Gaming Styles

[CelesJessa]

I don't know if this has been done before, if it has, I'm sorry. ^^ (I'm forgetful)

Anyway, is there any certain way that you play games? Are you reckless and risky? Or are you analytical and reserved?

For me, in a strategy game (like Fire Emblem, Starcraft type games) I'm usually bent on having an excellent defence and then just a line of extremely powerful troops who go out and kill the bad guys while the rest are on the defence. For example, in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, it would be very rare for me to leave my white mage undefended on all sides (or at the very least, he would have a "guard" that I have specified to stay next to him at all times). While most of my characters hang back and stay on hte defensive, taking out any enemy who dares to get close enough, I would use my powerhouse-paladins to truck through the enemy lines and claim victory.

On the other hand, in non-strategy games I am completely opposite. I am reckless and I will run into a fight I know I can't win and hope that by some stroke of luck that I can survive (and somehow, I do most of the time). In action-y games I always run headfirst into a fight and dodge like mad, or I'll just hammer on the enemy hoping that I can kill him before he can kill me. In Metroid Prime, to try and get a short cut I basically made a mad dash through way too much phazon only to find that my idea didn't work and, hey, I had to dash back through that phazon again.

So what are your gaming styles?

[Sprinkle_Death]

I have sevral strategies.

If I'm playing an unrealistic shooter, I tend to charge in and waste everybody. But if I'm playing a more realistic shooter, I tend to use cover, strategy, and sometimes stealth more often than just running up and starting a bloodbath. I'm almost always a soldier who can provide good cover fire so my allies can advance. I'm also pretty analytical; if a strategy isn't working for me, I change it around so it does.

Then there's Splinter Cell. My friend and I often play Chaos Theory co-op mode. We are the total opposites. He likes to wait and examine guard patterns to find the hole in the timing and slip past them. He uses lure tactics to bring guards to him so he can subdue them. I use tactics to make guards turn their backs so I can grab them and interrogate them. I am usually more agressive whan I play My friend will wait for several guard cycles. As soon as I see a hole, I go. Also, if someone is getting to close to me, they're dead. No questions asked. My strategies work most of the time which is suprising.

For RTS games like Rise of Nations, I usually spend a fair amount of time at the beginning bulding up my resources. Then, I start mass producing troops. I usually have two armies (and a navy if its a nautical map). One army defends my capital and cities, one is an invasionary force. If I manage my citizens right, I sometimes have three armies, two of which invade. It works, but I never play online because I'm too slow. I would get rushed and killed :sweatdrop .

I'm a big fan of football games too. My favorite right now is NCAA '06. I usually try to strategize and confuse the defense, but most of the time I end up running it. But, I usually don't follow the plays. For example, in the play called "HB Dive", you're supposed to run right at the defense and hope your linebackers can make a hole. I run around the defense and more often than not make a huge run. Other times, I get blitzed...heh.

So I guess you could say I play with a mix of reckless and reserved.

[mammothtank]

Hmm...

In RPGs, I tend to conserve MP and items as best I can. I only use them when I abslutely need to, unless I'm up against a boss (at which point I let everything loose). I also try to dig up all the treasure I can find.

In strategy games, I start defensively, and gradually move to an offensive posture once I have a better grasp on the situation. This goes for games like Fire Emblem as well as RTS games.

I would list more, but I'm about out of time here.

[ZERO.]

This is my basic style in unrealistic shooters, I take a deep breath and charge in and leave a trail of corpses death and destruction.

The style I use in strategy games is to use the formations and tactics that won battles in ancient times. the old divide and conquer style.

[Fifthfiend]

FPS's I tend to rely on strafedancing and my somewhat respectable ability to continually hit a target while strafedancing. I'll try to ambush people whereever possible and take them down from as far off as I can manage. It's sort of a refined recklessness, if that's not too self-aggrandizing a way of putting it. I'm a fan of getting someone to chase you / flipping around and barraging them type tactics. Also I am an incurable spawncamper. Sorry, I just can't help it.

For the Starcrafting I've tended towards defensive/buildup styles. I probably focus a bit too much on force and not enough on tactics.

For the painfully stupid game of grunt-level corporate politics - which lately is about the only game I've any time for - I tend towards the 'No, fuck you' style of play.

The style I use in strategy games is to use the formations and tactics that won battles in ancient times. the old divide and conquer style.

That's really the sort of shit I need to do more of. Baiting an enemy into a superior defensive position, using central locations to divide and control an opposing force -- I get the ideas behind that shit, I just can't quite translate it into actual tactics.

[Chipper173]

I have absolutely no idea how I'll react to a certain situation. In FPSs, realistic or not, sometimes I'll do the hero thing, and sometimes I'll be stealthy or methodical. Sometimes I wish I know what I'm doing.

Don't play a lot of strategy games, but in RPGs I usually hang back and go defensive until I figure out what I'm fighting is capable of, then figure out a way to counteract or negate it with a couple of guys while beating it up with a couple other guys.

[Deathosaurus Wrecks]

when in a battleground on World of Warcraft, i'm pretty agressive, which is fun because most of the people i fight are rather skiddish, or won't fight unless they've got backup.

i used to play RTS and TBS games very conseritavly, building up my defenses and infastructure untill i could amass a single unstopable army. however i've bored of that style of play and now conduct swift and early strikes, and press attacks to the point of nearly-breaking my troops, just so i can further weaken my opponent for my next attack.

unfortunatly, that style of play doesn't work in Fire Emblem...

for FPSs, i'm not so sure what my style is there. i stick to faster firing guns (too twitchy to be effective w/ precision weapons), or weapons with grenade-launcher aspects (that sort of arcing trajectory, i dono, i'm always good with them). i tend to keep moving from cover to cover, and generaly trying to stay unpredictable.

[MasterOfMagic]

In strategy games like Fire Emblem I NEVER use items unless I absolutely have to. Even agianst bosses, it might be my fifth try before I start using my rare items (easily gotten health potions I use all the time. I prefer to use healing magic if I can, though). I like using long ranged characters to take out my foes, so mages and archers are a personal favourite. I normally focus on leveling up just a few characters, since having a god like archer raining death on enemies is just pure fun. I never really have to do much thinking as far as my strategy goes in these types of games. I just go with the flow...and it all seems to work. *shrug*

In FPS's I just pick a rapid fire/exploding projectile weapon and wing it. No real thought pattern...its just random and reckless. Well, that's if I can't get a sniper weapon. I do like those alot.

In RTS's, I like to build up a huge invasion force, then just wipe out the opponent in one go. All the while I'm building up my defences too, especcially since my army-in-progress can be used to help out in that area if need be.

[EVILNess]

When I play a strategy game I tend to semi-turtle. I go for the late game army.

I build some basic units to act as skirmishers and defenders. I rely mostly on static defenses and one or two groups of superior units to stop attacks. Then I upgrade, while I harass the hell out of my foe. Most of the time, my smaller forces are superior to my enemies due to upgrades and this helps them survive.

Then I steam-roll my opponent.

On the other hand, my buddy Sam is the exact opposite. He is a really agressive attacker and land grabber. He goes for a bigger army, with late upgrades.

