Project Reality Forums

Hi, I just got into PR today, but already see myself enjoying the high level of tactics and maturity involved in it. I do, however, have some questions.

First of all, am I really at a big disadvantage when joining a server with a game that's already in progress? I've yet to play a game from start to finish, but the servers that I join usually are already well on their way and joining a squad becomes hard as they are either full, locked, or have insufficient members.

Is there a way to get around this? I feel like I'm still carrying around my old BF2 mentality which somehow forms an obstacle to my enjoyment of PR.

-I would suggest you check the score of the players before joining to see what stage the game is at. If the 2 or 3 top players have 0-700 then it's early in the game, if they have around 700-1200 then it's mid game, if it's higher then it's late game(Around 10 minutes left I'd guess). As a general rule you should probably add 50% if the map is big(Kashan Desert and so on), and if it's small(Tad Sae) or using a Skirmish layer then you shouldn't expect players to go over 1000 points and can join at once as they rarely go longer than 30 minutes.

Just stick it out in the server. Sometimes joining a squad with just 2-3 other members will attract enough to fill it out. I'd also suggest glancing at the manual and some of the infantry guides some members have posted. You'll learn a lot and it will certainly help you on your way to becoming a valuable squad member.

Welcome to the war.

Logar wrote:Hi, I just got into PR today, but already see myself enjoying the high level of tactics and maturity involved in it.

Welcome to the PR forums!

Logar wrote:First of all, am I really at a big disadvantage when joining a server with a game that's already in progress?

Depends. If it's almost over, then there's probably not much you can do about the outcome (tides can chance though! ). But do play the game though, sometimes you have as much fun in 15 minutes as you would have in 2 hours, hehe. You never know, so give it your best shot, even if the cause seems lost. This is even more fun, nothing to lose, so everything to gain! Pistol pwnage or knifey knifey .

Logar wrote:I've yet to play a game from start to finish, but the servers that I join usually are already well on their way and joining a squad becomes hard as they are either full, locked, or have insufficient members.

Is there a way to get around this? I feel like I'm still carrying around my old BF2 mentality which somehow forms an obstacle to my enjoyment of PR.

Yes there is. Join the squads that have insufficient members. Others will follow your example and within minutes, you'll have a full squad, usually. The more members a squad has, the more likely it is others will join. Or, if you think you're ready for it (or not ), make your own squad, invite (squadless) players and pwn your way to the top .

Good luck and above all, have some fun, Dutchy!

Yes like Afterdune said: Some of my most intense first pr moments where in games that where well underway. Just join a squad, even if theres 1 player in it, and watch the other squads. A position might pop up because someone left, crashed or got a PB kick. Or just stick with the current squad-leader if hes communicating enough.

If you say you never finished a game, does that mean that you havent played pr in 1 long run yet, or that you just tried 2 games so far? Usually a medium map takes 1,5 hours or something. So if you say that you joined a game midway that leaves about something between half an hour to 50 minutes.

Thanks for the tips guys. I have to say that the more I play the game, the more I'm becoming familiar not only with the workings of a squad, but also the system of joining one and how it affects other people's choices, too.

For instance, a map change had just occurred, and we were still in briefing mode. At this point, you'd expect squads to just pop up one after the other. In stead, there was just one, and I didn't join it in time before it was filled 6/6.

Funny thing is, for at least another minute or so, no other squads would be made. More or less of out desperation, I made one myself. instantly others joined mine. It's like they were waiting for other squad leaders to follow rather than become squad leaders themselves.


One question remains though. Let's say I joined a server of an in-progress game and I join a squad with plenty of players. What's the usual way of reaching those players physically? Is it okay to ask a chopper pilot to "drop me off at Squad Leader 3" or something like that? What about other vehicles? What if the vehicle carries not just you, but other players from different squads too? Is it common to walk really long distances just to reach your SL?

Logar wrote:Thanks for the tips guys. I have to say that the more I play the game, the more I'm becoming familiar not only with the workings of a squad, but also the system of joining one and how it affects other people's choices, too.

For instance, a map change had just occurred, and we were still in briefing mode. At this point, you'd expect squads to just pop up one after the other. In stead, there was just one, and I didn't join it in time before it was filled 6/6.

