell! Why is any monkey on the server able to shout out for an enemy uber but obviously it never occurs to so many people to mention their own?
So, next time you intend to attack with an uber do yourself and your team a favor and tell. Trust me; it will increase the effect of that uber and its chances for success immensely!
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