| In Counter Strike, Iceworld is a | | | | Steyr Aug and Commando really shine on this |
| controversial map indeed. People see it as | | | | map. At the beginning they're as good as AWPs |
| requiring no skill or just as much skill as | | | | watching all the major paths. When the map is |
| any other map. This article will attempt to | | | | winding down they allow accurate shooting at |
| show you some strategies and tactics on | | | | a distance without having to get into close |
| iceworld, a map that inspires love and hate | | | | combat. Iceworld's longest distances are |
| from all facets of the CS community.I learned | | | | often forgotten and these guns have the |
| Counter Strike on classic maps like mansion, | | | | ability to let you move faster than when you |
| assault, dust, and italy. Each one is a | | | | have an AWP and still get a punch in your |
| completely different animal. The each possess | | | | power. It's added power means it'll be easier |
| a noteworthy difference from Iceworld, | | | | than for other guns to take out multiple |
| especially as tactics look. They each have an | | | | opponents at one time without the need to |
| objecive. Plant the bomb, rescue the hostage, | | | | reload. Reloading is a skill in itself on |
| and an unmentioned objective, get the VIP | | | | Iceworld and making your need to reload less |
| where he needs to go. Iceworld has no such | | | | will make you stay alive a lot longer than |
| objectives. It is a small map and looks very | | | | most.Shotguns change the game for the person |
| much like a pound(#) symbol from overhead. A | | | | with one. Not the auto shotgun, or "noob |
| buy zone is located in it's center and T's | | | | tube" as it's been immortalized, but the m3 |
| and CT's spawn across the map from each | | | | single shot pump shotgun. Under a wave of |
| other. With no objectives the goal is total | | | | gunfire you're likely to get one or two shots |
| anihilation. Kill all of the opposing force | | | | to their fifteen or more. In a map as chaotic |
| before they kill you.Environmentally, every | | | | as Iceworld the pump shotgun teaches best the |
| wall can be shot through if you have the | | | | use of the environment, however much or |
| right gun. When you run around the map you | | | | little you have of it. Skills some players |
| can hear your footsteps, or someone else's, | | | | take for granted that they have now but had |
| in the snow. The sound of heavy fire from all | | | | to learn before can also be learned with this |
| sides is all around you from the start, and | | | | gun on this map. Strafing, shooting while |
| often to the finish. Small walls peak out of | | | | moving, using walls for cover. The biggest of |
| the sides of the map on it's right and left | | | | these the pump does wonderfully in the chaos |
| paths, as well as an extended wall of ice at | | | | of Iceworld is shooting while moving. While |
| the middle point of each spawn point. Guns | | | | rushing on one side you fire at the enemy |
| lay on the ground on each side to be picked | | | | while heading somewhere else, mix moving and |
| up. The map is very simple. It's lack of | | | | stopping to confuse your enemy's fire without |
| complication raises the ire of many players | | | | messing up your own. Making sure the one shot |
| who want something more "complicated" to do | | | | you do get is accurate and will either kill |
| on the map, like the aforementioned | | | | the enemy or seriously hurt them, so if you |
| objectives.I find this map exhilarating. It's | | | | get a second shot, you'll finish them off. |
| small size and simple design means it's often | | | | The pump will have you finding yourself |
| total chaos. You really have nowhere to run | | | | hiding, ambushing, and trying shots you would |
| and nowhere to hide. Iceworld rarely offers | | | | not normally try if you had a different gun |
| any time for a player to take a breath and a | | | | under the same amount of fire from all |
| lot of players never get to reload once | | | | directions.Not all servers allow HE Grenades |
| before the round ends or someone gets them. | | | | to be used. I find it's much easier to |
| You may find yourself going against 5 CT's by | | | | dominate with them, but are not necessary on |
| yourself or turn a corner into a firing | | | | the map. Grenade spamming is simple enough to |
| squad. A split second decision to reload or | | | | do, and throwing one at the start of the map |
| pick up another gun off the ground can be | | | | will almost always hit somebody. There are |
| pivotal on if you make it out of the round | | | | times when you will not throw them to your |
