NATURAL SELECTION A guide to the popular Half-Life mod **NOTE**THIS GUIDE IS FOR COMBAT SCENARIOS ONLY. THIS DOES NOT COVER NS MAPS OR SCENARIOS** -------------- Version 1.00 ---- Was put on GameFAQS.com Copyright 2004 Mobius One E-mail - pyroguy6666@hotmail.com Feel free to e-mail me suggestions and/or corrections. My first FAQ, so I'll gladly accept help. -----Legal Stuff -This guide is sole property of me, the creator. I have given this guide to gamefaqs.com, and is not to be used for anyone else's commercial gain nor may any other website use this guide. Use this guide only for personal reasons and ask for permission before copying any part of my guide. Thank you. =TABLE OF CONTENTS= 1.0 - Introduction 2.0 - Races and Advantages/Disadvantages 2.1 - Marines 2.2 - The Kharaa 3.0 - The Weapons 3.1 - Marine weapons/technology 3.2 - Kharaa weapons/attacks/upgrades 3.3 - Kharaa species 4.0 - Objectives of Combat Scenarios 5.0 - Strategies 5.1 - Marine strategies/Skill set builds 5.2 - Kharaa strategies/Skill set builds 6.0 - Etiquette 7.0 - Thanks/credits 8.0 - FAQ section *Let's start the show!* *Note: You can use quicksearch by pressing Control key + F key and typing in 1A, 2A, etc. =============================================================================== - 1.0 - INTRODUCTION =============================================================================== - Welcome to the Combat guide for Natural Selection! Natural Selection is a First person Shooter mod for Half-Life. In this popular modification, there are two teams: Aliens and Marines. The marines have encroached upon the habitats of the Aliens, and the marines must take control of the ships and compounds that the Aliens have infested. This is Natural Selection. =============================================================================== - 2.0 - RACES, ADVANTAGES, AND DISADVANTAGES =============================================================================== - As said before, there are two races to choose from. These are: - The Kharaa, the alien race - and the Marines, the humans Each team has unique advantages and disadvantages, but understanding and adapting to each one will help you become a better player. This section will delve into the advantages and disadvantages presented by each team. ============================ - 2.1 - MARINES ============================ - Humans have been one of the most adaptable races to ever inhabit the universe. They have always strived to become the dominant species, and have reached out across the cosmos in search of colonization and other life. However, their search was stopped in its tracks when the Kharaa decided to rear their ugly heads. Here are the skills the Marines have at their disposal in order to rid the universe of the alien menace. - Marines rely almost entirely on ammunition. They use ranged weapons 99 percent of the time, so they have the ability to shoot while the target is still a ways ahead. - Marines receive their upgrades instantly, instead of waiting for them. This can come in handy in the heat of battle. - Superior technology allows the Marines to discover hidden enemies and track any enemy motion. - Marines, as with any race, have safety in numbers. Travel alone, and you'll get wasted faster than 10-course meal for one person. ======Here are the Marine DISADVANTAGES====== - Marines move considerably slower unless upgraded with a catalyst or jetpack. If the round just started and try to rush some point, chances are a skulk got there first - As said before, Marines rely on ammunition. If you run out of ammo for your main weapon, fall back onto your pistol. Use the pistol only as a back up or finishing weapon. If you have to resort to your knife, there's a good chance you'll die within 3 seconds, unless your enemy has maybe, what, 10 hp left? - Aiming with all Marine weapons takes practice and time. A Skulk can easily outmaneuver a panicky Marine by circle strafing around and around, waiting for the telltale click of an empty gun - Reloading is the worst disadvantage of all. Certain weapons take ages to reload, namely the HMG and the shotgun, but also...well, every marine weapon takes a while to reload except the pistol and Light machine gun. (all weapons will be given more detail later) This reload can leave a Marine open to attack, and makes easy prey for any Kharaa lucky enough to be around the poor guy. ============================ - 2.2 - THE KHARAA ============================ - The humans have invaded the homes of a certain alien race, called the Kharaa. Exhibiting extreme intelligence and a bloodlust like no other, they fight ferociously to expel the Marine menace from their hives. - The Kharaa can easily fit the playing style of anyone, as the different species present their own playing styles in themselves. - The Kharaa can develop certain evolutions to aid in their battle against the Humans. These organic abilities require no sacrifice in speed, and can be tremendously valuable while setting up ambushes. - Kharaa aliens are really the only ones that can effectively set up an ambush. While Marines rely more on their technology and brute force, some Kharaa can easily climb up walls, cloak themselves, or even silence their footsteps to approach an unsuspecting marine patrol. One or two skulks can easily throw a whole squad into complete and utter chaos, given the skulks move fast and erratically enough. - Each alien species has it's