Get good: Carry me!

What to look for in a teammate for PvP combat

By Brittney MacDonald, Life & Style Editor

Recently there has been a rise in popularity of player versus player (PvP) combat games: Games like Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds and Absolver, where the goal of the game isn’t necessarily to level up or solve complex dungeons—though that can be an aspect of the game—but more so to defeat either a specific opponent or just to be the last player standing. In general, these games can be really intimidating, especially if you’re new to PC gaming, because they force you to confront opponents that have probably been rocking the mouse and keyboard a lot longer than you have. However, found in the gooey fun candy centre of this genre of games is a ray of hope—and that’s the team aspect!

Unlike games like Overwatch, League of Legends, and Dota 2, you aren’t required to form a team in PvP combat games, and they won’t force you to join one if you want to play solo—which is perfect for players that are either too nervous to talk over voice chat or people looking for a quick game to relieve stress. However, these types of games do allow you to team up if you so wish, which can mean the difference between winning and losing, especially if you’re someone that’s still learning how to be a part of the PC gaming world—insert background music of The Little Mermaid singing “Part of Your World” here.

Games that focus on PvP in a Battle Royale style—in other words, games where you’re simply trying to survive and be the last man standing, such as Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds—are perfect for a PC gaming newb and veteran team-up, because they don’t restrict who you can have as your teammate or place level restrictions on who can be in the same game/round.

Now before you jump down my throat and say bringing in a “carry”—someone who is skilled enough to “carry” you to victory, even if you or the rest of your team is shitty—is cheating, think about the advantages. One, you’ll either win or at least make it a lot higher in the rankings than you would on your own, and two, they can help coach you through the game so that you learn how to play better. The key to this type of strategy is to team up with someone who can explain or give good tips to help you improve, without getting mad at you for your lack of skills. On the flip side, you also have to be able to take constructive criticism and not be offended when they give advice on how you could have handled a situation better. I find that the best way to achieve this team dynamic is to have a sense of humour, and not take anything too seriously—video games are supposed to be fun, after all. It also helps to celebrate the little victories. Yeah, killing that opponent by throwing your grenade in the completely wrong direction may have been a complete accident, but you still got a kill, and that’s cause for celebration.