[Yakubyougami]

In FPS's I typically get killed in seconds after I start playing - I'm pretty sure I'm bad at them or just have bad luck with enemies. So I've yet to establish any sort of strategy, aside from running and hiding and begging for mercy.

As for RTS's, I typically like to focus on gathering and defending resources at the beginning, ensuring my enemies can't use them, and then using various strategies which can be carried out with large quantity of capital - especially in Starcraft and Warcraft 3 - I'm much better at micromanaging than most people, so larger forces with different unit types are far more effective under my command.

As for RPG's, I usually like wasting hours of my time wondering around fields/dungeons/worldmaps until I raise my characters to a point where I expect them to be stronger than what the game seems to indicate is a required level to achieve victory in upcoming battles - I usually like pacing myself against enemies and going back to get healed, or using healing techniques or items to remain playing out in the battlefield for as long as possible. I usually value attack over defense, I usually make it so I can kill the weaker monsters before they have a chance to attack so I can rack up experience whilst doing very little very quickly. I waste everything I have on bosses they I picked up while working the fields.

[Truce]

In RPGs, I tend to focus on powering up very early on, and I tend to rush at the end because of the anticipation. Generally, it works on RPGs with real-time battles, because I usually don't take a hit from an attack I've already seen. Usually.
If it's standard turn-based, I tend to do well because I prepare just enough.
In Strategy-RPGs (my current favorite is Romance of the 3 Kingdoms X), in battle I tend to go semi-reckless. I don't stop my attack for almost any reason, but I do make sure I use my abilities to their maximum abilities.
In single FPS, I'm extremely cautious, until I see a chance to break for it. Half-Life 2 is the best example. I took a look at my surroundings for a while, and when I saw a short-cut I just ran for it, avoiding any zombies that came up to it. When I do need to fight, my reckless strafe fighting is generally enough-even in multiplayer. Except Halo 2 (though, it's mostly because I suck at Duel-Wielding and thus suck at the entire game).
Finally, in fighting games (such as Soul Calibur III), I tend to go for speed kills, not paying attention to any combos I use. If I do practice, I memorise my moves, then attack as naturally as they come.

[Art of Hilt]

In RPGs, I just go through the levels and hope to win. Yeah. I rarely 'train' unless I'm really stuck. Yeah. Basically. "Attack" and "Item" buttons are my friends.

[gurusloth]

In most non-RPGs, I usually prefer to sneak by if the game will let me, otherwise I save it, then do some exploratory raids to see where the enemies are and what they're like. Then once I have a general feel for the area, I hit reset, go back and take them out methodically. Also, I'm a stickler for going down every last hallway and into every last room. Must be my D&D training, but I like to completely destroy, dismantle, and disinfect each stage before continuing further.

In RPGs, I use similar tactics, but don't opt to sneak past the mobile piles of XP, er, I mean opponents. Usually I go out of my way to fight as many as I can before getting to the bosses.

[Toastburner B]

In RTSes, I definately play turtle. I like to be able to set up automated defensive structures, and then I can send my entire army out and be able to lay waste without worrying about my base.

Effective against the computer...no so much against humans. :sweatdrop

In RPGs, I generally progress to right before I do the final level, then go do all the side-quests and level and stuff like that. In my endgame Final Fantasy VI, it was just too much fun to have a Terra who could cast two Ultimas in one turn, at the cost of 2 MP. (Jewel(Gem?) Box and Gold Hairpin for the win!). I also have a nasty habit of getting lost at one point or another in the game, which leads me to getting extra levels because I can't figure out where I am suppose to go (I got lost in Tales of Symphonia for like 3 hours, man).

In shooters...it depends. I've never been much of stealth guy (and I generally can't stand stealth games), but I can be careful when I have to be. I do tend to have a shoot-first-ask-questions-later attitude about things, though.

[anphorus]

In FPS's if it's capture the flag I basically just try to stay alive, and fail, miserably. If it's a deathmatch however I usually just get some kind of rapid fire weapons and hunt my opponents down one-on-one shooting at them from afar, until they star shooting at me, then I just strafe and jump around like a carazay fool while they futilely try to hit me.

In fighting games like SSB:M or Soul Calibre 3 I usually think I'm doing okay against the computer, then I play against my friends and get utterly wasted, since they all have god-like skills.

In games like Metal Gear solid and Splinter Cell I take my time and plan out my routes, observing enemy patterns and behaviours over and over again until I can quietly sneak in using my perfectly planned route.

In strategy games I tend to keep my party together, (but not densely packed to avoid area spells) whenever I'm fighting a tough opponent and then I quickly take them down one character at a time, usually starting with their healer. In defensive missions I tend to form an unbreakable line of melee characters and tanks, with a row of healers, casters and ranged guys behind them moving around to take care of my front line. They usually stay rooted in one place until the first wave is gone, and then I split my characters into groups who systematically hunt down the rest of the opposition. If I'm fighting an easy opponent, I usually send all of my melee, ranged and attack-magic characters off to take down a party member each, with my healer running around if any of them get in trouble (which isn't very often).

In RTS games I tend to focus on building up my base, and defences, researching every upgrade possible and building up my resources. I then build up as large an army as possible and send them swarming into the enemy base (which I scouted out earlier). I tend set the rally points of all my unit-making buildings in the middle of the enemy camp and constantly make move units as the others die. The enemy eventually goes down.

I RPG's I tend to buy new equipment whenever it appears, fighting enemies until I get enough money. I always equip my main character with any special armour I find first. In battles I tend to refrain from using magic and specials against normal foes, saving it for the boss battles. In boss battles I tend to have all attacking characters and one healer, my normal characters go all out against the boss, I use different spells and such to find a weak spot if "sense" type skills don't work and then exploit it. I keep tabs on how much damage the boss's attacks do against my characters and make sure that they are always have enough HP to keep them alive. I never have to power-level my characters, I find that I gain enough power just from the monsters I fight when going from place to place and exploring. I also tend to go into every room in a dungeon, go to every house in town and talk to every NPC I see, just in case I miss something.

In any game, I never run away from an enemy and always make sure they are dead.

If ever I can't complete one part of a game I go back and try again and again until I can do it.

[Novasol]

In RPGs, I'm both a compulsive looter and extremely frugal. I go out of my way to procure every last possible bauble in my path, yet it's very rare that I actually use much of it unless I have to. Incidentally, I also tend to be very low-levelled my first time through.

As an anecdotal example of this principle in action, let's examine my first playthrough of Final Fantasy II (well, IV...). I got to the moon, and my characters were around level 30-ish. I was squeaking by, but Rosa, for whatever reason, just kept dying no matter what. This puzzled me for quite a long time, until I actually looked at her equipment - she was wearing Prison Clothes, and some weak little bow. For those not keeping record at home, this is the exact same equipment that she had when you rescue her from Golbez at the beginning of the game.

I'm so cheap that I didn't even bother to upgrade her at all. My other characters weren't quite as poorly outfitted, but they, by and large, only sported equipment that I found, and the disparity between item layouts on various characters made it precisely obvious which items I'd found.

Then there was the time I beat Chrono Trigger the first time, my characters were about level 36. Took several tries, but I was determined to squeak by. It's also worth noting that, by the end of Final Fantasy III(VI), I had exactly two characters over level 30. For reference, the recommended level for beating the game is around 60.

