Everybody in Halo 3 enjoys their shot at fame - after all, Master Chief is the hero, and most players live as the chief. So the game is all about them, isn't it? Of course not. No team in Halo 3 is going to be successful unless its members manage to work together. This doesn't always mean that they have to be near one another, but it does mean that they have to, at some point, be willing to check their ego at the door and recognize the need to rely on one-another to pummel those blasted reds...or blues.
Listen to Veto Requests in the Lobby
It's happened to every player. The match is found, set up, and it seems the Bungie computers have decided that the game will be BRs on Snowbound. Suddenly, some idiot with a microphone yells "Veto! Veto! Veto you losers!" Your first instinct may be to ignore this player. However, some people have the misfortune of being on the same team as the offender.
Consider, if multiple teammates are asking for a veto, to oblige them. They may be requesting a veto because they are terrible on the map. Maybe they hate it so much that they will quit as soon as the match starts. Whatever the case, consider that teamwork happens even before the first shot is fired. Be a team player and veto.
Divide the Power Weapons Between Players
Yes, Master Chief can carry two weapon types (three if you count duals), but he can only fire one set of weapons at a time. If it's a long-range map, carrying the sniper and the rocket launcher, while an awesome strategy in a free-for-all match, simply shrinks the team's immediate firepower when it comes to a mult-iplayer match. Moreover, power weapons, due to their nature, can make even a mediocre player shine. When one team player divides power weapons, they reduce the odds that their new ally will get his or her character killed. That means points, and points mean victory.
Each player should know what his or her teammates are capable of. Not everybody is gifted with the sniper rifle, so if a teammate has shown signs of ranged capability, yield the rifle when they are near. This helps to make the whole team better. The good sniper is armed with their best weapon, and the player who can't snipe as well is able to play the game on their own terms, too.
Think Twice Before Booting a Teammate
There are a good number of "trolls" out on Live who seek enjoyment by murdering their own teammates. Fortunately, the makers of Halo 3 have seen fit to install a system which allows a dead player to boot any traitors from the game. Unfortunately, weapons such as the rocket launcher make accidental betrayals rather likely. While it may be first instinct to boot after being betrayed, be sure that the player in question actually intended to kill allies, and isn't just going through a patch of bad luck. There is nothing more frustrating than being booted from a game simply because of one poorly-thrown grenade. The potential loss of a valuable teammate outweighs the one point lost from an accident.
Don't Always be the Hero
In Halo 3, there is a major difference between lowering an enemy's shields and killing them. It's often very tempting to go in and charge after one enemy who has been weakened by repeated shots. However, odds are that injured player is seeking protection from their teammates. Acting like the hero usually means frustration, failure, and death.
Instead, focus on protecting teammates in trouble before charging recklessly into gunfire. Dying will only create frustration with the team, and won't help out the team one bit. Traveling with one other team-mate means double the damage, and half the credit for kills. This isn't such a bad thing - after all, those who survive a battle will be able to accumulate more kills than those who end up dying. Ironically, being willing to give more kills to teammates will directly increase one's own kill count. Of course, if the opportunity presents itself, feel free to be a little heroic.
Know Your Expectations - Who, Where, and How
When players are able to rely on one another for help, the team overall is improved. If a teammate expects backup when making a run for the respawned rockets, be sure not to abandon that teammate without advance notice. Otherwise, they will likely pick a fight they cannot win.
Likewise, many teams can end up losing objective games because everybody is playing offense (or just as bad, everybody is playing defense). Sticking to one's role within the team often has less glamor than running after the shiniest part of the map, but it is likely to build one's reputation, create more game wins, and find one's own life expectancy increased.
Halo 3 is a complex game, and can't simply be boiled down into a formula. Living the philosophy of teamwork, however, can often translate into real actions which will be easily noticeable. Teammates can be frustrating sometimes. No matter what, though, remember: they are not the enemy. The enemy is the enemy.
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