1341

1362

1544

1545

1570

1576

1582

1588

Yesss Calvin and Hobbes :D. Love 'em, best comics out there.

:lol:

1559

1565

Burn Notice, Stargate Atlantis, NCIS, NCIS Los Angeles

Nuu, Manning will come through. And we'll see how Cam likes that good ol' Broncos defense. ;)

What a game XD

As maps go, Monte Carlo is truly an oddball. Large, dynamic, and a sniper's dream, half the challenge is ensuring that your teammates don't "accidentally" flip you over the edge. Battles tend to be long and gory as capturing even a single flag is difficult, to say nothing of ten or more. Squadrons of shafters produce inevitable gridlock, and there is a protracted standoff lurking just around every metaphorical corner in the map. Despite -or perhaps, because of- the above, Monte Carlo is an insanely fun, intrinsically challenging, and uniquely interesting map that is well worth a second glance. So, let's get going, and check it out! Overview The two sides of Monte Carlo are mirror images of each other. The map can easily be divided into four separate quadrants: The Upper Base, the Lower Base, the Underpass, and the Overpass. All team spawn points are found in the Upper and Lower Bases. The Underpass and Overpass function as a sort of neutral zone, and are usually controlled by the most aggressive team. The greatest difficulty to overcome in Monte Carlo is simply unobstructed movement as the two Upper Bases opposing one another are usually jam-packed full of bloodthirsty shafts, pegging away at any uncovered target. This is a map for snipers: it is rare to see a firebird or freeze, let alone a successful one, because they would be "sniped" well before reaching an enemy target. Flags are a hot commodity and it is an exceedingly difficult task to capture one. Doing so unassisted is unlikely. Defending For better or worse, there are only three points of access to the flag. Enemies must come up through the Lower Base, jump across the bridge gap, or run a fearsome gauntlet of respawn spots and snipers in the Upper Base to reach the flag. As a non-shaft defender, you should generally focus your attention on the bridge gap and and enemies coming up via the Lower Base and leave Upper Base defense to the Shafts and current respawners. It is my opinion that the best possible defending position is located on the ramp directly behind your flag. This spot has good visibility of important areas of the map (which are circled below), protection from enemy shafts, and a defender can quickly move up or back to deal with any approaching threat. The most direct attacking route an enemy can take to your flag is to "jump the bridge". This is most often accomplished with speed and double armor, and if landed safely can be an extremely difficult move to defend against. So. It's your job to make sure any wannabe Evel Knievels do not survive this jump. Drop mines at the base of and on the ramp as a precautionary measure, but if you're using a high-impact weapon, such as hammer, rail, or smoky, you'll want to attempt to shoot the incoming enemy mid-vault and tip them off the map. You can also drive up underneath them as they land and "shovel" them off the edge, but this is rather messy and prone to failure. Giving that extra "push" that sends an enemy spiraling out of control takes timing and practice but is by far the best way to combat drugging tankers who choose this route. Looking down to your Lower Base, it is always a good practice to lay a mine or two in the spawn "dips". Enemies have a nasty habit of sneaking up from behind while you are conveniently busy dealing with a large frontal assault. The explosives provide an extra layer of protection and can help dilute an attack from that direction. Overall, while defending it is essential that you keep a sharp eye out on each of the various attacking routes. As I stated before, the visibility in this position is excellent, and will be your greatest asset in combating oncoming enemies. Attacking Attacking in Monte Carlo consists mainly of trying to avoid the shaft lasers while edging shiftily towards the enemy flag. The end. ... ... ...Or perhaps not.While sometimes it certainly feels like going after the enemy flag is a pointless exercise in futility, there are things you can do to make a capture more likely. From a big picture perspective, the chances of any one attacker stealing, carrying, and capturing the enemy flag in a single go is unlikely. Rather, your goal is simply to get the flag back to your "side" of the map. Once there, it becomes a team effort to make the capture as the flag is carried forward inch by inch through an unfriendly forest of laser beams. As previously discussed, the most direct route to the enemy flag is by means of the bridge gap. It's a tricky jump to land, but is the most efficient way of getting to and away with the enemy flag. If you choose to utilize this path, first make sure there are no defenders waiting to swipe you out of the air. Then equip speed and shield, jump the gap and grab the flag. Do not waste time turning around, simply drive straight backwards and be sure to lay a mine on the ramp as you cross it to prevent any overeager defenders from following you. The second most direct route is to go through the enemies' upper base. This area holds the vast majority of spawn points and is usually rife with activity, so as a general rule of thumb, I would tend to steer clear of this path. It should be noted that it is possible to sneak behind a host of camping shafts and make away with the flag, but this is terribly risky and can only be satisfactorily pulled off with an extra-large serving of luck and good timing. The third, longest, and last route to the flag is to come up by means the underpass and through the lower base. These areas are less-frequented, but it's still an awfully long way to go, especially if you have the flag and are returning to base. So... a little sleight of hand is in order. The "Jump of Destiny" is a handy trick to know. Visually impressive but extremely easy to do, it can be safely accomplished with Rail, Rico, Twins, Hammer, Thunder, and