As for competitive types of games though, I tend to strike out as quickly as possible, at least when I'm sure I can get away with it. If I think such an action will fail, I have a tendency to string my opponents along and lead them into traps, or if it's a strategy game, cripple the opponent by quickly gathering as many resources as possible (one of the reasons I'm much hated amongst my friends for playing as Sami in Advance Wars). However, it must be noted that, quite often, I'm something of a gambler - I can and will take incredibly stupid-seeming risks if the potential reward is large enough. Strangely, I seem to have a knack for this, as my success in any given scenario is usually directly proportional to the amount of stupid risks I take (anyone here who has played, say, Monopoly or Gunbound with me will probably attest to this). I like to think this makes me somewhat unpredictable, which catches people off guard, as well as helps me be more adaptable to any given situation. The downside is that when I fail, I fail hard, and as a result, my skill level is rather inconsistent.

That leaves platform games, which are probably my favorite genre. I tend to try to collect everything in them, yet I also try to finish a stage as fast as possible, at least the first time through. After that, I'll revisit a stage and thoroughly explore every last nook and cranny of it, and games that rank amongst my favorites are usually the ones that have me finding something different or new every time I play.

[Azisien]

With a rifle, I'm patient. With an auto, I'm reckless. At the start you suck, but after a while, being reckless is actually advantageous most of the time.

In a strategy game, I USED to be "Mr. Defense," but that strategy really does suck against real players. An AI has trouble adapting to a strong defense, but a real person can just find another way in. I took on a new style, never stock up resources, spend EVERYTHING ALL the time, and go on the offensive. Real players will spend so much time worrying about their own well-being, it gives you added time to build defenses of your own and bolster your armies.

In RPGs, I'm usually not meticulous at all. I used to like going on long-ass side quests, but I've grown out of it. I want some kicks and I want them quickly.

[Barahad]

In FPS games, I sometimes vary my style. I once spent half of a Halo map sneaking up on and then pistol-whipping Covenant. I just wanted to see how far I could get, but I ended up repeating those tactics quite a bit.

In Call of Duty and FPSs like that, my strategies vary. On close-range maps, I tend to go with automatic weapons and a grenades. On maps with a little more range, I'll probably use a rifle (scoped or non-scoped). Of course, having strategies doesn't necessarily mean I'm any GOOD at it.

In RPGs I tend to prefer hack-and-slash. Wizarding is for my friends to do if they want. Give me a sword and I will kill things.

With RTS games, I tend to put early emphasis on my economy, with a minimal military presence. At later stages though, I will go out of my way to out-produce the other guy. I probably play a defensive game, but I have bursts of offense, and usually try to keep up a fair harassing presence while I'm gathering my forces for decisive attacks and territory grabs.

I don't often play fighting or sports games, so my strategies in those usually runs along the lines of 'press buttons and pray'.

That's the kind of gamer I think I am.

[Flarecobra]

I'm in the "Varied" bracket. Depending on the situation, I'll go defensive or go all out. Case in point: Halo. I was in a team Assault match, so we had it set up to that one person stayed behind at the arming point while the other patroled around the base. It was fairly effective when we were defensive, and when we were on the offience....well, It was all-out, and if air support was avalable, we used it. I got pretty good at flying out over an enemy base then making a drop right into their base with the bomb. While they were busy with the ground forces, I was busy arming and setting up the bomb. It was pure chaos.

As for RTS games, (Now Dawn of War and Fire Emblem) I'd usually have a small scout force looking around, gathering resoures and looking for enemies of there's a fog of war around, while I have a main attack force, backup, and guard forces for important points and bases.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Hit 'em hard and hit 'em where it counts. Thats my gaming motto. Going for an FPS base invasion? What better than a shotgun squad covered with a couple fully automatics?
Fighting: same style. Take Soul Calibur 3 for example, I'm fairly good with a variety of characters but I truly shine with Astaroth. Dunno why, unlike all the other characters I can make almost any of his moves run smoothly together. Poseidon swing, running slide kick, brain scoop (I just call it that, its that one shovel scooping style attack) followed by a -> -> B charge and slam. or <- AB where he does that wild loopy swing, double back B mini charge followed by bull rush. I knock people around willy nilly before they can get an attack in edgewise.

RTS: I'm a beginning offense rusher. I'll build up at least five bunker things early on and pump out the little units and send them out in waves to keep the other teams from advancing at a good clip. My favorite oldschool tactic in warcraft: Orcish Peon Rushes. Nobody ever sees it coming.

Strat/RPGs: total offensive. MP is a both a crutch and a hindrance. What happens when your magic users run out of mana? You're screwed thats what.

All in all: brutal efficiency. All the fancy mumbo jumbo is for the birds.

[Deathosaurus Wrecks]

Mumbo, perhaps. Jumbo, perhaps not.

forgot to add that I'm a huge fan of support classes in RPGs. if no one else will be one, i'll take on the roll of healer or buffer myself.

[Kaelus]

Yeah, I feel much better as the healer in RPGs. It's good to feel needed, trusted and self-sufficient. Especially for people who seek perfection and always fight at their best condition, using up all your potential (including items). I hate to be defeated without first trying every single possibility of victory. It feels somehow... shameful.

Aside from that, I also don't like to be in the heat of battle. I'd rather stay in the back with cleric or archer characters. If that's not possible, my second choice are stealthy, agile ones, but always making the battle easier for those in the frontlines.

[Lockeownzj00]

Ah, can't believe I let this thread pass me by.

Fifthfiend, great post as usual at the beginning--loved the 'grunt' comment. Almost an aphorism, basically.

FPSes, I tend to use reverse pscychology--AI is textbook, usually easy even on very hard modes for me, and it's just a matter of learning their patterns and such. Real people, that's my specialty. Especially in a game you're good at--the double back, the double double back, thinking so fast on your toes that you do things you didn't even know you could do; jumping down the ladder, rounding the corner, backwards jumping upwards and waiting above the arch, while he's still rounding the corner or some shit like that--that's where I'm at. In games like CS, that are absolutely relentless in regards to Hit Points, these methods can be perfected and fine tuned to become a very capable strategy.

RTS (Well, I'm mostly a TBSer)-wise, I tend to think things out but still fail; I lack the ability to manage a huge sprawl like that (yet).

RPG-wise, it depends. I tend to play physically-alt characters (in dnd type games, chaotic good is about my alignment), with fighting capabilities, but other, unique ones as well--thieves, rangers, that sort of thing. In games with total freedom, if I'm not just seeing how far I can go with it (*ahem* KOTOR), if I actually play the game like I would be as a person, I tend to treat people fairly well, but I'm very stern and such.

Items-wise, I always feel like I'm never fully capitalising on the mechanics of any game. Well, in linear RPGs like FF4, I may not have the best equipment sometimes, but it's more of a structured level of what weapons/armor are good and what aren't. With more open-ended games, all the way up to full ADnDs like Planescape: Torment, the variety is so aqesome and humbling and ridiculous that you feel completely lame for in the end using a very few select pieces of armor for mass amounts of time. In linear RPGs like Final Fantasy I usually have a crude 'armor/weapon hierarchy,' where who I consider the 'best' character (these days it's decided for you--but in games like FFVI, it's up to you) gets the best equipment, and every time I re-equip them in any way, their old stuff goes to the next best guy.

