(GotFrag Community) - What started with Jaeger's Tips & Tricks videos and carried on with CommFT's TF2 Mentor Program has bloomed into a full-scale community effort to collectively teach each other the ins and outs of what it takes to play this game at a higher level. The initiative has been so overwhelming that it has even (belatedly) rung some bells here at GotFrag TF2 to do our part, which starts (at the very least) with this page.

After scanning through some of the latest work, we've collected and categorized all the helpful information/videos being created into one easy place for your viewing pleasure - though we hope that this will only be the beginning. Enjoy!

NOTE: This news post has a permanent link on the left-hand side menu of the GotFrag TF2 page - take note for when more posts eventually push this link off the main news sections.

2ND NOTE: Should there be any content you feel was missed, or has since been created and hasn't been added to the lists, feel free to send a message to rk (story author) with the info/link!

A Beginner's Guide to Competitive TF2
by Alex Godunov
http://www.gotfrag.com/tf2/story/43759/

Of course, the beginning for anyone getting started is without a double this comprehensive look at the fundamentals of competitive TF2. This breakdown by Alex "waar" Godunov (with help from Michael "Auraphex" Iannuzzi and Kevin "whizzlur" Sohl) of TF2's basic principles is a thorough look at what exactly new teams entering the competitive ring should be working towards right from the get go, so that they can improve themselves and become an active part of the competitive community.

Jaeger's Tips & Tricks
by Michael Marcin

Michael "Jaeger" Marcin's series of Tips & Tricks videos have quickly become something of a sensation in the TF2 competitive community, and are an incredibly valuable source of information for the growing TF2 player. Already on Volume 5, Jaeg's really outdone himself and continues to be one of the communities stalwart figures.

There are a lot of non-obvious things that every competitive player should know about this game and there is currently no reliable way for players to learn them. Many of the tips and tricks I plan to record I have already been teaching to players at every opportunity or at least when I remember to do so. Hopefully with these videos I'll be able to educate more TF2 players faster and help to build the competitve community. -- Jaeger

Tips & Tricks Volume 1 - Scout Energy Drink
- A few points about the Bonk, although the recent Valve fix made the first-person tip impossible :(
Tips & Tricks Volume 2 - Soldier Jumps on cp_gravepit, point C
- Examples of how to quickly get up the C tower on cp_gravelpit out the left and ride side of spawn.
Tips & Tricks Volume 3 - Spamming Through Doors on cp_frieght
- This is technically a glitch, and is not allowed by ESEA.
Tips & Tricks Volume 4 - Pre-firing Rockets
- Some safety tips for soldiers about spamming around corners.
Tips & Tricks Volume 5 - Medic Healing
- A little love for our healers as guest star creepin outlines the basic healing order, and why.

An assortment of "How To" Videos
by the GotFrag Community

The most recent evolution of this community-learning initiative are very specific videos of how to perform a variety of feats, including exactly one should route themselves in the ever-critical race to middle.

RACE TO MID:

SOLDIER:

Standard Badlands & Granary Rollouts by Platinum (direct download here)
- Arguably the best of the bunch, a very detailed look at a variety of different ways for the Soldier to get his ass to mid, with the commentary providing info on when you should use the different jumps, what hp you should be staying near, and so on.
Standard Badlands Rollout by nEsK
- A silent version with text commentary of another standard badlands route (the "Faster" version from Platinums video). Offers a different look at the second jump up the stairs (off the wall).
Alternate Granary Rollout by nEsK
- Offering a different look (again with text commentary and no sound) with less jumps but almost no fall damage taken.
Well Water-Jump Rollout by nEsK
- A look at the rollout on cp_well, using the water-jump trick. Walking is fast-fowarded (yay!) - and again, text commentary/no sound.

DEMOMAN:

CP_BADLANDS
Standard Rollout by boogie
- A comprehensive look at the standard route for the demoman, again with commentary breaking down the critical features of the route.
Standard Rollout in Live Game by ryb
- Another look at the standard route outlined by boogz, but with a live game flavour to it (no commentary).
Standard & Alternate Rollouts by nerfed
- Shows first the standard route, then an alternate route heading out lower main door and double-sticking all the way to mid. Features text-commentary, but no sound.
Alternate Rollout in Live Game by Reptile
- A quick video taken from a demo of Reptile's when he was demo'ing for compLexity (no commentary), featuring the Alternate Route out the lower main exit.

CP_GRANARY
Left & Right Rollouts by nerfed
- A guide to the basic routes for the demo with text-commentary, but no sound. Routes to both left and right sides of mid are shown.

OTHER VIDEOS:

How to Air Strafe (as Soldier) by boogie
- A quick vid on the basics of air strafing, a key component of any jumping class.

SCOUT JUMPING:
- A collection of videos made by Garm3n showing the different places you should be able to smoothly reach as a Scout. Not necessarily as difficult or precision-based as some of the Race-To-Mid videos, but still an important part of TF2 and a critical part of the Scout's role. Part 1 is probably the most useful to the competitive scene, as the other parts focus on maps that aren't normally used. Comes with (Swedish?) text-commentary and music!
Scout Jumps Part 1 - Gravelpit, Badlands, Granary & Well
Scout Jumps Part 2 - Dustbowl, 2Fort, Fastlane, Goldrush, More Granary & Badwater Basin
Scout Jumps Part 3 - Even More Granary, More Dustbowl, Turbine, More Gravelpit, More Badlands, More Goldrush, More Well & Extras (roaming around doing jumps backwards)
Scout Jumps Part 4 - Features the FaN on Gravelpit, Badlands, Granary, Fastlane & Well