Aggressive sloshing in Black Tie Splatfest (1160p, 8-3, Tri-slosher)

21st November 2016 – 7.00 pm

I've had some fun with the Splatterscope, and racked up some wins. I think it's time to try another weapon. I can't really decide which one, though, so I swap back to the Tri-slosher, because I like it so much in Ranked I'd like to see it work for me in Turf War.

I would say a triple-splat at the start of battle means the Tri-slosher is working! I use the diverging spray of the bucket to my advantage, hide behind the scenery, and use my Special to good effect.

A bit of a pause from splatting has me inking turf, pretty much the objective, but before long I'm pressing high in the opponent's turf, thanks to my squidmates. I get one good splat from aggressive pushing, realise that inking the base is generally futile and turn around to see a sitting duck placing a Killer Wail, and stumble in to a third splat walking around a corner.

I wait too long with my Bubbler near the end of the battle, which costs me time, turf, and a splat or two. I thought I could wait, but didn't anticipate the charger getting a good bead on me. But never mind, it was a good battle, I got some excellent splats, and we get another victory.

Being cautious in Black Tie Splatfest (925p, 1-1, Splatterscope)

21st November 2016 – 7.00 am

I'm still attempting to practice caution with my Splatterscope, not rushing in to confrontations I am likely to lose. I have to consider my options with Flounder Heights. There are obvious places to perch in Ranked battles, but maybe not so much in Turf War.

I don't get credited for the first good splat, but that's okay, and I really don't mind that it knocks me back off the ledge either. Retreating seemed like a good option, and I get to ink for turf too.

I try to time my shot to get a second splat, as the Bubbler runs out, but I don't quite manage it. Still, getting the mid-air splat using a Splat Bomb was satisfying, and gives a good splash of ink everywhere. Good job, really, as I hadn't spotted him coming over the top of me. Damn, I love Flounder Heights.

Otherwise, I manage to keep my nose clean. Trying to splat a squid climbing a wall has the Inkbrush splat me, which I should have spotted, but that's the only real trouble I get in, and we end up with a comfortable victory.

Close battle in Black Tie Splatfest (1115p, 2-1, Splatterscope)

20th November 2016 – 7.00 pm

It's been a bit of a rough start to the Splatfest, and I've swapped from the Tri-slosher to a Wasabi Splattershot and now to the Splatterscope. At least I should be able to cover a lot of turf without need to close with the other team. Not that using a charger will stop me charging towards the opposition. It's there in the name!

I play with some sort of caution to start with, mostly because of my memory with the previous battles. I don't want to be splatted for nothing all the time. And, as I suspected, I get a fair amount of turf inked. I may have a little trouble climbing walls, but I'm new to the game.

I get a decent score, a couple of splats, and am only splatted once, as well as the team victory. Along with spotting the Roller out of the corner of my eye and turning to splat his approach, this was a pretty good battle.

Going around the back in Black Tie Splatfest (1130p, 1-4, Tri-slosher)

20th November 2016 – 7.00 am

I start this Splatfest with the Tri-slosher. I'm not sure why. It's not the Splatterscope, which I've been using almost exclusively in Ranked for a week or so, and although I don't really use the Tri-slosher in Turf War, it should be good, when used properly.

I'm not convinced I'm using the bucket properly, though. Mind you, I only really play Turf War during Splatfests, so there is bound to be a period of adjustment. Still, that early splat is encouraging, it's just a shame that it's my only one.

We get pushed back effectively in this battle, to the point where we are making no progress our of our base. I decide to do something about this, and go the side route, moving quickly, to get as far across the map as I can. It seems to work.

Maybe I don't get any more splats, but by forging a route to the other side of the map, I give my squidmates a new option, and we squeak a narrow victory from what looked like inevitable defeat. That makes this a good battle for me.

Stomped out of S Rank in Splat Zones (5-6, Splatterscope)

19th November 2016 – 7.00 pm

One more loss will see me drop out of S Rank. Now, it's not that I am aiming for the loss, but it would be a relief to be back in A+ for a bit. I also have a bunch of time to rack up some more losses, if this battle is a victory.

As luck would have it, the blue team stomps all over us, even if the Kraken all but ignores me. Well, I say they stomp all over us. They stomp over the Splat Zones. It just feels like they stomp over us. Or me, I suppose.

I feel like I am splatted left and right, mostly from nowhere, but I am only splatted six times in the battle. I also get five splats myself, which is respectable, particularly when one of those splats is predicting the jump of a blue inkling over the ramp.

Okay, sure, I jump to my doom too, which doesn't help anyone. But, overall, I think I did okay, and so did my team, even if the blue team had overwhelming control of the Splat Zones.