own role, maximizing the ability of a certain players style. While most are attackers, they can also be used as supportive and defensive positions. (more on this later) ======Here are the Kharaa DISADVANTAGES====== - The lower species Kharaa have little starting health, and must be upgraded to lessen damage taken or regain lost health. - Each action a Kharaa does, regardless of its species, requires a certain amount of energy. Run out of energy during a heated fight, then you might as well scurry around and draw the fire from your teammates. - Some Marine upgrades make some of your abilities harder to use effectively or at all. One example is motion tracking. (more on upgrades later) - In order to effectively use your abilities, you should first find cover and wait for them to work. This is especially true and annoying with the cloak =============================================================================== - 3.0 - WEAPONS =============================================================================== - This section will deal with the attacks and weapons of each team. As with the teams who handle them, each one has advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with Marine. ============================================================================== - 3.1 - MARINE WEAPONS AND TECHNOLOGY ============================================================================== ================= Light Machine Gun ================= - The starting rifle of every Marine, this weapon is reliable in its accuracy over close to medium ranges. Be careful though- if the target is too close, you'll waste bullets trying to follow the target's movement due to the targets likely speed. Clip size: 50 rounds per clip Ammo carrying capacity: a loaded 50 round clip, plus 250 spare rounds Damage: 10 dmg per bullet. If you are a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY good shot, you can easily kill a fade with this gun. I stress the "really" part. Firing rate: Good. I'd estimate around 8 - 9 rounds per second Accuracy - close range - okay Accuracy - medium range - excellent Accuracy - long range - poor ================= Pistol ================= - The trusty pistol, although, well, trusty, should only be used as a back up or finishing weapon. The pistol has a sleek, sort of future desert eagle look, but it certainly doesn't have the stopping power...or power, for that matter. Here's the lowdown. Clip size: 10 rounds per clip Ammo carrying capacity: a loaded 10 round clip, plus 30 rounds in reserve Damage: 20 dmg per shot. I call this weapon the "Skulk-killer". Try it and you'll see. Firing rate: poor - excellent. It's semi-auto, so it depends on your trigger finger. Accuracy - close range - poor Accuracy - medium range - excellent Accuracy - long range - excellent *Quick tip: Never fire off one shot and re-aim. If your target is staying your crosshairs, then squeeze out your whole clip. Almost every bullet will hit. ================= Knife ================= - In my opinion, never use the knife for a combat map. Like I said before, use it if you know your foe is almost dead. Nothing special here. Well, there is infinite ammo. It's a knife, man. Maybe make yourself a nice Onos steak... Clip size: N/A Ammo carrying capacity: N/A Damage: 30 per slice Firing rate: around 3 slices per second Accuracy - close range - excellent Accuracy - medium range - N/A Accuracy - long range - N/A ================= Shotgun ================= - My favorite weapon. This thing can make Swiss cheese out of any Fade or Onos. This baby also works wonders on Skulks. This thing can interrupt a leap if you know where the Skulk is coming from. Accuracy diminishes over range, but still a great weapon. Clip size: 8 shots per clip Ammo carrying capacity: one loaded 8 shot clip, plus 40 rounds in reserve Damage: 10 dmg per pellet. 17 pellets = 170 damage at point blank Firing rate: poor. 1 round per second, I'd say. Accuracy - close range - excellent Accuracy - medium range - okay Accuracy - long range - poor Skill point cost: 1 *Quicktip: The shotgun is the only weapon that can actually fire in the middle of the reloading process. Use this to your advantage. ================= Heavy Machine Gun ================= - This is an extremely overrated weapon. While the damage and firing rate from it's lighter cousin have been improved, it is not the best weapon (the best is the shotgun :P) But anyway, it's still a good choice if you prefer long range annihilation. Clip size: 125 rounds Ammo carrying capacity: one loaded 125 round clip, plus 250 rounds in reserve Damage: 18 dmg per bullet Firing rate: Excellent. Maybe 11-12 rounds a second Accuracy - close range - excellent Accuracy - medium range - excellent Accuracy - long range - poor Skill point cost: 1 *Quicktip: never reload this weapon unless you are below 25 rounds, or unless you have to. ================= Grenade Launcher ================= - This weapon is for the demolition freaks. Having a very small magazine, and a low ammo reserve, you'd think it would be worth it, right? Wrong. Please, don't waste your skill points on this. While it is a hive and Onos killer, that's it. The grenades only explode on contact if they hit an alien as soon as they leave the barrel. If they hit the floor, ground, etc, then they explode after maybe 1.5 seconds. These are good for taking out Skulks and Lerks, but that's about it. Clip size: 4 rounds Ammo carrying capacity: one loaded 4 round clip, plus 12 rounds in reserve Damage: 115 damage per shot Firing rate: POOR. Maybe 1 shot per second. Accuracy - close range - okay/good Accuracy - medium range - excellent Accuracy - long range - okay Skill point cost: 1 *Quicktip: You can use this weapon to bank around walls and into vents. This also does more damage to buildings (The Hive). This is also a splash damage weapon. There is no need to hit an enemy DIRECTLY in order to do him damage. ================= Hand Grenade ================= - This is just a hand grenade. Nothing special. Just pull the pin and throw. Be careful not to be near the explosion. They do have an interesting shape though. Clip size: N/A Ammo carrying capacity: One hand grenade every time you spawn. Damage: 100. Does double to a structure Firing rate: Takes about 2-3 seconds to cook it and throw it Accuracy - close range - excellent Accuracy - medium range - okay Accuracy - long range - Depends on skill of the player Skill point cost: 1 *Quicktip: This grenade can also bank and also has splash damage ================= Mine ================= - This is my baby right here. I always grab these and set them near vents, the CC, armory, or wherever I feel like it. These are great on Skulks, since they kill with one hit on Skulks. However, they can jump over them. But you can place them anywhere, even ON the CC. Clip size: N/A Ammo carrying capacity: 1 mine every time you spawn Damage: 120 Firing rate: Takes no time at all to place a mine. Just point and click. Accuracy - close range - excellent Accuracy - medium range - N/A Accuracy - long range - N/A Skill point cost: 1 ================= Welder ================= - THIS IS NOT A COMBAT WEAPON. Well, it shouldn't be used as one. But, it is extremely hilarious to see a weld kill, but also very humiliating for the victim. If you know your target has maybe 1 health left, go for it :D Clip size: N/A Ammo carrying capacity: You spawn with a welder each time you spawn. It never runs out. Damage: 4 dmg per blue spark on the enemy Firing rate: 3 sparks per second, I estimate Accuracy - close range - excellent Accuracy - medium range - N/A Accuracy - long range - N/A Skill point cost: 1 *Quicktip: You can use a welder in order to shut the vents on some maps, and you can also use it to unseal doors. You'll see a progress bar at the bottom. You can also weld fellow marines that are in Heavy Armor, as it restores their armor *****The following items/abilities/technologies are not weapons, they are skills***** ================= Motion Tracking ================= - Does exactly what it says. Tracks motion. Be careful, still. A non-moving target will not show up on your tracker. A moving target however, shows up with a blue circle around them. Duration: once acquired, it lasts the entire round Skill point cost: 1 ================= Scanner Sweep ================= - Scanner Sweep makes all cloaked enemies visible, for everyone on your team. However, it does have a certain range, represented by a sort of blue pulse. If the enemy moves out of the pulse's range, it will be able to cloak again. Duration: Once acquired, it will last the entire round. Skill point cost: 1 ================= Catalyst ================= - The catalyst is, like other FAQ contributors have noticed, exactly like the Stimpack found in StarCraft. When you kill an enemy, some unknown commander from above will drop you a catalyst. The catalyst will boost your attack by 25 percent and it will boost your speed by 25 percent. However, this comes at a sacrifice of health. I wouldn't recommend this. Duration: once acquired, the catalyst skill will stay with you for the entire round. The speed resets* each time you die, I think. Skill point cost: 1 *(I'm not sure, so if someone could e-mail me, that'd be great!) ================= Jetpack ================= - Also known as a JP, and someone that uses it is a JPer. The JP is an upgrade which allows you to zoom and fly about the maps, avoiding the hungry, biting mouths of Skulks, Onos, Fades, and other land-restricted enemies. This is also annoying to the aliens, as the aliens have a hard time getting to a JPer on top of the hive fast enough before he/she does extensive damage. Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round Skill point cost: 2 ================= Resupply ================= - Resupply gives you ammo and health every now and then. This can be very helpful during a fight. Duration: once acquired, lasts entire round Skill point cost: 1 ================= Heavy Armor ================= - Heavy Armor (HA) is not usually far from a welder, since a Lone HA can be easily killed. However, these are worthless if you are eaten by an Onos. That's doesn't mean you should get it though. HA increases your armor level to 200, but you go slow as hell, I mean SLOW. A HA with a shotgun is a killer combo. Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round Skill point cost: 2 ================= Weapons 1, 2, and 3 ================= - Each level upgrades your weapon damage by 10 percent. Duration: Once acquired, lasts the entire round Skill point cost: 1 for each level ================= Armor 1, 2, and 3 ================= - Each level will increase your armor level -Armor level 1: 45 points of armor -Armor level 2: 65 points of armor -Armor level 3: I don't know, but I'm guessing 85 points of armor Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round Skill point cost: 1 for each level ============================================================================== - 3.2 - KHARAA ATTACKS/WEAPONS ============================================================================== - Instead of guns or other technology, the Kharaa rely upon their species evolutions in order to combat the Human menace. This means no ammunition is required, but each attack takes some energy. ================= Skulk Bite ================= - Just a simple bite from the Skulk. 