My first MP-hours, impressions

[achoice]

Hi all.

 

I've played alot FPS online, (from Doom over 14k modem and forward... :) Never active in clans or so though). BS is my first SIM-game-online.

 

So, I got BS a month or so ago. Flew the first campaign - great fun. Am a bit in to the oil war - good fun too.

So I've recently started to join some online gaming - and here are my impressions.

 

- Few servers (Sweden, CET, prime time). I guess most german servers are not updated.

 

- I've often see cyrillic in ingame chat - hi to eastern guys!

 

- I'm used to "labels on" and on all online they have been off. Fair - but makes it damn hard to find target - and separate enemy from friends. But hey - thats reality.

- Of course no time acceleration - this makes cold starts a bore. Also makes long transport flights rely boring. My advice to mp-level-designers is to try to keep distances short if possible.

- 1 server had "respawn in air" - that was way cool. After crash I was placed right back in a new FLYING chopper at home base - more action for me.

- I mean, it's rely no fun to spend 5 min to startup, 10 min to fly to enemy, 5 sec to get blown to pieces by a missile i never saw or got any warning from.

 

- Most servers I've played at all humans was on 1 team. I like this since many of us are rookies. I find it entertaining to join up with humans and fight for a common goal against the AI. I believe as I (we?) get better - and we have more guys playing per server - playing on different teams will be fun - but not yet for me.

 

- 1 Server had chat-voting, for next map etc. Good.

 

- 1 server was announcing TS connection configs. I connected but was the only one there. Is TS used/common in BS? I would love to fly and chat.

 

- As far as I know there is no "ranking/status"-system. I.e. something to promote good behavior in MP.

For example; number of deaths / hour in air online, kills / hour online.

Number of successfull MP missions.

Or other stuff/data/statistict and perhaps MP-medallions to go with that. I.e. get some prestige/show of for being a good pilot online.

Perhaps this kind of stuff more belongs in a "FSP-online world" - but worth considering I think.

 

regards David.

[Panzertard]

:thumbup:

You'll see labels are generally off on MP servers - over time you'll come to realize that it's not that hard to find the targets - they tend to shoot at you ;)

 

Spawning - yes, there are a few servers / missions who offer "Instant action" and respawns like that.

And then there's all the other who tend allow "sim pilots" to do the full startup. A mix of those two types in one mission is rare to see for obvious reasons (at least at PvP servers).

 

And then there's to mix of COOP vs PvP (BLUE vs RED).

COOP missions (one side only) tends to allow for more external views / assists in flight.

PvP need to have those turned off - again for obvious reasons.

 

So in summary - you'll see more "hardcore" servers and missions - most server owners and squads have been in the air for quite a few hours and tend to preffer "realistic" over "quick / easy" missions. :)

 

EDIT: IMHO - it's nice to NOT have any ranking, otherwise you'll find all kinds of people trying to cheat just to be "0wmglol-look at me - I'M GODNESS!".

Still without ranking, there are people who need to cheat anyway - just to look good :)

[GGTharos]

- Of course no time acceleration - this makes cold starts a bore. Also makes long transport flights rely boring. My advice to mp-level-designers is to try to keep distances short if possible.

 

This is actually not good advice. It only works well for lonewolves and uncoordinated teams - anyone who wants to use teamwork and tactics tends to actually require more space/time to fly their setups etc. Otherwise stuff happens way too fast.

 

- I mean, it's rely no fun to spend 5 min to startup, 10 min to fly to enemy, 5 sec to get blown to pieces by a missile i never saw or got any warning from.

 

10 min is nothing. I recall leading a team of 16 aircraft on a 1.5 hour trek to blow up the opposing team's carrier. ;)

That aside, do your prep work and you'll find that you won't get blown up so quickly because you'll know the terrain a little better, you'll have anticipated enemy positions and ambushes, and you'll stop and observe before moving ahead, thus hopefuly spotting any potential trouble.

This isn't an FPS. It isn't about rushers and campers. You have to be patient and pick your way through the terrain - if you just charge in something's going to stick a knife in your back ... every time ;)