Self-Spec: An Analysis of a Sticky Wicket

[vicodin]

So this is a post I've thought about making for awhile and I'd like to hear people's thoughts. Before I begin a quick disclaimer: I love this server, this community and its members and will respect and abide whatever decisions/rules that the MisFits leadership agree upon. This post is purely for my own clarification and to perhaps clear up some misconceptions or confusion for others....

So Self-Spectating(Self-Speccing, Self-Spec). What is it? Is it cheating? Is it legal? These are the questions I will attempt to tackle.

First, what is self-speccing? It's fairly simple. In MOHAA the view-camera is positioned above the player's left shoulder. This is what allows "glitching" and other visual trickery in the game. This same mechanic is what is employed in self-speccing. To self-spec one simply sets up in any left-lean glitch position and aims into the wall. This allows the player(especially on widescreen) to see around the corner whilst not being able to be seen. Here is a short example, in absolute piss-poor quality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfQUvM95RO0 (This t2-in hallway is one of the most common places one will see self-speccing, though it is possible at any left-leaning glitchable corner)

Some quick SSes I took in GZ 3rd Person Server to demonstrate: (Note: 3rd person is only to illustrate my body's position versus what I can see in 1st person. Self-spec is NOT 3rd person.)






Now I know what you're saying: seeing someone around a corner without being able to be seen? Sounds like cheating. Well to be fair, people who are very good at glitching are practically invisible around corners too. Because EA did not properly support the game after release these sort of tricks and glitches have become an integral part of competitive play. Which leads me to the second question: Is it cheating? Is it legal?

The broad answer across various ladders and competitive leagues has been that it is legal. As you can see by viewing ClanBase/MOHAA Cup videos here, it is a very common tactic in matches. This does not answer whether it is _ethical_ though. It is perfectly reasonable to come to the conclusion that such a tactic is unfair to opponents. I'd venture that the reason it is legal in league play is that it would be very impractical to enforce a ban on the practice as it is achievable without using any console commands or mods/hacks. Of course we are a friendly community, not a competitive ladder so this is not as big an obstacle.

So now we know what self-speccing is and have discussed its legality and ethics. What say you MisFits community? I'm easy either way, I just get different answers depending on who I ask. Some members abhor it, some I've seen use it, most seem indifferent. Either way I'm not naming names, I'm not here for a confrontation, I just want to know what I can and can't do in the server! Thanks!

[High on Death]

3rd person view is absolutely not allowed on MisFtis servers. Period, end of story.

[vicodin]

I'm not talking about 3rd person. Those screenshots are from a 3rd person server to illustrate where I'm positioned while "self-speccing", which is a form of glitching in 1st person. I edited the post to make this more clear, sorry for the confusion!
This is what I can actually see in first person, again without modifying the game:

[RAPT(+)R]

I never knew this was actually something different from glitching Vic. If i understand you correctly the glitch from inside of T1 on V2 is a perfect example. I use that glitch all the time. Theoretically anyone who peeks or glitches a corner is "self-specing" especially those who are exceedingly good at getting kills without being seen. *cough* Ms D...

[RAPT(+)R]

Oh and don't mind HOD. He doesn't read so good.

[vicodin]

Ya the only real difference is your crosshair isn't pointed down-range so to speak but pointed at the wall you're glitching on. When you're glitching it's possible to get clipped in that little bit of shoulder that peaks out but when you're self-speccing you can't shoot at your target but you do not stick out around the corner at all. The really shitty youtube clip I posted is sadly the best way I have of illustrating it being used in action.

[High on Death]

You're talking about glitching, which is fine. I've never heard any differentiation about where your crosshair is pointed. The only risk you run is that there are a whole buncha whiney bitches who will complain about it if they think you shouldn't have been able to see them.

When you said self-spec, I took it to mean that you could see yourself, i.e. third person.

And, oh yeah, go fuck yourself Raptor.

[RAPT(+)R]

[LonG]

I know what you mean vic. On V2 when you come from spiral/t1 into t2 the guy behind the corner he pops out and shoots u without being seen until the absolute last second. I've seen it hundreds of times over the years, if you don't already know about it and complain then you really don't even know anything about mohaa.


This is what it looks like for me in T2, I personally don't use it but will not bitch at someone who does use it.

[vicodin]

Ya, sorry for being confusing there HoD, the first thing I should have done was differentiate between what I'm talking about and 3rd person since they're very often confused for each other. Putting pics up of me in a 3rd person server without context certainly didn't help either lol. I don't know who came up with the term 'self-spec' or whatever, just something I heard it called years ago, but you're right it is essentially just glitching without aiming around the corner.