Wednesday 9 January 2013

Call of Duty Create-A-Class Setups That Everyone Should Have

One of the best things about multiplayer in the past few Call of Duty titles is the ability to customise your own loadouts via the in game create-a-class system. I've been playing the multiplayer component of CoD games since the first Modern Warfare title and creating the best and most efficient classes has always been something that I've considered a priority. As the fan base of the franchise has increased over the years, I've often wondered how everyone else approaches their create-a-class options because from what I've witnessed, there are many times when players simply don't know how to counter a certain players/teams playstyle/tactic.

So now I've decided to write up this article because I feel that there might be quite a large number of players out there who aren't building one or two essential classes that might stop them from having those horrific games where they're continually being steam rolled. I'm fairly certain it's not just beginners that aren't utilising their custom classes to their full potential, so before you seasoned vets stop reading, my question for you is this, with your classes are you prepared for every eventuality in a match? If you're not sure, then I think it might be quite beneficial for you to carry on reading...

OK, well by default everyone will gain access to five slots that they can adjust to their liking but with every new CoD title that comes to market, I understand that sometimes this just doesn't seem enough. However with the option to unlock extra classes via Prestiging, I feel there really is no excuse for everyone to follow at least a couple of my loadout suggestions. I won't be going into specific weapon models for two main reasons, the first being that not everyone is good with the same weapon and secondly I think it's best to keep the article generic because my advice applies across all past, present and future CoD titles. I will however state the type of weapons and the benefits of the perk that you should have equipped, as these categories seem to vary very little from title to title.

In my experience, the number one reason why teams get absolutely hammered is because they don't deal with enemy air support efficiently or in most cases, not at all. I mean for me it's logical, if an enemy helicopter kills me, I'll re-spawn after changing my class to something that will either help me avoid being spotted by it again or better still, a class that will allow me to put it out of action permanently. So my first must have loadout is the Anti-Air class, use perks that will hide you from enemy air support and pack the Stinger (or it's equivalent) to deal with them swiftly. Usually I'll also roll with an LMG on my AA class, so once my launcher is empty, I can still be shooting stuff down, alternatively you can slap on the Scavenger perk to replenish your ammo.

Remember that even if a couple UAVs or a simple low level helicopter are left unchecked, they can help the enemy team rack up easy kills, which in turn could lead to you being attacked by additional air support. If you nip the issue in the bud, it won't have the opportunity to become something much trickier to deal with later on. Shooting down enemy air support earns you a generous amount of XP as well as massively helping your team out, not to mention it will seriously annoy the enemy team (which is always nice ;P ), so if no one else is being the anti-air guy/gal, why not step up?

The second thing that I feel players don't pay enough attention to is enemy equipment and turrets, think about it, I bet you've had those games where you're constantly tripping over Claymores/Bouncing Bettys or stumbling into the path of a Sentry Gun? If that happened to me, I'd switch to a different class and deal with it, not only for the sake of my own sanity but to help out the other players on my team to. But were you able to do the same thing? If not, then my second must have loadout is the Anti-Equipment class (I know right, how do I come up with these ingenious names? XD), equip the perk that helps you spot these dangers from afar and use a weapon with FMJ rounds to take them out safely from behind a wall. Alternatively you can equip EMP tactical grenades (which also work from behind walls) but you might find that without the Scavenger perk, you'll have more targets than 'nades at your disposal.

It might seem like a trivial thing to avoid Claymores/Bouncing Betty's but it only takes one wrong step to reset your kill streak counter and that's another kill for the enemy side. In recent CoD titles, there is often the ability to hack enemy equipment instead of destroying it, so if you fancy turning the tables then have at it (bear in mind though that the enemy can do the same in response). Again you can earn XP for taking out/hacking enemy equipment and turrets, so you do get something for your troubles as well as the gratitude of your fellow teammates. 

The third thing that I think catches quite a few players out is the traditional long range sniper, you know the type, the ones who find a nice shady spot that overlooks a large portion of the map and picks you off from a mile away. These are basically the guys who aren't rushing around the map using the sniper rifle as a shotgun and 'quick-scoping' everything that moves, in other words the way they were designed to be used. Now I'm a big fan of sniping and throughout my time playing, it never ceases to amaze me how badly some people try and deal with me, even when I'm not set up in a half decent location. So my next must have class is the Sniper Class and as the name suggests, this class has you rocking a sniper rifle (obviously). However I understand that some people can't snipe very well or just don't like it in general, so if you happen to fall into this group, then I'd suggest equipping one of the semi-auto assault rifles with specialised optics i.e. an ACOG. These aren't going to net you one hit kills against the target but on average will require 2-3 shots to kill even across the largest maps, which is a lot better than the 5-6 that other ARs need. If the enemy sniper in question can't be counter-sniped or shot from across the map i.e. they're in a building, then you'll need an different plan of action. 

The very worst thing you can do when trying to approach an enemy sniper is taking the exact same route that you were originally killed on, if they did it once, the chances are they'll do it again. Find yourself a flanking route, preferably one with lots of cover en-route but anything that isn't directly in the snipers field of view should be fine. Make sure you have the perk that keeps you off enemy radar, this will ensure your presence isn't blown before you have the chance to strike. Once you reach the snipers hide out, always check for booby traps (you'll have to decide on scene if they need destroying) because no sniper worth their salt will ever begin sniping without making sure their six is covered. Some snipers will still know you're approaching just because of your footsteps, so perks like Dead Silence are ideal but using this might mean you have to sacrifice something else. Once you've done your recon, it's time to breach, use tacticals to give you the edge and always be prepared for more than one target in the room, as snipers sometimes foolishly flock  together. Alternatively you can just toss explosives through a window/doorway to kill the sniper but in my experience this doesn't always work and simply alerts them to your presence, giving them the opportunity to prepare for your breach.

So there you have it, my three create-a-class set-ups that everyone should have when playing multiplayer. These are just my views on how to handle the situations I've described but I find they work well for me and i'm sure that they will be equally effective for you to. Remember, don't get frustrated if your being stomped by an enemy team, take a moment and think about the situation, then consider the options you can take. You might not always be able to turn the tide of war but if you've got the three classes I've advised at your disposal, at the very least you should be to give yourself and your team a fighting chance. If a certain class isn't working for you in a match, then for pity's sake make a change, you've got five custom ones to choose from and five default ones. Don't assume someone else will deal with a problem you're having, maybe they're getting as annoyed as you but can't/don't know how to deal with it. If you're the seasoned vet and have the means do something about the issue, what the heck are you waiting for? Everything in CoD multiplayer can be countered, either via a perk or a piece of equipment, you just need to learn how to effectively use them.

I hope this article was helpful and that you learnt something useful. I know it's not fun getting your ass handed to you in any multiplayer game but hopefully if you follow the advice I've laid out above, you should be able put up a decent fight, no matter the situation you're facing :D

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