Multiplayer - is this a joke?

[Dair 10]

[Edit: Less patient can skip to the last paragraph as what follows seems to be mainly lamentation. Sorry for that. - Dair]

Hi guys, I've bought Arma 2 as i loved the multiplaying OFP and OFPR and the Demo seemed to be OK for me.

Now I'm terribly disappointed. The newbie's experience of trying the multiplayer turns into nightmare.

There are dozens of servers available in the list but not even one that would be joinable. All of them using different addons or mods but there is no built-in mod/addon handling. No obvious way to filter servers that are playable with the current setup. If you join one, you will get into the loading screen and after 5 minutes you get disconnected. From time to time with the "missing addon" info but usually without any text or pop-up. "Luckilly" the game never forgets to remind me with the popup that I can download patch 1.7 on arma2.com, strange enough as the 1.7 already IS installed and shown in the corner. I can not imagine how is the newcommer supposed to start? I've spent hours and downloaded gigabytes of mods and addons already but still wasnt able to join the single populated server.

This is the worst MP interface design I have ever seen (well, it didn't change too much since OFP - but it was 10 years ago!). Did the BIS guys thought that the community will do all their job instead of them? I can't believe something like this is being sold in 2010...

In most other games, mods are downloaded and applied automatically after joining the server. In this game not even addons are downloaded. User is left to search the web for the particular file. The interface is so unfriendly! One would suppose this has been done by the band of amateurs! It is in such a contrast with the amazing engine and the game itself...

You can admit player is supposed to join the clan and play on clan server. But come-on, does anyone really think this is how it happens in the real world? The typical development is: single player>trying multiplayer> if it's worth it - more serious multiplayer> considering joining the clan. In Arma, however, I'm pretty sure most people will give up before they get a chance to enjoy it.

Am I missing something? Is there any Multiplayer Newbie's Walkthrough (with basic required addons/mods/setup etc.) arround? I loved OFP and Resistance, yes, the design was similar, but there were not so many addons used in MP and it was clearly stated when it was. Later there was the OFP Watch, the addon manager installing and setting the required addons automatically. For Arma2 I have found AddonSync09 but I haven't found any populated server using it. I have no idea why wasn't something so simple and basic already implemented by developers? This game requires SO MUCH manual tweaking... One spends so much time messing arround instead of enjoying the game itself... It is so frustrating!

Edited July 17, 2010 by Dair

[tacticalnuggets 24]

Just keep spreading the message and join the multiplayer revolution. Our numbers are strong and BIS is starting to get the message. Download solutions are a work in progress for there next update. This will take care getting custom content required by the servers, with some addon management as well i heard too.

Just don't be too mean about it, keep a relaxed but serious message. And most of all don't break the rules, because how are you supposed to spread the message when you are banned? Just some advice.

[wh1sp3r 10]

i agree. When i started play, it was not easy to figure out, how things works.

at last, there is my favorite server from suicidesquad with very friendly admin. He increased player limit in the server from 32 to 40 and i hope, he will try increase it more without any problem like not enough server power. usually between 4pm to -10pm is server totally full.

the best thing, what BIS can do is make a server with lots of player slots and play war game instead running in the forest alone or with stupid AI :)

It's a nice game and multiplayer is really great, but only with playing players.

[Flubadoo 10]

Yeah. I admit that the mods are preetttyy annoying when you don't have them. I only have performance enhancer mods, no ACE and shit like that.

[Murklor 10]

In most other games, mods are downloaded and applied automatically after joining the server.

No they're not. Prime example: Battlefield series, one of the most popular online series. It doesnt even allow automatic map download, despite the fact its been suggested to DICE since 8 years back (when the game allow map editing, that is).

Some games allow it, such as Wolfenstein ET. It turned to complete **** with all the server mods, you never knew what type of game you where joining. Unfortunetly Arma has a tendancy to follow the trend, although not as severe. I think I've had to download a new 2mb domination mission file for every server I've joined.

And I dont quite get how you cannot find any servers. I always see 10-15 servers with decent population (>15) in OA, even when its quiet I can find larger games. Arma 2 was weak in comparison when it launched. The server browser in general shows at least 1 page of joinable servers (then comes Arma 2, modded servers, etc).

