Echo VR Boot Camps, a player-driven initiative designed to help players achieve their full potential in the game, will resume on November 4. Experienced mentors teach a series of lessons that encourage mastery of game basics and, gradually, more advanced skills.
Whether players aspire to become a top VR esports player or they simply want to enjoy casual games with friends, Echo VR Boot Camps introduce skills through progressive lessons.
Below are descriptions of each lesson for Echo Arena and Echo Combat. Players are welcome to attend all boot camps or they might choose to jump in for one of the later lessons if they’re looking for help with specific skills. It should be noted that many of the basic skills are also available as tutorials from the Echo AI bots.
Echo Arena Boot Camp Sessions
Echo Arena, widely accepted as the first VR esport, is team-based game set in zero-gravity. Players must jump, duck, and dodge opponents as they fly through a virtual arena and attempt to gain possession of a disc to score on the opponents’ goal. The game is available for a free download through the Oculus Store.
Lesson 1: Settings, Teamwork, Movement, Launching (recommended for level 17 and below)
- How to change settings (including how to invite friends and create a party)
- How to check player stats and why they might want to do this for Arena matches
- Importance of teamwork
- Movement: boosting, regrabbing, piggybacking, pushing off other players and objects
- Launching: How to launch properly, which tubes to choose
- Joust overview
- How to deal with and report toxic players
Lesson 2: Punching / Blocking, Positional Awareness, Teamwork (recommended for levels 10 – 20)
- Punching / blocking
- Timing of stuns and awareness of ping
- Avoid being distracted by one player (because that takes you both out of the game)
- How to tie up 2 or more players (because that frees your teammates to score)
- Tips for getting out of a “fight” (stun battle)
- Positional awareness: opponents, teammates, obstacles, disc
- Importance of staying close to teammates for boosts.
Lesson 3: Shooting Practice, Mid-Field Play, Goalie Skills (recommended for levels 15 – 30)
- Shooting practice / key points
- Mid-field play
- Goalie skills
Lesson 4: The Next Step (recommended for levels 30 and up)
- Geared toward those who are interested in competitive play
- Recommendations for finding a team
- How to sign up for Echo Arena VR Master League
- Individual and team practice options
- Discuss options for further training (scrimmages, community cups, etc.)
- Encourage players to be involved and “pass it on”: volunteer as helpers, help welcome new players on Community Days, participate in tournaments, attend Pick Up Nights, etc.
Echo Combat Boot Camp
Ready At Dawn added Echo Combat, a first-person shooter also set in zero-gravity, to the Echo VR family in November 2018. This game is available as downloadable content through the Oculus Store or at terminals in the Echo VR lobby.
Lesson 1: Settings, Movement, and Maps Overview (recommended for levels 17 and below)
- How to change settings (including how to invite friends and create a party)
- Discuss advantages / disadvantages of muting other team in Combat
- Discuss advantages / disadvantages of pitch and roll
- Movement: boosting, regrabbing, piggybacking, pushing off other players and objects
- Overview of each map
- Payload map: offense vs defense
- Importance of using geometrical objects for cover
- How to deal with and report toxic players
Lesson 2: Positional Awareness, Guns (2), Tactical Mods (2), Ordnance (2) (recommended for levels 10 – 20)
- Positional awareness of opponents, teammates and oneself
- Dyson and Combustion: Show difference between launch area choices and team color
- Guns: pulsar and nova
- Tactical Mods: repair matrix and threat scanner
- Ordnance: detonator and instant repair
- Encouragement to queue for random matches and participate in game nights
Lesson 3: Choosing Good Combos, Guns (2), Tactical Mods (2), Ordnance (2) (recommended for levels 10 – 20)
- Guns: comet and meteor
- Tactical Mods: force field and phase shift
- Ordnance: stun field and arc mine
- Discuss advantages and disadvantages to different combos
- Sniper locations: offense (where to hide) / defense (be aware to look for them)
Lesson 4: The Next Step (recommended for levels 30 and up)
- Leadership skills, teamwork, and coordinating loadout
- Encourage growth of community: Don’t pub stomp.
- Encourage players to be involved and “pass it on”: volunteer as helpers, help welcome new players on Community Days, participate in tournaments, come to Pick Up Nights, etc.
How to Participate in Boot Camps
- First, join the Echo Games Discord.
- Refer to regularly scheduled sessions and attend. These will be posted in the Echo Games Discord in #community_news.
- If you miss a lesson, you can also tag @mentors in one of the beginner channels if you would like a specific session. Mentors watch these channels and will respond.
Upcoming Sessions
Echo Arena Boot Camp – Mondays at 9:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m CT
- November 4 – Lesson 1: Settings, Teamwork, Movement, Launching (recommended for level 17 and below)
- November 11 – Lesson 2: Punching/Blocking, Positional Awareness, Teamwork (recommended for levels 10 – 20)
- November 18 – Lesson 3: Shooting Practice, Mid-Field Play, Goalie Skills (recommended for levels 15 – 30)
- November 25 – Lesson 4: The Next Step (recommended for levels 30 and up)
Echo Combat Boot Camp – Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. CT
- November 6 – Lesson 1: Settings, Movement, and Maps Overview (recommended for levels 17 and below)
- November 13 – Lesson 2: Positional Awareness, Guns (2), Tactical Mods (2), Ordnance (2) (recommended for levels 10 – 20)
- November 20 – Lesson 3: Choosing Good Combos, Guns (2), Tactical Mods (2), Ordnance (2) (recommended for levels 10 – 20)
- November 27 – Lesson 4: The Next Step (recommended for levels 30 and up)
Community Day: Saturday, December 7
In case you miss the November Echo VR Boot Camps, you can join new and veteran players for another Community Day on Saturday, December 7. Echo VR mentors host this special event and there are helpers in the game throughout the day to welcome you, party with you in games, and offer any game training you might desire. You can also find a mentor and ask for help with more advanced skills or just queue up for games on this incredibly fun day!
