What is my best bet with multiplayer?

[Pajeezy]

I've been doing a lot of multiplayer, but there doesn't seem to be many people on at all, like ever. It also doesn't help that 85% of all servers are private...or their ping is 150+. These forums seem to be very active, while the multiplayer servers don't. What is my best bet for finding other people to fly with? Or better yet how does one meet people to gain access to private servers? I've a lot to learn and I figure other players would be my best bet. Are there servers designed to teach others? Maybe take someone under their wing? (bad pun)

[Blooze]

I've been doing a lot of multiplayer, but there doesn't seem to be many people on at all, like ever. It also doesn't help that 85% of all servers are private...or their ping is 150+. These forums seem to be very active, while the multiplayer servers don't. What is my best bet for finding other people to fly with? Or better yet how does one meet people to gain access to private servers? I've a lot to learn and I figure other players would be my best bet. Are there servers designed to teach others? Maybe take someone under their wing? (bad pun)

It would help to know what modules you fly and what time zone you live in.

[TraxusIV]

I would guess that it might be a side effect of not having a dedicated server exe, (I don't think DCS servers can be run on traditional hosted servers) but I could very easily be wrong. If that's the case, then hopefully the problem will be greatly reduced when the dedicated server does get released. Of course, it could also just be that we're a really small community and most of us have day jobs, hence limited time to get on and game.

 

Personally, I'd like to see a 24/7 game mode server so that people can migrate a little more comfortably from games like War Thunder, giving them time to play around with DCS and grow to love it for all of its sim mode detail.

[TraxusIV]

It'll also be interesting to see if we get any Virtual Flight Schools, once we get our first trainers.

[Abburo]

Let's wait for EDGE with its dedicated server. Currently, instability in multiplayer creates a lot of frustrations and many people just sit and wait.

[Bushmanni]

I found people to play with by asking people from my country to fly with me. Someone has to take the initiative in order to anything to happen. If it's not someone else it has to be you.

 

Most multiplayers tend to play coop missions and it's naturally most fun with friends hence lot's of locked servers. I think most of the DCS pilots aren't really feeling confident enough about their skills to get into a PvP server.

[TraxusIV]

I think most of the DCS pilots aren't really feeling confident enough about their skills to get into a PvP server.

 

I've developed very sophisticated exploding and ejecting skills, myself.:pilotfly:

[Kaiza]

Its also a factor of having a beta version and a normal version of software. The servers are essentially cut in half at the moment, and you wont be able to see the servers running a different version to you.

[SFAL]

The best way to learn is PvP

 

Get on the TS with others share targets co-ordinate with CAP or CAS come up with a plan.

 

Oh and tell the fighters to cover your ass if u are a mud mover. They/we/I like to go after whatever and sometimes neglect the strikers.

 

But being confident is not a must. Just know how to operate the aircraft its systems and the rest will come.

I learned how to get airbore with the kamov in 1:12 min :)

 

But please come guys to PvP

 

War, 104, 51st, and sometimes HDF59

[TurboHog]

Also note that players are currently divided between V1.2.7 beta and V1.2.6.

 

I still play on 1.2.6 and there is a good amount of choice, but I also see that there are a lot of well-known servers that have moved to the open beta.

 

When V1.2.7 goes official you will see some improvement.

[ENO]

Most multiplayers tend to play coop missions and it's naturally most fun with friends hence lot's of locked servers. I think most of the DCS pilots aren't really feeling confident enough about their skills to get into a PvP server.

 

I can't speak for the adversarial type servers... but the coop aspect of the MP is very strong with this sim platform. Yes, there have been some excruciating problems with MP stability- that's undeniable...

 

But what he says there is key to what chokes the online presence... SO MANY GUYS out there think they need to be a master of their platform before they're welcomed in the servers and it's just not true.

 

Granted, there are some highly regimented, specialized Virtual Squadrons out there- but there's little chance you'd stumble into one of those by accident.

 

The rest of us are just in there, doing the best we can with what little time our busy lives afford. One thing that I think is appreciated, however, is if you work to help yourself as much (hopefully more) than you expect to be helped by other people. Most are happy to help, but you have to be ready to help them help you.

[TAW_Blaze]

Most of the popular servers are on the open beta at the moment. 51st, WAR, 104th, just to name a few.

[TimeKilla]

It's kinda strange as were told 1.2.7 is for testing and not playing might be something to do with it being slightly more stable than 1.2.6 for most moving not 100% sure that's true tho.

