18 replies to this topic

[vettie]

This mostly applies to QP.

Group and Faction play, well, most groups / units have their own and use it.

In QP many many pilots asked for 'in game comms' until PGI put it in the game.

Its been there for sometime now, however, it is rarely used.

Why?

I know when I am in QP and someone is issueing orders over comms that I generally try to follow them and I have found that when that happens (targets clled, move here or there, etc..) that the team wins more than those that stay silent or gripe about the 'worthless' team they were put on.

So why is it that in game comms in QP are under utilized?

[Signal27]

vettie, on 29 July 2017 - 07:55 PM, said:

So why is it that in game comms in QP are under utilized?

This applies to almost any multiplayer game with voice chat - it never gets used as often as you'd expect. And over the years the topic has been brought up, this is what I've been able to figure out:

Some people don't have microphones and can't be bothered to go get one and set it up.

Those that do have mics sometimes can't be bothered to use them at that moment.

Some people would rather mute everybody in the game so they can listen to their own music.

Some people are cripplingly shy.

Some people just flat out don't want to talk to strangers that will only be around for a few minutes for one game.

And so on and so forth. Basically, the reasons are many and varied for not getting on the mic. Praise the few that actually do.

[ocular tb]

My integrated mic/headsets are uncomfortable and don't sound good compared to the headphones I always use. Haven't bothered getting a stand-alone mic because I'm lazy and my desk is already cluttered enough. I'm not much of a talker when it comes to strangers so it wouldn't get used much anyway. I also recognize QP for what it is. It's random players and I don't expect every match to go my way. I just move on to the next one. Having comms would probably help win some more matches but in the grand scheme of things, oh well.

PS: While I may not being using comms, I do pay attention to those who do and will try to go along with what they call. The exceptions are when they are rude, ramble on and on, or just mumble and can't be understood- then I mute them since it distracts me and they weren't being helpful anyway.

Edited by ocular tb, 31 July 2017 - 09:32 AM.

[Vellron2005]

vettie, on 29 July 2017 - 07:55 PM, said:

This mostly applies to QP.

Group and Faction play, well, most groups / units have their own and use it.

In QP many many pilots asked for 'in game comms' until PGI put it in the game.

Its been there for sometime now, however, it is rarely used.

Why?

I know when I am in QP and someone is issueing orders over comms that I generally try to follow them and I have found that when that happens (targets clled, move here or there, etc..) that the team wins more than those that stay silent or gripe about the 'worthless' team they were put on.

So why is it that in game comms in QP are under utilized?

I personally have sort-of developed a habit of calling targets. I don't know if people actually listen or not, but its just second nature to me.. When I have the energy, or I know a good strategy for a particular map, I also drop call..

And the funniest thing I see is there's almost ALWAYS a heckler on the team.. Someone who will {Dezgra}, whine, and call your orders ********.. and they NEVER actually do as they are told or take command themselves. All they do is obstruct you, and end up doing terrible themselves.

Example 1):

FP attack on Sulfurous rift. I send alpha lance to alpha gate, bravo to beta, charlie to gamma. I do it multiple times, so everyone understands the plan. I even tell them which gate is where (Alpha to right gate, bravo to middle gate, charlie to left gate) Lo and behold. Half of alpha is on alpha, bravo and half of charlie are on alpha, the rest are on beta, and only a single lone assault on gamma.

Naturally, the plan fails spectacularly. The heckler speaks up, saying how the team sucks, how we don't listen, how the match is lost already.. He was a guy from beta lance, who pushed alpha gate..

Second wave was a repeat of the first, with more explaining which gate was where and what I was planning.. Heckler was being pissy even more, AGAIN pushing the wrong gate. At this point, I throw in the towel, and tell them they are on their own.

At no point during the whole match did anyone other than myself even scratch the gens..

Point being:

There's always that ONE GUY who thinks he knows better, but doesn't actually have the scrotum to take command and show us all how it's supposed to be done. It's easy to heckle, be negative and whine about being in a bad team.

Try being constructive for a change?

Also, I was trying to explain to this one guys yesterday another point..

Example 2):

So we're on FP Frozen City Conquest. This guy takes command (yaay!) and starts barking orders. His orders make sense, he calls targets. I try to follow them, but most of the team simply does not. He proceeds to bark more orders and call out the team for not following them.. And then I notice one thing.. he keeps saying "you guys have to do this, you guys need to go there, you you YOU! And I'm like.. dude.. how about you go with "WE".. like "We need to move there", "we need to take that target down"

There's a HUGE difference between command and leadership. If you're just barking orders, few will follow you. If you're "leading", many will.

Just ask Kendrick Heaven. I would follow that guy to certain mech doom, just for how much fun he makes playing with him..

Edited by Vellron2005, 31 July 2017 - 01:00 AM.

[Trenchbird]

I'm normally pretty good about calling targets (especially the damaged components on one) and even drop calling, or calling out teammates that should stick with the pack. Problem is, even though I get told 'thanks' a lot, I never feel like I did much.

[Tatula]

I actually think that unless you're a 12-man, you should be using the in game VOIP in any queue. Most group play I've seen are usually small groups of 2 to 5 players. It's great that you have your own TS or Discord channel to coordinate, but the rest of the team, either another group or PUGs, won't be able to participate or help.

