The newest and most exciting addition to AQ2 is the inclusion of team play, which is the very definition of cool. I suppose there are some people who will prefer going it all by their lonesome, but games involving more than four people become tiresome in a big deathmatch since you simply cannot watch your back a lot of the time.

So what are the rules? What's the deal with the servers not letting me join right away? Why, why, why? Settle down and I'll explain.

Rounds

Team play happens in rounds, during which two opposing teams are trying to knock each other off. During this time, if you join or are dead you can only observe and talk with other observers. People actually playing cannot see the comments of observers, which means that dead teammates cannot help out their remaining members... (unless you call them on the phone.)

When you join a teamplay server, you will typically arrive during the middle of a round. You will be presented with a dialog asking you to select the team you wish to join. Please try to keep the teams even, although it is forgivable if clan members are all trying to join the same team. Everyone on a team will be assigned the same model and skin, which are typically standard models and skins distributed with AQ2.

Weapon and Special Item

After picking your team you will be asked to pick a special weapon and a special item you will start with. Every time a round starts you will have that weapon and item in addition to your pistol and knife. Note that if you want to switch these items, just press TAB and the weapon/item selection box will appear and you can choose different items. You will start with these new items the next time a round starts.

The most popular weapons are the M4, SSG 3000, and the MP5/10. The most popular item is of course the kevlar vest, with the silencer taking second place.

Game Play

When the round starts, you and all your teammates will be spawned in one location. AQ2 will begin it's "Lights... Camera... Action!" count down, during which time you cannot fire... but once you hear or see "Action!" it's time to watch your ass.

One nice thing is that you can shoot right through your teammates without hurting them, although I believe a grenade could still harm them. Still, I don't think I've seen grenades in teamplay yet, so perhaps that's not a worry. The round will continue until one side has capped all their opponents.

Death

Once you die you respawn in observer mode, able to fly around and watch the fight progress. Remember that whatever you say cannot be seen by players that are still alive, so don't go being a dork and yelling out "They're in the tower!" You'll only make yourself look like a fool.

When the round is over a message will be displayed showing which team kicked the other team's ass, and then everyone will automatically respawn alive, at which point the whole fight begins anew.

Please note that one of the frustrating aspects is watching two die-hard camping snipers just sit and wait for each other for five minutes. If you've sat in one spot for three or four minutes and no-one has shown up, it's time to start moving. Everyone watching and waiting does not appreciate the intense strategy... they want to get back in the game. So be kind to your friends and enemies and go looking for trouble if the round starts to drag out.

Map Rotation

Depending upon how the server admin sets up the config, every so often the map will automatically rotate, and you'll get to see who won that map by rounds-won scores. This does not usually occur at the end of a round, so don't be surprised when it happens. It's just a timer that counts down and then switches the maps.

Coolness that I've seen so far...

My one shining moment so far was when I was positioned on the lower roof of coventry plaza standing just a few yards from one of the ladder openings just a half minute after the round began... and all of the sudden the enemy team starts boiling up the ladder. I was using a silenced MP5 and just stood behind an air conditioner (one of those boxes on the roof) mowing them down as they came out. I believe I got four out of five before my luck ran out.

I've witnessed outstanding teamwork as teammates cover each other while clearing rooms of Bldg17, and enjoyed seeing teams use overlapping fields of fire to keep the enemy at bay. I only wish they'd fix it so you can duck and still fire over a box you can see over.

The fights in map Jungle are pretty fun, especially with a couple snipers overlooking the melee below.

Teamplay Command List

Radio Commands

This new feature in v1.0 adds simple "voice commands" that are really just wav files that are played when certain messages are received. Here is a complete list of radio commands as is listed in the radio.txt file.

The best way to set these up is to bind them to convenient keys. If you string them together fast enough, you'll get the hiss-click before and after all the messages, so you can send a group of voice commands that make sense.

Please, please don't get out of hand with the messaging though... use it sparingly, unless you have a partner and are talking to each other.

Get it on!

Now you know the score... so get out there on those team servers and start having some fun.