3 bites will kill a level 1 armor marine, but 2 bites with focus will kill the same marine Damage: 80 Range: Close range attack Energy amount required: 5 percent of your maximum energy Firing rate: About 1 bite for every 1.75 seconds Skill point cost: N/A ================= Skulk Leap ================= - This is an interesting attack, in that if it doesn't have a set damage limit. If you touch a marine during a leap, 4 damage is applied. But if you keep touching that marine in your leap, the damage keeps adding up. This is also used as a way of quicker movement. Damage: 4 damage is applied for as long as you stay on the marine (so you hit a unarmored marine head on. Chances are you'll kill him. But if you hit a marine from the side, you'll probably take a good chunk of his health away) Range: Medium Range attack Energy amount required: 25 percent of your maximum energy Firing rate: 1 leap for every 2.5 seconds Skill point cost: 1 ================= Skulk Parasite ================= - The parasite is an infinitely useful attack that does a little bit of damage AND makes the afflicted marine show up on the hive sight. A bugged marine will show up to all of your teammates as a yellow circle. The closer you are, the bigger the circle, and the farther you are, the smaller. Use this when you're acting as a scouter for your team. It can be used on buildings, but it does them no damage. Damage (To marines personnel): 10 dmg for each parasite Range: Any range attack Energy amount required: 30 percent of your maximum energy Firing rate: 2 parasite every 1.6 seconds Skill point cost: N/A ================= Skulk Xenocide ================= - Ah, the Kamikaze. Use this on a group of marines to cause widespread panic and pain/death. Xenocide does a whopping 200 damage! It's works like a grenade, so there is splash damage. As soon as you activate this, you'll have about 3 seconds to get into position. You'll screech, and as the screech gets louder, you're closer to your kamikaze. This attack does double to buildings. Damage: 200 (double to buildings) Range: Close - semi-medium range attack Energy cost: 70 percent of your maximum energy. Firing rate: N/A Skill point cost: 2 *Quicktip: Pay no heed to your energy consumption during this attack. Since your about to die, it really doesn't matter THAT much. ================= Lerk Bite ================= - This is the same as the Skulk bite, but damage has been toned down. This means no more one hit focus kills on some marines. However, you can use this in conjunction with the Lerk flying ability. It rocks. Damage: 60 dmg Range: Close range attack Energy cost required: 5 percent of your maximum energy Firing rate: Same as Skulks Skill point cost: N/A ================= Lerk Flying ================= - This is not really an attack, per se, but it can be used in conjunction with other attacks for maximum effectiveness. Damage: N/A Range: N/A Energy cost required: about 2-5 percent of your maximum energy (every time you press space, that takes away 5 percent. You can glide however, without energy loss. ================= Lerk Spikes ================= - This is sort of like a sniper weapon for the aliens. It is a rapid fire attack, and it is one hundred percent accurate, but doesn't do much damage. Damage: 18 dmg per spike Range: Close range to long range attack Energy cost: about 3 percent of your current energy for each spike Firing rate: 3 - 4 spikes for every second Skill point cost: N/A ================= Lerk Spores ================= - This attack fires a cloud of green gas that damages all Marine personnel in the cloud. This does NOT do damage to Heavy Armor marines, since their gas mask allows it to filter out the harmful stuff. Damage: 7 dmg for every second a marine is caught in the cloud Range: Close range - medium range attack Energy cost required: 35 percent of your maximum energy for each cloud fired Firing rate: 1 cloud every 2.4 seconds Skill point cost: N/A *Quicktip: This can be used on the armory in order to damage any marines hoping to hump it. (Hump is a term used for people using the armory) This will prevent them from using it for a little bit. ================= Lerk Umbra ================= - This attack is for the role of support. When you fire a cloud, the cloud will block bullets for you. Not every single one, but I estimate about every 2 or so bullets out of 3 or 4 is blocked. This is great when a heavy machine Gunner is present. DOES NOT WORK ON GRENADE LAUNCHERS. ONLY BULLETS. Damage: N/A Range: Close range - medium range attack Energy cost required: 35 percent of your maximum energy Firing rate: 1 cloud for every 3 seconds Skill point cost: 1 ================= Lerk Primal Scream ================= - This boosts the stats of all your teammates nearby and you. Attack strength, attack speed are increased by 30 percent. Maximum energy is increased by a hefty 60 percent. All this lasts for only 3 seconds though. A cool thing is that when