[Gagis]

Aloha, on 31 July 2017 - 08:25 AM, said:

I actually think that unless you're a 12-man, you should be using the in game VOIP in any queue. Most group play I've seen are usually small groups of 2 to 5 players. It's great that you have your own TS or Discord channel to coordinate, but the rest of the team, either another group or PUGs, won't be able to participate or help.

A lot of groups are frustrated and tired of trying to herd kittens like that. They'd rather just coordinate those people they know they can trust. It's a bit unfortunate, but we can't really demand more.

On the bright side, the command wheel has alleviated this problem a bit, since you can spot troublesome targets for the team and so on without having to herd people via voip.

Edited by Gagis, 31 July 2017 - 08:34 AM.

[Dago Red]

People tend to not respect the orders of a perfect stranger and or are not interested in chatting if they already decided not to get on TS that day.

[rook]

I've been making it a point, lately, to greet my team in voice chat every match. Some times I get no response, some times I get 1 or two to say hello, a few times I get 1 person to type respond, and on occasion I get a good portion of responses and the team communicates well.

At a minimum, I've been trying to call out enemy positions (and numbers) and weak opponents (ie - open CT, etc).

[Ghogiel]

vettie, on 29 July 2017 - 07:55 PM, said:

So why is it that in game comms in QP are under utilized?

on the one had it was laughibly what, nearly 2015 before we got comms? which has been like a standard feature in pretty much every area shooter for like a decade now and MWO took like 2+years to include it.

But anyway, it was a vocal pug minority that were asking for it, mainly at the time evil premades were farming noobs and they thought their pug groups would be able to compete with premades if that part of the playing field was even. In reality the only thing that made any difference to that was matchmaking and split queues so now 4mans or even 8 mans weren't in there farming solo randos who had no chance to ever coordinate, not that they would have 9/10 times as it is been proven now that there are comms

[Tatula]

Gagis, on 31 July 2017 - 08:34 AM, said:

A lot of groups are frustrated and tired of trying to herd kittens like that. They'd rather just coordinate those people they know they can trust. It's a bit unfortunate, but we can't really demand more.

On the bright side, the command wheel has alleviated this problem a bit, since you can spot troublesome targets for the team and so on without having to herd people via voip.

It's not a matter of trying to give commands. It's more of just communicating intentions and setting an example. If your group of 4 is in a lance (very common), then just communicating "Bravo Lance heading toward Theta" will let the team know where your lance is going. If you tell your group to focus target Echo, then maybe a PUG nearby will follow suit and shoot the same target. If they don't listen, you are in no worse situation since you're still talking to your group. I'm not asking for small groups to take command. I'm just asking to share comms so other groups or PUGs can participate.

What I DON'T want is if your group wants to clown around, shoot the sh*t, troll your team mates, etc. If you're going to do that, just stay on your private channel.

[Gagis]

Well, my unit speaks Finnish on comms, so that probably counts as clowning around.

I'll keep your point in mind anyways, its not unreasonable.

[Magnus Santini]

rook, on 31 July 2017 - 09:24 AM, said:

I've been making it a point, lately, to greet my team in voice chat every match. Some times I get no response, some times I get 1 or two to say hello, a few times I get 1 person to type respond, and on occasion I get a good portion of responses and the team communicates well.

At a minimum, I've been trying to call out enemy positions (and numbers) and weak opponents (ie - open CT, etc).

Sometimes only takes one person to say hello at the beginning, and the mood of the team seems to lift, and they begin talking.

[Alexander of Macedon]

I don't think they're under-used. I rarely have a match where nobody is talking, though admittedly in part that's because when nobody else initiates voice comms I try to. Sometimes people seem to be shy about being the first to speak, but typically once conversation gets going every team has at least 2-3 people using a mic, which is enough for basic dropcalling and communication of weaknesses & movement/positioning of enemies.

[Electroflameageddon]

What I've noticed is that if there are friendly comms in the beginning of the match, my team seems to win more often than losing.

I can't always headphone up, so my mic is disabled more times than not, but when someone calls out menacing targets I am more than happy to lend a hand in taking them down.

It is also good to be informed that we have a numeric advantage and that a push will finish the small group we are poking.

When I am mic'ed, I try to inform the team of weak mechs, but I don't always remember in the heat of battle when I'm hyper focused. Something to work on....

[Mister Blastman]

I find my redneck voice most catching, grabs attention. Never tried being a Brit, an Irishman or an Aussie, but I did pirate once and that seemed to work, too. If I talk normal... meh, hit or miss, folks seem to be in a daze. Exotic voices seem to break puggie trances.

Edited by Mister Blastman, 01 August 2017 - 06:51 AM.

[davoodoo]

vettie, on 29 July 2017 - 07:55 PM, said:

Why?

You dont want to hear my broken engrish on voice comms...

[MadRover]

I usually try to be helpful and friendly on comms but either no one listens anyway or someone has to be the special case of the team at which point I lost some care on being nice and just focus on being neutral. Some do decide to be really really rude, at which point I'll just be happy to oblige him and tear a strip off of them. Lately though it's been getting harder and harder to be nice and I would like to be a nice guy. Do meet reasonable people though.

[Y E O N N E]

MWO has problems picking up my mic when no other program does.

I am also very shy about voice to begin with.

But, good news, I am gud at keyboarding and driving. So not only are you spared my dumb voice, you get a persistent message with movement suggestions and priority target calls.