Smoky. It is easiest to flip in Hornet, but can be done with nearly any hull. The drop confuses the heck out of your opponents, reduces the length of your trip back with the flag, and places you out of sniper range. It is difficult in the extreme to defend against, mainly because it's an unorthodox trick, and completely unexpected. When returning with the enemy flag by means of your Upper Base, it's important to drive gently over the series of three ramps leading to the flag. If you gun it, and launch yourself up the ramps all willy-nil, you will find yourself up in the air, and suddenly at risk of being flipped off the edge. If you are sent into a death-spiral off the map, the flag is automatically returned to the enemy team. So be careful, and drive cautiously. Sniping As a Tanker, do you find your playing style characterized by a single-minded determination to avoid the flag? Is spawn-killing your "raison d'être," and does the sheer power of a Shaft on DD send chills racing up your spine? If you answered yes to any of the above, Monte Carlo might just be a perfect fit for you. This is one map where Shafts are an intrinsic and well-respected part of every team, because with a little attention to the most tactical locations, one good sniper can mean the difference between victory and defeat. There are three main sniping areas to camp in: the Upper Base, the Lower Base, and the neutral Overpass. It is important to note that the location from which you choose to camp will determine your role in the battle. From the Upper Base, a shaft's job is to deal aggressively with counterpart enemy snipers, make spawn kills, and attempt a total lockdown of the opposite base. You will be in constant danger from enemy snipers, so it is best to find an area with partial cover, such as cozied against a wall or the ramp. While operating from behind cover, you don't have to worry about being blasted from the side and can focus entirely on enemies directly across from you on the map. Also, remember that the entirety of Monte Carlo consists of a two lane thoroughfare, so pull tight to the edge while camping, else you function unintentionally as a roadblock. Example of a good upper base sniping position. The concrete block and ramp provide excellent cover without hindering vision. When sniping from the Lower Base, your primary goal is to secure the Underpass. One sniper can satisfactorily keep the steady trickle of attackers at bay. During the quiet moments, you have a clear view of the enemy Lower Base. There isn't much cover, but this isn't hugely important as it is impossible for snipers on the enemy Upper Base to get a visual on your position. Example of a good Lower Base sniping position. The third and final sniping location is the Overpass. This is an interesting location for a number of reasons, namely because; 1) it's the highest terrain in the map, 2) it looks directly into both bases, and 3) is "neutral" territory, available to the most aggressive team. It has been my observation that the Overpass is a pivotal terrain feature, and the team that has control usually dictates the overall flow of battle. The largest advantage of manning the overpass is that, once settled in, a tanker can function as a sniper, attacker, and defender. Sniping-wise, you can keep up a continuous and highly irritating barrage of fire aimed directly at opposing shafts. It is also fairly easy to go after the flag from this position, or to simply aide and abet fellow attackers at the bridge gap while remaining safely in position. And, this location also has an excellent view of the friendly bridge gap, thus a sniper can function as an extra defender by knocking out enemies that approach the gap. This versatility from one spot is almost unheard-of, so each team should always be attempting to get a foothold on that Overpass, or at the very least, take steps to prevent the enemy from doing so. Dealing with Sabotage Due to the unique nature of the map, it is fairly common to see one tanker flipping others off the edge. Sometimes this is a complete accident, but at other times, it is purposefully done. Allow me to be frank: intentionally pushing someone off the edge to further your own score is malicious, low, and downright despicable. It is also sabotage against your own team, and is clearly forbidden in The Rules. However, despite all that, saboteurs still exist and unfortunately even thrive in Monte Carlo. So...what to do if you find that an allied tank is clearly attempting to make your life miserable? Well, you have four choices: Respond in kind. Leave. Ignore the offender and attempt to carry on with gameplay. Make a video clearly showing the sabotage and submit it here. Responding in kind is a poor choice. With just the right bit of malicious video evidence, the offender could portray you as the saboteur and get your account banned for sabotage. Leaving is a bit better (no one ever got banned for leaving a battle, that I'm aware of) but you lose the fund, and it means the saboteur has 'won' his callous little game. The 'silent treatment' is pragmatically effective, but requires keeping a close lock on your temper. And finally, while making a video could result in a ban for the offending player, it requires recording equipment, time, and dedication to produce one in accordance to forum rules. However you choose to handle the situation, the most important thing to remember is that cursing the other player out in chat will most likely end with a ban... on your account. No matter how frustrated you get, it is always better to handle the situation with dignity and maintain composure. Conclusion Play hard, play tactically, play well. Take the enemy snipers in stride, expect to lose the flag numerous times before a capture, and focus on winning as a team. Monte Carlo is very much a "group effort map," one where all the various branches of the team (snipers, defenders, and attackers) need to cooperate seamlessly to capture flags for the win. It can be great fun, with close, exciting matches, and is definitely a worthwhile map to play.