From win to loss in Splat Zones (2-1, Splatterscope)

19th November 2016 – 7.00 am

Splat Zones were up and down for me yesterday, and they return today. I think the Splatterscope will help, either with inking lots of turf to hold the Zones, or my shaky aim dropping me out of S Rank.

The first battle was average, the second terrible, so I join a new lobby and, well, after the initial push we end up holding the Splat Zones with little resistance. No loss of points for me this battle, but a comfortable win is always somewhat satisfying.

At least, it looks comfortabel, until the purple team come as one from nowhere and wrest control of the Splat Zones from us, overrunning us in the process. It's impressive the speed and efficiency that they push us back.

Of course, we already have quite a lead, but that counter of theirs just keeps on relentlessly ticking down, until the lead is lost. It looks like there's nothing we can do about it either.

Still, it's a decent first half of the battle for us as a team, and I get a well-timed splat as a purple inkling tries to jump a ramp. And I can't help but be impressed at the turn-around victory the purple team achieve.

A few good splats in Splat Zones (3-0, Splatterscope)

18th November 2016 – 7.00 pm

I've had a couple of moderately good battles this session, along with some really bad, quite demoralising, crushing defeats. I keep battling, telling myself that at least the losses get me closer to dropping out of S Rank. And then I finish the evening with this battle.

Sure, I can't hit that slosher on the wall for toffee, but my aim is always a little shaky. I'm trying to improve it continually. What I do manage to do is keep our Splat Zones inked. And, somehow, not attracting the attention of that Roller.

I get a few good splats too, including splatting an inkling in his ink after his Splash Wall drops. Those flukey shots are always satisfying. What I don't realise until after the battle is that I also manage to stay unsplatted. That's always a bonus!

My efforts probably contribute a little to the knockout victory, which is both good and keeps me in S Rank a little longer. So be it, at least I can continue to enjoy the occasional battle.

Doing okay against chargers in Splat Zones (4-4, Splatterscope)

18th November 2016 – 7.00 am

Chargers versus chargers in Splat Zones. Not surprising given the maps are Kelp Dome and Camp Triggerfish. It's my first weapon of choice too, although I remain in S Rank and am still clearly out of my league.

My superb skill deficiency is shown early in the battle, where I think I am being cunning but am out-foxed by an inkling running towards me. Never mind, as I get a good, if a little lucky, splat shortly after.

I also show a surprising burst of skill, in getting out of the purple ink, splatting a charger aiming for me, getting out of their territory through their ink, and splatting a second charger aiming at me. Woomy!

My skills don't stay with me for long. I get a very nice splat on a jumping inkling lobbing a Suction Bomb my way, but otherwise I'm just looking to keep our turf inked. Although I suppose that is the point of Splat Zones.

Charger fun on Bluefin Depot Tower Control (5-5, Splatterscope)

17th November 2016 – 7.00 pm

Let's stick with the Splatterscope for now. Practice makes perfect, or at least better, and the Tower gives me a decent platform to aim at. It looks like we have some heavy opposition, though.

My first splat is actually my trying to be cautious, and I see the inkling come up behind me, but don't account for my team being wiped out and my ending up being surrounded. Well, when in Rome, get splatted with the rest of them.

I exhibit the same old snatching at shots when the Tower first appears, but I realise and try to relax. I think it works. I can't splat the Splatling when its Bubbler is active, but I do manage to push her off the Tower, which is almost as good.

Spurred on by a decent shot, and my squidmates taking good control of the Tower, I press in to the central zone to support the Tower. And when we are pushed back, I either retreat and keep the turf ink or am splatted too and try to restore our position from the back.

I think it all works quite well. I get a lucky splat, and excellent Splat Bomb roll, and hopefully help in a support role like I should. Maybe not my finest game, but certainly one I am happy with.

Charging in S Rank Tower Control (8-6, Splatterscope)

17th November 2016 – 7.00 am

I was watching some of my best games, in the Games of Fame playlist, and was pretty impressed by some of the charging I've managed to do. Maybe I got some luck here and there, but even if it is luck, it's great when it happens. And it's also why I record these battles.

I come back to S Rank this session trying to recapture the fun I've had with a Splatterscope. I know I probably won't, partly because I'm just not much of an S-Rank player, and partly because I am a little rusty with the charger. But you get better by practicing, and that's my aim.

As it happens, my first battle goes quite positively. I tell myself beforehand that I should maintain my range, keep the turf behind me inked, and exercise caution. I kinda do, even though those aims are not always possible to achieve when the opposition is pressing.

I also get carried away a few times, and push closer to the opposition than I should. I get splatted for it, which should help reinforce my aims, at least. I get some good splats too, including a decent double splat to prevent our base being overrun, followed up by a good fluke. Maybe I can improve again with a charger.

Our lead never really comes under too much threat, which I suppose is good. I don't mind dropping out of S Rank occasionally, but winning is a little cherry on the top of a good battle.