Camping

This is a favourite tactic of many Quake players around the world!!! Camping is when you stay in a safe spot and let people run about as you try and get a lot of low-risk hits. Wether this tactic is effective or not, I don't know, but it is certainly popular! Just imagine if everyone on a Quake server were Campers! There would be no frags because everyone would be hiding waiting for everyone else to come out so they can frag them. If you are camping in a server usually they will dislike you very much.

Arcing

Arcing is when you run around corners, not just walk around them!!! This tactic improves the speed and efficiency of the player. Walking around corners can lead you to be a walking target for other players because when you walk around them, you slowly shuffle forwards, turn a bit, shuffle a bit more, turn a bit more, ad nauseum, but with arcing, you run around the corner in an arc hence the name arcing. When you arc, you are always running and not shuffling, etc., but you take the corner in one clean movement. This will make it easier to escape from opponents, and also you can chase people down better. To arc, press up to move forward and while doing that, press the direction that the path is taking. To help you arc, try playing with always run mode on. This way, you only have to concentrate on pressing up and the direction, not holding shift as well.

Hitting moving targets

To win at Quake, you are going to have to learn how to hit moving targets. The opponents aren't going to stand still to let you frag them, you have to hit 'em while they're running! The most effective weapon to hit moving targets is the Rocket Launcher. The projectiles this little baby lets loose can fly really fast and if they hit, your opponent may as well hand you over a frag if he isn't dead. The most important thing to remember when trying to hit opponents is to anticipate where they are going to be when the projectile reaches their general vicinity. Suppose you are in the level House Of Chithon (E1M8), which is one of my fave levels. You are on one side of the level, and your enemy is on the other. He starts running from one side to the other and you have the Rocket Launcher. Aim the Launcher towards where you think the opponent will be when the rocket reaches that side of the level. Providing you aim good, he will be fragged and shall explode into tiny bits. But even if you don't have the Launcher, any hits you get are valuable. The most important thing to remember in any situatuon where the opponent is running, just aim and fire at where you think he'll be when the projectile reaches his vicinity.

Hitting target while you are moving

Again, this is just like hitting moving targets, but this time you are moving, or both you and your opponent are moving. The same tactics stated above work pretty well, but you will need some training in this field to become an excellent player in hitting targets while you are moving. You could train in the one-player game by moving around as you approach the computer enemies, or just train while playing the multi-player against real opponents.

Strafing

Yes, that old tactic where you move sideways...infinitely handy in more ways than one! Ever been faced by a rocket heading towards your specific direction? Try pressing one of the angle brackets to move right out of the way (providing you are quick enough)! It is a great projectile-dodging technique! It is also handy when going around a corner! If you are hiding behind a corner or object and know someone is around and want to launch a surprise attack, just face into the wall in their direction, strafe out and nail 'em before they know what to do!!! Use your imagination and skill to work out other handy ways to use the strafe technique!!!

General smart play

You can't be an excellent Quake player if you don't know what you are doing, or you don't know how to go about it! The main objective is to kill your opponent as many times as you can, but what if they are hiding somewhere where you can't see them or touch them? That is when intelligence comes in! KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!! Try and know every hiding spot and secret place and corner and floor in the level. If you can't find your opponent in the normal areas of the levels, look in the unknown areas...