Trying to enjoy PR (frustrations of a new player)

[Superv1sor]

I like No-Lock too. I've recently returned to playing PR (1.0 release) and yesterday evening I used 2 hours trying to find a server where I could get a spot in an infantry squad. Even at English only servers I found a lot of locked squads for native speakers from different countries. Joining them just resulted in getting kicked. I also found a lot of clan squads getting locked up (At some point there were 5 clan squads :0).

[nAyo]

afAnimal, as already said I know PRTA will be very willing to have you and to teach you the game, since I know a lot of squad leaders there keen helping newcomers. In my opinion your first experiences were bad luck, there is a countless amount of good and open squad leaders in the community who are not restricted to their veteran friends.

When it comes to the servers themselves, MeRk, PRTA, QRF are great european servers with good rules. And I'm sure if you say that you're a beginner people will be willing to help

[Megagoth1702]

Believe it or not but this kind of experience is normal for non-clan player or player who doesn't play PR with friends.

Feel ya, bro..(c)

Not true. PRTA; NWA; TG, all servers where you can get into high quality inf sqds.

[Arc_Shielder]

I like No-Lock too. I've recently returned to playing PR (1.0 release) and yesterday evening I used 2 hours trying to find a server where I could get a spot in an infantry squad. Even at English only servers I found a lot of locked squads for native speakers from different countries. Joining them just resulted in getting kicked. I also found a lot of clan squads getting locked up (At some point there were 5 clan squads :0).

If you're still facing the same issue of joining servers with no luck, even in the most strongly suggested ones, feel free to go to PRTA and sign up an application to join Catshit unit. We are welcoming of new members and we like casual gameplay. Maybe what you need is a consistent group of people to play with to fully enjoy the game.

[ghostfool84]

If you see a Closed Squad that you want to join ask in team chat for a slot, most squadleaders will let you in or explain why they will not, often Squads are closed to avoid kitstealers. A message in the chat shows that you are able to communicate and thats more than these kitstealers do so try it. People who are not responding to anything are the most annoying ones.

The language is another problem and its kind of strange. Most people speak english good enough to play with them, but if you are with like 4 germans in a squad and telling stories or something while walking across the map and a english speaking player joins it takes away the spontaneous talking and people tend to speak less because their english is not so good or they are just to lazy...that takes away something.

Many servers have the "more than 4 players to close" rule, i think with 8 man squads 5 or 6 players before you can close would be a better solution but thats up to the server admins.


edit: jevski .... not really.

[Jevski]

wrong thread

[MADsqirrel]

I love beeing a freelancer SL and I love having new players in my squad. Its true that old players prefer to play with people they know, but there are many good SLs out there, who also enjoy teaching new players or play with random people.

And doing SL yourself isnt impossible, even as a new player. I am sure if you create a INF squad people will join it and old players will help you if needed.

I can recommend PRTA and NWA and when I am able to play again you're always welcome in my Squad .

[Game Warden]

Believe it or not but this kind of experience is normal for non-clan player or player who doesn't play PR with friends.

Feel ya, bro..(c)

I don't know about that. I've been playing since the release of the Falklands last year and all the squads most of the squads I've been in or lead were pretty successful. I think I did good for myself for a person that is not involve with a clan. Then again, I guess it's because I've been playing for quite some time now and I know the ropes when It comes to playing this game.

[Heavy Death]

Join something that looks decent or is in a language you understand. Ther were occasions where there wasnt any good free spots and i just bailed for the round, but that is rare as i more than often just lead a new squad. With 100p this is harder, so stick to good communities, like PRTA.

[ComradeHX]

Locked squads?

They are not that common.

I have been playing since before 0.86; and it was really not surpirising that a bunch of strangers from all over the internet to function as a single, somewhat decent, squad.

