New To BF2 - Please Help!

[Hawke]

'Sup, and merriment to all.

I just got BF2 in the Steam sale. I've seen PR loads before, often cited by OpFlash friends - I'm a big fan of realistic FPSs. I don't know too much about PR, so I was wondering whether you could help me.

Cheers!


How do I install it? Is it auto-install, or do I have to mess about replacing folders manually.

Can I only play with players who are using the PR mod? If so, how do I find them, or is it auto-match for mods?

Does PR include a graphical update to the 2005 original game?

How many people still play BF2 with PR? Enough to find a few games at a normal time?


=D

[chimpyang]

Hi,

Welcome to the community! I was hoping to see people like you pop up as soon as I saw the steam sale . It expands the playerbase further!

To install the shebang - you firstly need a copy of Bf2 patched up to the (latest) 1.5 patch, which I guess you have if you've just got it off steam. (You don't need to install the x-pacs for Bf2 AFAIK, not even sure they are optional downloads on steam). Then you download the 3 installers from this page:

Project Reality : Realistic Gaming Redefined - Downloads

You'll want the 0.95 client, parts 1 to 3. Be patient, as the downloads are fairly hefty, it is worth keeping them archived on a backup drive somewhere in case you need to format etc... (saves time, and I still have 0.75 on an old HDD somewhere)

After downloading, install the installers in numerical order with administrator rights if on Vista or 7 - 0.9 onwards, the installer should pick up the steam version and install accordingly, since the files are pretty large, I've found on vista and 7 that it takes a while for the admin install question to pop up.

Then, run the desktop PR.exe icon (looks like Dogtags), create a EA online account ingame and you're away! You will have to run PR.exe with admin rights if on 7 and Vista, or all sorts of issues can arise.

Running the game from PR.exe will only let you see servers running PR, but you can play 'nilla BF2 without problems.

Answering your other questions:

Does PR include a graphical update to the 2005 original game?

Theres a lot of custom stuff and improvements on original Bf2 statics and vegetation, so it will look better than vanilla Bf2, bear in mind that it is still a 5-6 year old engine, and the enduring part is the gameplay. However, PR does have its moments - my fave visual wise is Barracuda.

How many people still play BF2 with PR? Enough to find a few games at a normal time?
Lots and lots of people play the mod. The main two timezones are peaktime EU and US (east coast/central peak times seems busier...). Weekday evenings will usually have 2-3 full 64 servers from 6pm onwards, and at weekends it can get quite busy, with up to 7-8 full servers running.

Since you are new, I would obviously reccomend that you learn to walk before flying. Flying (metaphorical and literally in game) can be great fun once you've figured out the nuts and bolts of the game, but in the beginning, take it easy, join a squad and try to get involved, generally I would learn things in the following order:

1. How the gamemodes of AAS and Insurgency work. And basic movement differences.
2. How deviation of bullets when shooting a gun works - this WILL take a while to get used to - search the forums for more info. - Also, how to spot enemy from friendly.
3. How the health system in the game works.
4. How the kit system works, and how to use each kit.
5. How the vehicle system (and thermals) work. Also the anti vehicle kits.
6. How the build system works for firebases - with practical experience on mortars, 50 nests, SPG and TOW emplacement.
7. How AA works (or not - har de har)
8. The sounds that are made by enemy weapons/vehicles.
9. Squadleading stuff - Lazing targets for CAS, placing markers, giving orders in a comprehensible way

GL and HF.

[Hawke]

Hi,

Welcome to the community! I was hoping to see people like you pop up as soon as I saw the steam sale . It expands the playerbase further!

To install the shebang - you firstly need a copy of Bf2 patched up to the (latest) 1.5 patch, which I guess you have if you've just got it off steam. (You don't need to install the x-pacs for Bf2 AFAIK, not even sure they are optional downloads on steam). Then you download the 3 installers from this page:

Project Reality : Realistic Gaming Redefined - Downloads

You'll want the 0.95 client, parts 1 to 3. Be patient, as the downloads are fairly hefty, it is worth keeping them archived on a backup drive somewhere in case you need to format etc... (saves time, and I still have 0.75 on an old HDD somewhere)

After downloading, install the installers in numerical order with administrator rights if on Vista or 7 - 0.9 onwards, the installer should pick up the steam version and install accordingly, since the files are pretty large, I've found on vista and 7 that it takes a while for the admin install question to pop up.

