15 replies to this topic

[Maurice Thorez]

For some context, I am longtime FRR loyalist that used to play CW quite a bit through versions 1, 2, and the early iterations of 3(I even reached rank 14). After the first few months playing solo, I eventually started using the CW LFG function to link up with FRR loyalist groups and join them in the FRR hub. I had some of the best times I had playing MWO when grouping up with the various FRR units such as 1STH, SO, OOSK, and others. The groups were friendly, collegial, and mature as welll as being good/organised enough that you could put up a good fight against non-top tier clan groups and did not roll over PUGS.

However, I stopped playing for a couple of a reasons. First, the most recent iterations that subsumed the FRR into a general IS faction diminished the fun of playing the FRR space viking way. It also took away from the fight for survival to hold those last few planets in the early days of CW that fueled many FRR loyalists(at least for me).

I have managed to get over that disincentive quite a while back, but was stopped from playing by a second bigger issue. When the CW and group queue LFG functions were merged, it made finding a CW group using the in game features much harder, let alone an FRR loyalist one. I had tried asking in faction/CW chat quite a number of times, but only met with success in a couple of instances. I have also tried sitting in the LFG part of the FRR hub too, but with no mic on the PC I play MWO on, I have found it hard to join a group.

Anyway, I have been hankering to get back into CW just to create some variety in MWO play, regardless of the event running. Does anyone have some tips to find a relatively organised group for CW, preferably of faction loyalists?

[DarklightCA]

I would download teamspeak regardless and join a faction hub like the FRR faction hub and find some players/units to drop with. Even if you don't have a mic you can still listen to other people communicating and use text to let people know you want to play/don't have a mic.

That or just buy a mic because they are super cheap.

Edited by DarklightCA, 21 July 2017 - 11:03 AM.

[naterist]

get teamspeak and use the typechat to communicate. one of the guys in my unit has been doing that since we met. hes a fast *** typer though, so thats a bonus if you go that route. just be sure to listen to the calls.

[Maurice Thorez]

DarklightCA, on 21 July 2017 - 11:02 AM, said:

I would download teamspeak regardless and join a faction hub like the FRR faction hub and find some players/units to drop with. Even if you don't have a mic you can still listen to other people communicating and use text to let people know you want to play/don't have a mic.

That or just buy a mic because they are super cheap.

I do have TS3 and have used the FRR hub in the past. However, I have not had luck dropping into dropships and typing in the chat to join groups in the past, I was wondering if there was something more effective.

I totally get the buying a mic argument. It just feels a bit frivolous from my perspective. MWO is the only game I could use a mic for and I really would only be using it for convenient access to one aspect of the game.

Edited by Maurice Thorez, 21 July 2017 - 11:30 AM.

[Bud Crue]

Maurice Thorez, on 21 July 2017 - 11:29 AM, said:

I do have TS3 and have used the FRR hub in the past. However, I have not had luck dropping into dropships and typing in the chat to join groups in the past, I was wondering if there was something more effective.

I totally get the buying a mic argument. It just feels a bit frivolous from my perspective. MWO is the only game I could use a mic for and I really would only be using it for convenient access to one aspect of the game.

It is frivolous. Games are frivolous. But, yeah it makes the enjoyment of this game a lot more fun.
But yeah, lots of folks on TS and many don't use mics.

[DarklightCA]

Maurice Thorez, on 21 July 2017 - 11:29 AM, said:

I do have TS3 and have used the FRR hub in the past. However, I have not had luck dropping into dropships and typing in the chat to join groups in the past, I was wondering if there was something more effective.

I totally get the buying a mic argument. It just feels a bit frivolous from my perspective. MWO is the only game I could use a mic for and I really would only be using it for convenient access to one aspect of the game.

Is MWO the only game you play than? Because there are lots of games where mics are required or best played when one is used like this game.

As for something more effective, the only thing more effective is getting a cheap mic and using voip. Other than that there is nothing more effective. People may take awhile to respond to you if you only communicate through text in teamspeak but that annoying ding it makes can only be ignored for so long before they wonder what somebody is saying.

If the FRR hub isn't working for you than find a different hub like Comstar or NGNG.

[Maurice Thorez]

DarklightCA, on 21 July 2017 - 11:41 AM, said:

Is MWO the only game you play than? Because there are lots of games where mics are required or best played when one is used like this game.

As for something more effective, the only thing more effective is getting a cheap mic and using voip. Other than that there is nothing more effective. People may take awhile to respond to you if you only communicate through text in teamspeak but that annoying ding it makes can only be ignored for so long before they wonder what somebody is saying.

If the FRR hub isn't working for you than find a different hub like Comstar or NGNG.

Thanks, I appreciate the candid response. MWO is actually the only game I play that would utilise a mic. I only play a couple of other niche games, a baseball mangerial simulation game and a WW II tactical simulator, that would never use mics. If nothing else comes up, I will take your advice and keep pinging away in the TS chat although the self-conscious Canadian in me will be dying inside about whether I am being a bother.

Edited by Maurice Thorez, 21 July 2017 - 11:51 AM.

[Appogee]

Teamwork is essential in FP.

But without a mic, you can't communicate battlefield intel, indicate you are complying with drop calls, etc.

(No team wants to have to read text chat while they are fighting.)

So I recommend you get a mic. Or a headset with a mic. You can get them dirt cheap.

[Kaethir]

Honestly, I have had this discussion with some friends of mine that have microphones and insist on not using them in MMORPGs.

In a multiplayer game, I don't care how fast you type, you are never going to match actually using a microphone and speaking for its combination of speed of communication and lack of disruption to your own play.