used, any teammate nearby will give a scream back in reply. This sounds very haunting when used around 8+ players. Damage: N/A Range: Close range- medium range attack Energy cost required: 30 percent of your maximum energy per scream Firing rate: 1 scream per second Skill point cost: 2 ================= Gorge Spit ================= - A horrible weapon for engagement, this attack spits out gobs of green goo that will strike a marine for 25 damage. However, chances are you'll miss, given the agonizingly slow speed of the projectile. Damage: 25 dmg per spit Range: Close range to long range attack Energy cost required: 12 percent of your maximum energy Firing rate: 2 spits for every 2.7 seconds Skill point cost: N/A ================= Gorge Healing Spray ================= - Another bad choice for battle, this attack is a healing spray, like stated. It will heal your allies health and armor, but damage you enemies Damage: 16 dmg per spray Range: Close range attack Energy cost required: 15 percent of your maximum energy Firing rate: About 1 spray per 1.5 seconds Skil point cost: N/A *Quicktip: use the healing spray to heal your hive also. This is the only way to heal your hive, even though the hive heals by itself, but very slowly. Use this to speed it up a little ================= Gorge Bilebomb ================= - A pretty gross attack, you'll hear a strange vomit sound sometimes when you use this one. This one damages buildings only, so don't even try it on Marines, or you'll get laughed at. Damage: 200 (buildings only) Range: Close range - medium range attack Energy cost: 22 percent of your current energy Firing rate: About 1 bomb for every 1.7 seconds Skill point cost: 1 ================= Gorge Web ================= - While not a weapon, this is still a very effective ability to protect certain chokepoints with. Use it around your hive too. After choosing a spot, spit once on one side of the floor, wall, etc, then spit any other place, and the webs will connect automatically, but only if there is no obstruction, like a box. Damage: N/A Range: Close range - medium range attack Energy cost required: 15 percent of your maximum energy every time you spit out one spot Firing rate: 2 shots per second Skill point cost: 2 *Quicktip: Use this to care of pesky JPers. Any Marine caught in a web is stopped for a little bit and his weapon is useless for a few moments. However, grenades and welders can destroy webs, and there is a certain limit of webs you can produce ================= Fade Slash ================= - A brutally powerful attack, this becomes even better with focus. Using it's two scythe-like claws, it brings them down upon whatever unlucky human happens to be chosen. Damage: 90 damage per slash Range: Close range attack Energy cost required: 7 percent of your maximum energy for every slash Firing rate: 1 slash for every .9 seconds Skill point cost: N/A ================= Fade Blink ================= - This is not an attack, but an ability. When Blink is used, it will make you go insanely fast to wherever you pointer is currently, well, pointed. Use this to get to high places, and it can outrun (out fly?) a JPer. Damage: N/A Range: N/A Energy cost required: 5 percent of your maximum energy for as long as you hold the fire button. (e.g. 10 blinks, or half a second, costs you half your maximum energy) Firing rate: N/A Skill point cost: N/A ================= Fade Metabolize ================= - This looks like the Fade is doing some voodoo spell when you use. Weird. Anyway, this just heals you 20 health every time you use it. Like regenerate. Damage: N/A (heals 20 health on yourself for every metabolize) Range: N/A Energy cost required: 35 percent of your maximum energy Firing range: N/A Skill point cost: 1 ================= Fade Acid Rocket ================= - This is a ranged attack. It's like a heavier hitting spike with splash dmg, but with a slower fire rate. Damage: 50 dmg for a dead center shot (splash dmg decreases the amount) Range: Close range - long range attack Energy cost required: 20 percent of your maximum energy per rocket Firing rate: 1 rocket per second Skill point cost: 2 ================= Onos Gore ================= - Utilizing the massive horn on the beasts' nose, the attack will rip apart any marine that gets in your way. It does about the same damage as a Fade Slash, but it has a barely faster firing rate, and it does double to structures. Damage: 85 (double to structures) Range: Close range attack Energy cost required: 6 percent of your maximum energy Firing rate: 2 hits per second Skill point cost: N/A ================= Onos Devour ================= - Hehe, my favorite attack when I go Onos. This awesome little attack can devour and marine you choose. However, there are no crosshairs, and you have to be pretty aligned with you target before you eat him/her. A good rule of thumb is to have your horn level with the marine's waistline. Once eaten, the target will see an inside view of an Onos Belly. I applaud the developers of this game for such a small, but wonderfully detailed, er, detail. Use this on JPers and Heavy Armor marines. This is ESPECIALLY useful against heavy armor marines. Be aware, though, if you die or redeem yourself, you lose your food. Damage: 3 dmg per second Range: Close range attack Energy cost required: 20 percent of your maximum energy per devour/attempt Firing rate: 1 devour attempt every 2 seconds Skill point cost: N/A ================= Onos Stomp ================= - This attack freezes any marine caught in the line of the charge, making an easy target for devour or your teammates. Charge also makes their weapon useless. It's like a mobile web, but the webs don't stay. Think of it like that. Damage: N/A Range: Close range - medium range attack Energy cost required: 30 percent of your maximum energy per stomp Firing rate: 1 stomp every 3 seconds Skill point cost: 1 ================= Onos Charge ================= - I have only gotten this once, and I found it pretty useless. It takes an insane amount of energy, but you move super fast (as fast as insane for an onos is, anyway), and if you connect with a marine, you're almost guaranteed a kill. However, you are usually moving around too fast to even take note of any marines. I usually leave this alone. Damage: ? (someone e-mail me the dmg values. Thanks) Range: Close range attack Energy cost required: (?) Firing rate: 1 charge every 10 seconds (?) Skill point cost: 2 ====Note: the following are upgrades, not attacks. Upgrades are available to any species==== ================= Focus ================= - This doubles your attack power. Allows for one hit kills on un-armored marines Skill point cost: 2 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round *Quicktip: This attack has knockback, meaning it will knock your target back (duh). Most other alien attacks that involve physical contact have knockback too. ================= Scent of Fear ================= - This makes all wounded marines show up on the hivesight, but only for you, not your whole team. Use this to help out your teammates if you've got a mic, and for annoying campers. Skill pint cost: 1 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round ================= Cloaking ================= - Does exactly what it says. Makes you almost completely invisible to the eyes of a marine. You stay still for about a second, your cloak will take effect, and you can tell because your alien body parts will be almost a translucent white. If you run, jump, or fall from a height, then the effect wears off. Stand still to regain the effect. If you walk, your cloak does not wear off. However, when you're a skulk with cloak, don't walk forward and strafe at the same time. This makes you go too fast. Skill point cost: 1 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round ================= Carapace ================= - This reduces damage from all marine weapons, including mines, grenades, welders, etc. Skill point cost: 1 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round ================= Regeneration ================= - Again, does exactly what it says. If you are injured, get away, and hide. After a few moments without taking damage, your health and armor start to regenerate. After your health is full, then your armor. Get in, kill, get out, hide, heal. Rinse and repeat. Skill point cost: 1 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round ================= Redemption ================= - I hardly ever get this. Unless you're a stat whore, don't get this. All it does is, when close to dying, there is a CHANCE that you will be teleported back to the hive. However if you're Onos, you will lose any marine in your belly (GET IN MAH BELLAH...sorry.) Skill point cost: 1 Duration: once acquired lasts the entire round ================= Celerity ================= - This increases you speed for the whole round. It will stay with you through species evolutions. This skill is invaluable when going Onos. Skill point cost: 1 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round ================= Adrenaline ================= - This increases the rate at which you regain energy. When going Gorge, remember to get this so you can heal the hive for a long time without running out of energy. Skill point cost: 1 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round ================= Silence ================= - This makes your footsteps inaudible to everyone. Use this for ambushes. Skill point cost: 1 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round ================= Unlock Next Ability (1) ================= - This unlocks your next ability (NO WAY, REALLY?). Nothing else. Skill point cost: 1 Duration: once acquired, lasts the entire round, even through evolutions ================= Unlock Next Ability (2) ================= - Duuhhhhhh...(see above) Skill point cost: 2 Duration: (SEE ABOVE) ============================================================================== - 3.3 - THE KHARAA SPECIES ============================================================================== - This section will describe all of the species available to an alien player. ================= Skulk ================= - Your starting species. This is the fastest thing at the very start of a game, and is not such a bad starting point. The attack is strong for a starting class, and it can even climb up walls. A great choice, even for large games ( I say that because I excel at using stealth skulk, more on strategies later) Attack available: Skulk Bite, Parasite, Leap (must unlock), Xenocide (must unlock) Ability: can climb up walls and ceilings and just about anywhere you can think of, can go long falls without taking damage ================= Gorge ================= - The next species in line. While not exactly a combat-ready unit, this is the only species able to heal other teammates and