I'm disappointed

[Wicked Sick 10]

Ok, so I thought the concept of having a 225km squared map, was so that you could possibly MMO? The game has so much potential. Why can't it have more than 50+ players per server? why not 150-200?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a troller. I like the game, I just believe it could do better!

Also, on a seperate note, anyone know why Steam doesn't accept the CD Key from inside my box?

I clicked "Add game to steam" but it tells me it's invalid :(

I bought it today from HMV (with receipt)

[Takko 10]

In ArmA 1 were 100 player events and in ArmA 2 as well.

Look up IC ArmA.

And thats just one out of more.

[Wicked Sick 10]

I looked through the server list and I'm just seeing a max of 32? Sorry, just got the game today, new to this genre. I have soem questions if you could be so kind to answer them!

1. What button starts the rotor's in a helicopter?

2. Is the ranking system available for Single player missions?

3. How long realistically is it from when you start the game, until you get promoted enough to use at least a basic huey or some other gunship attack helicopter?

4. I'm used to the WoW XP system, is it as looooooooooooooooooong as that?

5. By the way, has anyone seen a mount vendor?

[Beagle 684]

Technically we can have over 32/32 Playersor even more, but such servers dont tend to be very stable. Also. A.I. does play a important role in the Warfare MP missions...which come closest to a MMO. They perform those roles that noone would like to play because of boredom.

At some Battles for bigger towns you will have to deal with near 100 units on all sides...thats when you dont feel any need for more as you often do not notice a difference in Player or A.I. behaviour...well exept that A.I. groups do a better job quite often because they know how to communicate.

[Sniperwolf572 758]

There is no coded cap for playable units on a server as far as I know, so 50+ players is certainly possible.

I believe store bought boxes are not in any way connected to Steam, hence it won't accept any keys for ArmA2, except the ones actually purchased from Steam itself. Not sure 100% about that, Dwarden might know more.

There is no game wide ranking or leveling, some user missions might have that implemented tho.

[Wicked Sick 10]

Ahh, so it's not just you vs AI?

You know what, fuck it. This game rocks, now if you don't mind my work shift is finishing (I work in an internet cafe ftw.. 24/7 hr gaming hub) and im about due a massive fucking spliff and I'm going to get my game on.

Would like to know how the rank system works.. SP/Solo/MP? Do all 3 give you ranking or just online?

[Binkowski 26]

There isn't a "rank / xp" system. Except in some MP missions that have ranks, but there isn't one hard-coded into the game.

[Wicked Sick 10]

There is no coded cap for playable units on a server as far as I know, so 50+ players is certainly possible.

I believe store bought boxes are not in any way connected to Steam, hence it won't accept any keys for ArmA2, except the ones actually purchased from Steam itself. Not sure 100% about that, Dwarden might know more.

There is no game wide ranking or leveling, some user missions might have that implemented tho.

I guess you are half right, usually I can add my store bought stuff this way, but sometimes I can't. No worries anyway, look at it this way, if steam does fuck up, I'm not affected :) lol..

---------- Post added at 09:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 PM ----------

There isn't a "rank / xp" system. Except in some MP missions that have ranks, but there isn't one hard-coded into the game.

So basically, let me get this straight right, I can't use any air or some mobile units because I'm still ranked a private and the minimum I believe is Sgt.

And no way to get above Sgt as the servers or game doesn't do xp/rank? So I bought a game with usable items that I cant use? Errr?

Infinity Ward or what? lol

[TimRiceSE 10]

no clue or what? lol

This game is totally open ended. Its up to the mission designer to set any restriction they like on who may or may not use whatever "asset".

Youve probably played either Domination or Evolution with ranking requirements before you can use certain vehicles/weapons. The solution here is to play a non-ranked version. Or another mission.

[Binkowski 26]

Well, there's the mission editor. And you can use anything you want in there. Just place it down.

I'm pretty sure you were playing on a Domination or Evolution mission which was the ranked version. The rank system is in the mission, not the game or the server. So, that being stated. Most missions, do not have a rank system.

[santafee 10]

You sound like you expecting something else from this game....

You will need a long time to get into it if this is your first Operation Flashpoint Game...For everybody this game is good at a different point. I never play MP only creating my own Missions and stuff. if you dont plan to join a squad or clan i guess you will be dissapointed from mp

[Wicked Sick 10]

Ok, I'm confused, the difference between dragon rising and Arma 2 is?