Then, run the desktop PR.exe icon (looks like Dogtags), create a EA online account ingame and you're away! You will have to run PR.exe with admin rights if on 7 and Vista, or all sorts of issues can arise.

Running the game from PR.exe will only let you see servers running PR, but you can play 'nilla BF2 without problems.

Answering your other questions:

Does PR include a graphical update to the 2005 original game?

Theres a lot of custom stuff and improvements on original Bf2 statics and vegetation, so it will look better than vanilla Bf2, bear in mind that it is still a 5-6 year old engine, and the enduring part is the gameplay. However, PR does have its moments - my fave visual wise is Barracuda.

How many people still play BF2 with PR? Enough to find a few games at a normal time?
Lots and lots of people play the mod. The main two timezones are peaktime EU and US (east coast/central peak times seems busier...). Weekday evenings will usually have 2-3 full 64 servers from 6pm onwards, and at weekends it can get quite busy, with up to 7-8 full servers running.

Since you are new, I would obviously reccomend that you learn to walk before flying. Flying (metaphorical and literally in game) can be great fun once you've figured out the nuts and bolts of the game, but in the beginning, take it easy, join a squad and try to get involved, generally I would learn things in the following order:

1. How the gamemodes of AAS and Insurgency work. And basic movement differences.
2. How deviation of bullets when shooting a gun works - this WILL take a while to get used to - search the forums for more info. - Also, how to spot enemy from friendly.
3. How the health system in the game works.
4. How the kit system works, and how to use each kit.
5. How the vehicle system (and thermals) work. Also the anti vehicle kits.
6. How the build system works for firebases - with practical experience on mortars, 50 nests, SPG and TOW emplacement.
7. How AA works (or not - har de har)
8. The sounds that are made by enemy weapons/vehicles.
9. Squadleading stuff - Lazing targets for CAS, placing markers, giving orders in a comprehensible way

GL and HF.

You, sir, are my own personal Santa. I thank you deeply and dearly. I'll finish installing BF2, hop straight into downloading PR and then follow your steps - no doubt I'll be on here in an hour complaining that something didn't work. Get ready for that...=P

[Spec]

^ Well said, chimpyang

Welcome to the mod, Hawke, it's always nice to see new players, and someone coming from Operation Flashpoint certainly makes me even happier ^^

PR is slow, but I guess you can deal with that. You'll also be frustrated at first with the deviation, suppression effect and harsh wounding effects, probably. But you'll get used to it. If you keep missing with weapons, make sure you have a good stance and didn't move too much. Waiting a second can be better than shooting instantly. Communicate with your squad (just about everyone is on VoIP, PR is hard to play without), and they'll guide you through your first few games. Rounds can easily take more than one or two hours, so have some time when you join in

Make sure to join a good squad, that's the key element. Some popular european servers are PRTA, NwA and UK Warfare, the most popular US server (and one of the best in general) is Tactical Gamer; you might want to have a look into the voice program called mumble which is pretty much a requirement for PRTA and TG (and a few other servers) and a nice thing to have on all other servers; it allows you to speak to people who are close to you, no matter what squad/channel they are in. There's a guide to it stickied right here in the forum

Make sure to read the PR manual; perhaps play one or two rounds of regular BF2 until you got the hang of the basic controls.

As chimpyang said, don't get into the cool assets at first, they tend to be hard to use and if you lose them, the whole team will be mad at you. Try playing as infantry at first; knowing how to use the medic kit is especially important, as you never know if you'll need to revive the squads medic when he goes down.


A member of these forums, Wicca, is currently giving training sessions for newbies, you might want to look into that. His thread should be floating around here

Once again, welcome to the mod! You'll surely always find enough players, the trick is to find the good squads, but after a few games you'll know where to look for them

[Zrix]

I would also suggest you have a look here; New PR player Training!

[Wicca]

Someone called?

https://www.realitymod.com/forum/f10-pr ... -here.html

Thats is the link sign in

We want to ensure you get the best gameplay possible with PR, to get you hooked Its like a drug so your personal life might actually get some issues. But its worth it. IMO

NINJAED BY A SWEDISH RETARD OMG! OMG OMG!