[Gloom Demon]

To my subjective opinion it is :-)

[Vedexent]

One of the problems is that there are too many servers - you see like 2 or 3 players spread across like 50 servers - why can't we all go on the same one :)

 

a) Because servers tend to crash when they get a certain load of players.

 

b) People have different preferences to missions, aircraft, style, etc. - If I like flying A-10Cs, do I really want to crowd on a server with a mission designed for Russian aircraft, or vice versa?

 

c) Many people like setting up their own "fiefdoms" online. Or they like flying with just their friends.

 

d) Large integrated public missions don't really work well right now, even on the large "popular" servers. If I go on the 51st, or 104th, and try and fly CAS, odds are that no one on my side is flying CAP, and player controlled F-15Cs from the opposing faction will swat me out of the air. To get balanced set of player controlled aircraft, you pretty much need to set up an event, and now you might as well launch a server for that event.

 

e) Large "popular" servers tend to attract a lot of the "yahoo" crowd; you know, the type who think it's hilarious to crash into each other, or shoot up the airbase, or generally be an ass. That's not the fault of the large server maintainers, at all; that's just an unfortunate side effect of them attracting a lot of people, and "Sturgeon's Law".

 

It's a small community, and even within that community there are definitely lots of little groups, each with their own particular likes and preferences.

 

There's no way "one size fits all" here.

[Blooze]

I can't speak for the adversarial type servers... but the coop aspect of the MP is very strong with this sim platform. Yes, there have been some excruciating problems with MP stability- that's undeniable...

 

But what he says there is key to what chokes the online presence... SO MANY GUYS out there think they need to be a master of their platform before they're welcomed in the servers and it's just not true.

 

Granted, there are some highly regimented, specialized Virtual Squadrons out there- but there's little chance you'd stumble into one of those by accident.

 

The rest of us are just in there, doing the best we can with what little time our busy lives afford. One thing that I think is appreciated, however, is if you work to help yourself as much (hopefully more) than you expect to be helped by other people. Most are happy to help, but you have to be ready to help them help you.

 

But what he says there is key to what chokes the online presence... SO MANY GUYS out there think they need to be a master of their platform before they're welcomed in the servers and it's just not true.

 

This is what I have concluded after trying for almost a year to invite new people to join my MP activities. I think it's human nature to have a fear of being inadequate in any social setting and unfortunately this fear prevents many from experiencing the best in life.:fear: Having said that, allow me to declare to anyone reading this that has been reluctant to join a MP server. STOP GIVING IN TO YOUR FEARS AND JUST DO IT! Regardless of your skill level just remember.....we all had to climb the same ladder and many of us get as much satisfaction from helping others learn as we do from flying. Get on Teamspeak if it's available and jump in with both feet. If you try it you will probably not bother with much single player stuff again.:pilotfly:

[Vedexent]

Having said that, allow me to declare to anyone reading this that has been reluctant to join a MP server. STOP GIVING IN TO YOUR FEARS AND JUST DO IT! Regardless of your skill level just remember.....we all had to climb the same ladder and many of us get as much satisfaction from helping others learn as we do from flying. Get on Teamspeak if it's available and jump in with both feet. If you try it you will probably not bother with much single player stuff again.:pilotfly:

 

+1 on this.

 

I was reluctant to get on MP for just this reason when I started (a whole 6 months ago :P ).

 

I learned 100x more about the simulator and airframes with MP than I ever did with tutorials and SP.

 

There are a lot of good people out there willing to help out new people.

[F99th-Cooper]

 

This is what I have concluded after trying for almost a year to invite new people to join my MP activities. I think it's human nature to have a fear of being inadequate in any social setting and unfortunately this fear prevents many from experiencing the best in life.:fear: Having said that, allow me to declare to anyone reading this that has been reluctant to join a MP server. STOP GIVING IN TO YOUR FEARS AND JUST DO IT! Regardless of your skill level just remember.....we all had to climb the same ladder and many of us get as much satisfaction from helping others learn as we do from flying. Get on Teamspeak if it's available and jump in with both feet. If you try it you will probably not bother with much single player stuff again.:pilotfly:

+1 - I agree, although I do believe it is VERY important to learn the basic in single player, you will learn much more talking to people on Teamspeak and flying on a public server. Our server in on 1.2.6 and you can join us on Teamspeak at 63.209.37.120:9274. __________________

[sorcer3r]

Most multiplayers tend to play coop missions and it's naturally most fun with friends hence lot's of locked servers. I think most of the DCS pilots aren't really feeling confident enough about their skills to get into a PvP server.