I was only alerted to Dragon Rising/ARMA II because a friend told me of the massive maps and how long it takes to traverse from one point to the other.

I didn't realise it at first until in a game I random joined, a 5 minute vehicle ride only moved me like a few inches on the map.

This looks like the love child of BF2 and Stalker, in one.

I'm just trying to find out what game can do like a phat donkey fucking war of mass proportions, cos MW2 really failed..

I'm sorry to have to mention such a fail game in a great game's forum, but you need someone to look down on I suppose, to show you the better stuff :P

How would someone get into a good clan? You have like so many guns in the game, do they all drop off various enemy AI or are there like vendors or something?

[Binkowski 26]

There's a whole discussion about the differences between DR and ArmA2, it's in off topic I believe. ArmA2 can do your "phat donkey war of mass proportions". If you don't think the map is big enough, go into the mission editor, place an infantryman somewhere on the map, go in game, bring up your map, and zoom out. That's how big the damn thing is. Have fun trying to walk through it all. Regarding the squads around here, check the ArmA2 : Squads and Fanpages section. That's where most of the good squads post asking for people, or getting their name out there.

[TimRiceSE 10]

again, how a mission plays out and what assets are available - be that weapons or vehicles or aircraft - is completely up to the mission maker.

There are "vendors", if you like to use a MMO term (and please dont), in missions such as the "Warfare" pvp mode.

If you want to play around with all the weapons, jump into the editor, place yourself down on the map somewhere, place a few ammo boxes with weapons (Empty > Ammo > whatever) and go to town.

The story of ArmA2 vs DR is that 2001 (ish) BIS developed and Codemasters published Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis. Some years later they went separate ways but codemasters got to keep the OFP name. BIS then made ArmA and lately ArmA2 from the same engine, which they rightfully own. Codemasters started from scratch to make OFP:Dragon Rising and produced a stillbirth.

a youtube vid of a 1500 AI battle in ArmA2,

oh and btw, ArmA2 is basically the same engine as used in military training simulators (with some significant differences) by the USMC, UK MOD, Australian MOD, etcetc

Edited February 7, 2010 by TimRiceSE

[Ragingbear505 10]

It depends what gametype you are playing. In Warfare mode you command AI soldiers against other players commanding their own AI soldiers, in that case depending on the version of warfare, though this seems to be the most common, you will scroll your mouse wheel to open the context menu -> go to options -> then another menu will pop up with some basic options like -> buy gear/buy units/vote for command/etc. -> go to buy gear and choose your guns and equipment -> go to buy units buy men, vehicles, etc. -> ask where you're needed, check your map, head there, and hope you aren't killed 2 seconds into the fight

For Evolution/Domination look around your base for ammo and weapon crates, if you're new to the game you may not recognize them so you may want to ask, once again just approach the crate, aim at it, roll the mouse wheel to open the context menu, and choose gear, if you're close enough it'll open a menu where you exchange weapons with the crate

Some servers do have ranking that lets you use higher level vehicles, so in theory in most large scale gametypes, especially warfare, you will be able to eventually use battle tanks, helicopters, and planes, just keep playing and ask questions, you'll learn.

To get into a good clan check the squad pages in the forums, the community is actually very friendly despite what people from another community *cough* dragon rising *cough* might say and I'm sure one of them will be willing to take in a newbie.

If you're confused about the operation flashpoint name, the original Operation Flashpoint came out in 2001. It's sequels by the same developer are Armed Assault: Arma and Arma 2. The publisher of the first Flashpoint, Codemasters, acquired the name and used it to generate sales for their game Dragon Rising. Dragon Rising is not a comprehensive military sim like Arma 2. It lacks many of the features it promised and was generally abandoned by its own community.

[-Total- 0]

If you are looking for an all out war where thre's a massive amount of people fighting each other and every asset imaginable is available - you're probably not going to find it in ArmA2.

The gameplay in ArmA2 is alot more strategic and requires alot more patience.

There's no stat tracking or ranking system. As has been stated, any sort of ranking system is specific to the mission you are playing. Say you reach Sgt in one server and go to anotehr server that is running a ranked mission - you start over. The rank doesn't follow you server to server.

Now, getting past all of the bad news, ArmA2 is hella fun!