[Major._Spork]

I'm not a new player, but I have a question for the general player populace who may be looking at this thread. - I'm someone who likes to have a "semi-relaxed" tone when I play, when not in combat I enjoy being able to chat with squad-mates and simply laugh while playing. But when firefights come, I can pretty quickly put on the serious tone, and also give details about direction and type of units we are facing. (usually not too too in depth, but depends on the night and how tired I am [ more tired = more rambling I've learned])

Any way to tell a squad thats more "relaxed" vs. one that takes things too seriously (or not serious enough) - and are their clans or servers who tend to play with this play-style compared to others?

[Skitrel]

I'm not a new player, but I have a question for the general player populace who may be looking at this thread. - I'm someone who likes to have a "semi-relaxed" tone when I play, when not in combat I enjoy being able to chat with squad-mates and simply laugh while playing. But when firefights come, I can pretty quickly put on the serious tone, and also give details about direction and type of units we are facing. (usually not too too in depth, but depends on the night and how tired I am [ more tired = more rambling I've learned])

Any way to tell a squad thats more "relaxed" vs. one that takes things too seriously (or not serious enough) - and are their clans or servers who tend to play with this play-style compared to others?

I wouldn't worry about this too much. This is pretty much how the vast majority of the community enjoys things most. You learn who the SLs that are too-serious are pretty quickly, they're the ones that get angry/ragey, and in my experience they hurt enjoyment of the game quite considerably.

Just learn the names of the problem SLs and don't join their squads, the vast majority that take up the role MUCH prefer a laid back squad that gets serious when the need is there. A happy squad is a better environment. Squad leading can be a stressful position at times and a squad that's chatty is a squad that can still enjoy itself when absolutely everything goes horribly wrong for one reason or another, this makes the stressful position of squad leading much more enjoyable because it takes away one factor of the stress - that people are actually enjoying themselves. I don't think many SLs will disagree with me when I say that the position feels at least partially responsible for the enjoyment of squad members. I personally want to ensure my squad members enjoy themselves. Some SLs even use small tricks to encourage this, like asking a squad member to sing a song when medic is looking for them in local chat, etc.

[Alpha.s9]

I'm really sorry your experiences haven't been great.

But your issues are not with the mod itself, they are with the players. There's a known saying in PR's DEV circle:

"We can't mod the players".

Some suggestions of what you could do:

1. Try to play on servers that encourage teamwork and stick with it. Eventually you start recognizing people that play at the same times as you and you can join in with them. Clans will be clans, they exist because they want to play with each other. I think they are missing out on a lot of cools things if they would open up to other squads and groups of people.

2. Join a clan? I don't know how to do this, I'm not in a clan. The group of friends I play with we naturally started playing together more and more and that's it. Also, I usually run open squads with people I don't know. If they listen and play the right way, I keep them in the squad, and even invite them next round. Ask around and people will say that's true.

3. Be a squad leader. Make your own fun. Say hi to people that join your squad, and tell them what's your plan. If people start enjoying themselves they will join your squad again next round. That way you increase your group of players you can play with.

4. If you fail, say "Oh well, looks like that didn't work out the way I planned. What do you think we should've done?". People will respect that if they aren't 12 year's old and will stick with you.

I feel your pain, but not much the mod can do by itself. The tools are there for people to work with them, but if they stay separate from each other, that's sad.

DB LIVES!

First, find a clan or gaming group that works together. Ask to join their squads. Find one you like, that clicks with your gaming style, and stick with them until they are forced to invite you.

Or find a Quu SL and jump in his squad. I'll endorse any Quu squad all day long. PRTA is a good place to find people too, especially if you are looking for a LOT of (somewhat ) organized people.

I don't think the Quu is around much anymore but I know a couple of people are still playing, and many of us are teetering on the fence about to fall back into it.

The main thing is, the more often you play with like minded people the more you will enjoy the experience, and it will keep getting better once you find a group of "squaddies" you can rely on.

[Marinko-YU]

Jump on PRTA TS ( ip: 213.133.97.46 )
I squadlead public sq all the time, I'm not that great of a squadleader but I find my ways
Look me up when you get there and feel free to poke.If its not me you can always find someone playing.