PS, I always have too many throwable swords by the end of the game that I know I could've used. Every once in a while I do and I'm like, "whaat? 8,000 dmg?!"

In genre-busters like Metal Gear Solid, I feel the same way about not fully utilising it. I always have way too many encounters--I'm (eventually) fundamentally good at the game, it's just I end up with too many 'ah, fuck it,' encounters, which considering, is a shame; the real skill is being able to stop yourself, breather and sneak on through. Games like PS:T can be played without killing but 3 NPCs of the thousands that present themselves.

Fighting games, I'm good enough that (this differs in the arcade--much more brutal, no button layout, modifiers, actual arcade setup, but still similar) I figure out moves for the characters within a few seconds from the start of the fight (note--I'm not good, usually not at all, but I can fend for myself). I don't mash like some people do, I think that's a shame. I do this combination of fending off the opponent while I try to discern the patterns for the character. Often I'll sacrifice a round or a lot of hit points, once, and then from then on I get it.

Smash Brothers? Samus. Done.

Platformers, I'm fairly good at, I tend to run-and-gun, but it's not that hard for me to just take my time and *get* there, to the 'top,' or the 'end.'

Although in all of these, especially the FPSes, I tend to get myself in 'quick-save situations,' where I saved basically in the middle of a moment where I was fucked. In certain FPSes, this means like, 1.5 seconds and the fatal bullet hits my head. But I've almost always managed to mechanically reload and try to figure some workaround, so I usually find *some* way out.

Miscellany:

However, it must be noted that, quite often, I'm something of a gambler - I can and will take incredibly stupid-seeming risks if the potential reward is large enough.

Yeah, agreed. The payoff is sometimes fantastic.
Final note: I hate that I had to partial-skim this thread, but I was interested in everyone's style, phenomenal thread, CelesJessa, I commend you. Was particularly interested in people like Nova.


forgot to add that I'm a huge fan of support classes in RPGs. if no one else will be one, i'll take on the roll of healer or buffer myself.

Note on this: I agree, to a point. I don't like just being a 'meat shield,' or 'the healer,' but my experience as a medic in Enemy Territory...suffice to say that I mention it in every possible situation I possibly can (still a crime I haven't played Battlefield 2...). I am totally fine with both completly prawning the opposition and supporting my team mates. I will find you. I will come to get you, I will drop in from the fucking sky and revive you. The oath of the medic or some shat like that. I love making people happy in that way, it gets their game pumped up.

Plus, regen is a quirk I'll never grow out of. Yeah, you may be bleeding against the wall there, but if I sit here long enough, I'm good as new. Absolutely perfect for (ET specifically) double back situations--lead em somewhere, hide, recover any damage, and own that suqqa.

[Buddha Fett]

With an RPG or an RTS, I focus on defence.

With an FPS, I always play co-op with my brother jake. He is a more reckless fighter, so he always charges forward and I cover his ass with a sniper rifle (my one skill that translates well into real life-I got the turkey for thanksgiving last year, if ya know what i mean)

[CrazyBen]

In FPS's, I usually go with what I call the "Front-Row Sniper" - I'll take a sniper rifle (or scope-less rifle,where available) then basically just walk around with it always at the ready. I'm a pretty good snap-shot, but get tunnel vision when I do this, so it works best in singleplayer or as part of a small squad.

In RPG's, I'm a packrat and exp-whore of epic proportions. I usually get most of the way though any RPG without using up ANY items (besides keys and equiping weapons). In online, I usually go for a healer/tank mix.

In RTS's, I turtle first, climb the tech tree, and have a love of artillery bordering on the unhealthy. I HATE losing troops, even useless ones like spare builders.

[neyo the king]

In... well, pretty much all the genres of games I play, my startegy is to play by ear the whole time.

In a FPS, I scan the area, choose a location, asses the situation, then take the best course of action. But every plan I've ever made had one simple goal. Get from point A to point B. Then, at point B, I do it again. Scan, choose, asses, run, rinse repeat.

In RTS, I build up my defenses, and start my "foundation armies". That's my name for the two armies that I make. They can be either a run-'n'-gun steamroll army, or a hold-no-quarters defensive army.

Then, I wait whilst building up my resourses and defenses for them to amke the first move. If nothing happenes for a while, I assume they're a steamroll army and focus on my defense. If they come knockiong first, I deploy my steamroll army. A very flawed system that rarely works, but when it does, it's a specticle to behold.

RPGs? I like to level to godly levels before I even fight the first boss. Then, I can run through the land looking for goodies and have to worry only passivly about the well-fair of the group. I also pack many of get-out-of-dungeond items and get-back-to-town items. Just in case.

[mauve]

I'm a packrat. If I find some magical weapon that you can use only once to inflict massive damage, I'll hoard it for the entire game. Then, by the time I reach the final boss, I forget I have it. Either that, or I use it on some big nasty boss and I realize that this item WOULD have been useful about 24 levels ago, but now my character inflicts more damage on his own. Then the screaming starts.

I'm also a pretty firm anti-leveler. In most games, I hate having to run around for three days leveling up in order to beat the next boss. I like a good storyline, and taking time to level interferes with said storyline. The only exception to this rule is DragonQuest 8, which for some reason is still appealing after spending three days leveling up just to defeat a minor boss. Because then, you can beat the living daylights out of said boss and cackle wickedly as he fails miserably. I mean, the jerk DID kill me eight times in a row. Now it's payback time. Don't mess with my Hero.

[Raerlynn]

RTS - Turtle; massive defensive structures; elaborate bases that make enemies break upon them like water on a beachhead. In Multiplayer; it tends to get me killed.

TBS - Two or three massive armires that ride around and crush everything

FPS - I prefer to use heights to my advantage to disorient my enemies and attack them from all sides. I also favor short range weapons and tend to flank enemy teams from the sides or rear.

RPG - I always always always go for a melee/spellcaster hybrid. In D&D it means taking a few levels of Fighter before going Sorceror, before moving on to Spellsword; in Morrowind it translates into me joining the ifhgter's guild long enough to train up my long blade before heading over to the mage's guild to load up on cool damaging effects. In terms of combat I tend to favor opening with a barrages of magic and following up with straight swordplay.

Fighting - Swift, chainable hits. Not nessecarily damaging, but chainable. Throw in some abusive counter-attacks, and you've got Raphael!

[Great Cartoonist]

In most cases, no matter what, I try to have at least one healer or healing ability whenever possible. I like to have a big, beefy overall defence in RPGs.

In first-person shooters I'm a sniper. Even in Duke Nukem 3D I try to make it so that I can barely see the enemy behind the corner and shoot them without the enemy reacting to my presence. The only exceptions to my case are those really old FPS games ala Wolfenstein 3D where sniping is not possible, in which case I tend to bring out the biggest gun I find and mow down everything as soon as I open the door whilst using strafing and hiding techniques.

[Fifthfiend]

Oh yeah, one thing -

In RTSs, nothing makes me happier then slipping like two units behind enemy lines and slaughtering the other guy's resource-gathering units.

