SCOUT'S TACSOP

Your Computer

Ok, you got the game, got an internet connection, and you want to go in blazing at the zone.  First, there are a few basic tips before you go online to play that wont just make your gaming better, but others as well.  Online play is effected by all players in game.  If one is lagging hard, others will suffer as well. There are Four major things you should consider that greatly effect the game.

1.  Messaging Programs

2.  Remapping Keys

3.  Computer Maintanence

4.  Use it or Lose it

MESSAGING PROGRAMS-
There are alot of programs we use out there.  ICQ, or AOL messager are great, but they seriously effect your online gaming.  If left on, they can crash or drop you while playing, and others as well.  Powerfull computers can usually handle these if just placed in a "non active" mode, but especially when hosting, they should all be closed completely.  Roger Wilco and Teamstream are great for talking in a game.  But they also BOG down a game at times.  Thats where using bound keys can be a alternative.  The bottom line.... if you dont need the program to play,  SHUT IT DOWN.  Even your explorer window once in a game room should be shut down due it will expire when playing for a long period and could create difficultys. 

REMAPPING KEYS-
If you havent done it, you need to now.  Remapping your keys are how you can customize what keys, buttons, or mouse/joystick movement will dictate your actions.  The default settings arent placed very well.  The goal in remapping keys should be :

-Place your most common actions together, where you can reach them without lifting your hand off the keyboard. 

-Write down your new configuration and keep it handy untill you learn the new settings.

-Your actions in a game should be to where you dont even look at the keyboard when you want to do something, but already know the location as well as doing it like breathing.

An example, this is my keyboard settup in the game:

MY LEFT HAND-
I use the arrows for movement forward, left , right, and rear.  The numbpad:  no.4 is primary weapon, no.5 is secondary weaon, no.1 is peak right, no.2 is primary kit, no.3 is secondary kit, no.0 is manipulate environment.  Notice, if you place your hand on the arrow keys, you can reach all the others without lifting your hand.  Other selections are:  Right CNTRL is zoom, Right Shift is peak left, \ key is nvg mode, [ ] keys are my map zoom.  With these, I can select all weapons, zoom, and move without lifting my left hand.

RIGHT HAND-
Is on the mouse.  I use a three button mouse with the following setup:  Left button is fire, middle button is change magazine, right button is crouch.  I enable the "always run" setting so I dont have to use another button for movement.

The bound keys are the only ones I have to lift my left hand off the key board to do:  I use the Left TAB button to activate, and the numbers across the top for messages.  These setups arent perfect,but they work for me.  Thats your ultimate goal.

COMPUTER MAINTENANCE-

Keeping your Comuter running smooth is vital.  Most important thing is Defragging.  Defragging your hard drive arranges your programs so they load faster, and run better.  Think of your hard drive like a file cabnet.  If the file cabnet is organized, you can find what you need quickly.  Also, the more that goes into the cabnet, the easier it gets mixed up.  So smaller ones are easier to manage, where larger ones need more attention.  Now, the best Rule to use when defragging is if you change, delete, or add a program on your HD, you need to defrag.  I also at least defrag once a week.  If you havent ever defragged your HD, it will take along time, maybe even hours if you have a large one and lots of info on it.  But once done, if you do it regularly or when your system changes, it will usually take only 5 minutes. 

USE IT OR LOSE IT-

This just means, if your not using a program to play RS/UO, shut it down.  Even disk drives should be empty.  All of these things eat up your system recources which is what you need to play.  You need to keep your system recources above 70% while playing.  Check this once your in a game room and all unnecassary programs are turned off and your about to join if unsure.  The way to regain your resources is to either reboot [most common] or use programs like MEMTURBO.  MEMTURBO is great and will reset your resources for you without rebooting.  It is done at a click of a button.  But if you have been online playing, or using your computer [uptime] for over a couple hours, you should reboot.

ENDSTATE-
You dont need a superputer like a 800mhz P3 with 256 ram and a T-1 connect to play online.  These things are expensive to maintain, and for some of us....not available.  But if you have a 400mhz P1, 64mb ram, and a modem conecting at over 40k, then youll do ok.  You wont be able to play in everyroom, but the green ones you will do well in.  Remapping keys, shutting down unneccassary programs, and manintaining your computer will enhance all of this.  Bottom line is to have fun......if your not.  Then you need to look at what you can do to improve your game.