27 replies to this topic

[Johny Rocket]

Title basically says it all but because you have to reach a character length i will further pontificate.

How many matches do you have to see turn on whether the team is communicating or not before you get on comms?

Constant barrage of people dragging the game when they can't do this simple thing.

If you aren't communicating or worse have the game muted so you can't hear calls you are the problem not the game.

Before anyone comes in with some nonsense about not being able to afford a headset, if you can't afford $15 for a headset you probs should be looking for a job not playing video games. Just saying...

Edited by Johny Rocket, 18 October 2021 - 06:03 AM.

[1453 R]

"Buying the damn mic" is Step 1. And frankly it's not even the important part of Step 1.

The important part of Step 1 is to buy a headset, whether or not it has a mic. Step 2 is crucial; Step 2 is listen. Pay attention to what people are saying. Listen for callouts, and be prepared to shift your own target priority when someone tries to call a focus target even if you don't necessarily agree with the call. Communication only works when your play behavior changes based on what's being communicated - if communication never changes what you do or how you play, you're not communicating and will continue to suck.

Learning the correct calls to make is also important. Be brief, be specific, and then be quiet. This is a video game, quippery and random chatter is fine, but clogging the comms will make it much more likely you lose. Convey information quickly, with as few words as you can get away with and still be clear, and again - BE SPECIFIC! The game gives you all the tools you need to precisely designate whatever you're calling out - all enemies have an alphanumeric designation that never changes, the map is gridded with (usually) (relatively) clear coordinate marks (assuming they're not obscured by other junk, anyways). There's no excuse for ambiguity when trying to convey information.

"Delta Warhammer, open CT" is a valuable callout. "Damnit, that guy got away! I almost had him! If anybody sees him lemme know, I wanna finish my kill!" is comms-clogging garbage.

"Enemy snipers Golf 6" is a valuable callout. "OW DAMNIT somebody shot me with Gauss! Are they one that stupid hill again?! They are! Damnit, somebody get them!" is comms-clogging garbage.

"Enemy UAV up, Delta 5" is a valuable callout. "Crap, they can see us, why does nobody ever shoot those damn things down?!" is comms-clogging garbage.

"Big enemy push, Charlie line" is a valuable callout. "AHHH GODDAMNIT THEY'RE COMING FOR MY LUCKY CHARMS WHY ISN'T ANYONE SAVING ME?!" followed by clicking the "Need Assistance" button ninety-seven times is comms-clogging garbage and also you are the reason literally everybody in this game despises the "Need Assistance!" command with the fiery raging fervor of an invading Mongol horde, so bloody f@#$ing stop it.

Comms are just like the weapons on your BattleMech. They're a tool you can use to defeat your enemy, but they require proper use. Just like blasting your weapons into everything but the enemy, nonstop, from the word 'Go' is likely to get you blocked and reported, so too is abusing comms. Effective communication does more damage to the enemy than a DireStar; comms-clogging garbage does the enemy's work for them.

[Johny Rocket]

1453 R, on 18 October 2021 - 06:48 AM, said:

"Buying the damn mic" is Step 1. And frankly it's not even the important part of Step 1.

The important part of Step 1 is to buy a headset, whether or not it has a mic. Step 2 is crucial; Step 2 is listen. Pay attention to what people are saying. Listen for callouts, and be prepared to shift your own target priority when someone tries to call a focus target even if you don't necessarily agree with the call. Communication only works when your play behavior changes based on what's being communicated - if communication never changes what you do or how you play, you're not communicating and will continue to suck.

Learning the correct calls to make is also important. Be brief, be specific, and then be quiet. This is a video game, quippery and random chatter is fine, but clogging the comms will make it much more likely you lose. Convey information quickly, with as few words as you can get away with and still be clear, and again - BE SPECIFIC! The game gives you all the tools you need to precisely designate whatever you're calling out - all enemies have an alphanumeric designation that never changes, the map is gridded with (usually) (relatively) clear coordinate marks (assuming they're not obscured by other junk, anyways). There's no excuse for ambiguity when trying to convey information.

"Delta Warhammer, open CT" is a valuable callout. "Damnit, that guy got away! I almost had him! If anybody sees him lemme know, I wanna finish my kill!" is comms-clogging garbage.

"Enemy snipers Golf 6" is a valuable callout. "OW DAMNIT somebody shot me with Gauss! Are they one that stupid hill again?! They are! Damnit, somebody get them!" is comms-clogging garbage.

"Enemy UAV up, Delta 5" is a valuable callout. "Crap, they can see us, why does nobody ever shoot those damn things down?!" is comms-clogging garbage.

"Big enemy push, Charlie line" is a valuable callout. "AHHH GODDAMNIT THEY'RE COMING FOR MY LUCKY CHARMS WHY ISN'T ANYONE SAVING ME?!" followed by clicking the "Need Assistance" button ninety-seven times is comms-clogging garbage and also you are the reason literally everybody in this game despises the "Need Assistance!" command with the fiery raging fervor of an invading Mongol horde, so bloody f@#$ing stop it.

Comms are just like the weapons on your BattleMech. They're a tool you can use to defeat your enemy, but they require proper use. Just like blasting your weapons into everything but the enemy, nonstop, from the word 'Go' is likely to get you blocked and reported, so too is abusing comms. Effective communication does more damage to the enemy than a DireStar; comms-clogging garbage does the enemy's work for them.

That's the advanced class, can't work on that until they are at least to the point of being able to clog comms. Don't even get me started on the E key spamming.

[Brom96]

Going for enemy sniper g6.