It's best when you attack him with a proper force at the same time. Sometimes people won't even realize you've hacked them off at the knees, until all of a sudden they're like oh shits, didn't I used to have gold reserves?

Fifthfiend, great post as usual at the beginning--loved the 'grunt' comment. Almost an aphorism, basically.

Thanks, that's what I was going for.

[Bweetza]

All depends on the game.

RPGs in general, I tend to hoard items more then I should. I never throw away or sell equipment for fear that it will come in handy later on. I barely use potions or other health/magic replenishing items for the same fear. As such, I am forced to level up to the point where I can't lose.

In fighting games, I usually start out using cheap, easily repeated moves that require no real skill. As time goes on, I find more impressive moves, and waste all my time trying to pull them off. If I persist, I either figure it out, or find a balance between simple and fancy moves.

Similarly, in puzzle games, I tend to spend too much time pulling off a super combo, only to give up and get the piece I need a few moves later.

Whatever the situation calls for in an action game is how I will respond. Most of the time, I will barge in with little to no thought, but in more difficult situations, I will either figure out a strategy, or use cheap moves until the tough part is over.

[Trepie]

FPS: Either go spastic beserker rage with dualies(thus proving they aren't lame, especially in UT) or a gun which is kind of a long range rifle that usually has more speed than a full-blown sniper. (Shock-Rifle, again from UT comes to mind)

RPG: I'm really bad at these games usually because I hate the concept of random battles - thus really weak characters. This is why I'm looking forward to FF XII.

RTS: My favourite. Depends what game. If you have a limited army which makes you have to actually plan what you're building (Starcraft has a high enough count to not have to) then I build millions of the basic long-range anti air units. (In WCIII's case that would be archers, riflemen, trolls or crypt fiends). Followed by my own air units which eventually mostly replace my ground forces.

In games where there is little or no food limit:
Spam.
StarCraft Style: I'm no expert at this game but I usually go for a constantly changing army so my opponent can't build effective defenses against everything.
Command and Conquer Style: Tank Rush (Infantry rush in TS)

[Krylancelo]

All I do is power-game. Since I usually play RPGs, I plan ahead to whatever will become most powerful at the very end. This usually means the first half of a game is terrible and grueling, but by the end I appreciate the power so much that I become mad with it. Take Geneforge for example- I played through as an "Agent" and by the end of the game, I single-handedly leveled every town (friendly and otherwise) just for more experience and boons.

[Althane]

FPS: Tricky. I'll have C4 behind a corner, walk out shooting, run back past the corner, and blow them to kingdom come. That, or snipe like hell. I'm good at that. :P

RPG: At the beginning of the game, I will spend a day just leveling up. Once I'm about ten levels up, I just go forward, and play the game normally. Well, normally, short of trying to find every freakin' secret on the first playthrough.

RTS: I punch where it hurts. Construction yards, vehicle factories, once those two are gone, I'll retreat, and then return to finish you off... if you don't finish me off first. I think it's called "Ultra-Spamming-Agressive"...

TBS: Never assault that which is stronger. I always wait until I have a clear advantage, usually by pitting enemies against eachother, while running away like a scared little rabbit, then utterly wipe out an enemy. As in, hunt down ever last army, and blast it off the face of the earth.

Stratigies for TBS and RTS vary from game to game (Dawn of War, I'll be slightly more defensive than Red Alert 2), but FPS is pretty much the same overall.

Krylancelo, you are an EVIL little bastard. But I like your style. Maybe I'll have to do that. :P

[Webelos]

I do the same for my strategy games just like Zero said...

well I really can't think of other strategies I use...

[The_Bear]

Strategty, shcmategy. Being predictible only makes you weak! No matter what I play, I change my strategy every time. I would be lying if I said I didn't lose a lot, but my victories are EPIC. This is espeically true for FPS. Being able and willing to take any role at any time definitely gives you an edge, even if you have no idea what you're doing. As long as you can move, aim, and shoot, you'll do fine.

Even when playing by myself, I try everything at least once, and see what works the best. Every character, weapon, and accessory must be tested. Every corner of the map must be explored. Although, I do have a habit of not using my most powerful items ever, even at the final boss. Even if I have 20 super mega elixers of invincibility, I'll refuse to use any of them unless I absolutely will lose unless I don't.

[agonotheta]

FPS: Charge in, shoot, die or charge in, shoot, hide, shoot, hide, shoot, etc...

RPG: Kill every enemy for 20 minutes, get bored, avoid most enemies, die against boss.

RTS: Sit back, build defencive structures (good in original AOE or crap in SC) then attack if I'm not already dead.

I'm generally not dedicated to getting/building a good character/defence because I easily get bored.

[imp]

The game is what determines this.

FPS: Keep moving. A standing target is a dead target, and not much of anything will change that. It may be harder for you to aim, but it's twice as much harder for your opponent

RPGs: Using the Attack options wins 90% of battles. The other 10% require healing spells

RTS: Outnumbering is a hard thing for you opponent to deal with. Also, find chokepoints to defend heavily, but be prepared to lose any base at any time. Expansion is key.

Fighting: Wait for a mistake, then open up with a rediculous combo. Wash, rinse, repeat. If your opponent isn't making the moves, go for high/low mixups.

Platformers: Dash, Dash, Dash, kill boss, Dash.

[MetalPsycho]

I'm horribly over offensive. And I don't mean my odor.

Like in Devil May Cry, I actually don't dodge quite as much as I probably should. I hate Royal Guard because I hardly ever even think of doing defensive manuvers or blocking. I've hardly ever blocked in Fable, ever. This has gotten me killed so many times in Fighting games it's crazy.

RPGs are a little better. I'll cast barrier and haste and other up moves to allow me more....ability to shrug it off and keep up the offensive bombardment of doom spells.

So yea, I'm agressive. A little too much so. <.<

[Ralvuimago]

Let's see...

FPS: Kamikaze. If there's a way to strap a grenade to yourself and run in, arms flailing, I'll do it every time.

Fighting: Super-aggro. Often I pick the quickest character and just lay into the other person. Plus, I try to put on a show. Voldo works well for both.

Starcraft: I'm a zerg man, m'self. Simply using excessive force to overpower my opponent. It requires very little thought, and I usually get my ass kicked because I sent all of my defensive units in, and then they use that protoss lightning... super-kill thingy to wipe out my giant armies.

It seems my hard rockin' hard rocker lifestyle has been made manifest in my gameplaying.

[dojindog]

FPS: Run in guns blazing or with the Sniper Rifle out getting in as many head shots as possible because we all know head shots are better than normal kills

RTS: RTS's like Shattered Union and the like just... don't play it. RTS's like Dungeon Keeper and Warcraft build as many offensive units as possible and all-out brawler

MMORPG: Strength Speed and Defense together charge in guns blazing and kill kill KEEEEEEELLLL. (A healer is your best friend)

RPG:Level until your eyes bleed into your mouth and you're choking on the blood and then annihilate the bosses until you get a game over then do it again.

