LAG SHOOTING TUTORIAL

What is Lag?

In its simplest terns lag is the delay in which data it transmitted from one client to another client.  In a game like MW3 this results in one person seeing a mech in one location on their screen while in fact the mech is actually in another location on that other persons screen.  Lag is effected by many variables however 3 prime variables effect MW3 gameplay:

1,

Ping - is a measure of the time it takes data to be sent from your computer to another's computer and back again.  Generally speaking a 28.8 connection has a ping of 350, ISDN 200, Cable/ADSL 60-80, however, this can be effected by quality of a persons ISP and their location on the planet.  The end result in general is that you must lead more fighting someone with a 28.8 connection compared to someone on a cable modem.   You should always check your opponents ping before playing the game.  This is done in Kali by doing a /games function or on the Zone by left clicking on a persons name.   Thus is you find a personal ping to be 750 you must lead them considerably more than someone with a ping of 200.

2,

Mech Speed - The speed at which an enemy mech is travelling has a great impact on how much you must lead that enemy to score a hit "The faster the enemies mech the MORE you must lead them".  Therefore where you might lead a Summoner travelling at 80 KPH by 1 mech length you would have to lead a Shadowcat travelling at 140 KPH by 3 mech lengths to score a hit. See Image LAG1

3,

Line of Fire/Distance - Simple put the more perpendicular an enemy mech is to your line of fire the less lead you to use regardless of Ping or Mech Speed.  See Image LAG2 Additionally the farther away a mech is from you the more lead you must give and must reduce that lead as the enemy mech gets closer to you. See Image LAG3

What is Lead?

Lead is firing in front of a mech where you anticipate the enemy mech to be based on the above 3 factors.  Bottom line is you DO NOT fire directly at an an enemy mech as the mech is not really there but is in fact farther in front due to lag.  Therefore is you are seeing your weapons hit the enemy mech on your screen you are in fact NOT hitting the enemy mech because the mech is no longer at that location on the other persons screen.  A good motto to remember "shoot to miss in order to hit"

Some Good Leading Tips

1,

In most circumstances when facing mechs other than fast lights and with normal lag 1 to 1 1/2 mech lengths is a good starting point to finding the sweet spot

2,

Use your HTAL display religiously, Target an enemy with the E key then control-D two times to switch to the HTAL display.  Using this display will immediately indicate if you are hitting the enemy mech with the bars turning red, and it is far more easier to see that you are hitting than using the normal mech damage display.

3,

If you are having difficulty finding the lag spot you'd be surprised that most of the time you are over compensating and actually leading too much (unless your enemy has a really bad ping).  If your really having problems finding the sweet spot switch to chain fire mode and strafe the area in front of your enemy, buy watching your HTAL display you'll be able to see which weapon is hitting, you can then change back to group fire mode and fire at that spot.

Some people you will face will have absolutely terrible lag, dreadful packet loss and basically be very hard if not impossible to hit, unfortunately this is just part of playing on the internet and is something you will have to deal with on a regular bases.

Warping

This is very irritating and is general an indication of bad packet loss.  The effect on screen looks like the enemy mech standing still then a few seconds later it will shoot forward at light speed.  I find the best way to deal with this is to try an anticipate where the enemy mech will pop out after that light speed jump and fire at your normal lead.  Its not easy to do and sometimes its impossible if the loss is really bad, on the bright side if the enemy is warping to you then your warping to him so he can not hit you either.

Tips to Avoid Someone Finding Your Lag Spot

Well now that you know how to find someone's lag stop and kill them how do you avoid them finding yours and killing you.  Here are some very simple tips

1,

Alter your speed, this will cause your lag spot to continually change making it difficult to get a hit on you.

2,

Move erratically and change direction as this also causes your lag spot to change location

3.,

Use your Jump Jets as this will throw your enemies aim off