Facebook: http://facebook.com/XboxAhoy Twitter: http://twitter.com/xboxahoy In this episode we're covering the first weapon in the shotgun category - the Olympia. The Olympia is a double-barreled shotgun, and is part of one of the default classes, so you'll be able to use it right from the start. The Olympia was marketed as the Rottweil Olympia '72. Rottweil is a German brand, owned by Dynamit Nobel - but the weapon itself was produced under license by Italian arms manufacturer, Fratelli Gamba Armi. It was made in 1972, with the 'Olympia' moniker likely applying to the Olympic games which took place in Munich that year. The Olympia has two barrels, in an over-and-under configuration - and a bead sight on the bore axis near the muzzle. A thoroughbred sporting shotgun, the Olympia is designed for skeet shooting - and although not intended for use in combat, takes on the role with aplomb in Black Ops. There's no magazine to speak of, but two barrels mean two chambered rounds - reloading is done via a break-barrel and the two spent cartridges are automatically extracted. The weapon fires 12 gauge shotgun cartridges, most likely double-aught buck in-game. The Olympia is a high-damage shotgun, on par with the Stakeout - and the fact that it's double-barreled means you can get the two shots off relatively quickly compared to the pump-action. One hit kills are common, and two will finish off most within your effective range. Be warned that outside of this range your pellets will have no effect - so using a shotgun from middle range out is an entirely fruitless pursuit. Spread is relatively high compared to the other shotguns, and recoil tends upwards - although given the spread and low capacity, recoil isn't a major factor at all as far as accuracy is concerned. Your mobility and aim speed are quick with the shotguns - just 200 milliseconds to aim down the sight, the same as an SMG. The reload is painfully slow, however - taking between 3 and 4 seconds to complete. With just two rounds chambered before you need to reload, you've really got to make every shot count with this weapon. You do, however, need to remain mobile when using the shotguns - you can't expect to camp in a high-traffic corner for an entire game without the enemy getting wise to your tactic. Every move you do make should be carefully considered - Spy Planes are essential for watching enemy movements, and positioning yourself accordingly. The pace of the game you play should vary as suits the situation - move quickly through open areas, slowly sweep through interiors, and don't be afraid to come to a complete halt if you're expecting an offensive push through a doorway or other chokepoint. Corners can be a very effective tool. Use them to control the range of engagement - the angles you expose should be those best suited to your weapon. Lure aggressive enemies around them to give them a buckshot surprise, and duck back around the corner to reload and prepare for the next wave. Charging in is usually suicide unless you're certain of an enemy's position - an SMG is a lot more forgiving up close than a shotgun. The shotguns work best as a direct counter to both aggressive and defensive opponents. In counter-offensive usage, you need to anticipate enemy movements and position yourself to strike unseen from behind or the side. When playing against enemies adopting a more defensive tack, covertly moving behind them and clearing out defenders under a counter spy plane or jammer can work very well. The Olympia boasts overwhelming firepower up close - the high damage and two quick shots you can unleash make it tough to beat within its effective range. The Stakeout has the superior capacity and tighter spread, but the Olympia will kill a single opponent quicker in most cases. The major downside is the lack of versatility - unlike the SMGs, the shotguns are totally impotent outside of their effective range, which forces you to adopt very particular tactics. The Olympia's paltry two round capacity can also hamper your effectiveness, but Sleight of Hand, your sidearm, grenades, and the knife can all help fill the gap. If you do your job right, the enemy will never see you coming - nor will they have any idea where you'll strike from next.