Combat Training



Combat Training is a game mode featured in Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. It serves as an offline simulation of online multiplayer for those who are new to it and those who want to try out new tactics or practice with different weapons. It features a separate ranking and unlock system with AI opponents instead of online enemies. It can be played cooperatively. The players can change how difficult it is to kill the AI opponents much like single player's difficulties: Recruit, Regular, Hardened, and Veteran. The bots can play on any map in Free-For-All and Team Deathmatch games, now with the option of playing Hardcore or Normal. One interesting note, however, is that Combat Training only allows the players to practice on Free-For-All and Team Deathmatch modes, and not more tactic-based modes like Search & Destroy. Treyarch’s MP Design Director, David Vonderhaar, responded to a question about this in the official Call of Duty Forums. His comment was that the A.I. Bots are not developed enough to take objectives yet, such as capturing flags and arming/disarming bombs. He did say a more intelligent A.I. was a possibility for future Call of Duty titles. In this mode, there is no option to perform a Wager Match. One can, however, use the Command Console on the PC version to do so.

After the implementation of a patch, Combat Training was made available under the Split-Screen multiplayer menu (console only). This means Combat Training can be now played offline with up to four local players. The most notable difference is that only 10 players can join (up to 6 slots are reserved for bots) instead of the 12 available online. Unlike its online counterpart the player cannot level up as everything is unlocked from the start. There are also strangely no Hardcore game modes in local Combat Training.

Rank progression
In Combat Training it is possible to rank up and unlock features just like normal multiplayer. However, there is no prestige mode without glitching. This mode also does not have leaderboards. It has a separate ranking system to other game modes. Players cannot transfer unlocks, ranks, or CoD Points from Combat Training to Multiplayer and vice-versa.

Contradictions before release
In a post on the official Call of Duty forums, Lead MP Designer David Vonderhaar posted that Combat Training would need an internet connection to be able to play the mode. He listed it amongst the other game-types showing the differences between them in the ranking system. The only offline modes he listed were vague four player split-screen and LAN options (system link). Two player split-screen online was also confirmed in the same post.

On the other hand, the information on the official site suggested that there is offline split-screen as well as the confirmed online option: "Jump into Combat Training and hone your tactics offline against A.I. bots in both Free-For-All and Team Deathmatch game modes." and "Combat Training allows you to play against enemy controlled AI with your friends, online and split-screen." were the official words. On top of this, Community Manager Josh Olin confirmed that it is playable offline via Twitter: ''"@JD_2020 #AskJD how many people can play co-op together on one console (zombies and combat training)? @yen888 Two player local Split-Screen." Dan Suarez, Executive Producer, also mentioned when asked if Combat Training had local split-screen play (6:23 in the video) that “Yes, you can play split-screen on the combat training mode and on MP." was his response.  ''

In a later development; the official Call of Duty website had changed its information regarding Combat Training. It had dropped saying the mode is available offline as originally intended. Wii specific information had also been added quoting that this version of the game does not support split-screen. David Vonderhaar also stated on Twitter that the mode was originally intended to support both off and online modes. His comment to a user on the service suggests that the person who programmed Combat Training also wanted both options. Why an offline mode wasn't implemented straight away remains a mystery.

Equipment
As of the April 28, 2011 update, bots can now use equipment. This allows bots to properly set down traps (like claymores) and also drive around RC cars. This adds to the overall realism that the player would find against human players.

Notes:


 * It is possible to get Ghost Pro if the bot uses Hacker Pro to turn the player's own Sentry Gun against the player and the player takes it out. They will get the needed challenge for "Destroy an enemy sentry gun".
 * Bots seem to utilize a lot of Spy Planes, making the other portion of Ghost Pro easy to obtain.
 * Bots may use Camera Spikes, but their AI does not seem to utilize them like a human player would. Instead, they probably just rely on their default code to find other players.

Trivia

 * In Combat Training, the CPU controlled players (also known as bots) have their Clan Tag set to [3arc], which is the clan tag used exclusively by Treyarch members.
 * Players can choose whether to use their friends' online names for the Bots.
 * In the Combat Training menu, players may not customize their Emblems and Clan Tag.
 * Some perk challenges such as Lightweight's "Offensive medals" or Marathon "Capture medals" are not included in Combat Training because the only available game modes are Team Deathmatch and Free For All.
 * The only gun camouflages that the Bots use are Dusty, Red, Ice, and Olive.
 * Combat Training sometimes uses Treyarch employees names, but abbreviates the first letter of their first name(ex. David Vonderhaar, will become [3arc]DVonderhaar).
 * On Xbox 360, if the player does not have an Xbox Live Gold Subscription, then they will be restricted from playing Combat Training. However, an alternative to Combat Training is playing a split-screen match and adding enemies to the match in the options menu.
 * If a player is kicked from a Combat Training lobby for friendly fire in Hardcore gametypes, they cannot re-join unless if they are invited by another player.
 * Bots are usually very unaware on Recruit difficulty, but whenever a player deploys an airdrop, they seem to come to the player's position and attempt to steal it as if they have the awareness of Veteran difficulty bots.
 * Enemy CPU's seem to capture friendly airdrops as fast as one in an online multiplayer match would.
 * Bots can be kicked due to friendly fire.
 * Wounding a friendly bot in Hardcore will make it try to kill you.
 * Bots will not use guns with multiple attachments or the G11 with attachments.

Achievements

 * Ready for Deployment - Obtained by getting to level 10 in Combat Training.