| alive. It makes you think on your feet as you | | | | enemy's spawn, but that's usually when you |
| could be overwhelmed by opposing forces from | | | | see a rush coming that way and simply throw |
| any direction at any time. It's a Deathmatch | | | | it in front of them.On Iceworld the opposing |
| type map though specific "Deathmatch" | | | | team is trying to get your spawn point and |
| iceworld maps exist for those who don't like | | | | you're trying to get to their's. This is very |
| the short wait time between rounds on | | | | important to remember. Knowing you're |
| it.Having played this map for a long time | | | | attempting the same thing will go a long way |
| now, there IS strategy to it. The elegance of | | | | in raising your Kill To Death ratio. Once |
| iceworld is in it's simplicity, and in some | | | | they get to your spawn point they'll come |
| smaller details a lot of tactics and strategy | | | | back to their own. As Iceworld is a very time |
| on this map are missed for it's Deathmatch | | | | related map with everything happening in |
| look and feel. Iceworld is great map to learn | | | | under a minute to two minutes tops, the |
| human behavior and how people react to | | | | passing time is important to know where the |
| intense shoot outs and large player | | | | enemy is at any given moment. It doesn't take |
| rushes.Using the AWP and watching two of the | | | | too long to cross the map without opposing |
| three paths is an obvious one. The middle | | | | gunfire coming your way so you should be able |
| should be guarded first to take out anyone | | | | to put yourself in the right place as the map |
| trying to cross through it. Opposing AWPers | | | | is winding down. Keep an eye on your |
| will often have to be dealt with too because | | | | teammates. Use their eyes to see around |
| controlling the middle is strong for any team | | | | corners and find out what gun an enemy is |
| on this map. A second AWPer will usually | | | | using on their end. Locating AWPers is easy |
| cover what you are unable to, but if none | | | | when they take out a member of your team as |
| exists cover the areas they are missing. | | | | well. Your teammates also provide eyes where |
| Slowly make your way around the level. The | | | | you are not there. You can plainly see if |
| AWP is not a quiet gun and on it's sound | | | | your team is winning or losing the gunfight |
| alone an enemy can find where your shot came | | | | if you went right when they went left. Note |
| from. Use the walls on the right and left for | | | | the guns they have and if any players over |
| cover shooting through your own spawn point | | | | there may cause a problem for you. |
| and to theirs. Drop it if necessary.For the | | | | Particularly useful at the start of the round |
| rushing player the SMG, TMP, Mac10, and p90 | | | | is to fire at the bottom of their wall, |
| are taken so they can get to the other side | | | | either on the right of left side. Many |
| as fast as possible with a gun they can spray | | | | players simply duck behind a wall being shot |
| with. Typically, this does not end well for | | | | at by the enemy and more often than not avoid |
| the rusher because an AWPer is watching one | | | | getting hurt badly, or even hurt at all. |
| of the sides they rushed on. Going up the | | | | Firing at the bottom of the wall often brings |
| middle often meets the safe fate due to the | | | | them around the corner.A great training tool |
| assault guns, and the AWP itself, well | | | | and guide for getting better at Iceworld and |
| positioned to guard these areas from the | | | | many other maps is the Counter-Strike Pwnage |
| start of the round. A rushing player may find | | | | Guide. If you're rusty at anything I've |
| it better to turn into the middle of the | | | | mentioned or need to perfect it, it'll be a |
| level and let all the other team's snipers | | | | great investment and greatly increase your |
| check their points first before rushing in. | | | | Counter Strike skills on any map. Iceworld |
| Time is short on the map, so staying one | | | | may not be the most respected or popular map |
| second too short, or one second too long, at | | | | the game has ever had, but this guide and |
| any spot may have you surrounded at any time, | | | | regular play will greatly improve your skills |
| but the pause is important to make use of the | | | | when put to use. I hope I'll see you some |
| opposing players natural rhythm to check the | | | | Iceworld servers. |
| paths for enemies.Assault rifles, like the | | | | |