Fighting:Find an effective move find another and another and another and then just continually use them (obviously won't work so well with the newer fighter's Gosh darned AI)

Platformer: Collect everything and then some

[Zeldias]

In strategy games and most RPGs, I straight-up melee the enemy down. Speed and strength tends to take precedence over defense, so my guys take heavy damage. I compensate for that with avoidance and mobility; in FFT, the majority of my guys were built to kill as rapidly as possible. Almost everyone had Blade Grasp, and short of that, something else like Sunken State or just using Jump to keep from being hit too often. My heaviest defense characters were my Dragoon and my Knight (who was a tank). I had one White Mage for healing/undead smiting, but most of my characters had really low Faith anyhow, so my Ninja doubled as a Chemist. Ramza could teleport through walls and do all sorts of awesome things, and I just rushed the enemy down and chopped them all to death.

In RTS, my style is usually to get my butt kicked and wonder how my opponent amassed such a force so quickly. :P

In FPS, I'm the dude that laughs maniacally with the chain-gun, dancing around wherever all the gunfire is. Either that or I'm doing it with a rocket launcher. I just sort of charge in and open fire, letting whatever deity they may serve sort them.

I'm not too good in stealth games, so my answer is usually like Maxwell from Suikoden V: "Slay them and deposit their loathsome corpse in the nearest bog." Shot/cut them down, probably in head on combat, and then go on. The only exceptions are games where you NEED to sneak, like Splinter Cell. I'm still rather gung-ho and bloodthirsty, but less so since Sam can't take too many gunshots. In Tenchu, though? I only sneak if I think the stealth kill will be too funny. Or I just really don't want to deal with the fight.

And in fighting games, my playstyle is to be a beast. :D I'm the faster, more combo friendly characters. Well, except for Terry Bogard from KoF, but Terry's just awesome.

[Loyal]

-RPGs (Tales of Symphonia): Play the game once through normally, then look up a walkthrough to find out what sidequests there are, and then attempt do said sidequests on my own (Walkthrough is only to find their existance). On a New Game+ if possible.

-Shooters (Halo 2), real-time RPGs (Diablo 2): Explore EVERYTHING and kill EVERYTHING that isn't on my side. You never know when you'll need to retreat, and I sure as hell don't want to find my escape route blocked by enemies I failed to dispatch previously. Also, kill said enemies using the most cost-efficient method possible (As a result, spellcasters tend to do quite a bit of bashing enemy brains in).

-Turn-based Strategy (Fire Emblem): Either divide my troops into squads that can do their designated job as well as handle a few unexpected things thrown at them, or have everyone lumped into one big mass of death. All groups will move together, and will move only as quickly as the slowest unit in it. Healers are protected, and ranged units are usually used to soften up the enemy from afar so that the melee units can finish 'em off in such a way that the ranged units continue to be protected.

-RTS (Command and Conquer series): This is a biggie, so it was saved for last:

For completion, every mission and objective is done in the most contrived, unconventional, and oftentimes longest method possible. If I have to assassinate someone, I will take over (Or failing that, destroy) his entire goddamn base first (And if capture IS possible, use his own things against him for delicious irony). If I'm supposed to do a bunch of objectives on the side with the end result being the ability to accomplish a larger, final objective, I will do everything in my available power to do that final objective WITHOUT doing any of the secondary ones (See: Tiberian Sun Firestorm final mission (Either side--It's pretty much the same)).

Defense is handled primarily by a mass of walls and structures that attack invaders. A few tertiary units are kept in the sidelines if the enemy brings something that outranges my defensive structures or if said structures can't handle a certain job (Or in cases such as Yuri's Revenge, where Yuri has a UFO that drains power from stuctures and renders all structured defenses useless). Defense is kept about 90% border, with a few things meant to keep the enemy from getting inside.

With offense, I send out a small party first that can handle minor things. They scout out the map to learn key strategic points, the location of the enemy, and the average strength and tactics of the enemy. After that I send whatever kind of force is best suited to cracking through whatever weakness is found.

[Bamboozehound]

I smash my way through most games like a drunken monkey. RPG's, shooters, fighters, flight sims, whatever. Games just don't hold my attention as much as they used to, so I play like I'm in a race to experience everything a game has to offer in as short a time as possible.

A video game is, by definition, always limited to a few select choices. More and more, I use as many choices as I possibly can, often doing things at random just to be random, consequences be damned. Afterall, it's only a game and it's more fun that way.

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

Hmm...to OP, it depends onthe game. I'm like Celes and I like to be defensive in Strategy or most RPG games. I'd rather level my characters 10 levels higher than they need to be for the next level/area just to be safe, and reserve all my items unless I'm on the brink of death and absolutely have to use them. Usually ends up that I come to the end of RPGs never have used any items at all but hey, its how I play!

But then for games like side scrollers like shooters or Mario/Metroid type games and fighters, I rush in and an rechless and I try to destory everything before it has time to do anything to me. Or in the case of Mario or Sonic type games, rush through levels with my brain on auto-pilot, trying to make it to the end without ever letting go of Run (probably why I like Mario 1 or Sonic Advance 2 more than Mario 3 or Sonic Advance 1 or 3).

[ElfLad]

RPGs: Waiting for the next plot point or working on a sidequest, and cursing at every random battle. Exceptions made for enjoyable battle systems like ToS or PM2 or Skies of Arcadia, but still upsetting when I''m in a hurry.

If there's ever an RPG where you can make random encounters optional, so you only get them when you need to level, it will earn my undying praise.

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

If there's ever an RPG where you can make random encounters optional, so you only get them when you need to level, it will earn my undying praise.

CHrono Trigger/Cross.

[MetalPsycho]

Magi Nation also.

FPS-Truth be told, I shine with the scope weapons. In Halo, when me and my friend play co-op, I'm the sniper. I always ALWAYS have the pistol with me, as my friend is too adrenaline based in his strategy to play pick and choose with the scope, so that's what I do. He prefers the Assault Rifle/Shotgun/Rocket Launcher setup. He's also the better grenader, especially when it comes to making the plasma grenads stick.

[Bells]

What can i say?

I run from MP and similars... also i run from Long Range that has limited Ammo... (when its unlimited, im all over it)

On games like Age of Empires im a Upgrade whore... just jumping with teeth and claws on the most advanced and powerfull Upgrades that i can get for my troops... then i usually use the cheapiest unit that take the most advantage from the Upgrades that i have... making huge masses on cheap soldiers that now have status closer to some of the more expensive units...

On RPG's i try to run from Magic as much as i can... and the usage of Itens is minimal at ALL cases... if i have to heal, i'll use a tent / Inn or whatever is cheaper or free

Itens are luxury for emergencies and boss fights =P

[GARUD]

Tekken 5: Generally I use two characters. Law and King. With Law, generally I go low, and flip juggle, until my opponent starts to play, and then I get into the jabs and push kicks. With King, I play defensive using all I have into throws and knockbacks.

SC3: With Kilik, I tend to keep my distance, trying to constantly sidestep and keep them at bay. With Voldo, I try to constantly confuse my opponent by using the wheel and scorpian moves, breaking combos halfway through, and doing that hump move he's so good at.

AOE: With any age of empires game I go on a full on defensive, yet I try to do as many objectives as possible. By the time I get all resourceful, I build castles right next to my opponents main base and create my best units right next to them. They always fall no matter how many of them there are.