Get into a server, use the ingame VOIP or log on to the clan's vent who is hosting the server, and start coordinating with people. If no one is coordinating with one another, start with one person. Other people will follow. Pretty soon, you'll have a group of people annihilating anything in their way simply because they're working together :D

[Wicked Sick 10]

Thanks to everyone for your helpful replies, quite amazed I wasn't molested by a troll with some of the questions I asked haha!

---------- Post added at 10:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

what I mean't by all out war, I meant like a Regiment/Section just assaulting one big city/village, house to house style.. Room clearance, ambushes, etc..

[Aeneas2020 10]

Thanks to everyone for your helpful replies, quite amazed I wasn't molested by a troll with some of the questions I asked haha!

---------- Post added at 10:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

what I mean't by all out war, I meant like a Regiment/Section just assaulting one big city/village, house to house style.. Room clearance, ambushes, etc..

Is that an invite...? *puts on molesting troll outfit*...

seriously though welcome to the forum and enjoy the game.

[thales100 10]

Enjoy the game, its great.

[walker 0]

Hi Wicked Sick

Welcome to the community:

Start here:

http://community.bistudio.com/wiki/ArmA_II_Hints_and_Tips

ArmA II is not like other games it does not stroke your ego. To begin with you will die a lot; this is to be expected but one day you will find your self hunting T90's with a group of friends like stone age man hunting mammoths. The learning curve is a steep slope built on your own dead bodies and each will in turns smash and frustrate you with their and your stupidity; as well as hilarity. Fear and death will become your friends, like hiding for literaly hours in a bush while an armored behemoth, that knows you are somewhere in that field, plays squash the likely bush; but there a moments in this game when its beauty will haunt you.

The ArmA Triumvirate. Key things to know:

1) The editor is the place to learn and is probably the greatest things about ArmA as it is the source of thousands upon thousands of new user created content. People have played this game engine for a decade there is not another game that can claim that.

2) The next big thing is MODs no other game even approaches the Game engine for modability, there are thousands of addons the key one you will need is ACE. And ArmA has a suite of tools for making mods the likes of which no other game can boast. Have a look at the Addons and Mods Complete as well as ArmA II editing section of this forum and do not forget that BIS Wiki

http://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Main_Page

there are also several Mod web sites and news forums:

3) Multiplayer is the final part of the ArmA triumvirate. There is an introductory manual linked on this page of the Forum:

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=93078 This pdf MP manual web page is currently down while Zeus web server is updated!

Untill then this thread deals with some of the many different MP questions people have:

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=79628

I suggest you down load Yoma's addon Synchroniser. It will take most of the geek work out of insuring you have the right addons and that are up to date.

http://dev-heaven.net/projects/list_files/yoma-addonsync2009

Do not expect DM and CTF they exist and there are masses of PvP missions of those types but unlike other games ArmA is not limited to them, so it tends to get swamped in the mass of other game types. The easiest way to find specific game types is to join a community that specialises in that game mode. This section of the forum deals with finding a community of like minded people to play with:

http://forums.bistudio.com/forumdisplay.php?f=90

But all of us have been homeless ronin at times and just wonder the open public servers. Be aware much of the ArmA community is hidden and locked there are several big communities that do not show up on the Game Spy Browser though most such communities run a public recruiting server as well; those that do not will just run a single server which they may well lock and password on community nights.

Because of ArmA's mission editor and modability peoples imaginations have run riot, most everything you can imagine has or is being created in ArmA. This can be a bit daunting at times but if you can think of something new, that ArmA needs there is an experienced community that can help you realise your dream.

Once again welcome to the ArmA community.

Kind Regards walker

Edited February 9, 2010 by walker

[Bulldogs 10]

Ok, I'm confused, the difference between dragon rising and Arma 2 is?

I left you a response to that on your post on the DR forums (the one that's pretty much the same as this thread), under the name "Gunner McDagget"

Other than that, there's a thread for DR discussion in the offtopic section of these forums. Ask any question in there and people will be happy to respond.

[max power 21]

The list of things that are similar between ArmA 2 and DR would probably be shorter than a list of differences.

They are different games from different developers and different publishers.

[cm. 10]

plus with a different audience...

[sic-disaster 311]

If Chernarus would get a full-on island war with thousands of players, my pc would burn down crying.