[Hawke]

Someone called?

https://www.realitymod.com/forum/f10-pr ... -here.html

Thats is the link sign in

We want to ensure you get the best gameplay possible with PR, to get you hooked Its like a drug so your personal life might actually get some issues. But its worth it. IMO

NINJAED BY A SWEDISH RETARD OMG! OMG OMG!

Community...too...friendly......heart...breaking...with...joy...

Thanks y'all! Honestly, I bought this on a whim, and I think I'm going to have to spend a little while getting used to stuff before I jump into the community - don't want to end up as dead wood =P. Still, I'll get all this stuff installed and mess around a bit, try find my footing. Thanks!

[Punkbuster]

Hello,
I would like to welcome you to the mod and wish you a good stay.
I recommend watching this video: Project Reality: Marksmanship and Deviation Tutorial on Vimeo
It explains all the things you need to know about deviation in PR.
Also, Everything the other guys said above is correct.

See you on the Battlefield, Soldier.
Punkbuster

[Spec]

To get an idea of the gameplay, videos are always good, and some people regulary upload high quality videos of PR gameplay, such as this one recently posted by gazzthompson:

[Bluesuits]

My friend bought the pack for me on steam this morning as a christmas gift. This topic has helped me as well, thanks for the straight forward and simple explanations guys.

[10thMTNLoco!]

Welcome to PR. Its a realistic game so the best tactic in this game is patience. its not COD MW 2 so dont run around shooting through the walls and stuff. just play maturely and youll have fun..
Oh say goodbye to your girlfriend, friends, and anyone that might want to see you around..and embrace your new PR family as we are now more important than your bloodline.

[iAllex]

To get an idea of the gameplay, videos are always good, and some people regulary upload high quality videos of PR gameplay, such as this one recently posted by gazzthompson:

Hello Hawke and Bluesuits, welcome to PR!


What spec_operator is trying to show you, beside a normal gameplay, is a voice software called Mumble. (https://www.realitymod.com/forum/f10-pr ... ality.html). If you listen carefully, you will hear people talking from left-right, front-back of the main player's possition (that will gazzthompson, the guy filming the whole thing). PR-Mumble (PR-mumble is a modification made to the normal mumble program by the PR Devs so it is easier to use for PR ) is a voice software that enables 3D chatting with players from withing or withouth your squad, just like in real life(BF2 Voip only enables you to chat with those people in your squad). As said before, on some servers mumble is mandatory, esspecially in game event... tho you do not have to use it right away, get used to the basics and then consider it.


Merry Christmas champs! see you on the battlefield.

[Hawke]

Unfortunately, I don't have any sort of mic at the moment, and I'm trying to put one off as my PC set up is rather family-oriented, and I don't want to be f-ing and blinding when there's a busy house about =P. I will certainly look in to it, and I mam searching as much as I can for a cheap good one, but for now, I really hope I can find some way of just 'sitting in' and learning the ropes of some of the better servers - perhaps if I explain my situation via text chat.

[Von_Gnome]

A mic will make the game more funny, and is kinda required for good gameplay (Just saying)

[Spec]

You can of course start out without a mic, but it'd make things easier to get one at some point

[Wicca]

Get a mic or die.

Up to you

[Punkbuster]

I really hope I can find some way of just 'sitting in' and learning the ropes of some of the better servers - perhaps if I explain my situation via text chat.

Just to let you know... The PR community is very noobs with mics friendly but its very unfriendly about noobs without a mic!
I would recommend getting one ASAP...
When I first started playing PR I didn't have a mic and a lot of people refused to help me (That was 2 years ago) but after about 2 weeks of tough gameplay I got one and it made my life easier, There where no longer people stalking me everywhere (I couldn't get into the bathroom back then).

Punkbuster

[Spec]

There where no longer people stalking me everywhere (I couldn't get into the bathroom back then).

That is true though, we do indeed send people after you to stalk you day and night until you get a mic. Wicca already volunteered for your case, and you really don't want him stalking you

[Adriaan]

That is true though, we do indeed send people after you to stalk you day and night until you get a mic. Wicca already volunteered for your case, and you really don't want him stalking you

Yeah, I heard he likes to pee in people's sinks if he gets the chance.

[Spec]

Seriously though, you can play without a mic, but it's a completely different game then, Hawke. Consider spending ~15 GBP to get a cheap one, it'll still serve you well