Err... okay. So the interview title is a little bit of a misnomer, thanks to the procrastinatory skills of a certain Gilded Brick. After months of beating around the bush, it finally became clear to the the not-so-new Reporters that they would all drop dead of old age before GoldRock got around to doing interviews. Thus in a risky and somewhat revolutionary move, the 'newbies' decided that they were going to conduct interviews amongst themselves. This was soon accomplished, and as Phoenix-Warbird so nicely put it: #getrektGold. Phoenix-Warbird Interviewed by @Night-Sisters Hey Phoenix! To start this interview off, please introduce yourself and tell a bit about who you are. Have any hobbies you particularly enjoy? Eyyy, Nighty-Whitey :3 My nickname is Pho and I am a girl. Simply put: guitar is love, guitar is life. I’m not exactly a rockstar, but jamming out is something I can’t get enough of. I also enjoy doing artwork, playing TO and… climbing trees. no judge plz ok ty You haven't lived until you've gotten stuck in a tree. :P So, how long have you been playing Tanki and how were you originally introduced to the game? Well, I started playing about 5 years ago, but since, I did leave for nearly a year. Upon returning I discovered the forum. I am finally grateful that my brother forced me to make a Tanki account in the first place. What is your TO weapon/hull combo of choice? How about your least favorite? :ph34r: My favorite combo is le speedy Smoky/Wasp because it suits my battle style and can be a vicious predator with the right amount of skill. The least favorite? Shaft/Mammoth, because it’s soooo fun to sit in a bush and play laser tag in slo-mo. Plz, how could you not like Shaft/Mammo??!! It takes real skill to find that perfect bush to camp behi...(kay, I see your point.) Ahem, moving on: what made you decide to apply for Reporter? I’d wanted to be staff for a long time, but I didn’t know what position would suit me best. I didn’t believe I could properly take on any of the staff roles, actually. Gold, Fen and Hog were close Reporter friends of mine when one day Gold came across a personal blog that I was authoring (I hardly suspect he found it by accident -.-) then encouraged me to write more. With enough persuasion and effort on my part, I applied, hoping that I could soon join my Helper friends, as well as finally get to publish my ideas in an official way. And so far, what's been your favorite part about the position? To be honest, I like pretty much everything about it. One of the things I like the most is that it’s not a ‘stiff’, time-consuming job. Writing articles is not treated as a demanding responsibility but rather as a fun way to communicate with the community I’m so attached to. The other part I love about Reporter-ness is that, to me personally, it means I can collaborate on writing stuff with some of my best friends in the game which is really a privilege. How would you describe your writing style? I can write just about anything, although I do prefer making detailed guides above all else in the press world. I’m not an expert at very specific subjects like the ultimate guides, but rather some generalized informative guides that contain some hints of humor embedded in some relevant advice for tankers. I like using basic reasoning and anything else that players could actually benefit from reading because I write purely for the community. In my articles I do my best to help by sharing tips that I’ve picked up over the years and stuff. I had originally been expecting to write some humorous stories but jokes are actually hard to write. My rule is to always have at least a couple though, just so that reading through the entire piece is bearable for the tankers with a short attention span such as myself. And now for the useless trivia. (Because I can hhhh) What is your favorite book, movie, and food? Hm, I don’t have a favorite book despite having read so many addictive ones. My favorite movie, though, is probably Avatar. And as for--wait, did you say food?! Sushi! Cookies! Spaghetti! Corn chips! Cookies! Pizza! Tacos! Cookies! Salmon! Ice cream! Coo- Nacht-Schwestern (Aka Night-Sisters, Sis, or Nighty-Whitey, depending upon whom you ask. :ph34r:) Interviewed by @Contradiction Would you like to introduce yourself? 'ello, my name is Sarah. I'm 16 years old and was born, raised, and currently reside in Eastern Pennsylvania. Nice to meet you, Sarah. How long have you been playing Tanki? What are your earliest experiences with the game? I've been playing Tanki for a while...not as long as some, but I was first introduced to the game in late 2011/early 2012. I can't remember the exact date that I started, but I've narrowed it down pretty well by means of PNAU. (Patch Notes and Updates) As to my earliest experiences with the game, I started my TO career as a Wasp/Freeze, and encountered all the typical driving and turret-turning problems that plague beginning tankers. After hitting the right Warrant Officer level, I purchased M1 Hornet/Rail and haven't looked back since. Heh, Hornet Rail? Wasp Rail is what the cool kids use. How have you gotten from where you are then, to where you are now? How did you become involved in the tanki forum and what was it like to first encounter the newspaper? In a word, my brother. He could coolly make these insane shots with rail and, even more importantly, actually knew how to maneuver his tank. At the time, it drove me insane, so I practiced with Rail until I could comfortably drive backwards and turn my turret fluidly. So, thanks bro. If not for a little sibling rivalry, I probably still wouldn't be able to rotate my turret and move at the same time xD. My first involvement in the forum came through my clan page. Almost exactly one year ago, I joined "Madness", which functioned as a jumping-off point into the main forum hub. Over a period of several months I began to familiarize myself with the forum layout and key, most vocal players involved. The newspaper was actually of little interest to me at first. I'd read it each month, but wasn't particularly