Hello @ewF3AR, this is a really good question, I am sure that many players are in the same situation and also had asked this question to themselves at least once in moment of their life. I think that you will find some replies in the linked thread (you really should read it), but I will go further in details with your "Where to start?".
The approach will be slightly different with games such a COD, Halo or Gears of War since they exist for a long time. Here, I will try to give you some of the keys to begin with Crossfire X, which are also working for new IPs.
Before reading my reply, you still have to know that you are always going to find people with a wide range of different experiences at the release of any multiplayer games, and that the most experienced will ever have a considerable advantage. Even if it is a totally new game, the knowledge you accumulated through your past will always be helpful. I would also say that the first weeks of a release are very probably the most decisive ones so if you want to be noticeable, you will necessary have to be serious and take the game more as a long-term project than actually a game. Before starting a project, you always need to know the end goal which could be revised following the situation or unexpected events and the capacities at your disposal, in this present case, the most important ones are : the time you willing to invest, your skills and your circle of friends interested by the game.
If the people you play with does not take you seriously as you mentioned, know that it already bring a reply to what you need to know. There is definitively a problem either with these people, either with yourself or either these people and yourself. This is not intended as a value judgement but as a fact. Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” I am not saying at all that you are insane but there is obvisouly something wrong, and you noticed it. Asking for help is already a big step if you are trapped and this is why I am sincerely pleased to bring you some help.
First off, if I am understanding well, you never had the opportunity to play with people that gave you a chance to take an important step so if you have nothing to loose, you definitively should consider Crossfire X as a fresh start if being a high-end competitive and estimeed player matters to you. This may seem extreme but you will have to make some choices and take some decisions implying to change a part of your routine you had until today. If the people you played with does not see the potential in you, you will easily find other that will, at the condition you are at the minimum decent and serious.
When CFX comes out, and before everything else, you need to distinguish yourself from the mass, and the best way is to become better. There is no secrets, to do so, you will have to play a lot and as importantly, play to improve. I do not believe much in the "natural talent", especially into video games. This really is a matter of memory, concentration and repetition. An high IQ will obviously give you the possibility to exploit new ways, or being better faster but in the end your ability to make progress everydays mostly comes from the manner you have to spend your time in game.
During this process (to be above the average level), you will probably have meet a few people. Some will maybe be better than you, and other will not have figured out how to be efficient with the different mechanics or strategies. You need to manage your time well and actively lead your life instead of waiting for an event dropping from the sky. You will need to skim your contacts that are not good enough to ensure you to rise, so it will give you more time to play with the more skilled ones. At this moment, you still want to expand your list of contact so you should always be open to meet new players and try to join their groups (which will give you the possibility to once again select the good ones) or invite them to play with you and your actual contacts. We are talking about contacts because for now, your best interest is not to make friends but find people that correspond to your mentality, to your ambitions, and to your level (or better if they are not too big headed and see you more as a partner than someone to carry).
Once you have a group of contacts with who you play on a very regular basis, meets the level you expect to continue the adventure and with who you have a good feeling, experienced emotions, and seen them in their good as their bad days, you actually can call them friends. It is with some of these players that the rest of the journey will take place. Pick them carefully because someone you do not know, that knows one of them and seeing you play with will quickly make the link between both of you. It can be a good thing but it can also make your future more complicated in certain cases. Having friends will give you the possibility to join and play together in a lot of custom games, or competitive lobbies, where you will be able to put into practice what you have learnt so far, learn a lot of different things, and evaluate the general level of the community, and so yours. Your reputation is very important to be invited again, so if you still want to get better and find new contacts it is worth notifying your friends to be polite, fair-play and act like mature persons even if you are or they are young. I am personally more inclined to play with or against skilled young people that I had fun to game with or battle against than adults acting in a bad way.
Comes the time where things are spicing up. The Ranked has come. Or an event has been announced. If you had invested a lot of time with your friends, the moment to make something out of it had also arrived. If you have the mindset of a leader, try to be in charges of the things. If you does not have it, it is not a big deal as long one of your closest friend is truely concerned and motivated to being in charge of this group of friends, that you can call team.
The players picking up should always be done in the most natural way and if you have done things correctly, at this moment : your team is already constituated by 3 or 4 or 5 players, and if this is not the case you should being spoilt for choice and have the upper hand. It is always hard to tell to a friend that he will not be able to compete with you, but it is even harder to not have good teammates around you so you want to prefer to be in the first case, ever. This doesn't say that you should stop talking with the guys that have not been picked into the team and it is quite the contrary. Maintain a relationship with them as a team and as an individual will make you aware of their situation which is always good to have an overview of what is happening around you, will also offer you the possibility to play and stay at a good level with inviting them or being invited to scrim and even recruit a member or being recruited if anything bad happens to your or their team.
I hope it helped you a bit to construct your roadmap, if you have any questions or want more details, feel free to reply and I will make sure to provide you the informations you need.
@ewF3AR You are welcome Sir, and no problem at all about the delay. I am happy if it helped you, if you need any more informations related to this subject or a whole different one, I am around.
