Prodigy
Type: Bomb defuse
Size: Medium
Prodigy is one of the more intense maps in Counter-Strike, both
because it offers furious tunnel-based combat and because it forces
players to use their quick wits and action for eventual success by
either side. Other maps like Train and Back Alley have attempted to
duplicate the successful formula that makes the tunnel in Prodigy
so fearful, but with mixed results. The bottom line for anyone who
runs the tunnel gambit is that Prodigy must be attacked in stages,
no matter which pathway to the bomb spots is chosen.
Counter-Terrorist Perspective: Defend the Tunnel Entrance
All out rushing doesn't tend to work for counter-terrorists on this
map, as there are just too many covered terrorist positions that
are hard to get a shot off at. Instead, your team should use a
balance of rushing and camping. If you decide to guard the lower,
more popular bomb spot, rush to the tunnel entrance and arm
yourself with a high-explosive grenade. Hold off until you see the
whites of their eyes and throw the grenade toward the entrance. If
you overthrow it, you'll see it careen off the cliff and into the
abyss below, wasting it. Aim for the actual entrance of the tunnel
because your goal is to surprise rushing terrorists.
Once you've equipped yourself with your rifle again, take a covered
spot behind a box and watch for terrorists that strafe back and
forth across the opening on their side. Since Counter-Strike gives
an accuracy penalty to all weapons that are fired while on the
move, and you're behind a stationary covered position, you've got
the advantage. Don't rush too far into the tunnel, though, because
you're not the only one that can purchase and use grenades.
Your second option is to head right up the stairs and go outside to
the quad, where you'll meet terrorists rushing toward the second,
less popular bomb spot. If you're quick, try to get to the top of
the building in the quad. Doing so will give you an excellent
advantage over terrorists emerging from their garage.
Terrorist Perspective: Take the Low Road
It's so tempting to rush that tunnel each round, particularly if
you lost the round before and are bent on revenge. Before doing so,
you should consider heading up the stairs to the vending machine
area by the APC. There, you can lay down a significant amount of
fire from a number of secure positions. Each round, you should
advance into the area just enough to get a good firing angle on any
counter-terrorists. It's important though, to make sure no one on
your team strafes the opening that leads to both bomb spots because
you must maintain an element of stealth. The reason why is that the
counter-terrorist squad will quickly become bored with watching the
opening to the vending machine area and surrender its prime covered
positions to rush toward you. Again, since the terrorists the ones
moving into your field of fire now, they'll be at the disadvantage,
which is rare, considering that, most of the time on Prodigy, the
counter-terrorists are mostly stationary while terrorists
attack.
Once you've cleared the area, rush to the left and go down the
small stairs toward the lower bomb spot. That's right, rush the
lower bomb spot here even though the upper bomb spot is slightly
closer. This is because the lower bomb spot has a near total lack
of covered positions for counter-terrorists to ambush you from,
which is a stark contrast to the multiple death zones you might
encounter when rushing the upper bomb spot.
Plant the bomb, camp like mad, and prevent the counter-terrorists
from defusing it by picking your shots and not abandoning the bomb
until the final seconds before it explodes.
This is a favorite camp spot for counter-terrorists.
Llama Tip
Prodigy's design seems to calm down counter-terrorist teams and
gets them to think about using one of the many camping spots that
the boxes and walls offer. One that's particularly enjoyable,
though, is the large set of pipes that runs along the wall at the
counter-terrorist spawn point. When you spawn in as a
counter-terrorist, go straight for the ladder that leads to the
vent assembly. But instead of going into the vent, stop before you
enter the ceiling and look to your right from the ladder. You'll
see that you're slightly above those tall pipes and can jump right
on to them. Once you're on the pipes, walk all the way back to
where the pipes merge into the wall by the short stairs. Then,
crouch and turn around to face the tunnel opening.
From this vantage point, you can drill any terrorist that attempts
to plant the bomb at the lower spot, even if he comes from behind
you because of all the poor light. Plus, it's just a pain to hit a
counter-terrorist in that spot when you're strafing, and he's
crouched and stationary.