Gaming Styles

[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.

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.