Dynasty Warriors: Kill every officer, try to get all the items and hope Thorque doesen't become road kill before I can beat the level.

SSB: I generally use Pikachu and use throws alot. If they get high enough, or I'm directly underneath them, I just spam thunder until they fly away.

FF8: I just give Squall the best stuff, and share all of the magic between the three characters I use at the time. Also, I swap junctions and magic between everyone so that I don't have to reset the values person to person.

FF7: I just don't play it.

GOW: I generally use the attack where you spin from either guard or midair, and I spam it to hell. I also rarely use grapples except on harpies. I never use the big sword, nor will I use the "Medusa's Gaze" attack for its sheer suckity.

Fable: With normal and boss fighting, I sword at them. If they get too tough, then I spam the Divine Fury or Infernal Wrath. I only use damage to mana when I'm trying to get a high multiplier.

FF1: Generally I have all of the party attack with weapons. Against bosses though, I have my Ninja and Red Wizard cast haste and temper on my Knight, and have my Black Mage cast his highest spells. Between my Knight and Black wizard, I'm too overpowering for anyone to beat (8000 damage to Chaos in one shot).

[Zeldias]

I also always give the main character the best stuff in RPGs. Or the guy that's my namesake. The only exception is if he's a mage, because I'm not really too good at dealing with mage characters, which is why I tend to focus on fast and physical characters to hack them down.

Anyone here happen to be a fighting game enthusiast? I'm trying to figure out the basics to using charge characters and command throwers (like Zangief) and I'm not having a whole lot of luck. It seems impossible to integrate something like a Sonic Boom into the middle of my combos.

[NorthDragoon]

Gaming style hmm?

Overall, I'm cautious and reserved, this means I get my butt kicked in two-front combat. Tennis anyone? Trap me between you and somebody else and I get tossed around like a rag doll.

However it also means I strike when you don't expect it. People call me a hypocrit because I complain about cheap shots and back-attacks, and then ambush them with a long-range attack they can't block, or suddenly jump up and smash them with an extremely powerful move that sends their character to the fiery pits of heck. But that's just because they're jealous.:D

And to top it all off, I launch into an occasional bout of extreme suicidal aggression, where I hunt the opponent down relentlessly until I murder them like a stuck pig or die trying. Its particularly effective if they don't pay attention, as it tends to take only a few seconds for me to destroy them. "Arrogance!" you say. Yeah, its true. Most of the time people I play with wait for it and either get into a stalemate firefight or just blow me away in one shot.

I'm not very competitive so its no big deal if I get beat alot. I have a few total victories, really memorable ones that make me laugh all the same.

[Demetrius]

FPS- Know your opponent, I spend the first couple rounds determining their reactions and favorite attack/defensive routines, I'm never afraid to rush in or to fall back to bait out any fool who tries to take me on 1v1, I will use any tactic and change them constantly to keep the other side off balance. I also take perverse pleasure in destroying annoying sniper types with a pistol or knife equivalent. Top FPS' are Red Faction (the 1st one), CS (been playing since beta) and Battlefront.

RTS- KILL KILL KILL!! My first units will rush your base and begin building a defensive unit and a barracks type unit inside your base, meanwhile my next builder begins the build tree that will land me with mid/high level fire-power the fastest so i can continue the beat down on you. Even if you destroy the units I have dropped at the beginning of the round in your base you're at least a couple minutes behind me which allows me to keep you in the stone age and build my own superpower, unless someone else rushes me while I'm doing this in which case I'm boned and run away to some obscure part of the map or just get massacred.

RPG- Only if its hack/slash style ie Diablo, Dungeon Seige. In which case I play the heavy hitting melee monkey, Diablo II Barb is my favorite with the jump attack. It gets you to the kills and the loot ahead of everyone else.

Board Games- Cause havoc to one and all in minor ways and never go the same way twice.

So I'm basically a multiplayer game gamer...

[Cukeman]

With me, it's always hit first, hit hard, hit fast, no mercy. Which explains why I suck at multiplayer games.

[Neo Amon]

I completly disdain defense for an all-out attack. It doesn't matter what I'm playing. It forces enemies to counter attack or die. I'd normally hold back a second detachment of troops if I'm in an RTS ot in tactics games (besides fire emblem) so after when they try and gather an attack force or rebuild their defenses I'll be able to attack again.

[Fenris]

In strategy games, I am the Turtle extreme. I will not build an attack force, rather build up a wall of insane defenses and build up stuff to nuke 'em from within my base if I can. For example, in CnC: Generals Zero Hour, I play as either the American Superweapon General, or the Chinese Nuke General. As the Americans, I build as many EMP Patriots as I can, and as the Chinese, as many bunkers and Gattling Cannons as I can. Very few things get past my defenses, and the only ones that do do it before I get my defenses complete. After that, I usually build up a bunch of the superweapons and use General Powers that I gain. As the Americans, I also build up some Aurora Alphas and suicide bomb the enemy with them. I don't expand my borders, I just build a bunch of Supply Drop sites or train a bunch of Hackers for my funds.

In Roleplaying games, I usually have just one party that I use and max out. Currently, in FF6, I'm busy levelling up 8 other guys because I'm gonna need 'em for the final dungeon. It's a pain in the butt trying to level up a bunch of 30 somethings in the dinosaur forest, let me tell you. Just finished the first four today, taking them out two at a time with my main party.

In fighting games, I tend to gravitate towards heavy hitters.

[Mirai Gen]

Anyone here happen to be a fighting game enthusiast? I'm trying to figure out the basics to using charge characters and command throwers (like Zangief) and I'm not having a whole lot of luck. It seems impossible to integrate something like a Sonic Boom into the middle of my combos.
Well, shit. Enthusiast? Speaking!

Usually integrating these involves doing attacks which take up a long amount of time, IE, Potemkin from GGXX, doing his 6 hardslash, then doing 63214 S, then holding back. If you chain it right, you can usually get the moves into a 'queue' of sorts, and as soon as he's done, just finish out 6HS and you've got it.

However, that's potemkin, and I've never been good with Guile/Remy combos in SFII/Thirdstrike.

In fighting games, I usually just try and mix it up as fast as I can. I love playing Baiken for this reason - she can bob and weave in and out with lightning speed, but unlike Slayer, she's never 'stuck' in one position. I've also got a weak spot for characters who are badass, like Johnny, even though I'm not too good with him.

[Nikose Tyris]

Insane cheapass tactic; I am the penultimate salesman in Fable, maxing out my skill abilities, then using my general experience to max out magic and physical, as well as buy EVERYTHING. I've been playing for 3 hours now, and I already have accumulated 345,444, 983,434 Gold. :P I use this money to buy EVERYTHING in the game.
I buy Physical sheild for a spell, and max it out with my magic power; fill the bar.

In other games, I play defensively too; I mastered Gaurd-deflect in Soul Calibur 2 AND 3 so that every burst is red, and exactly timed; In every fighting game its the same, heavy defense, attack low and continiously when not blocking.

I think the only time I BREAK that rule is in RPG's. Suicide bombings are VERY common for me.

[Fifthfiend]

You want to know Nikose's style? Ripping off MY style, that's Nikose's goddamn style.