the hive. It has no "special" abilities, like the Skulk does (wall climbing) Attacks available: Spit, Healing Spray, Bilebomb (must unlock), Web (must unlock) Ability: N/A (unless you count healing) Skill Point Cost: 1 ================= Lerk ================= - This is pretty much a flying Skulk with a less powerful bite. Don't be fooled however. This species has 3 starting attacks instead of 2, and it can be a lethal ambusher when cloaked Attacks available: Spikes, Lerk bite, Spores, Umbra (must unlock), Primal Scream (must unlock) Ability: Flying, Can go long falls without taking damage Skill point cost: 1 ================= Fade ================= - This is a Medium-heavy attack unit. This thing is more like the foot soldier of the alien race. Use it as such. Attacks available: Slash, Blink, Metabolize (must unlock), Acid Rocket (must unlock) Ability: Can go long falls without taking damage Skill point cost: 2 ================= Onos ================= - This is the Heavy Tank of the alien race. A whopping HP and armor amount makes sure this thing will take a beating and keep on eating. Attacks available: Gore, Devour, Stomp (must unlock), Charge (must unlock) Ability: N/A Skill point cost: 2 ============================================================================== - 4.0 - OBJECTIVE OF COMBAT SCENARIOS ============================================================================== - The objective of EVERY combat scenario is to destroy the opposing teams' base while protecting your own. If you are a marine, you must destroy the alien hive and protect your command center. If you are alien, then you must destroy the command center and defend your hive. Although most servers will make it so no one wins until a base is destroyed, the default setting is that aliens defend while marines attack. While destroy opposing base works here, too, if the marines don't kill the Hive in a timed round, then the aliens win by default. ============================================================================== - 5.0 - Strategies ============================================================================== - This section shall deal with the numerous strategies and skill sets of each team. I will accept reader contributions if they feel like e-mailing them to me. =================== - 5.1 - MARINE STRATEGIES =================== - This is the most important of all. DO NOT TRAVEL ALONE. If I have to beat this into your skull, I will. If you travel alone, your skull will not be on your head, but probably in the stomach of an alien. DO NOT TRAVEL ALONE. If I meet you somewhere, and you decide to go off on your own little way, I will, repeat, WILL laugh at your moronic ways. DO NOT TRAVEL ALONE. - It is always important to stick with people that have different weapons. This maximizes the effect that each person can do. If a GL marine, an HMG marine, and a Shotgun marine are together, they are most likely going to kick butt. - Despite what people say, the Shotgun IS THE BEST WEAPON. However, I guess it does depend upon your preference. But, bullet for bullet, this baby does the most damage up close. When fully upgraded, this thing can do 200 damage if all bullets hit. This is brutal on an Onos. - Always get resupply. Firstly, most aliens try and harass marines by depriving them of an armory. Most, anyway. Also, when out in the field, there is going to be NO ARMORY. Resupply is like an IV in the hospital. If you run out of juice, you get more. However, there are set intervals. Be careful of that. - It is always good to have at least one welder for every two Heavy Armors. This gives each welder more time to help his teammates. - Anyone with mines, USE THEM. Too many times have I seen someone set some mines, die, then forget to set down his new ones. You can use these as defense or anti-personal (anti-alien...?) use. They work great in vents or on ladders. These kill un-carapaced skulks in one hit. They also kill wounded fades. - If you decide to go for a toe-to-toe approach, go with the Heavy Armor. If you have a Heavy Armor on, and go head to head with a fade, you win. (full health is needed, though :D) - If you decide to try and hit the hive, go with a Jetpack. This makes you SO hard to hit to all ground based aliens, and it's still pretty hard for Lerks to hit you also. However, Onos can eat you out of the sky. Careful, hehe. -----MARINE SKILL POINT BUILDS----- - Support Marine - Level One: Resupply Level Two: Welder Level Three: Mines Level Four: Weapons 1 Level Five: Shotgun Level Six: Armor 1 Level Seven: Weapons 2 Level Eight: Armor 2 Level Nine: save Level Ten: Jetpack or Heavy Armor OR Level Nine: Grenade Launcher Level Ten: Weapons 3 - Heavy Hitter - Level One: Weapons 1 Level Two: Armor 1 Level Three: Armor 2 Level Four: Shotgun Level Five: Weapons 2 Level Six: Save Level Seven: Heavy Armor Level Eight: Weapons 3 Level Nine: Armor 3 Level Ten: Resupply - Annoying, But (somewhat) Effective Jetpacker - Level One: Armor 1 Level Two: Armor 2 Level Three: Weapons 1 Level Four: Shotgun Level Five: Save Level Six: Jetpack Level Seven: Weapons 2 Level Eight: Weapons 3 Level Nine: HMG Level Ten: Resupply - Foot Soldier - Level One: Weapons 1 Level Two: Shotgun Level Three: HMG Level Four: Armor 1 Level Five: Armor 2 Level Six: Mines Level Seven: Save Level Eight: Heavy Armor OR Jetpack Level Nine: Weapons 2 Level Ten: Resupply - MY most used set-up - Level One: Mines Level Two: Weapons 1 Level Three: Shotgun Level Four: Armor 1 Level Five: Weapons 2 Level Six: Weapons 3 Level Seven: Resupply Level Eight: Armor 2 Level Nine: Save Level Ten: Heavy Armor - Heavy Support - Level One: Welder Level Two: Armor 1 Level Three: Armor 2 Level Four: Save Level Five: Heavy Armor Level Six: Weapons 1 Level Seven: Scanner Sweep Level Eight: Shotgun Level Nine: GL Level Ten: Weapons 2 - Scouter - Level One: Scanner Sweep Level Two: Motion Tracking Level Three: Weapons 1 Level Four: Shotgun Level Five: Armor 1 Level Six: Armor 2 Level Seven: Weapons 2 Level Eight: Save Level Nine: Jetpack Level Ten: Resupply *** I AM taking reader suggestions, remember. I'll put'em here, so send them in.