enthusiastic... until one day I accidentally browsed into Part V of Shedinja's story, Between Tabs. The piece was admirably written, and I was pretty well impressed. You've been in the same clan for an entire year? That's an accomplishment, to say the least. What made you decide to apply for Reporter? Yes, well. Mad is a tight-knit group and we really enjoy playing Tanki. It's a recipe for success. As for my decision to apply for reporter, blame Shedinja. :P We corresponded via the forum PM for a bit while reporter apps were closed; I made one of my best friends in the process and it made me realize that, if I could make the cut, I wanted to be a reporter. I also found and read Hogree's article: The Life of a Reporter at some point and BROWSED through 15 pages of Friday Night Banter featured in a Dictator article...those articles served to reinforce the fact that this group was something I really wanted to be a part of. Is life as a reporter everything you hoped? Yep. As a Reporter, what can we expect from your articles in the future? Do you have a specific genre that you will be focusing in? Hopefully you can expect more quality, interesting, and useful reads. When writing, I have no particular genre that I limit myself to. Guides, humor pieces, interviews, fiction... I'm game for anything and everything as long as I have that oh-so-necessary spark of inspiration pushing me forwards. If you were to describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Sensible (most of the time), introspective, and dedicated. In your opinion, what has been the most influential update to the game? Drat, that's difficult... but I'd have to say that losing crystal boxes was a hugely influential update. It changed the shape of the game, to some extent, and was just so...unanticipated. Do you have any favorite books? The Book Thief, (Marcus Zusak) The Thief, (Megan Whalen Turner) On the Incarnation, (Athanasius) and The Odyssey. (Homer) There are many, many more, but those are special favorites. Oh and one other question: Does your name have any special meaning? Were you once multiple people? It's a nod to an old Starwars MMO I used to play, the Night Sisters of Dathomir. I am certainly not 'multiple people', it's just good ol' me, myselves, and I. ;) Contradiction Interviewed by @Phoenix-Warbird Heyo, Contra! Tell our readers a bit about yourself? :P I am a teenager living in Texas. I play Piano, Flute, and Basketball, go to school, and try to get good grades. That's about it. How long have you been playing Tanki? I've been playing Tanki, on and off, since around 2010. Although, I was extremely inactive until about a year ago. I played on a few accounts, and after discovering that my main account had been stolen and blocked, I decided to create a new account. I discovered the perfect name- and here I am now. Why did you decide to apply to join the newspaper team? I decided to apply for a few reasons. I first encountered the forum itself after having followed a link from the newspaper's announcement on the main page. I was a pretty avid participator in the Newspaper contests, and after a time I became fairly involved in reading articles and attempting to win contests. I especially appreciated the in-depth guides created by Fen-Harel, Hogree and others. I also liked to write a lot myself, and I believe that I am actually a pretty good writer. I could see how this ability would benefit the Newspaper team. And having a cool looking paint may have been a small factor contributing in my decision to apply :rolleyes: . Ha, I can understand that. Is Reporterness your favorite thing about Tanki? Yes, I definitely believe that newspaper writing is currently the most-fun element in my Tanki experience. As a moderately low-ranked player, actual gameplay can become very boring (unless I am playing with friends). And, as of late, there doesn't appear to be anything in the forum worth replying to. In juxtaposition to these time-wasting alternatives, newspaper writing offers a good use of time that can elevate my writing proficiency and actually do some good for the community at large. What’s your favorite thing about being a reporter? What is my favorite thing about being a reporter... I don't really know. I like the experience of working alongside a group of intelligent, like minded people. I also like the feeling of producing well written articles; it is satisfying. Being a reporter is just an enjoyable thing to do. What kind of article do you most like writing? I prefer to write in-depth analyses and guides of various aspects of Tanki Online. I try to be informative and helpful, and as a rule of thumb keep humor and sarcasm out of articles in which these techniques are not necessary. I'm surprised; I personally always include humor. What’s your favorite game mode? CTF is generally best game mode. It offers the highest strategic diversity, and creates the most intense games. The element of flags makes all the difference. I definitely enjoy a good CTF if I am playing in a battle with good players and balanced teams; however, a battle like this appears to be extremely difficult to come by. DM is also a good mode; poor players on your team can not drag you down to defeat, and a player only relies upon himself. Interesting, and what would you add/remove from TO if you got the chance? Hands down, I would remove keyboard-activated supplies from non-pro battles. They contribute practically nothing in battles in which only a few tankers can afford to drug nonstop. They also provide waaaaaaayyy too large of an advantage to those who use them. I probably wouldn't remove supplies entirely- they definitely offer something in battles where all tankers are using them. Of course, I don't know the economic implications of this update- but since I don't have any of the developers' data, I am not taking the game-economy into consideration. Admin's note: Yay, more minions! It's great to have these guys on the team, and as you've already seen they can write incredibly high quality stuff, and I'm looking forward to what they can write in the future!

