Making an effort in S-Rank Rainmaker (7-4, Splatterscope)

I'm getting stomped in S Rank again. I could swap to a different weapon, but I'm sticking with the Splatterscope and either going to improve, or going to drop out of S Rank.

Of course, there is a third option of not really improving, but occasionally having a decent battle, and with the help of my squidmates stay in S-Rank purgatory forever. That's kinda what's happening.

At least the occasional decent battle gives me some kind of reassurance that I don't completely suck. It's a little disheartening when, as in previous battles, what look like good shots somehow miss. But some hit, and some I even aim for. So that's something.

I think my Splat Bombs are more effective in this battle, which I'm okay with. It would be nice if I could steady my aim somewhat too. But the occasional good splat, like the one on the Rainmaker, keeps me going.

Of course, we pull off the victory, mostly thanks to my squidmates, but I hope I helped too. It does mean more battles in S Rank for me, though.

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Tags: arowana mall, console, rainmaker, splatoon, splatterscope, wii u

Unintentionally ruining Turf War for the newsquids (1310p, 12-0, Splatterscope)

A friend has actually bought a Wii U and Splatoon after all my badgering! This means we can play together. I join his Turf War battle.

There are only two problems. The first is that we are not on the same team. It does mean I get to splat him, though, if I find him.

The main problem, however, is that Mr Munkai is still only 6th level, only having recently got the game. I am 50th, and although still hardly an expert with the Splatterscope, I do rather stand out a bit.

I don't try to throw my weight around, but it kinda happens unless I actively avoid confrontation. I bow out after the battle, letting the low-level players have fun on their own terms. I can join my friend when he's a bit more seasoned. Until then, sorry newsquids.

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Tags: console, kelp dome, splatoon, splatterscope, turf war, wii u

Fast and frantic Splat Zones (2-1, Splatterscope)

Walleye Warehouse can be good for the Splatterscope, particularly in Splat Zones, where you can hang back and ink the turf relatively safely. That is, until you are flanked by inklings going down the side routes. It's a good map.

I try to hold back and keep myself safe, which is my general plan with the Splatterscope anyway, but when we look to have good control over the Splat Zones I press forwards to try to keep even more turf our colour, and prevent the other team from gaining a foothold.

That doesn't work, and the yellow team take control. Quite well, too, keeping the Splat Zones for long enough to take the lead, and pressing forwards to control our home turf too. Good job, yellow team.

We regroup and start throwing ink everywhere. Before we know it, the Splat Zones are ours again. Now, if we can just hold them, we should do okay.

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Tags: console, splat zones, splatoon, splatterscope, walleye warehouse, wii u

Staying fresh in S-Rank Splat Zones (6-1, Splatterscope)

Splat Zones, with Port Mackerel and Walleye Warehouse. I think the Splatterscope could be useful here. In other tentacles, perhaps, but I'm sticking with the 'scope whilst I remain in S-Rank battles.

My first battle of the session is on Port Mackerel, where I have definite tactics, mostly to stay on a perch over our Splat Zone and keep it covered in our ink.

Much like most encounters, my tactic block is discarded within a minute or so, as circumstances change. My squidmates appear to have good control of the turf, making me squid in ink and do nothing.

I jump down to help control the channels more, whilst remaining aware of the Splat Zone itself. This works quite well for a while, but the purple team manage to make a good push forwards and force us back.

My one being splatted comes from the second Killer Wail, whose direction I misguage. Oops. But that's still a damned good result. I also get a decent handful of splats myself, albeit a couple with Splat Bombs. But that's what Splat Bombs are for, so I'm okay counting them.

I doubt the rest of my battles will be this good, but I shall continue for a few more, just in case I've got good overnight.

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Tags: console, port mackerel, splat zones, splatoon, splatterscope, wii u

Trying to walk it in, in Rainmaker (9-8, Splatterscope)

Chargers versus shooters in Rainmaker. Not a great match-up, but so it goes.

There is a royal rumble in the centre of Arowana Mall to start with, where I also get a nice and lucky splat on the Rainmaker to begin. But so much ink is flying it doesn't look safe.

When the purple looks less than the yellow, I dive forwards, grab the Rainmaker, and try to clear the path above me. It works! Thanks, Rainmaker. Another blast and a bit of a squid and we take the lead, after which it looks quicker to walk for a bit.

It's a bit cheeky of me, and probably not terribly wise, to walk with the Rainmaker, and I inevitably lose it. But we have a pretty good lead. It should last us, well, longer than it actually does.

Although we put up some sort of resistance, we are being pushed back quite firmly. Losing the lead is only a matter of time, and done in such a fashion that it doesn't look like we can regain it.

Never mind. We can at least prevent their getting a knockout victory, and apart from the usual annoying Inkzooka splat against me, I do quite well overall. Perhaps I could have pressed further forwards near the end, although I wasn't aware how well my squidmates we doing then. More awareness required.

The final push in extra time is a little desperate, but it bags me an extra couple of splats, so that's okay.

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Tags: arowana mall, console, rainmaker, splatoon, splatterscope, wii u

Finally, someone rides the tower, in Tower Control (6-5, Splatterscope)

Some more horrid battles follow my one decent one. That's a shame, as it makes my good games feel more like flukes. But I keep trying. I think. Maybe I'm just playing my alotted games before falling out of S Rank.

Here we are on Moray towers, where other Splatterscopes and E-litre 3Ks have been handing me my cloaca all evening. This battle doesn't seem so bad to start with, although my squidmates seem reluctant to ride the tower.

Well, I can do that, and, despite my first thoughts, Moray Towers is actually not a bad map for a charger to be on the tower. Lots of space, and opportunity to shoot upwards a good distance. Maybe a charger should be on the tower as a preference.