 

I fly most of my dcs time the Huey (sometimes Ka50) and coop missions are more interesting at the moment.

On big PvP missions (A2G) tasks for UH1 and also Ka50 ( maybe for A10s too) are not so dynamic.

Using triggers and especially combined arms slots could change this but they have a big impact on stability/lag. Until this is fixed I can understand that coop missions are still more interesting for a lot of pilots.

[Blooze]

I fly most of my dcs time the Huey (sometimes Ka50) and coop missions are more interesting at the moment.

On big PvP missions (A2G) tasks for UH1 and also Ka50 ( maybe for A10s too) are not so dynamic.

Using triggers and especially combined arms slots could change this but they have a big impact on stability/lag. Until this is fixed I can understand that coop missions are still more interesting for a lot of pilots.

Your Red Snake missions are still some of my favorites but I can't ever seem to find any chopper pilots to fly them.:dontgetit:

[sorcer3r]

Your Red Snake missions are still some of my favorites but I can't ever seem to find any chopper pilots to fly them.:dontgetit:

 

That's sad... but thanks. ;)

Since 1.2.4 I made over 20 ("small") coop missions for A10, Ka50 and Uh1(/Mi8 ) but all of them are in german and I'm too lazy to translate at the moment. If anyone know someone... :D

[ENO]

Speaking of MP and 1.2.7 / stability and your sig, sorcer3r... The latest is to test connectivity with the 1024 setting... which has decreased the bandwidth useage by almost 10 times.

 

We may see 32 players yet, and if 127 is any indication I dare say we might get the stability back that we need to fill every spot!

 

The best advice I'd ever been given (and I've been given a lot) was to just find a group of like-minded people and break into MP. Take some ownership of your own development... ask questions, retain the answers... help others in the same way when the time comes.

[Dutchy93]

 

d) Large integrated public missions don't really work well right now, even on the large "popular" servers. If I go on the 51st, or 104th, and try and fly CAS, odds are that no one on my side is flying CAP, and player controlled F-15Cs from the opposing faction will swat me out of the air. To get balanced set of player controlled aircraft, you pretty much need to set up an event, and now you might as well launch a server for that event.

 

e) Large "popular" servers tend to attract a lot of the "yahoo" crowd; you know, the type who think it's hilarious to crash into each other, or shoot up the airbase, or generally be an ass. That's not the fault of the large server maintainers, at all; that's just an unfortunate side effect of them attracting a lot of people, and "Sturgeon's Law".

 

 

I live in the EU and I must say that whenever I try to fly online in this kind of servers I find the opposite of your statement at D.

As a mainly FC3 player I usually find that in my server there are only mud movers flying around. I can fly circles for hours and only find a A-10 or Su25 humming about.

Although I might be one of those guys that shoots those planes down on occasion, I try to focus on the fighters. Once I found a single enemy A-10 floating around with no fighters in the area. I must say that just shooting down mud movers is no challenge at all. All they can do is fire up ECM and chaff/flares and try to hide in the mud.

 

I am looking for missions where fighters AND CAS planes are flying around. This way I have a purpose being there. Shooting down the same A-10 a few times in a row gets boring and the guy flying it won't have a good time either. So sometimes I just let m go and fly next to em.

 

Moving mud can be fun for some time, but trying to kill tanks with a F15 or Su27 gets boring if no one is flying near. You can't hit a damn thing and no one is shooting back.

[galevsky06]

Air Combat Simulation is not Battlefield-style game : most of players are looking for full immersion, with nice prepared briefings/debriefings, good live communications on TeamSpeak server between guys who know what job the others do. Most of servers are obviously private ones, belonging to one specific team.

 

The best way to do is joining a virtual wing, there are a lot all around the world, pick up the one that matches your needs (language, timezone, modules, spirirt and so on...) and enjoy ! :pilotfly:

 

If you keep looking at public servers to join like you do for FPS games, I guess that you will never meet an awesome experience in DCS. :(

[Isegrim]

The Biggest proplem in PvP Multiplayer missions is the....OH NICE There is only a Helicopter Pilot in the enemy Team so i take my F-15 and Kill him proplem.

 

Its only possible to put some people together and Start the mission toghether at the same time for balance

 

So i prefer Coop also.