Experience is the best teacher. For those who have never before hosted a contest, writing a "perfect one" as you say, would be fairly difficult. Even though this is only my second contest, I have very quickly learned that there are some things that need to be accounted for, not least limited to blatant plagiarism, reserving posts, the number of allowable entries, etc. The deadlines also need to be congruent with the paper's -and my- schedule. Because of this lack of experience, I knew that even the best contests would need to be tweaked to fit the paper, and to be of a quality worthwhile of the entrants. 'Please note that I reserve the right to edit and/or add to the rules, layout, deadlines, prizes, etc. of the featured contests as I deem necessary, without prior notice.' And that is why this line was posted. As for your other complaints... well, you said it yourself. Entries will be judged on the originality of the contest idea and the effectiveness of the presentation. The very best will be featured in an upcoming issue of the paper' Flexoo's entry was well crafted and interesting. This is why he won third place. However, there could be only two featured winners, and the ones I selected stand. There were so many good, quality entries, had I started handing out consolations, I would have felt obligated to give at least six or seven...or eight...or nine. ^_^ So I opted to go for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd only.

By: @Lethal_Injection Hello Tankers! Here at Tanki, we take the holidays in stride! With Valentine's Day coming up, the goal of this competition is to design for a mine that incorporates a Valentine's theme. Show other tankers some love as you blow them up! The Rules The art for your Valentine mine can be uploaded as a picture in any file format. A reliable upload site can be found here. You can design the mine on any medium, be it graphic design software or just a pencil on paper. Your design must include color! Black and white entries will not be accepted. No plagiarism! Plagiarized entries will result in immediate disqualification. One entry may be submitted per individual. Prize crystals for the winners will be sent to the account that submitted the entry. Requests for crystals to be sent to alternate accounts will be disregarded. Reservation of posts is strictly prohibited. The Prizes Category: Hand drawn First Place will receive 35,000 crystals Second Place will receive 20,000 crystals Third Place will receive 10,000 crystals Category: Digital Art First Place will receive 35,000 crystals Second Place will receive 20,000 crystals Third Place will receive 10,000 crystals Hand drawn and computer generated images will be judged separately. The deadline for submissions is 00:00 UTC on February 16th. Happy Valentines Day and Good Luck!