Of course, I don't do too well on the tower. That Rapid Blaster does a good job of keeping me splatted. But at least I am keeping it beyond the mid-way point, in opponent territory and not ours.

And once my squidmates start riding the tower, I find my form again. I splat the charger, keep ink turfed, distract the blue team. I actually do pretty well. And so do my squidmates!

Whilst I am distracting and distracted, the tower trundles on almost to the goal. We don't quite make it, but that's fine. We still win by a huge margin, and I end the battle on a better run than I started. I can occasionally have fun in S Rank.

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Tags: console, moray towers, splatoon, splatterscope, tower control, wii u

Getting some decent splats in Tower Control (9-6, Splatterscope)

Back in S Rank. I hope to take it for what it is, whatever that may be, and just relax in to it. I doubt that will be true all the time, and it hasn't been so far. Two losses, one going 0-8 with the Splatterscope. Not good.

Yes, the Splatterscope. I could use the practice, and don't really want to stay in S Rank artificially too long. If I stay up, I stay up. But I am not going to bust a blood vessel trying to keep up with various weapons. I'll be me.

I banked some good Splat Zones battles the other day, which I was thinking would carry me though a dry spell in S Rank, so I am nicely surprised when I start this Tower Control battle on Museum d'Alfonsino so positively.

I stay alive, avoid some splats, and get some really nice splats in myself. They are even sweeter against opposition chargers, and that double splat is perhaps one of my finer moments in recent weeks. I should gfycat it for posterity.

It can't all go my way, and I take some hits, and am both a little unlucky and a little incautious in places. But I also show some good restraint and fairly good awareness at times.

Okay, splatting the Octobrush in mid-air was lucky. But flanking the Kelp Splat Charger from so close was making my own luck. Topping off the game with a splat on the E-litre 3K just makes the victory sweeter. Woomy!

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Tags: console, museum d'alfonsino, splatoon, splatterscope, tower control, wii u

Splatterscoping back up to S Rank in Splat Zones (7-3, Splatterscope)

One victory with the Splatterscope is followed by a horrid loss. The other team were very well coordinated. So it goes, and I could use some losses to drop my rank in A+ a bit. And I could use the practice with the Splatterscope. I used to get a bunch of splats, and I'd like my skills to improve.

I take the usual perch in Camp Triggerfish, tempered with a bit of caution because of the two opposing chargers. In fact, I take the perch mostly because of those chargers. I consider it my task to keep them suppressed and allow my squidmates to move more freely.

I don't do too well at keeping the other chargers suppressed initially. But I keep trying, as well as the ink flowing over the Splat Zones. I even get in to a bit of a groove with the Splatterscope. I see inklings movements and predict them. I watch for ink and get my shots prepared.

It feels really good to bag some well-earned splats, particularly with the Splatterscope. It's been a while since it has felt powerful in my suction cups.

On the plus side, my Splat Bomb Rush gets some attention away from me, and simultaneously helps to recapture the Splat Zones for us. With one point left to count down, that secures us the knockout victory! Woomy!

On the negative side, that's enough to push me back up to S Rank. Oh well! I'll call it a day there, and see where S Rank takes me another time.

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Tags: camp triggerfish, console, splat zones, splatoon, splatterscope, wii u

Mostly holding back in Splat Zones (2-1, Splatterscope)

I've had a run of victories with the Tri-slosher, and am getting dangerously close to S Rank again. I can't have that, so I swap back to the Splatterscope, partly for practice, partly because I think I'll fare worse than with the Tri-slosher and maybe get some losses.

Not that I want to lose as such, and definitely won't throw the battles. And it's a little backwards, wanting to end the session with some losses rather than wins. But let's see how it goes first.

I want to take a cautious approach, certainly with Blackbelly Skatepark, and I've been paying attention to where the opposition chargers tend to perch in these Splat Zones battles. I give it a go.

There is good coverage with the Splatterscope from this position, whilst offering a good degree of protection. I am fairly deep in our own territory, and can keep an eye on the gamepad for any ink trails coming my way. I even have a view of a favourite perch of the other side's, and dissuade a Splatling from parking there.

All goes relatively well, and we hold on to the Splat Zones without much interruption. I even move forward near the end of the battle, getting a good splat in doing so, but feeling vulnerable. But not for long, as we get the victory. Woomy!

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Tags: blackbelly skatepark, console, splat zones, splatoon, splatterscope, wii u

From okay to better in Splat Zones (4-7, Tri-slosher)

The tactic to squid up the middle didn't work as planned in the previous battle, but that doesn't mean it isn't sound. I gather more evidence, and maybe it isn't the best idea.

Plan B is to rain ink down on our captured Splat Zone from the fence, and that works well, to start with. Getting splatted by a Disrupted Splatterscope is a bit unfortunate, and then to be hit by his specifically aimed Killer Wail is just an insult.

I must try better. So I try better. My reaction times don't let me activate my Bubbler when attacked from behind, but I can build that up again. Flanking down the side route lets me ink plenty of turf, although I don't know where that inkling disappears to, and sitll my Bubbler doesn't recharge enough. I am splatted again.

Our lead looks to be in threat. Back to sloshing ink for from the top of the fence. I fall down a couple of times intentionally, to avoid opponent attention, and get my Bubbler charged. Just in time for that Inkzooka! I survive the onslaught and get my splat, trying to keep our ink yellow.

A flanking manoeuvre after that doesn't quite work out, but I have two inklings paying attention to me deep in their territory, so that works out well for us. Indeed, we look to have turned the battle around again, and hold the Splat Zones until the end. Good job, squidmates!

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Tags: camp triggerfish, console, splat zones, splatoon, tri-slosher, wii u