Is a mic an absolute must-have in order to play PR?

[Sniper_killer]

I just came back from a long break from PR (not entirely tho, my computer went boom and this one doesn't have enough power to run PR), and wanted to ask this question. Is having a mic essential to a) Be able to play the game well b) enjoy the game c) avoid getting kicked from the squad the second you type it in the squad chat? For various reasons (other people in the house, room doesn't keep sound well, living with my parents and feels weird talking to a computer under their watchful eyes ) I am not willing to get one. With some search-fu I managed to find a thread that to some extent covers the same question, but it dates back to the past and opinions varied back then. I wanted to know if this has changed. What is the likelyhood to find a squadleader on a teamwork-promoting server that doesn't kick you just because you don't have a mic? I consider myself a good teamplayer, am a fast typer and usually pick kits that don't require so much talk to be able to use.

[mockingbird0901]

^^ pretty much this.

[saXoni]

You're able to do everything except talking. When you can't talk, everything kind of gets harder to accomplish.

[Cossack]

How there must be even discussion about it?

But on more serious note: Its a must. In this game - you dont speak,you are pretty much useless. SL is asking you something but you start typing and a lot of this already changed like you are dead or squad is because you could not cover the guys or yourself because you were typing.

[Stealthgato]

Every decent squad I've been in, when someone doesn't have a mic they are asked to get their mic working or leave, if that doesn't work they get kicked. And I do the same.

[Himalde]

Don't worry about your parents/siblings/roommates, just don't yell, they will get used to it. And if you must, play music in the background, and sing along when you're not talking.

[Web_cole]

If I pub squad lead I expect everyone to have a mic, if you don't your going to get kicked from squads a lot I would say. The answer to a) and b) for me at least is "Yes".

[Hannes_Sbg]

When I SL I kick players if they refuse to communicated at all. I can handle one guy without mic in my squad, but he wont get any special kits or orders....

[PoisonBill]

I'll take the step and say that PR is shit without a mic, unless you are testing something online/against bots which will help you in other situations, you don't really need one. If you are just playing, you need a mic. Even if a player is good, you can't learn him if he doesn't have a mic, he can't give you an instant response so in my squad, if it is a 50-64 manned server, he will prolly get kicked. In some instances you can be 3 players who kill like 25-40 people after a round. With a few deaths ofc. But the thing about PR squads is to be efficient, if you can do your objective with 4 people, do it with 4. You shouldn't feel the need to sacrifice your objective for a fifth guy, who is inefficient.

This is of course what I think, but since Ive been experiencing many bad, annoying servers. I feel that the question of having a mic or not, is a very, very, very old one. The question should be, is a good microphone needed, so people can understand what I'm saying?

[velocity]

I tend to kick people who don't have microphones if im doing Inf, not because i suddenly hate you (although usually conceived this way), but because I find that if you have a squad that all has a microphones, its overall more enjoyable.

However if you don't have a microphone I tend to become more annoyed with that person as they stand still (usually in the open) to type out enemy then not give a direction. People with microphones just seem to react better and give more information.

[Sgt.BountyOrig]

As an infantry SL, I really dont care if you have a Mic or not. If you know the principles of
-Supporting Fire
-Stealth
-Proper Infantry Kit use
then I see not why you would be at all detrimental on the team.

[Mikemonster]

Yes. If you are in my squad and choose not to communicate properly because you are lazy or too shy to bother I will kick you.

This is a communication intensive game, you cannot be a good player when you are mute. All of the good players have mics and use them.

4 pounds Stirling for a mic, VOIP and mumble are free, testicles were generally included in the package at birth. Use them all.


(That was mainly to those searching for this topic in the future).

It is unfortunate that you can't talk because of proximity to parents, but it's inevitable that you will need a mic. It's one of the things that sets PR aside from other games.

[KiloJules]

Even though not all SLs would insta kick you, you can already see where this is going.

For me the answer is "MIC and MUMBLE"...never even start PR without mumble. Why would anybody do this?

Concerning your family...c'mon you talk to humans...from across the world! That is exciting not weird...if anything!

----------------------------------------

If you join my squad without a mic I will probably kick you even though I witnessed teamplayers without one.
(exactly 2 players in about 20 months and much PR)

Like others said: It is a major setback because everything gets even more complicated. For instance: Sheet hits the fan, everybody is fighting and suddenly you die...somewhere...how do you communicate your exact location to the medic? How do you communicate an "enemy on my body"? Normally living players can't read what dead people write. And yeah...even though you are a fast writer, when we cross an area and you see sth. do you stop to write, auto-walk to write? anyway...you can't shoot while doing that...and that is not good.

I'm even gonna take it a step further:

With the new mumble release I refuse to use BF2 voip anymore and will only accept players with mumble 1.0.0 (not because I absolutely want to local chat all the time but my mouse only has so many buttons )

BTW: A "NEW" Server is going for mumble (1.0.0) mandatory - congrats!

-------------------------------------------

TL;DR: GET MUMBLE AND A MIC!

[saXoni]

Don't worry about your parents/siblings/roommates, just don't yell, they will get used to it. And if you must, play music in the background, and sing along when you're not talking.

Haha, is that what you do?

[PFunk]

I require everyone to use their voice to call contacts. Nothing worse than someone dying cause they tried to type "CONTACT".

I probably won't kick you, but I'll start to regret it pretty fast.

For me though I need a mic. Without one I can't Squad Lead or constantly tell the SL what I think he ought to be doing.

[Sniper_killer]

Does this apply to every situation or are there playing styles where it isn't necessary using a mic, for example trans heli pilot or medic? If all you do is transport people do you need a mic for that?

[Tarranauha200]

Its MUST for trans heli. People will be calling AA locations, where they want to go...etc.

Simple fact: PR is shit whitout mic.

[Mikemonster]

..
For me though I need a mic. Without one I can't Squad Lead or constantly tell the SL what I think he ought to be doing.

Hahaha i'll remember your voice, f***er

(joke)