*** =================== - 5.2 - KHARAA STRATEGIES =================== -When Kharaa, don't be afraid to travel alone. A skulk can catch and kill a marine that is unawares. One or two skulks can throw a whole group of marines into chaos. Using skulks also allows you to easily access ambush points and vantage points, for parasiting. - If you are gorge, DON'T GET IN THE WAY OF RETREATING ONOS OR FADES. Too many times have I died because of some moron Gorge sticking to my backside for some experience. Don't do that. Please. - A cloaked Fade that blinks into a vent is so funny, and so effective. When fade, make sure to try this. Since a fade can kill any marine besdies a Heavy Marine in a few hits, try. Chances are, you'll kill him before he kills you. - Don't be afraid to stay skulk for an entire round. Skulks are very effective at setting up ambushes, and you're bound to get better and better, so try staying skulk, see how it feels. -----KHARAA SKILL POINT BUILDS----- - Stealth Skulk - Level One: Cloak Level Two: Silence Level Three: Celerity Level Four: Carapace Level Five: Save Level Six: Focus Level Seven: Unlock Next Ability Level Eight: Save Level Nine: Unlock Next Ability Level Ten: Scent Of Fear - Support - Level One: Gorge Level Two: Adrenaline Level Three: Carapace Level Four: Unlock Next Ability Level Five: Save Level Six: Unlock Next Ability Level Seven: Regeneration Level Eight: Celerity Level Nine: Whatever you want Level Ten: Whatever you want - Frontline Fade - Level One: Save Level Two: Save Level Three: Gorge ---> Fade Level Four: Adrenaline Level Five: Carapace Level Six: Celerity Level Seven: Regeneration Level Eight: Unlock Next ability Level Nine: Save Level Ten: Unlock Next ability - Hungry, Angry Onos - Level One: Save Level Two: Save Level Three: Save Level Four: Save Level Five: Gorge ---> Fade ---> Onos Level Six: Carapace Level Seven: unlock Next Ability Level Eight: Cloaking Level Nine: Celerity Level Ten: Regeneration - Battle Lerk - Level One: Save Level Two: Gorge ---> Lerk Level Three: Save Level Four: Focus Level Five: Carapace Level Six: Adrenaline Level Seven: Unlock Next Ability Level Eight: Save Level Nine: Unlock Next ability Level Ten: Regeneration *I am taking reader suggestions, remember. ============================================================================== - 6.0 - ETIQUETTE ============================================================================== - Here we are. How to play an online game without pissing soemone off. This, however, is not foolproof. It may not work all of the time. - DO NOT CALL ANYONE A HACKER. This seriously just annoys everyone on the server, especially the admins and the accused player. Only, ONLY accuse them if they have excessive screen shaking, they know where every alien/marine is going to come from, or if the shoot through walls. I have YET to see a single person hack on Natural Selection. - Be friendly and polite. For example, if someone tries talking to you, talk back. See if you can make some more buddy-buds. Don't instigate anything by saying crap like, "OmGZ, ur such nuby. Go wayz!!11one!1" Hear me? Don't say that. - Tell other players what they are doing right. If somone does something that REALLY helped the team, say good job or something. Do the same thing to opposing team members. A lot of times, when I'm a marine, a cloaked alien will scare me out of my wits. I'm walking along and BAM, "SCRRREEAAACKKKCH!!!!!" And I wet myself. Tell the person that He/she scared you senseless, and this usually opens up more conversation for laughs and friendship. Trust me, it is pretty funny :D. - If anyone is bothering you, just let it go. They worst thing you can do is strike back with words of your own. If anything, don't say anything at all. Just totally ignore your antagonizer's message. - DO follow in groups. This helps you teammates and gives you a sense of belonging. Plus, you don't get scared so badly :D - DO NOT use other players as bait. Too many times has some supposedly awesomely skilled player stayed back and let me go ahead. Only to get chopped in half by a lovely Fade. DON'T DO THAT. -more later...maybe.- ============================================================================== - 7.0 - THANKS, CREDITS ============================================================================== Me, for making this guide GAMEfaqs.com, for hosting it The developers of NS, for making such a wonderfully innovative game And the developers of half life, for without it, NS wouldn't be here. ============================================================================== - 8.0 - FAQ SECTION ============================================================================== *None yet. E-mail any questions to me.*