I've noticed that sometimes my inner-thoughts can affect how I play. If I'm having a bad day or whatever, I will start making poor decisions. I've also noticed that if I make a point of practicing certain things in a scrim and actively remind myself of these things, I have better games.

Some self-talk that's helped my game:
-Where am I in relation to my combo?
-Who's up on their team? Who's down on mine?
-Do we have the man-power to hold this position?

Some self-talk that's hurt my game:
-My medic/scouts/team sucks :biggrin:
-We should be beating these guys/ they suck/ we shouldn't be losing
-Am I top-fragging/ bottom-fragging? :redface:

Since I play soldier for my team, I'd be interested to hear from a medic/scout/demo player. Also, I'd be interested to note how your thoughts have changed as you've matured as a player. What were your thoughts like 6 months ago and what are they like now?

1. Breathe, relax, refocus.
2. Wait for the mistake; punish it.
3. Who's behind me?
4. Welcome to my parlor, fly.

There's a long list of things, really. I'll try to list as many as I can think of. Before a match:

Am I losing confidence or maybe a little too confident? Did I get enough practice, or should I hang back while I get into gear? Do I feel well enough, am I focused?

During a match:

What am I doing wrong/right? I should remember what I'm doing right for next time and work of what I'm doing right, and when I fix the problem remember it for the future.

According to the ammo, team mates around me, how many enemies are up, and the environment around me, what is the likely-hood or the percentage of chance that I would be able to out-DM the enemy (and protect my medic when pocketing) or enemies if they were to ambush me? What would I do if I succeeded?

Would it be worth the risk to try to suicide for a medic pick?

How weak is the enemy's DM? Would I be able to wipe them maybe even singlehandedly from an advantageous position when they have no medic and are weak, or should I spam and wait for the right time later? What tactics do they favor (like for example rushing from garage or suiciding scouts, or perhaps flanking from one side) and how can I use the knowledge of my enemy best to my advantage?

At this time should I devote myself to a certain task? Spamming, flanking, protecting a certain teammate, going for the back-cap?

After a match:

Can I rely on my teammate to help me out, or should I talk to them about that key moment later after the game? Did the strategy work, is it worth it? Do we need to practice it?

KIIIIIIIILL DON'T THINK JUST KIIIIILL KIILL KILL KILL

Nah, I don't think anything in particular other than positioning.

1. Who will the Rams pick with their #1 draft pick?
2. Who will take a chance with TO this season?
3. Are the Celtics still a contender in the East?
4. Where is Lebron going to end up after this offseason?
5. Can Tim Lincecum three-peat as a cy-young winner?
6. Oh sh1t, I have uber?!

maybe tf2's kinda like tennis, once you start doubting your skills and you think too much about yourself, you'll start doing worse(ex: why did i do that, i'm an idiot, etc) :P

Focus on what your teammates are doing and thinking (aka how to play more cohesively), and also try to figure out what the opposing team is thinking.

I also try to remind myself to call information I may take for granted, but often times the combo won't know, since I'm a scout and I get to run around and make dead bodies while they have to do boring things.

I also am thinking about the risk/reward ratio of going balls to the wall to get some key picks, as well as when I should switch to sniper.

Think about making a frag video then noticing that no one really cares about scout frags.

I think to myself...WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE.

Think about making a frag video then noticing that no one really cares about scout frags.
I KNOW!! Even team wipes are not that exciting.

I did airbat a demo on spire the other day though...maybe I should get some of those on the frag video.

Think about making a frag video then noticing that no one really cares about scout frags.

This is the main reason I went to play soldier, scout frags unless they are complete team aceing are not really that interesting. Unless you are Carnage.

You switched class because it would make a more interesting frag video?

LOL

I take a deep breathe and ask myself am i really looking at the screen or does it just seem i am?

oh god im going to die

You are a god amongst men you sexy beast you. Oh and I keep a small mirror on my table to look at myself between spawns.

stevec, scout frags are pretty fun to watch, you're just a bad scout :>

You are a god amongst men you sexy beast you. Oh and I keep a small mirror on my table to look at myself between spawns.

Do you spend a LOT of time looking at yourself during game? :wink:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYU7oG2V7uc

Also, mostly stuff said in the OP.

Go read Chance's Quake Bible.
http://www.myeg.net/article/article_detail.php?article_id=281
Also only idiots worry about bottom fragging. Playing bad and bottom fragging are way different. Moose bottom frags all the time but he doesn't miss a single damn rocket and always does tons of damage.

I knew that would come up eventually :P

It comes up for a damn good reason/comes up for MANY damn good reasons

Do you spend a LOT of time looking at yourself during game? :wink:
Spawn time baby. :biggrin:

You switched class because it would make a more interesting frag video?

Now this is more like gotfrag

+frag

1. Who will the Rams pick with their #1 draft pick?
2. Who will take a chance with TO this season?
3. Are the Celtics still a contender in the East?
4. Where is Lebron going to end up after this offseason?
5. Can Tim Lincecum three-peat as a cy-young winner?
6. Oh sh1t, I have uber?!

This, except replace number 6 with "Oh, we're pushing? Wait, all my stickies are unloaded..."

wtf is my pocket doing?
wtf is that demo doing?
STICKIESSS!!!!!!!!!!!!
did I really just drop another uber.... hope my team didnt notice >.<

ffffff---not more fps drops D:

actually, that's pretty much all I ever think nowadays. So preoccupied with that rocket thats travelling toward me at 9fps that I don't notice the scout bouncing around me at 9 fps :(

A few favorites Sigma gave me:
"Turn around

Where are the soldiers?

Can you get jumped here?

Should you be running away?

Are they going to kritz?

Heal the lit guy

Yell at soldiers"

It depends what class I'm playing. If I'm a scout, I am most likely covering the flank with the other scout. Looking for people trying to flank our medic.

If I'm a soldier, I'm thinking that I need to spam every little corner an enemy might be. I'm also looking for a place to rocketjump for both attacking and defending.

If I'm a demo I'm just making sure I'm near my teamates while I spam everywhere.

On sniper it's all about where the enemy is and finding the right position to attack them. Staying with teammates is very important.

Heavy/engie-turtle, just trying to survive.

Pyro, trying to find a way to seperate the medic from his teammates.

All i think about is whether or not I can pull of a ka-boom taunt (quick recover time) in the middle of a mid fight and not die.

All i think about is whether or not I can pull of a ka-boom taunt (quick recover time) in the middle of a mid fight and not die.

lol, mine is try to get a taunt kill in a scrim