In other words, you can tie up one finger and talk (or none, if you don't use push-to-talk, but that's frustrating in other ways), allowing your teammates to keep their eyes on the game and almost assuredly communicating faster, or you can tie up all your fingers to type and force your teammates to take their eyes off the action to read what you wrote while probably taking more time to communicate than the other way.

Setting the precedent ahead of time that you can't talk and that you will listen to (and follow) drop calls is a step in the right direction, but it is not as good as being able to speak, even if you only use it rarely.

Apologies to anyone who is mute, you obviously do not have a choice and will have to make do as best you can.

[Maurice Thorez]

Appogee, on 21 July 2017 - 12:23 PM, said:

Teamwork is essential in FP.

But without a mic, you can't communicate battlefield intel, indicate you are complying with drop calls, etc.

(No team wants to have to read text chat while they are fighting.)

So I recommend you get a mic. Or a headset with a mic. You can get them dirt cheap.

I can understand that type really cannot replace a mic, but as far as memory serves, none of my teamates ever had an issue before with it and saw me as a contributor. Honestly, with the FRR groups that I played with, outside of general instructions on directions, when and where to push, general intel etc..., there was not much target calling done or anything else that would require me to say anything more than once or twice a match. It could be that things were much more casual then in FW than they are now.

Frankly though, part of me is quite reluctant to buy a mic just because I could join organised groups for 2+ years with no issue until they merged the CW and group LFG queues. I still do not quite understand the rational behind it, but it made it much harder for me to play the mode in an organised form. If I am still struggling to find a group over the next 2 weeks, it will either push me to buy a mic or I might just let FP lay quite on my end again.

Edited by Maurice Thorez, 21 July 2017 - 02:14 PM.

[TWIAFU]

Maurice Thorez, on 21 July 2017 - 11:50 AM, said:

If nothing else comes up, I will take your advice and keep pinging away in the TS chat although the self-conscious Canadian in me will be dying inside about whether I am being a bother.

Please stick with it! You WILL find a group to play with - just be up front with them about the mic. Let them know you can hear and follow orders and that you want to play with a team.

You WILL find that people are most accommodating. If you see or meet some people that you like to play with, reach out to them, add to friends list, and see if they have a TS to join.

I play on Comstar and never encountered someone NOT willing to take someone, anyone, into group that is willing to be a team player. Team players in the team reliant queue is an asset, you are an asset.

[LordNothing]

ive been pugging fp for some time and heres what i do to win games:

support your team, they push, you push, one gets attacked you help, when its your turn to lead the push, do so. press r and use the command wheel.

when someone has the balls to take command, go with it. i hate to see good commanders get trashed talked by worthless potatoes. you may not be talking but if somone does, listen.

dont bring crappy builds. if your entire drop deck is support mechs, you have a bad deck. if you must bring them, limit yourself to one.

fight and die with your team. i hate games that end with one player who has 3 mechs left after everyone died because they camped the whole match. armor is useless in a gang bang, instead use it to buy victory.

dont waste time. bring your slowest mechs first. and avoid ultra slow mechs like dires and anihilators. heavies work best. try to go at least 60. know the maps well enough that you dont take a sub-optimal path to the rally point. the longer you take to set up the more time you give the enemy to do same.

dont be afraid to attack, especially when the game mode demands it. this is where quasi-coordinated aggression comes in handy. dont spend the entire match trading at the gate. know when you are fighting the clock.

fight in waves, dont reinforce. its noob advice but sometimes pugs forget that they are not immortal. only time you should reinforce is when you are fighting potatoes and you are winning.

a crappy victory is worth more than a good loss. if you play selfish and loose its your own fault and you wont get as much stuff as you would have if you had won.

Edited by LordNothing, 22 July 2017 - 02:02 PM.

[Khalcruth]

As with others, I'd recommend jumping on Teamspeak anyway. Most of the teamwork is actually listening more than speaking, anyway. If you're willing to listen and follow the plan, a lot of people couldn't care less if you have a mic or not.

That said, you might want to search around for a cheap one. I went to Newegg.com, and found several under $6, including shipping. For example,

https://www.newegg.c...=9SIA4M55988244

I don't know if they have a Canadian specific website, but I would bet you could find a mic about as cheap if you look. While I'm sure you could find some super headset that runs $200, a cheap one like this ought to serve your needs, too. For $6, I'd bet it would be worth trying. Come to think of it, you might be able to find a cheap mic at pawn shops or your local Salvation Army store. I got the keyboard I'm typing on at the Salvation Army for $5, and it works perfectly.

[Kubernetes]

Yeah, you can get a cheap mic for under $10.

The thing is, you don't know what you're missing until you get one. Calling for help or calling out an ambush, etc., are not things easily done in chat in the heat of the moment. Or when you're getting hammered by LRMs and can't shoot the UAV over you--it's much better to call it out than to try to type it.

[Xannatharr]

[MischiefSC]

Maurice Thorez, on 21 July 2017 - 11:29 AM, said:

I do have TS3 and have used the FRR hub in the past. However, I have not had luck dropping into dropships and typing in the chat to join groups in the past, I was wondering if there was something more effective.

I totally get the buying a mic argument. It just feels a bit frivolous from my perspective. MWO is the only game I could use a mic for and I really would only be using it for convenient access to one aspect of the game.

I ended up doing it. I played in TS on MWO without a mic I could use for a couple of years. Finally my situation changed and I was playing from home while not working and could use a mic and.... yeah, million times better.

You won't regret it but it's not required. Plenty of people I play with have stretches where they don't use their mic for one reason or anotger. It's not critical - just DO get on TS to join dropships and make sure you're a bit of a pest in chat so they don't forget you.