I Want to Get Good At TF2

But I'm not sure what to do. The obvious answer is 'play more,' but where? Should I play Quake Live? TF2F pugs? TF2F pubs? Gathers? Pug.na's? What's the best 'skill return' for time invested?

I want to play scout, if it makes a difference.

tf2f pubs, like pugs but, but you wont get switched if you suck

Well if you want to play scout,

1. Play on open maps. cp_badlands, cp_granary, cp_fastlane...etc.

2. Play with low server population, 4v4, 5v5, 6v6. Less spam, and you are more likely to have 1v1 battles (which the scout excels at)

3. Watch Scout videos.

4. If you see a scout that is on the top of the scoreboard, spectate him for awhile.

5. A pesky scout is better than a dead scout. Your best tactic is to fire a few rounds, retreat and surprise your target, rather then staying in his eye sight the entire battle. Use your speed and mobility to your advantage.

6. USE YOUR PISTOL. A recent update made it so you just hold down the fire button and your pistol will shoot at its fastest rate. Your pistol is much more effective at long ranges than your main weapon.

7. If you want to be a good team player, protect your medic and your demoman, especially from other scouts. (This is one of the primary roles of a competitive scout player)

8. If your team is rushing a point and you think they will cap it, move up to the next point. Lots of games are won by quick capping before the other team can even show up to defend.

Depends where you are now. 

Quote:

Quake live, no. Best way to get better at tf2, is to play tf2.
TF2F pugs, no. These are more fun with pals and hooligans, the skill level you get and maps you play are random
Gathers, fuck no. The skill level there is shit
Pugs? bleggh

Join a 6v6 team. Fastest and best way to improve ;]

Do all those things and play SOAP DM a lot

6's teams I'm unsure about. If you want to get better as an individual, then it won't help very much. Scrim teams are about skill and teamwork, so if you want to work on just skill, I wouldn't join a team. Best bet in that case is to probably just practice on 16-slot servers and occasionally ask admirable Scouts if they would duel you.

If you do want to be a competitive Scout, then I would do a mix of pubs, pugs, and scrims. Pugs and pubs to work on aiming and control and whatnot, scrims (with your team) to work on teamwork (while applying your skill as a Scout).

tf2.na is the best for pugs though, (besides ESEA, but you need premium)

Yep join a team and play scrims. If you don't like DM servers you can dick around on tr_walkway.

In terms of where I am right now, I'll almost always top score in a very 'pubby' server, but I'll typically hang around the bottom of PLC, ILT, and pugs. It's a frustrating point where I'm either too good or far too bad.

I don't want to join a 6v6 team, scouts are the most important class (right?), so if I screw up, it's likely our loss will be my fault. I could try, but who would want a scout with little abilities and no reputation?

I don't know what SOAP DM is, but I'll read about it in a sec.

TF2.na is the one I meant, I always get them confused.