Hello @ewF3AR, this is a really good question, I am sure that many players are in the same situation and also had asked this question to themselves at least once in moment of their life. I think that you will find some replies in the linked thread (you really should read it), but I will go further in details with your "Where to start?".
How to make a good start
The approach will be slightly different with games such a COD, Halo or Gears of War since they exist for a long time. Here, I will try to give you some of the keys to begin with Crossfire X, which are also working for new IPs.
Before reading my reply, you still have to know that you are always going to find people with a wide range of different experiences at the release of any multiplayer games, and that the most experienced will ever have a considerable advantage. Even if it is a totally new game, the knowledge you accumulated through your past will always be helpful. I would also say that the first weeks of a release are very probably the most decisive ones so if you want to be noticeable, you will necessary have to be serious and take the game more as a long-term project than actually a game. Before starting a project, you always need to know the end goal which could be revised following the situation or unexpected events and the capacities at your disposal, in this present case, the most important ones are : the time you willing to invest, your skills and your circle of friends interested by the game.
If the people you play with does not take you seriously as you mentioned, know that it already bring a reply to what you need to know. There is definitively a problem either with these people, either with yourself or either these people and yourself. This is not intended as a value judgement but as a fact. Einstein once said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” I am not saying at all that you are insane but there is obvisouly something wrong, and you noticed it. Asking for help is already a big step if you are trapped and this is why I am sincerely pleased to bring you some help.
First off, if I am understanding well, you never had the opportunity to play with people that gave you a chance to take an important step so if you have nothing to loose, you definitively should consider Crossfire X as a fresh start if being a high-end competitive and estimeed player matters to you. This may seem extreme but you will have to make some choices and take some decisions implying to change a part of your routine you had until today. If the people you played with does not see the potential in you, you will easily find other that will, at the condition you are at the minimum decent and serious.
When CFX comes out, and before everything else, you need to distinguish yourself from the mass, and the best way is to become better. There is no secrets, to do so, you will have to play a lot and as importantly, play to improve. I do not believe much in the "natural talent", especially into video games. This really is a matter of memory, concentration and repetition. An high IQ will obviously give you the possibility to exploit new ways, or being better faster but in the end your ability to make progress everydays mostly comes from the manner you have to spend your time in game.
During this process (to be above the average level), you will probably have meet a few people. Some will maybe be better than you, and other will not have figured out how to be efficient with the different mechanics or strategies. You need to manage your time well and actively lead your life instead of waiting for an event dropping from the sky. You will need to skim your contacts that are not good enough to ensure you to rise, so it will give you more time to play with the more skilled ones. At this moment, you still want to expand your list of contact so you should always be open to meet new players and try to join their groups (which will give you the possibility to once again select the good ones) or invite them to play with you and your actual contacts. We are talking about contacts because for now, your best interest is not to make friends but find people that correspond to your mentality, to your ambitions, and to your level (or better if they are not too big headed and see you more as a partner than someone to carry).
Once you have a group of contacts with who you play on a very regular basis, meets the level you expect to continue the adventure and with who you have a good feeling, experienced emotions, and seen them in their good as their bad days, you actually can call them friends. It is with some of these players that the rest of the journey will take place. Pick them carefully because someone you do not know, that knows one of them and seeing you play with will quickly make the link between both of you. It can be a good thing but it can also make your future more complicated in certain cases. Having friends will give you the possibility to join and play together in a lot of custom games, or competitive lobbies, where you will be able to put into practice what you have learnt so far, learn a lot of different things, and evaluate the general level of the community, and so yours. Your reputation is very important to be invited again, so if you still want to get better and find new contacts it is worth notifying your friends to be polite, fair-play and act like mature persons even if you are or they are young. I am personally more inclined to play with or against skilled young people that I had fun to game with or battle against than adults acting in a bad way.
Comes the time where things are spicing up. The Ranked has come. Or an event has been announced. If you had invested a lot of time with your friends, the moment to make something out of it had also arrived. If you have the mindset of a leader, try to be in charges of the things. If you does not have it, it is not a big deal as long one of your closest friend is truely concerned and motivated to being in charge of this group of friends, that you can call team.
The players picking up should always be done in the most natural way and if you have done things correctly, at this moment : your team is already constituated by 3 or 4 or 5 players, and if this is not the case you should being spoilt for choice and have the upper hand. It is always hard to tell to a friend that he will not be able to compete with you, but it is even harder to not have good teammates around you so you want to prefer to be in the first case, ever. This doesn't say that you should stop talking with the guys that have not been picked into the team and it is quite the contrary. Maintain a relationship with them as a team and as an individual will make you aware of their situation which is always good to have an overview of what is happening around you, will also offer you the possibility to play and stay at a good level with inviting them or being invited to scrim and even recruit a member or being recruited if anything bad happens to your or their team.
I hope it helped you a bit to construct your roadmap, if you have any questions or want more details, feel free to reply and I will make sure to provide you the informations you need.