tf2lobby.com is good for getting a feel for your role in 6v6. The skill level is lower than pugs. TBH though, you should start pugging sooner rather than later because lobbies are ultimately just organized pubbing with no team communication. After 10-20 lobbies you're probably ready enough.

I actually would not recommend TF2lobby. You'll just get bad habits. Good for messing around maybe, but don't expect to learn ANYTHING as scout playing TF2lobby (except for maybe how to bait your team and get baited by your team in a back and forth bait-war that culminates in everyone being out of position and dead).

Keep playing newbie mixes, and maybe try out #tf2mix on IRC, they run pugs regularly with players new to comp.

A lot of people say that, but really it isn't that bad. If he doesn't feel comfortable doing pugs then he might as well do lobbies. It's better than waiting for the next mix or pubbing. Just watch streams too so you see how the game is actually supposed to be played so you don't think that a silly strat (ex. liberty launcher) is actually as effective as it is in lobbies.

Yeah lobbies are a good start.. but unfortunately the quality varies from troll to really troll. So a mix of lobbies and tf2 mix should be good. Don't forget MGE and DM are a scout's best friend :)

If you can take the heat and criticism (aka complaining) play in #tf2mix and #tf2.pug.na

You'll get better and meet people that you may eventually play with in the future.

Otherwise try to find some people to make a team, and build relationships from there. (I chose this option. It's a slower process but you filter out a lot of people you'd never want to play with)

If you are interested in pugs be sure to check out Power Pugs: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/Pwrpugs

Join the group and watch for announcements when pugs are starting. We pug daily and the average skill level of players that play Power Pugs is low-mid open.

Learn how to walk before you run.

Play lobbies first to get a feel of competitive tf2.
Also try and play some DM or mge to get your aim better.
If you feel secure enough with your gameplay and aim then go pug's.

I have recently played my first pug and have to say its a whole other skill level then lobby ;)

Alright so I think I'm going to go with lobbies, DM, and MGE first to get better. Then once I get better I will try out some #tf2.pug.na and Power Pugs.

Thanks guys!

Also if you don't mind me asking what is the difference between ESEA and UGC?

ESEA is pay-to-play, has better rewards, and a higher skill level.
UGC is free, more newbie friendly, gives hardly any prizes at all, and has a more controversial map list.

i might be mistaken but i think UGC 6's uses the same map list as esea

Where are those articles Sigma wrote?
Those are a good baseline for 6's and what you need to know.

Shame there isn't one for HL.

Thanks for the info!

If you've played Newbie Mixes, there's no reason to play Lobbies.

As others have said, try #tf2mix on the Gamesurge IRC network. Just play a lot of PUGs, and when you feel more comfortable with 6s, making a looking thread in the recruitment thread. If you've been pugging a good amount, there's a good chance some people you've played with will post in your thread endorsing you.

We need more newbie mixes imo. I tried some TF2 mixes and I just see trolling/stacking most of the times I played.

The problem is that the gap between reasonably good at newbie mixes and #tf2mix is a bit much. It's not that the people on #tf2 mix are mean, but the one pug I have played on there, we got rolled and it was basically because I wasn't contributing enough. The team was really cool about it, but I am still discouraged from it again because I sort of feel like I was wasting peoples time.

THat said, I think that if I pugged more often, I would get better a lot quicker, and I wouldn't feel so useless.

It's a map list based on all maps ever used in ESEA, including Freight, Warmfront, and other maps commonly considered to be really bad.

Whenever I've played tf2mix, it hasn't always been the best experience (team mates are jerks, always complain, etc.). I still play it a pretty good bit, but I'd like to find a pug group where people will actually help me improve instead of making fun of me/yelling at me because I'm not freaking clockwork.

You should try out an in house pug group like Power Pugs. In house pugs are usually a lot more relaxed and friendlier than the ragefest you usually get from IRC pugs.

I'd maybe like a group with a few experienced players in it who are willing to help newer (but not like no 6s experience kind of new) players improve/practice. I guess kinda like newbie mixes, but for people with a little more experience and more frequent.

I'm kind of disappointed with the direction tf2mix took. Most pugs consist of people complaining over and over and not realizing 3/4ths of the people who player there are new and learning. It's kind of frustrating too. I feel bad for a lot of the people who have to deal with it but there's nothing I can do really.

#20 do newbie mixes for "I'd like a group with a few experienced players in it who are willing to help newer players"

I agree with you on tf2mix- I'm often the subject of such chastisement. My issue with newbie mixes is that they do not occur frequently enough- and I'd rather play in a group with people who have a fair amount of 6s experience. Enough that they know the rollouts, have an idea of when to do what, etc. You generally don't get that in newbie mixes. Still, I play newbie mixes whenever they occur.

You're just caught up in the process of them looking for people able to run it more consistently since I guess Vick can't any more, or at least right now. They used to go on really often, I'm sure they will start more often again.

hey bro!~

add me on steam we can play tf2mix together. i show u the ropes :-D

^^^ Take preston up on his offer, super nice guy and good soldier!

I did! :D

Hey I just added you as well! Let me know when you want to play.

Just work on your DM and you should be fine in tf2mix :>

I wanna start pugging as well but i'm sort of inconsistent. i finally got my dm to a good level and my gamesense is up there but i'm afraid i'll choke and get my team fucked over lol (i play pocket)

Don't worry about it, just play. You could always just explain to people that you're kind of new, then they might be more likely to help you instead of bitching at you for your mistakes.