Combat Training



Combat Training is a new game mode in Call of Duty: Black Ops. It serves as 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.

As of the 1.4 patch, Combat Training is available under the Split-Screen option. This means Combat Training can be now played offline with four local players. The most notable difference is than only 10 players can play instead of the 12 available online. The AI bots now seem to be smarter and more likely to utilize grenades and other tactics. Unlike its online counterpart the player cannot level up as everything is unlocked from the start.

Rank progression
In Combat Training it is possible to rank up and unlock features just like normal multi-player. 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 it. He listed it amongst the other modes 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." are 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 has changed its information regarding Combat Training. It has now dropped saying the mode is available offline as originally intended. Wii specific information has also been added quoting that this version of the game does not support split-screen. David Vonderhaar has also said 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 this never happened is unknown.

Tips/Notes
Note: This only applies to when playing on Regular, Hardened and Veteran
 * Enemy bots on Hardened will throw many grenades, especially when playing on Nuketown.
 * Pay attention when a friendly Spy Plane is up, since enemy bots can start firing at the player even from behind the corner.
 * The bots are very accurate, especially on Veteran. Their guns seem to have practically no recoil and almost never miss; they only do miss if the player is running past them, but there is also a big chance of them shooting the player.
 * Unlike in Recruit and Regular, Veteran bots react instantly to being shot.
 * The bots on Veteran have extremely fast reactions that make them difficult to kill.
 * They often (on all difficulties) use Second Chance, and will attempt to revive each other.
 * Be careful, as they can target, track, and shoot players through light cover and smoke that the player can not see through.
 * The Bots often use sniper rifles which can prevent getting high killstreaks.

Equipment
As of the April 28, 2011 update, bots can now use equipment. It is possible to get Ghost Pro if the bot uses Hacker pro to turn the player's own Sentry Gun against him/her and he/she takes it out, they will get the needed challenge for "Destroy an enemy sentry gun."

Prestige Glitch
Prestige Mode is not available in Combat Training, but can be accessed, more than once, through a glitch. '''This glitch is for Xbox 360. The PS3 version of the glitch is not shown.'''
 * There has been another way to prestige as of the February 2, 2011 update. The person in need of prestige would need to have a friend start a Player match, while the prestiging person would go to the prestige leaderboards and hover over the "Just show me the leaderboard already" option while the other person would switch the match to Combat Training. The person would then go to the Prestige leaderboards and then hit B. They would be at their playercard and could prestige.

PC Glitch
One as-yet unpatched glitch for the PC allows the player to play any game mode they like on Combat Training. The steps are simple and apply to all game modes, with the exception of enabling hardcore.


 * The player joins an online server running their desired game mode (with wager matches the empty ones are best so as not to lose the buy-in fee).
 * They then leave the game and go to combat training.
 * Set the desired number of allies and enemies, time limit, etc.
 * Open the developer console with the ~ key and type in the desired maps console codename (e.g.: "devmap mp_havoc" for Jungle) then press enter.
 * The map will open in developer mode, with the last game mode played as the game mode.

This is not much use generally, since the bots will not attempt to capture Domination points, plant the bomb, etc. However, the Free-for-All nature of the Wager match modes means that they work very well, with a slight exception with Sticks and Stones, when the bots are atrociously accurate with the given weapons even on lower difficulties. This can be exploited to practice these modes for an advantage online.

Trivia

 * On 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 there is only Team Deathmatch and Free-for-All available in this game.
 * In the PC version, it's possible to use bots to do Wager matches with some minor bugs, or even in private match with customized settings like custom classes or killstreaks using the console and the config file.
 * No matter what weapon is being used, or what difficulty the player chooses, the bots' weapons will never show recoil in the Killcam.
 * The only camouflages that the Bots use are Dusty, Red, Ice, and Olive.
 * Combat training uses Treyarch employees names, but abbreviates the first letter of their first name(ex. David Vonderhaar, will become [3arc]DVonderhaar).
 * Sometimes in Recruit mode, the bots will just run straight past the player.
 * 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 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 a airdrop they seem to come to the players position and attempt to steal it as if they have the awareness of veteran difficulty bots.
 * Enemy CPUs seem to capture friendly airdrops as fast as a one in online multiplayer would.