Funny thing is, for at least another minute or so, no other squads would be made. More or less of out desperation, I made one myself. instantly others joined mine. It's like they were waiting for other squad leaders to follow rather than become squad leaders themselves.


One question remains though. Let's say I joined a server of an in-progress game and I join a squad with plenty of players. What's the usual way of reaching those players physically? Is it okay to ask a chopper pilot to "drop me off at Squad Leader 3" or something like that? What about other vehicles? What if the vehicle carries not just you, but other players from different squads too? Is it common to walk really long distances just to reach your SL?

Usually in the briefing part before the round starts, players are not meant to make squads before 90 secs due to the squad bug. Don't ask what it is, i don't know, but apparently making squads before then can cause it. So 35 secs before map begins squads will start popping up.

In answer to the transport question - Yes you can jump in a heli and ask the pilot, usually you will find a squad dedicated to transport of troops (named appropriately) Just say 'can you take me to squad ....' or if you want to be dropped at a different location, give the map co-ordinates e.g. E4KP2 (the kp stands for Key pad) As for transports with more than one person, then you may have to wait for others to be dropped off. But you can guarentee that you will be dropped off eventually (as long as your not shot down)

As for walking long distances...well yes that does happen, usually you will be walking with your squad, sometimes distances of 400 or more metres, this doesn't happen too often as usually you will run into the enemy at some point. Even if you do have a long walk, grab your mic and get talking, nothing makes the walks go quicker than joking around with your team mates or planning tactics. It also brings the squad together i think.

Anyway get some practise, go on some training servers and learn to fly and then go have some fun!

What tells me when the game started was:

400-500pts usualy means its around the start due to firebases being set up.
But also, it can also be based upon kills, usualy if most of the people have 3+ kills then its mid map.

Thanks again, I now feel more comfortable asking for a drop off by a pilot. I used to feel like I was bossing him around but I guess it's just his job.

Ok, here's the last thing I wanna ask. The whole "keypad" thing. I heard my squad leader use it yesterday and have no idea what it is or how it works. From what I gather, it's a way to transmit coordinates? But is it like some sort of code the game recognizes and transfers to all squad members, or something much more basic than that? I can't find anything conclusive about it online.

-I see a lot of players spawn on the battlefield before they join a squad. If you want to join up with your squad ASAP then hold your spawn and choose a squad first, then you can just spawn on their rally point. However, there's usually somebody transporting, via trucks, APCs, helos, etc. Just give them a shout and they pick you up.

-I'd also suggest you get Mumble(There's a sticky in the PR General Discussion Forum) as it greatly enhances teamwork and allows for better communication(On servers with mumble users of course ).

Logar wrote:Ok, here's the last thing I wanna ask. The whole "keypad" thing. I heard my squad leader use it yesterday and have no idea what it is or how it works. From what I gather, it's a way to transmit coordinates? But is it like some sort of code the game recognizes and transfers to all squad members, or something much more basic than that? I can't find anything conclusive about it online.

-The map in PR has a grid overlay and by using the numbers and letters on the side you get a grid, the top left square being A1. However, one square can be a pretty large chunk of territory and so you often need to be more specific. Inside the A1 square you will see that it's made up of 9 smaller pieces, these are what the keypad is used for. If you want to be dropped off in a particular location inside the A1 grid, lets say the center of it, then you type A1K5. If you want to be dropped in the top left of A1 then you type A1K7. The keypad on your keyboard is the grid and the individual numbers are the smaller squares inside a grid.

789
456
123

I got it! Thanks. This should help a lot.

Logar wrote:Thanks again, I now feel more comfortable asking for a drop off by a pilot. I used to feel like I was bossing him around but I guess it's just his job.

Ok, here's the last thing I wanna ask. The whole "keypad" thing. I heard my squad leader use it yesterday and have no idea what it is or how it works. From what I gather, it's a way to transmit coordinates? But is it like some sort of code the game recognizes and transfers to all squad members, or something much more basic than that? I can't find anything conclusive about it online.

When looking at your MAP you can see ABCDEFGH / 12345678 Well those are Grid references, and inside those grid references there is 9 smaller squares, look at your keyboard to figure out keypad references:
7 8 9
4 5 6
1 2 3

Most commonly said as: A3KP2 or A3K2

EDIT: ROFL FAIL, im late on replying for this but i nearly said the exact same as tartantyco