Response from the rest of the team:

1. *silence*

2. Will support/Affirmative

3. Translation, please

4. ^&%^&%%$ off

5. Shut up, you piece of ^%^%^&%

6. *Variation of 4 and 5, sometimes in languages other then English*

The most usual is number 1.

[Valdarion Silarius]

Even if you wish to not communicate on open mic, at least type out enemy placement and use your command wheel for target identification. I'd had days where I didn't want to speak due to congestion and people talking to me off screen. Communication can still be had without open mic, it's the willingness that people lack and general laziness or lack of knowledge on how to communicate.

[Vxheous]

I actually prefer that most people stay off comms, if someone starts to speak too much, I just mute them. More important is actual game flow understanding in QP, and not mindlessly rotating like lemmings. I'd much rather have teammates that use target spotted on the command wheel so everyone can track the enemy movements than that one overzealous dude screaming that we all need to shoot that one target that we can all see...like yeah, who else is everyone gonna shoot, but thanks for clarifying

Edited by Vxheous, 18 October 2021 - 10:15 AM.

[Nightbird]

I mute bad players who talk too much.

[R0gal D0rn]

Yes communication is great. This is not new. But i have to make some little adjustements to the equation.

1) Language thing-

Not all the players are native english speakers. In fact the EU population is something in this game.
Is a well know truth that non natives can understand ones each others much better in oral english than Natives and non natives.
It´s easy to understand, they tende to use short sentences, speak slow and try to articulate...

In the NA prime time i got regularly headaches. Strong ones.

To start with, people uses the voice coms to say hello, an talk about builds, weather, local news, particular circumstances... Fast and sometimes with a strong (Alabama, Utah, Scottish, Kiwi...) accent.
And sometimes the blah blah is on all the match, with some useful information about the match in the sandwitch...
To make it worse SOME (just some) palyers dont make the minimal effort to make the life easier to their non english partners.
And to make it worse, they tend to listen and agree with someone blattantly WRONG but speaking fluent, ignoring the guy with funny accent, who occurs to be right.

I have heard, one memorable match "I´m in my country so learn a good english, moron" or somethng similar. The guy seemed to not understand that i´m in my country too XD

2) I could live without comms if only the people woul be able to do one thing: pres "R" and use the command wheel to spot the enemy mechs. This make your score something better. But it´s more valuable than a verbal information sometimes wrong.

[ThreeStooges]

Been playing for 5 years without a mic with voip turned off. Learn better positioning and how to use the mini-map. If you want me to use a mic buy me a new pc that has a working mic port.

[Monkey Lover]

Pug Q is anti teamwork for what I have seen. Anyone that wants to play as a team has already joined a unit.

[feeWAIVER]

Whenever the game starts, and I hear two retired truck drivers chatting it up about the mech's they're driving, I predict a loss.

[Thorqemada]

ThreeStooges, on 18 October 2021 - 01:53 PM, said:

Been playing for 5 years without a mic with voip turned off. Learn better positioning and how to use the mini-map. If you want me to use a mic buy me a new pc that has a working mic port.

Have you tested USB mics?

They work much better than the soundport ones, in regard to ease of use and come at very reasonable prices.

I had one from Logitech until i moved and it went there were it meets my missing socks...

[DaZur]

I'm torn...

I've witnessed mic-garbage and I've witnessed a near symphonic orchestration of battlefield assets.

That said, the difference between the two more often than not hinged on teams reaction to the callouts versus they all actually being on comms.

to be fair, I'm a spud so my opinion is dubious at best...

[The6thMessenger]

I'm honestly confused of "Alpha Alpha Alpha" referring to a target. Like I'd know what Alpha looks like. How's about the "Direwolf on the ridge"?

Edited by The6thMessenger, 18 October 2021 - 06:55 PM.

[Brom96]

It is annoying, to say the least, to have someone call targets based o the designated letter. As if we all have that one locked, or have time to scroll through all targets... Seriously, just calling the type or class only, is more important.

[Curccu]

Brom96, on 19 October 2021 - 12:48 AM, said:

It is annoying, to say the least, to have someone call targets based o the designated letter. As if we all have that one locked, or have time to scroll through all targets... Seriously, just calling the type or class only, is more important.

What if there are like 3 direwolves? Show target overlay button is pretty good default key Q.

[PocketYoda]

A mic is not gonna fix getting stomped..

[Teenage Mutant Ninja Urbie]

In faction, I'd agree. but in QP ..

look, communication is only a good thing if people know what they talk about ..
but in QP I have to listen to things like

'lets take and hold the basement'
'Iiii'm going in..!'
'hold a lock and I make it raiiiiin'
..


nah, silence is golden. while I appreciate the rare 'stealthmech/sniper in G6" or whatever, the norm is the above: a clutter of useless info that's just going to annoy the rest.

Edited by Teenage Mutant Ninja Urbie, 19 October 2021 - 04:12 AM.

[Brom96]

Curccu, on 19 October 2021 - 01:08 AM, said:

What if there are like 3 direwolves? Show target overlay button is pretty good default key Q.

Of course, but it is a mess if there are several mechs actually superimposed on each other since they are in line from the point where you stand. It takes several seconds to see which one is which.

Also just start screaming about 3 Direwolves in a location.

Also, doesn't Q show you your teammates, too? Hence even more small text crammed in same space

[Mochyn Pupur]

Headset - Yes
Comms Mic - Not really

One decent caller is all it takes (ahh, the halcyon days in FW) rather than listening to someone chewing a brick, coughing, being berated by their partner for waking up the kids etc.

Of course, actually listening to what's said rather than just hearing comms chat is another thing altogether . . . .