Before I begin, let me throw this at you. I don't think anyone likes being called a newbie, rookie, trainee or even cadet. But let's face it. WE ARE! If not, we wouldn't be here. Just look at it as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Remember, everyone started as a newbie which brings up another subject and that is ATTITUDE. How you mentally approach this game, I feel, is extremely important. If you enter a level thinking "I'm gonna get my butt shot off" you probably will. Over and over and over again til you leave feeling sorry for yourself. That doesn't mean you go in saying "I'm gonna kick butt" cause that probably isn't going to happen either.

A little aside here. When I first started multiplayer I flew as Jax. It happens to be a play on my real name and one I use on the internet. It also became apparent to me as an anachronym, "Judge and Xecutioner". COOL! "I'm gonna be a big, bad-ass". How soon that dream went away. Now I'm Deadmeat, cause that's how I feel upon leaving a level. Not really true, but I'll get to that later.

Ok, back to attitude. What if you went into a level saying,"If I can just stay alive a bit longer". Or,"If I can get just one clean kill" (this does not include running into the guy and taking you both out). Don't you think you'd come out feeling a little better? I know I do. How you mentally approach the game says much about how well you will do. Oh sure, I still go into a level and, pretty much, start running for my life. BAD MOVE. You're gonna die. So I turn and fire with everything I've got, hopeing for that kill. Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't. At least I know I've tried. The thing is, I feel better about myself for trying. And I think that is important in this game. If you leave a level feeling you've accomplished some goal, whether it be staying alive a little longer, flying a little better, or getting a good kill, you'll feel better about yourself and your abilities. I feel this is very important in your progress as a D3 pilot. Always remember, this is not the "REAL WORLD", it's a game and we play it for fun. Ok, on to ethics. ETHICS? Is there such a thing in D3? Aren't most levels labeled ANARCHY? Anarchy meaning, basically, an absense of rules? Tis true, but allow me to continue. D3 is, first and foremost, a game of kill or be killed. That's what makes it so exciting. However,it is not without some rules. While others may vehemently disagree with me, I shall state my rules and reasons now.

TYPE KILLING

This, to me, is an absolute no-no. When another pilot is typing he is (1) stationary, and (2) defenseless. That's what's called a cheap shot. Wouldn't want it on my conscience. I would never intentionally fire on an adversary while he is typing. However, there are times when it will happen. He stops and starts to type just as I fire. In such a case I will apologize and hope it will be accepted. In most cases it is.There are some cases where I would purposely type-kill. One is where I have determined this other pilot is solely out to humiliate and kill me. All he's interested in is increasing his kill rate. But it's a big, grey area. How do you know? Good question. Sometimes it's just a gut feeling you get. Sometimes he'll give himself away by typing to you. Rest assured he will not type within sight of you. Not too easy to kill, Huh? Another candidate is someone who is being just totally obnoxious. You know the type. Incessant foul taunts, repeated type and spawn kills, offensive typing. KILL EM! If you can't, take yourself and the others in the game, go into observer mode, and wait for the idiot to leave.

RESPAWN KILLING

Now here is an area that can be, and probably will be, debated for days. I'm not about to get into a philosophical discussion on it. Scenario: You get killed (hate it when that happens). You are now in some sort of limbo. Nice area. You're invisible to others and, yet, you can type. Nice little place to hang for a while. Eventually you decide to join the mayhem. You hit the dreaded space bar and BAMM! You're hit in the face with who knows what and you're dead again. HEY! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? You have just become the victim of a respawn kill. Upon reentering this mad world you have two weapons, lazers and concussion missiles. Not great, but doable. This makes you fair game in the eyes of many pilots as lazers and concs can take out another craft, especially if it's been weakened by the fight you were just in and the pilot hasn't been able to pick up too many more shields. The most important thing to remember is that, on respawn, the game gives you two seconds of invulnerability. USE THAT TIME WISELY. In learning a level, I'll discuss this later, also learn the respawn areas. You will notice that, in most levels, there are only two or three areas where you will respawn.
The good pilots know this also and will go there waiting for you. It's not bad gaming, it's good tactics. Your job is to know where you respawn and GET OUTTA DODGE! Respawing behind a door really sucks cause you open that door and get hit right in the face. Find the alternative. "Can I go somewhere else or do I have to open that door?". If you have a way out, please take it. If not, open that door, but come out with guns blazing, knowing which way you're going to go. I think you'll improve your survival rate considerably.

PHILOSOPHY

Is there such a thing in this game? After all, it's mostly anarchy, isn't it? It's pretty much Mano-a-Mano, kill or be killed,"you can run but you can't hide". Is there, really, any philosophy in that? Of course there is. To quote webster;"Philosophy: love of, or the search for, wisdom or knowledge". Ahhhhhhh! Isn't that why we're here? Searching for the wisdow or knowledge to understand what is necessary to become a successful pilot? That's why I'm here. If not by now, I'm sure all of you will develope your own philosophy for the game. Just let me throw mine at you. I play D3 for FUN! I like the competition. I like having to force myself to learn the necessary skills required to improve. I like the people. I have, for the most part, met some fine, friendly folks here. As, I'm sure, you will too. I find playing D3 far more mentally stimulating than watching mindless television. Oh sure, others will differ with me. That's ok. It's human nature to have differences of opinion. See for yourselves. Go to the DescentBB and you will see all sorts of differences, especially in "Ethics, Philosophy and Commentary". DescentBB is a really excellent forum. One last note on the subject. I am a highly principled individual. It probably comes from years of dealing with others who weren't. In this I mean I will always play this game the fairest way possible. I understand others will disagree and that's ok. It's their right. In my mind the only time fairness doesn't enter the equation is when you're in the jungles of Vietnam and someone is really trying to kill you. I'll discuss right and wrong more in the next section on Conduct.

Just remember. That NEWBIE may become your worst nightmare.