[Nikose Tyris]

Look, everyone ASPIRES to your level of Douche, but Only you can acheive it.

[pictish]

I generally play a very logical game - I try and refine the best tactics I can think of within a game until I find better. My main strength lies not in technical ability though - in fighters, FPS, whatever, my technical ability is generally poor. However, I'm rather good at prediction and yomi layer stuff. Mindgames, if you will.

I tend do my own thing, but change it to fit this particular opponent, which means my playstyle in a competitive game is just to pray on weakness. I tend to love competitive games since it does allow those kinda mind games. My opponents often call me very reactionary - i.e it seems like I have super human reactions peeds. My reactions are ok, just my anticipation disguises itself as reactions. Fun stuff. I love Sheathed sword and brick walls and all the other stuff on sirlin's site.

As for single player games, I'm very conservative - to a fault. thankfully in most competitive games the opponent is always 'worthy' enough to go all out on - you have to. In a single player though, I tend to try and keep the good ammo/weapon/magic for the very biggest things, and am careful about even using it then. I usually finish a game with lots of special items and bonuses left over since I use the basic stuff to the point of being adept with it. Kinda silly, though.

[Zesty]

In RPGs, my style is methodical. I set a "to do list" and go right on down, item by item. In other words, boring.

In WC3 (the only RTS I really get into), I generally wind up being pretty aggressive, as it's the tactic that's always worked for me. Harrassment groups to burn enemy resources until I can get a seige engine group, at which point I focus hard on buildings. While doing that, I keep units tied up with basically a beefed up harrassment group with long-range support. If the games go on longer than that, I usually just climb the tech tree as hard as I can, and try to get some flying units in with the seige group.

Once I get a good hard routing, though, I go on the defensive and turtle pretty quick. It usually works, as my screaming, bleeding, hysterical weakness makes a tempting target for people to just wipe me off the map, and about half of the time, they'll just go splat against the walls, so to speak.

[Astral Harmony]

I'm definitely a leveler, or powerer, or whatever the game calls for to make me much more than I need to be to complete tasks. When it's RPGs, the first thing I do is set up a mental leveling system for myself, such as five levels per boss. In adventure games, I try to prepare really well for things I could probably do before any kind of preparation.
I'm more up close and personal in FPS. I absolutely detest snipers and prefer shotguns and rifles and melee to long range weapons or explosive stuff.

What can I say? I just love building up ungodly amounts of power and obliterating all in my path with style. Not good in PvP, but I'll admit that I'm not the best when it comes to taking on PCs.

[Mirai Gen]

My main problem with fighting games is that people who panic and spam manage to get the better of me, because my mind unconsciously thinks, "Alright, they're not really douchebags. Really, they're not scrubs. Nope."

[mammothtank]

As for single player games, I'm very conservative - to a fault. thankfully in most competitive games the opponent is always 'worthy' enough to go all out on - you have to. In a single player though, I tend to try and keep the good ammo/weapon/magic for the very biggest things, and am careful about even using it then. I usually finish a game with lots of special items and bonuses left over since I use the basic stuff to the point of being adept with it. Kinda silly, though.I do that often enough. It makes final boss battles pretty fun when you have half a dozen Ambrosia or Megalixir or whatever to full-cure your party anytime you want.
I'm more up close and personal in FPS. I absolutely detest snipers and prefer shotguns and rifles and melee to long range weapons or explosive stuff.God, I hate snipers. That may be because one of the guys I play against in Halo tourneys is a godly untouchable sniper who is next to invincible with any mid- to long-range weapon in his hands, but meh. I'm also no good at sniping myself, unless I'm lucky; my best equip in Halo 2 is either Shotgun or any dual-wield combo.

[Mondt]

I do that often enough. It makes final boss battles pretty fun when you have half a dozen Ambrosia or Megalixir or whatever to full-cure your party anytime you want.Or in the case of Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, you just grind and grind with flux/fire/lightning until you have characters level 20/20. Then go kill bosses with the S-class weapons.

In the past month, I probably have 70 hours on that game, if not more.

[Kikuichimonji]

SSBM: Generally, since I play Link, I try to trap my opponent with a barrage of attacks. Either they get hit and I follow it up or they expose themselves by trying to dodge. This is also mixed in with crazy stunts and risky guesses on what my opponent will do.

Other fighting games: I spend the entire time trying to take control of the way the fight flows. If I can do that, I win. If I can't, I lose. I prefer any kind of character with strong advantages and dangerous weaknesses - speedy weaklings, glass cannons, and juggernauts.

FPS: Give me the shotgun or the tank. I use fast reflexes and good instincts to protect myselves, but I often have to choose to take someone down quickly or run. The longer something plays out, the more chances I have to screw up.

RPGs: I prefer not to over-level, because it removes the challenge from the fights. I use items whenever conservation has a decent risk, especially if it's something that can be gotten back easily. However, if it is something especially rare, such as wand charges or the Red Essence from SMB:LotSS, I often hoard it far more than is necessary.

WC3: Generally, I had one strategy as Night Elf: Spam Huntresses, with Hippogriphs for anti-air. However, I shine at utilizing what troops I am given. For strategy games in general, though, I am a slow and meticulous opponent who mixes in a few high-reward risks. If I can turn the game to stalemate for a while, usually I'll win.

[Elbodo]

I'm a big fan of first person shooters -- particularly the Hitman series but also some of the Tom Clancy titles. My strategy is simple:

Step 1: Use a sniper rifle to out all enemies visible on the horizon (from cover).
Step 2: Use an automatic weapon in short bursts or single shot to take out enemies from a closer (but still remote) distance.
Step 3: Get a little closer, use cover to flank an isolated enemy, and take the guy out with silenced 9 in the back of the head.
Step 4: When you can't stay hidden and you can't get a guy alone and you've got that room full of ninja's up ahead (if you played Hitman 2 you know what I'm talking about) just pull out that pair of Silverballer .45's, open the door, and charge in balls-to-the-wall.

And yes, always clear out every nook and cranny. The enemy can't sneak up behind you when you think you're safe if he's already dead.

Also, my nephew recently introduced me to real-time strategy games with Age of Mythology. I tended to build massively at the beginning of a level but that left me with too many villagers later on. I had to get rid of them so I could build a military. So I sent them on a suicide mission to build siegeworks (arrow-shooting towers and strongholds) near enemy walls and positions. My nephew was shocked to see me using my piddly little villagers offensively and winning.

[Myst Warrior]

I usually have a leap before you look strategy. I usually don't check out people's spells/weapons/ammo when I can, and if someone dies, so be it. Ironically, my attitude changes in games when deaths of units don't really affect you (advance wars/starcraft/age of empires) to a much more methodical approach. So, I won't let that infantry die, but I don't really care if a pegasus knight gets gutted. Also, I tend to indulge in smashing when I can in turn-based strategy.

In FPS games and more traditional RPGs, I definately take a more smash-first, ask questions later. Yet I detest rocket launchers and other super-powered spells/weapons/guns (lookin' at you, FF6 Ultima) because there's no glory then. All in all, I'm more of an objective player (why kill when you can win?) who likes killing as little as possible, but with the most effect.

[Fifthfiend]

Page limit, closing.