[Mauser GDog]

I've started Squad Leading when I play, and it's the best way to ensure you have a good game. If you see a squad called DOGS INF get in there, I take the good the bad and the ugly!

Couple things I've noticed while leading that can make a good squad better:
-When a player joins your squad, be sure to greet them by name.
-Check in on squad members by name every few minutes keeps players sharp and on task.
-If your squad gets too spread out, stop everyone and rally up, then proceed with task.
-Rotate through your roster when selecting a point man, other than medic anyone can take point.

Basically anything that keeps you together and communicating makes for the best teamwork and gives new players the best opportunity to learn.

Happy Hunting!

[3ti65]

Hello guys,

I play in a clan with people from other clans and of course my own. I do SL at 95% of my time online.

Whenever i feel like doing a public squad would be something good for the community, i come out of it with a bad aftertaste in maybe 80% of the cases. The reason is simple, we, and i think i can speak for most of the clan guys that have been playing for 3-4+ years, are used to a very high level of teamplay, communication and action. Something only possible if you know the guys you play with by heart.

I recently did a public squad and it was okay until a small enemy unit appeared. No discipline in holding fire when i said so, stop shooting as soon as getting shot at and running away from the squad made my squad be wiped out within seconds. Half of the players leave a public squad after the first death (if there was no huge success before that) without saying a goddamn word. And that pisses me off. Theres neither loyality or any respect towards your work and heavy stress as SL.

I'd say only 30% of the public players are actually willing to teamplay. The rest just wants quick fun.
Also, with the new 8 men squads, you get about double as ineffective as a public squad, as with the previous 6. You're slow, too much communication, no situational awareness, etc. In one word, one big fuckup.

My tip for everyone that wants to play with a clan squad: Walk with them, cover their rear, scout enemies for them. Accationally ask if you could join the squad. Or they gonna ask you. I do that quite often to people helping my squad. It's all about attitude. The locking squad in the beginning and kicking every non-clan dude from it has developed over the years, and its necessary IMO. Don't get pissed by it, its got nothing to do with you personally. If you really want to get into professional squadplay (clans), then stick with them, sharpen up ur comms, help out where you can, and cover them.

[kuratomi1950]

Yeah you're not the only one, when that happens trust me, YOU HAVE TO SQUAD LEAD

Today i played a round on Fools Road british side, i joined a squad which seemed neat and our squadleader had problems with his mumble so he crashed and well i got picked up as squad leader, never before had I actually led a squad throughout a whole round, but trust me, it was BLOODY FUN!

Coordinating with other squads and your commander has to be the best thing ever, we assault the mining facility then we moved up to the hill and took it from the militia then seconds later they started assaulting and took it back, my squad was wiped out several times and I was left all like "Damn..." But i just told them to fall back, respawn at FOBS or main and move up again, the trick is on never giving up, we ended up winning the round and I had tons of fun, im going to keep squad leading from now on

[Stockypotty]

On the NWA server I normally squad lead with randoms and do exactly as you want: organise the sqd, move as one, work as a team. However I will only play with you if you have a mic.

Come to NWA and look for my name = *NwA* pewStockypotty

[Archosaurus]

I've found, in my SLing experience, which was long ago in the land of 6 man squads, that telling individual people what to do, by name, and making sure they hear it, is good.
Be sure to also always dictate change in plan to everyone and make sure they listen before moving out.

I might try a MECH INF squad with PR's new 8 man squads, but with all the newbies, I don't think it'd be very organized and fun.

[KneeHiGh]

I might try a MECH INF squad with PR's new 8 man squads, but with all the newbies, I don't think it'd be very organized and fun.

I have done this a few times on insurgency maps as a SL and its fun. I find the best way is to assign 2 squad members to drive/gun and then you can lead the ground forces / direct the APC around pretty easier.

I have tried this as well squad leading as the driver of the APC. I think now since you need to communicate more with other squads and are "in the map" more than in .98 I think it works the best if you are not the driver and instead inf.