Part 8

Learn about Screwing Around abilities like Pint Sized and Camouflage, and essential pick-ups like Health Vials and Double Damage in Unreal Tournament 3.

Screwing Around Abilities:

Pint Sized: Upon activation, your character model shrinks by about half, but your weapon does not. This makes you harder to hit, though splash damage weapons are largely unaffected. It is incredibly hilarious to watch a small character run around with a large weapon.

Camouflage (R R R R): Upon activation, a piece of world geometry will appear over your character, such as a large rock or a piece of wall. If you stand still and don’t look around, you should be able to blend in with the map. It may be good for camping, but it turns you into a walking cinderblock.

Pick-Ups:

Pick-ups in Unreal Tournament 3, not including weapons, come in many forms and shapes, most directed at defense with no direct offensive capacity. It is important to remember where these items are located and how long it takes for them to respawn (be brought back to life at a checkpoint after death). Not all of them are worth risking your life for, but some are.

Health Vial: A light blue vial that gives 5 health points. They are rarely found alone, usually in groups of 3 or 5. Health vials can turn the tide of battle, as they can raise your health over 100 points. Pick them up whenever you encounter them, even taking another route if it has more. Running to a place with health vials is beneficial unless you are really low on health.

Health Pack: A blue cross that gives 25 health points. It will not raise your health over 100 points. Players often overlook these when they don’t need them and rarely find one when hurt. Remember the locations of all Health Packs and visit them often, even if you are missing only 10 health points. Accumulating health through Health Vials and Health Packs will make you less desperate when you need them. If players are going for a Health Pack in a firefight, you can hinder them.

Big Keg O’ Health: A large white and blue keg that gives a massive 100 health, taking you way over the 100 health point limit. It is worth going out of your way and risking your life for. Take it even if you have over 150 health points, unless another team member needs it more. Learn where it is, when it respawns, and always go for it when it does, as it provides a huge advantage.

Shield Pack: A yellow shield that gives 50 armour points. Successive Shield Packs will not raise your armour points over 50, but if you’ve picked up a Super Shield Pack or used a Booster, it will add 50 armour points until you reach the 150 armour point limit. Shield packs are always welcome, as you will almost always have use for more armour. However, if you are low on health, you should heal up first, as a shield pack will not stop all damage. Pick one up even if you don’t need it, unless another team member needs it more. It is worth going out of your way for, but not risking your life for. Learn where it spawns and how often, and visit occasionally. Shield Packs are less contested than Super Shield Packs.

Super Shield Pack: A yellow shield with a lightning bolt through it that gives 100 armour points. Successive Super Shield Packs will bring your armour up to 150, and once you pick one up, so will normal Shield Packs. This is a must-have. Take it, go out of your way if you have to, and risk your life if you have to, if only to deny the enemy the opportunity to have it, unless another team member needs it more. Remember where it spawns and how long it takes to respawn, and always go to get it if you think it should be there. Be ready, as you likely won’t be the only one going for it.

Double Damage: Looks like the knife from the “U” of the Unreal logo, only double and stripy-purple. It doubles the damage of any weapon fired while it’s active and lasts for 30 seconds. It is one of the 3 most important pick-ups in the game and one of the 3 pick-ups worth dying for. There is usually only one place on each map where this spawns, so remember where it is and be there when it’s about to respawn. It’s worth risking and losing your life for it, if just to deny the enemy the chance to have it (the UDamage Reward Mutator will cause you to drop it when you die). It’s usually a game-winner in DM and TDM and can drastically improve your performance in other game modes. Usually, no team-mates will need this more than you, so it’s fair game. Do not blast yourself with it. It also works for vehicle weapons.

Adrenaline Pill: Looks like a half-brown, half-white-hex-grid capsule tilted at an angle and gives 2 Adrenaline. They are usually found in groups.