looking for tip on item timeing

[jayP.lq]

I'm starting to duel on a regular basis and I really am helpless with the item timeing. Anyone have any good methods for timing MH and RA?

I once read a thread in the old competitors edge forum were there was a lot of good suggestions for keeping item times in your head as your dueling. I'm looking for some thoughts on how to keep it straight in my head as I play.

I find I'm good for about the 1st few item spawns then I loose the rythme of the timeing. Any thoughts or suggetions on how to get this down would be appreciated.

thanks in advance

[Zyte]

Learn the basic item times with a buffer of a few seconds so you're always near it when it's there.
So
~0.35
~1.10
~1.45 etc. for MH.

and
~0.25
~0.50
~1.15 etc. for RA

The times change of course, since during the game there will be lots of times that it takes a few or much more seconds before the item is actually picked up, cause players are fighting over it.

That's why i just note the time in my head when i pick something up and just try to calculate when it spawns the next time. It's way more accurate, but you've got to practice it.
If i am behind or lower on health/armor and i can see i will lose the fight for the MH or RA, i keep distance but i remember when the enemy grabs the item (when you hear or see it), so i will be there when it spawns.

When the game is really mine and i'm focused, sometimes the timing seems to go automatic. You realise you grabbed the last 3 RA's without watching the timer.

[DooMer]

The best thing is to calculate it in your head after you grab the item. They are usually in a vulnerable position, and you dont want to spend any more time in that spot waiting for it to spawn than you have to, so accuracy matters.

[menkent]

yer, just practice and the math will get easier. if all the number really start swimming in your head, just add 30 then add another 5 for mega or subtract 5 for armors.

[jayP.lq]

..... if all the number really start swimming in your head, just add 30 then add another 5 for mega or subtract 5 for armors.

what a great idea, thanks for that suggetion menkent.

I've been trying to do what Zyte suggested and memorize the basic spawn times in my head. I've even tried making a small chart that I can keep in front of my moniter as I play. However I always loose it because the spawn times always change depending on when the Item gets picked up.

Ultimately I would want to calculate it on the fly the way Doomer suggests but I the numbers just dont stick in my head because I'm so focused on not getting fragged

I think menkent's method might just do it for me

Thanks alot guys, much appreciated

[bork[e]]

Been trying to get this stuff down also, nice tip menkent.

[Scourge]

I don't know, I just get a 'feeling' when it should be about time for it to appear. On the mega though I know that if I don't take any damage that it will reappear when I reach 163 if my health was 200 at pickup.