A Plea for a better multiplayer experience

[MR_TROUBLE 0]

The thing that I thought that draws people to OFP and AA is the fact that these games are large-scale military simulators. They're not the small arena style shootouts like Raven Sheild.

I remember playing some OFP missions where you start out in the daylight and by the time the mission is done it's nighttime. It feels like it's a real military operation. That's what OFP and AA are meant for correct?

So why is it that I can hardly ever find a nice CO-OP server or large-scale West Vs East MP game where all aspects of AA are utilized not just the buildings, sandbags, and barbed wire? Why do I constantly see nothing but CTF games where everyone is running around blasting each other in a small area maze of buildings and structures, sandbags, barbed wire that more closely resembles a paintball match than a military sim?

I ended up in a game last night where we were dogfighting with Camel bi-planes. Is this why you spend the 42 Euros or whatever it converted into US dollars? To fly around in a Camel for 30 mins?

If I want a small arena shootout where people are running and gunning and dying and respawning every 10 seconds I'll go play Raven Sheild.

This is a military combat simulator. That's why the maps are HUGE. It's for large-scale combat. Combined arms...tanks...jets..choppers...infantry.

It's not meant for running and gunning like you do in BF2 or Raven Sheild.

To make an analogy, it's kinda like buying a fancy Blackberry or PDA phone and only using it to talk and never using it for the other features it was clearly designed for.

Am I wrong to feel this way or what?

[CouchMonkey 0]

ArmAInteractive.com is gearing up fo such an experience. Honestly if you are looking for a realistic military sim, look no further. We have battles once or twice (TBD) each week for 12-14 hours a day. After each battle, the maps are modded to reflect progress and you pick right back up where you left off.

Definately worth a look. Let me know if you have any questions.

[whisper 0]

Leave time for people to get their hand on the product, come in with new larger concept, develop them, and put them on servers.

It's not an easy task. It won't be done in 2 weeks.

Or better, tbh : do these maps you dream of yourself.

OFP lacked missions. Let's not let ArmA suffer the same feat

That said, I'm gonna launch ArmA MP Editor

[5133p39 14]

So why is it that I can hardly ever find a nice CO-OP server or large-scale West Vs East MP game where all aspects of AA are utilized not just the buildings, sandbags, and barbed wire? Why do I constantly see nothing but CTF games where everyone is running around blasting each other in a small area maze of buildings and structures, sandbags, barbed wire that more closely resembles a paintball match than a military sim?

Give it some time, you must realize the game was released few days ago. Somebody has to create all the coop missions and larg-scale games.

I can tell you, it's not easy to make some full-featured mission, because there are so many unclear things in the field of scripting and mission editing. The BI wiki is nice, but right now it doesn't help too much, right now it's no more than a simple list of commands - not much references, explanations, or examples.

I am annoyed too, but i know that the situation is better and better each day, soon we will have those big games.

[MR_TROUBLE 0]

Yes I realize the game is new, and that's a valid point.

But I thought that the general way to create missions in mission editor...even with advanced scripting and all that...is pretty much the same as OFP? So I would think there are plenty of experienced OFP mission makers out there who would be creating some decent missions already. Maybe I'm wrong about that I don't know.

I used to create MP missions for OFP years ago but I haven't done it in quite some time so I'm not ready at this point to start making my own missions for other people to play. Maybe a lot of other people right now who bought the game are in the same boat as me.

But yea you're both probably right that it will get better over time...

But seriously, these little arena paintball style matches need to go

[zyklone 1]

The problem for CTIs atleast is JIP.

And since there is no way to disable JIP building missions take time.

[sickboy 13]

You should have a look at our coop servers, we try to add some realism and well played teamwork to complete our missions... Besides, mission designing engine is already running and it is only soon that the full fledged features of ArmA will be put to use even further

Check signature for more info

Besides I think ppl need time to fully start using the features in ArmA...  even long time mission makers don't use all functionality from OFP etc. and the same goes for ArmA if you ask me.

Quote[/b] ]The problem for CTIs atleast is JIP.

And since there is no way to disable JIP building missions take time.

Of coarse you can disable JIP... sort of... just lock the server (Lock icon at mission assignment?)

[Lolsav 0]

Of coarse you can disable JIP... sort of...  just lock the server (Lock icon at mission assignment?)

Or "Disable AI" when launching

[Turkmenbashi 0]

Best bet for MP is closed-ish servers. 6th sense/The Rifles/other clans

[sickboy 13]

Of coarse you can disable JIP... sort of...  just lock the server (Lock icon at mission assignment?)

Or "Disable AI" when launching

Doesn't work, you can just JIP even when there are no AI's m8.

It only doesn't work if there were AI's in and they already died.

[Frantic 0]

yeah give the map makers a bit time, im sure many r already working on the missions u want!

im sorry for those small CQB stylisch CTFs and other maps...

im making such maps too, but i have too, cause my pc is just still to weak, like the pc of many others, to be able to play big fights over big areas.

im happy to play 100mx200m sized maps with 20 players on it without having less than 20fps.

and i tested bigger sized maps with more than 20 players on it and i just watched a dia show...lol

soon i hope to get some new parts for my pc and then i will be able to create some bigger maps too!

[celery 8]

The selection of frequently played maps depends on people's tastes and preferences in those things. If enough people want a dream map like described and it's possible to make, I reckon it will be eventually. Big competitive maps are generally hard to make and play because in a public game there isn't much organisation and thus everyone goes for themselves loading themselves with that sniper rifle and RPG on every respawn until they run out and the enemy M1A1 that was waiting in spawn comes out to slaughter everyone. CQB maps are easier to get into because you don't have to worry about a mile long march to the battlezone or depleting weapons. I won't be making any big maps until there is some balance between the east and west vehicle selections.

As a personal note, when I open up the ArmA game browser, all I see is endless co-op games and only a couple of lousy CTFs on bad servers. Diverse maps is a good thing, if there is a camel deathmatch or a 25 mË› flag fight with SAWs it doesn't hurt anyone and you certainly can't do that in Raven Shield. Every time I hear "go play CS" or similar, my brain starts to bleed.

[Evan110185 0]

if people really want big maps like you say, then im sure as time goes by, those maps will be made.

Apearently alot of people like the small maps because thats what people have been playing. mapmakers will make whatever maps the players like playing.

its simple economics 101, supply and demand.

personally i prefer the medium sized maps. or even large maps if its in an organized team matchup.

there is nothing like playing an organized 10vs10 C&H on a huge playing field. Most fun ive ever had playing ofp(or arma)

If u dont like the maps currently out there, i suggest you take a look at the mission editor and start making your own.

{MOD}Audi_A4

[zyklone 1]

Of coarse you can disable JIP... sort of... just lock the server (Lock icon at mission assignment?)

No, as the game will start before everyone is ready you'll still get a number of players who JIP.