Precisely. :D

Red Alert is a map best summarized in two words: Smashingly. Popular. A beloved favorite for clan wars, the dynamic terrain practically guarantees tense, exciting gameplay. It hosts everything from regular ol' CTF and XP/BP to Light Format training, and can be found on nearly any server, all the time. By and large, Red Alert is a fantastically crafted map that lends itself to tactical thinking - to me personally, the strategy involved is extremely relatable to a good game of chess... But, enough of this preamble blather. The 'good stuff' awaits. ;) Overview My apologies for the complicated-looking diagram below. Red Alert is an intricate map and doing it justice will be a far cry from easy. Not to worry though, I will do my darndest to break things down into bite-sized chunks and (hopefully) make this a painless process for all parties involved. As you can see above, both teams control a clearly defined, defensible base with limited access points. These areas are not identical, both standing as unique zones that come with a distinct set of strengths and weaknesses. Despite this, neither team has a particularly discernible advantage, which is one of the many reasons that Red Alert has developed such a fantastic reputation. The middle of the map contains varying degrees of cover and numerous elevation changes which serve to dictate the best attacking routes. Supply drops are numerous and scattered heavily about the map; when turned on, they influence the tide of battle hugely, so every effort should be made to collect and control as many drop sites as possible. Defending: as Blue It is impossible for a single tanker to adequately defend the flag in Red Alert. Depressing, I know, but attackers come by so many different routes that one person, no matter how good, simply cannot keep a satisfactory visual on things. The good news is that if two committed defenders work in tandem to lock down the base, it becomes much easier to deal with oncoming assailants. In random battles it can be difficult to find a second dedicated defender, but this is a hurdle that must be surmounted. After you've coaxed, threatened, or bribed an unsuspecting tanker into becoming a more-or-less faithful aide, the next step is to talk to the guy. Shared information is power, and good communication between defenders is vital to success. Whether it's typed shorthand to a stranger or a clan Skype call, the importance of sharing data such as the number of oncoming attackers, their ostensible damage level, and drugs in use (if applicable) should not be underrated. Moving onwards, the defensive positions notated above have a clear and very immediate view of the flag while providing excellent cover. Paired together, these are far and away the best locations for hunkering down and protecting that flag. The defender in what we'll call position purple is responsible for locking down 'the Trenches', heckling enemies that spawn in the opposing Red Base, and just generally keeping an eye on the right side of the map. Even if not in XP/BP, a ranged weapon is recommended for sniping purposes. The guy (or girl ^_^) controlling position blue on the other hand, commands an excellent view of the Middle. It is also possible to nip behind the adjacent building to get a visual on any attackers that attempt to use the Center Passageway. As shown below, it is fairly easy to move between these two key areas while maintaining a good view of the flag. Good cover and visibility are your two largest assets in the Blue base. So as long as you play with an iota of defensive intelligence, it will be extremely difficult for enemies to take your flag. That said, if they do snatch it and manage to get out of your immediate base, it will be a grueling and oftentimes fruitless challenge to get a return. It is easy to defend the Blue base. It is much, much harder to get a flag return. Why, you ask? Well, there is a hefty amount of cover available for an attacker skedaddling with your flag. The retreating player gains support and coverfire from teammates in the opposing base as soon as he or she gets to the Middle. Thus your primary purpose as a defending player is to keep the flag in your base. Slow attackers down by any means possible...push, shove, block, snipe...utilize any and every trick you've got to prevent those pernicious hit and run attacks. Playing with drops/supplies on only makes your job even harder, as enemies packing Nitro and Shield are extremely difficult to stop. Scattering a few explosives about on the ramps can be helpful though, somewhat obviously, this advice is usually inapplicable when it comes to XP/BP. CTF plus drops is one of the hardest formats to defend in as you are inevitably forced to depend on your mids and attackers for flag returning help. Some final advice and a recap: Do not allow yourself to be drawn too far out of position. Play it close to the flag, share important info with the other defender, and keep a sharp eye out for blitz-style attacking. Three or more enemies incoming simultaneously is bad news...basically the worst nightmare of every defender. Defending: as Red It is difficult to defend the Red base. It is "easier" to get a flag return. Adequately defending the Red flag poses an interesting challenge, as there is a distinct lack of suitable cover in the general vicinity of the flag. Wait, did I say lack? My apologies, because what I meant is that there are no good defending spots around the Red flag. But, you have to go somewhere, so after much trial and error, I have determined what is, in my opinion, the least-heinous place to park yourself. It takes a skilled defender to maintain this position. The idea is that you can 1.) swing out and around the prop to snipe enemies charging up the middle passage and 2.) function as a roadblock to help prevent attackers from taking the flag and slipping down over that edge. It is by no means the perfect position, as you are especially vulnerable to any enemies that come up 'behind' you, via the secondary base. It's practically assured that you will die repeatedly, however, I believe it is best possible site, especially when paired with a defender 'across the way' in the secondary base. The defensive location pictured above seems a bit counter-intuitive at first. It is a good distance from the flag, but is frankly, one of the best spots, period. You have a total lockdown on a large portion of the map and under normal circumstances, (i.e. when you're not being overwhelmed by four enemies at once) a single defender can effectively guard the triple set of ramps. You also have a visual on the Middle and a small portion of the Center Passageway. This is hugely important for a defender, because you can see the enemies that are about to reach your flag and move in closer to become a more central defensive presence. Mastering this location is far from easy. You need to know when to move. There are times when the