Chemistry is no science. Finding the right teammates requires time, patience and perseverance. You can’t always be with your best friends but it might not be in your best interest to hop around from team to team just because they are “more skilled.” The longer a team sticks together, the better they get as a unit. Replacing even a single member of that unit can profoundly impact overall performance in both positive and negative directions.

If you’re a class-A jerk, you're not going to find the right teammates because there’s no one out there deserving of such an awful fate! A strong team communicates pertinent game information and encourages one another. While teams develop playful banter as they get to know one another, negative, nonconstructive criticism will doom a team to sub-par performances. In general, if you’ve found a group of people who are about as good as you and you’re all looking to get better, you’re on the right track.

How dedicated are you? Do you want a team that practices every night? Use the MLG forums and talk to people who you meet in scrims. Eventually you’ll find a group of people with similar desires. If you want to go pro, you need a team with like-minded individuals. In a similar vein, if one of your teammates, even if he’s the best guy in the world, lacks the dedication to get where you want to be, it might be time for a change. All these things work themselves out, but a great player will learn how to work within a team environment and stick with a team when he or she has found the right one.

Keep in mind you might have to be willing to travel. Not only is LAN experience great for tournament play, but being around your team in person is an invaluable bonding experience. On top of this fact, it will allow you to work out kinks in your game much more quickly and effectively. While Halo 3 will always be a fluid game and each member must be able to hold his own with a Battle Rifle and a sniper, teams typically have players that have their strong points. If you find yourself on a team with three sniper-hogs, either the glory-craving must cease or the team must dissolve. Getting together in person and talking out team issues can be life-saving. As you bond with your team a mutual respect should grow that enables you to overcome obstacles in your way to achieving the next level.