Photography With Shaft Created by: Greetings, tankers! The newspaper is here with a unique and quirky contest, and a new way to take photographs in Tanki Online. Yes, you read the contest title right - photography using the turret Shaft. Shaft's sniper mode is usually a great tool for causing destruction, but a few weeks back, I was amazed by the amount of customization it can have in use as a camera. Let me explain you the usage of sniper mode in taking beautiful pictures! Rules - The picture must be taken with shaft's scope mode. The cross-hairs of your scope must be visible in the picture. Your experience bar must be visible in the picture. Images may be cropped but not edited. One entry per individual. One picture per entry. The reservation of posts is prohibited. Prize crystals will be sent to the account that submitted the entry. Requests for crystals to be sent to alternate accounts will be disregarded. Example of an allowable entry - Procedure - Before starting off, it is suggested that you use Wasp and Shaft. Why Wasp? It helps you get into all kinds of positions and can fit in small spaces to photograph your subject. Go into sniper mode. Adjust the zoom by using the space bar. Once you are ready, take a screenshot and there you are, you just transformed your sniper scope into a camera! Upload your entry using photo-sharing websites like Imgur, Tinypic, or Postimage. Advantages - You can zoom in and out as required. In a selfie you cannot do that. It is only possible in spectator mode, and to a degree by using the new camera update. Unlike "mode-less spectator" it does not require you to self-destruct and the subject to time his movements with high accuracy. Prizes - The prizes are as follows - 30,000 crystals for the winner, 20,000 crystals for the first runner-up and 15,000 crystals for the second runner-up. A certain number of consolation prizes worth 5000 crystals may also be given to worthy entries. May the best entry win! Shake the dust off your Shaft and hone your photography skills in a new way! The deadline for this contest is 00:00 UTC on February 16th.

^

This contest is closed. Good luck!

That is correct.

I thought better of it ;) Typical nonsense. lol.

Results: Design A Contest First off: You'll notice that, rather unusually, there is a poll attached to this contest. I decided to insert it so as to get a better handle on the communities' thoughts. Feel free to complete it, even if you didn't enter the contest. And of course, any feedback below is welcome. Thanks! ​Moving on, I must admit myself to be fabulously surprised at the quality of entries received. You guys came up with some really nifty ideas, many of which, in my opinion, are good enough to be featured in the paper. However, as you all know, there can be only three winners. So after much careful thought, I present the following top three entries: In 1st place, winning 35,000 crystals: Contest: Shaft Photography by In 2nd place, winning 25,000 crystals: Contest: Design a Valentine Mine! by @Lethal_Injection In 3rd place, winning 15,000 crystals: Contest: Guess The Drop! by @Flexoo Congratulations! As promised, the first and second place winners will be featured in Issue 48 of the Newspaper. I will be hosting and judging these contests, so the creators are more than welcome to submit an entry in their own contest. Please note that I reserve the right to edit and/or add to the rules, layout, deadlines, prizes, etc. of the featured contests as I deem necessary, without prior notice.