frontal defender requires your aid and times when it is better to hang back and attempt to get a flag return. The danger is in the sheer distance from the flag, but played well, this position is an integral part of Red defense. Attacking Routes Suppose you are an attacker, playing for either team. You have just respawned in your respective base and now want to head back out there and go for the enemy flag. You have several different routes at your disposal, so the immediate and pressing question becomes 'which way do I choose?' Well, you have four distinct options. To start off, I would advise that you shy away from the Far Left passageway with as much gusto as you would an outbreak of Bubonic Plague. "But why?" You might ask. "It's an unusually quiet area...I'd almost definitely be able to make it to the enemy flag in one piece." Aye, you probably would. In fact, it is that very lack of activity that makes the Far Left such an unattractive option. It is too secluded, taking you so far away from the action that you are basically useless. If you head off in this direction, your team is, for all intents and purposes, momentarily down a much-needed man. So, steer clear unless you happen to be playing a full 10 v 10. If and only if the map is overfull of players, you might consider it, but under normal playing conditions you should definitely take a more direct approach. Moving clear over to the other side of the map, attacking via The Trenches is also a strategy of questionable soundness. There is little cover, making you easy pickings for enemies that spawn in the red secondary base. Also, even if you do make it to the triple set of ramps, you still have to trek across the full length of enemy territory in order to reach the flag. Your chances of making it there unscathed are slim; getting away with the flag is even less likely. However, what should be noted is that if you are not attempting to get the flag, but merely want to apply pressure on red, spawners, support an attack on the flag, and/or function as a distraction, making use of 'the trenches' is an excellent technique. Process of elimination leaves only the Middle and Center Passageway as effective attacking routes. It is my experience that the Center Passageway is especially conducive to Blue offensive strikes while The Middle is a better thoroughfare for Red attackers. This is due to the respective locations of the flags, differing levels of cover, and placement of props, but both teams can and do use both routes effectively. It is important to keep in mind that the above discourse is merely a suggestion, based on my experiences in the map. To be a good attacker, you need to read the overall flow of battle and respond accordingly in a manner that best exploits the enemy weakness. Attacking: as Blue So, you've chosen your attacking route: now, it's time to go for the flag. There are seven ramps by which you can access the Red base. Using the far left (yellow) ramp set is counterproductive because you then have to spend precious seconds traveling through the entire Red base before you reach the flag. This hike is done over open ground, making you vulnerable to enemy tankers spawning anywhere in the base. The blue ramps are closer to the flag, but it is the two entrances highlighted in pink that provide the most direct route. These are your best bet for swiping the flag. Once you have taken the flag, if it is at all possible, look to jump down over the edge. The swift drop in elevation will momentarily take you out of the reach of any defenders, which might well give you the precious seconds needed to escape. Once down in the 'trough', sandwiched between wall and building, you have two directional choices. Swinging to the left, out towards the Middle is the fastest route to your flag, but it places you under immediate and heavy sniper fire from the secondary Red base. This still could be the best choice though, because in going to the right, there is an immediate 'danger zone' where you are at the mercy of any opponents that happen to be spawning behind you. So, pick your poison: if you know that the immediate vicinity of the red flag is clear, you should attempt to go the 'pink' way. If not, than 'green' is your best bet, though it is almost a guaranteed death. You can only hope that your teammates have deployed and are coming in great numbers to assist you. Attacking: as Red Assaulting the Blue base is no easy task, that's for sure. The enemy defenders have excellent cover to hide behind and spawn points abound. Speed is of the essence here. The less time you spend dilly-dallying about in the enemy base, the better, so time your strike wisely, and make it count. There are essentially four different routes by which you can attack, as denoted by the directional arrows. (Unprecedented level of pure jenius there, ik.) The most direct path to flag is to careen down the Middle ramp, snatch the flag, and return by the same course. Unfortunately this in-and-out method has a distinct tendency to get bogged down (losing it's potency) as the defender in good ol' position blue has you clear in his sights. It should be noted that if you do manage to liberate the Blue base of the flag and maneuver back up into the Middle, your chances of capturing the flag increase dramatically. You quickly gain the sniping support of teammates, who can clear off your inevitable trail of irate pursuers and give you a little breathing room. Attacking via the Center Passage or bridge ramp allows you to circle those conveniently-placed houses and antagonize the defenders. You have cover, thus, you have an opportunity to bide your time, waiting for an opening. You also have an ability to draw enemies waaay out of position. A co-attacker can capitalize on this by doing a timely lighting-fast strike on the flag and escaping up the Middle. While using the Trenches to move towards the enemy flag does provide some cover, the closer you get to the enemy base, the more vulnerable you become. Traveling that little strip of ground next to the Middle is much better than following the Trenches through to completion, as that is a recipe for disaster. Nestled in beside the handy prop shown above, you can lay down cover fire, pester defenders, or make a run for the flag. Ultimately, to win as Red, you need to attack together and focus on getting the flag out of the Blue base. Once you've accomplished that, things become a heck of a lot easier and the enemy players have to scramble out of position; even if the flag does get returned, another quick strike while the defenders are still strung out can be extremely effective. Conclusion Red Alert is an interesting map, well worth getting to know. I didn't even get to touch on DM or DM XP/BP and still managed to write far more than you probably wanted to read. :P Feel free to put any thoughts, comments, or tactical advice below, as one article is hardly enough to do this map justice.

