3rd Party VOIP, how detrimental is it to PR teamwork?

[PolishKruk]

I like playing this game with my friends and with the great people I have met in this community. But I strongly dislike using 3rd party voip while doing so unless the entire squad is using the same voip.

Since PR has mumble integrated with the servers is using a 3rd party system even needed? Do they add to the teamwork that can be done or are they a detriment to good team play?

I will say that I have been on both sides as well. I have experienced being in a clan squad when everyone else was on TS but me and I felt lost and completely uninformed of the situation. I have also been in squads where by friends and I have been on voip and the constant chatter from them and the rest of the squad and from the command net have driven me crazy.

I just don't like using these programs while in PR. But are they as bad as I think they are? Do people use them and like them when not everyone in the squad is using it?

I also understand that any conclusion varies heavily on the most uncontrollable factor IE the player.

[Mineral]

3rd party provides no advantages to infantry gameplay in public play.

On assets it can help filter the channels a bit by putting asset users in seperate TS channels for example which makes voip more clear then using local mumble.

IMO

[Jutsch]

It's just totally pointless. The integrated mumble channels are all you need and you can communicate with everyone you need to. I've seen some "Skype-chat" squads lately, locked with 3 or 4 people.
It's breaking teamplay in every case, except the one Mineral mentioned, if a CAS gunner and pilot use TS.
If i was a server admin, i would kick any INF squads that don't use the in-game Mumble!

[mat552]

I think you're inventing a problem to be outraged at.

[Rudd]

Clans like to have some banter etc with their mates in other squads, but yeah I agree with Mineral, it's only a powerful tool when in use by Assets, generally it's a distraction that just interferes with PR's communication model.

However, it is rather useful to be on TS with an admin, in the past I've just muted TS in the background unless I needed an admin and then I can unmute.

[PolishKruk]

I think you're inventing a problem to be outraged at.

I'm not outraged at anything. I have merely given my experience which is negative and have asked other people to share their insight. Reading their comments have added some positives I have overlooked but the consensus seems to be that it is ineffective and not necessary for infantry squads which is what I do 99.9% of the time.

I'm sorry my thread discussing 3rd party voip has offended you.

[Jutsch]

I'm not outraged at anything.
...

I'm sorry my thread discussing 3rd party voip has offended you.

I think it was addressed to me

[[508th_PIR] Grey]

I also understand that any conclusion varies heavily on the most uncontrollable factor IE the player.

That's pretty much it. There is nothing inherently "wrong" with using TS.Vent/etc while playing PR. However, using third-party comms to the exclusion of PRMumble is simply bad teamplay.

[matty1053]

I only use Teamspeak if I need to speak with admin. Using JUST teamspeak hurts the teamwork in PR IMO. You can't communicate locally with it, or with other squad leaders.

I've seen entire squads only using teamspeak and to get their attention you have to have an admin warn them or something... It's pathetic especially if they are Tanks. Then they get mad at you if they get killed by a enemy tank, claiming you didn't tell them theres a tank in the area.

[Frontliner]

Since PR has mumble integrated with the servers is using a 3rd party system even needed? Do they add to the teamwork that can be done or are they a detriment to good team play?

Yes, because the Squad you're in is not the Clan you're in.

Yes, they add to the gameplay because you can quickly inform the people in other squads about potential danger without wasting time on bringing it to your SQL's attention, who then talks to the squad in question or wasting time on typing it in chat if it's only addressed to a select number of players.

[Cassius]

As long as 3rd party is only used for Thrashtalk or as a crew channel is fine, but if it is used instead of mumble then its not so fine.

[jcvjcvjcvjcv]

If I was in a vehicle, I would prefer TS with voice activation to communicate with the gunner. In vanilla BF2 I have probably ~100 hours flying attack chopper with one friend and needing to push a button to talk would have been annoying.

However, over-all; yes, not using the PR mumble kills teamplay a lot. It's not only PR that suffers from this. Also FAF.

[Avram]

My crew usually uses TS only to organize which server we will join, and if we're all in the same squad then we all switch to mumble.

[DesmoLocke]

I will say that I have been on both sides as well. I have experienced being in a clan squad when everyone else was on TS but me and I felt lost and completely uninformed of the situation. I have also been in squads where by friends and I have been on voip and the constant chatter from them and the rest of the squad and from the command net have driven me crazy.

It's only really detrimental in the situations you described.

How to fix it?
1. Make sure the clan guys use PR mumble to play the game and keep their side chatting in their VOIP.
2. Tell your friends to practice better comms discipline in your VOIP especially if you're trying to squad lead.