Results: Design a Valentine Mine Category: Digital Art 1st place and 35,000 crystals goes to: @LaserShark In 2nd place, winning 25,000 crystals: @NOT-Insane In 3rd place, winning 15,000 crystals: N/A. I deemed it prudent to only give 1st and 2nd so as to keep the competition level high. Category: Hand drawn art 1st place and 35,000 crystals goes to: @Feirnoy In 2nd place, winning 25,000 crystals: @muffin207 In 3rd place, winning 15,000 crystals: @Helindu_2014 Congratulations and well done to the winners!

Bantha :ph34r:

Results: Photography with Shaft 1st place and 35,000 crystals goes to: The unique moment, well-balanced image, and dynamic lighting made this a truly exceptional picture. Congratulations! In 2nd place, winning 25,000 crystals: Phenomenally timed action shot. Well done. In 3rd place, winning 15,000 crystals: @Bugs.meeny A cleverly designed image. Congratulations. 5k will be given to the following players for entries that are worthy of note: Well done, all!

This contest is now closed. Good luck.

My apologies, there was some confusion on my part regarding the intended closing time. Anyhow: This contest is now closed. Good luck

Very posh accent you have going there. :lol:

Your picture is perfectly legitimate.

That'd be me. Design credits go to Zenith, but I'm hosting it. He has no absolutely no say in the judging process.

One photo per entry, please.

My apologies, but the account posting the image and the name on the experience bar must match. Ugh, sometimes having to buy the highest possible modification really sucks. There is no rule that says you must use a screenshot, but I would advise it for the sake of quality. I would suggest posting another image of different subject matter.

You post it here, in this chat. Upload it using one of the suggested photo-sharing sites. You will receive a link which can be copied and pasted into this topic. If you have further questions, please PM me.

Yes.

One entry may be submitted per individual.No. :P

Pho and myself are not sisters, good friends though. No. Undetermined. Does it really matter anyway? We're both pretty good.

Attention: Due to the very obvious difference, I will be judging hand-drawn and computer generated images separately. The prizes have been updated accordingly.

Okay guys, please try to stay more-or-less on topic.

You must take the picture with shaft. Ta da, not Dramatic Photo. :D

woooot, go Broncos!!!! :) gg, well played, but the Denver defense emerges victorious. :D

Yeah ik... Tanki's no worse (and if fact, a lot better) than some games, but it's still irritating.

LOL, no... one too many 'date request' on this game has long since put me over the edge. :lol: And thanks :)

Yes.

:huh:

:lol: Already on it. This is not Dramatic Photo. An open chat is fine.