[thedudeabides 40]

Maybe joining a clan/squad would be your best bet. There is a whole thread dedicated to them. That seems to be the best way to get the most out of MP and they will help you set up your mods since most use a different set anyway. Just browse that thread and find the clan that fits what you are looking to do with Arma2OA

[hellfire257 3]

Yeah, its a harsh world, but knowing BIS is one of the only developers that actually listen to their players, I should imagine a solution is in the works. As Blue says, it is better join a unit, which will help you no end.

The mod you are most likley encountering is the ACE mod which is swallowing up the...*STOP*...server list!

Edited July 17, 2010 by Hellfire257

[ACPL Jon 68]

YES, You're missing something. "Filters" tab in the multiplayer session menu.

Search for phrase "no mods" in the server name. Plus, no password, minimum players ~5+ and blam, You've got what You've searched for. You can also use -noPatchCheck in the game command line to get rid of the "download patch blah blah blah from arma2.blah" ;]

Other than that - get last version of the ACE mod.

Really. Try it. It kicks ass now.

[wh1sp3r 10]

Yeah, its a harsh world, but knowing BIS is one of the only developers that actually listen to their players

if there are more servers with more player slots (like BF2) and more than BF2. it will be very entertaing war game, hey.

i just feel very alone in the game :( :( :( that's BIG minus

[Murklor 10]

if there are more servers with more player slots (like BF2) and more than BF2. it will be very entertaing war game, hey.

i just feel very alone in the game :( :( :( that's BIG minus

Alone compared to what? BF2? Hahaha... Ask a question in BF2 and you'll probably never get a reply, its like you're playing with bots. Its all about me, me and me without much consideration of other players... Except the points you can leech off them. It doesnt matter if its 24, 32 or 64 players - you're still pretty much on your own.

Ask a question in Arma2/OA and it can end up in a 5 minute discussion en route to the objective, they just wont shut up!

[wh1sp3r 10]

Alone compared to what? BF2? Hahaha... Ask a question in BF2 and you'll probably never get a reply, its like you're playing with bots. Its all about me, me and me without much consideration of other players... Except the points you can leech off them. It doesnt matter if its 24, 32 or 64 players - you're still pretty much on your own.

Ask a question in Arma2/OA and it can end up in a 5 minute discussion en route to the objective, they just wont shut up!

yes, i know i am still on my own :) but 20x20km map and only few players ? :)

+ bots are not very good in thinking in arma 2, hehe :)

[Murklor 10]

20x20km with only a few players is irrelevant. Most servers run coop missions (some really hardcore).

It doesnt feel like few players when you cram like 20 people into a Blackhawk, which then proceed to attack an objective as a unit (revive especially improves it). Ever seen that many people in a BF2 Blackhawk? No, didnt think so.

[wh1sp3r 10]

It's just my opinion :)

I would like to see 64 players on Chernasus map as a warfare mission.

[hellfire257 3]

Find me a server that could handle Warfare AND 64 players =D

[wh1sp3r 10]

I am playing on 40 players warefare server without any lags and there was UK server warfare with 64 players too btw, but it's off atm :)

www.suicidesquad.co.uk

edit: ok, this server will have 60 slots tonight, hope, without lags :)

Edited July 17, 2010 by wh1sp3r

[Dair 10]

No they're not. Prime example: Battlefield series, one of the most popular online series. It doesnt even allow automatic map download, despite the fact its been suggested to DICE since 8 years back (when the game allow map editing, that is).

Some games allow it, such as Wolfenstein ET. It turned to complete **** with all the server mods, you never knew what type of game you where joining. Unfortunetly Arma has a tendancy to follow the trend, although not as severe. I think I've had to download a new 2mb domination mission file for every server I've joined.

And I dont quite get how you cannot find any servers. I always see 10-15 servers with decent population (>15) in OA, even when its quiet I can find larger games. Arma 2 was weak in comparison when it launched. The server browser in general shows at least 1 page of joinable servers (then comes Arma 2, modded servers, etc).

Yes, I know BF2. But It had completely different philosophy. There were only few mods for the BF2 and servers running another mod were clearly marked so you never got confused. But the ArmA is different, almost every server runs some modification or addon - usually tons of these - but the game offers no handling for this. No information what is required for the given server before being kicked, no filtering. If it does not support the automatic downloads it should support the ability to identify the server I can't join at least.

(I don't have the OA yet as the pack of both costs the same money as buying these separately here. So I bought only A2 to give it a try first.)

YES, You're missing something. "Filters" tab in the multiplayer session menu.

Search for phrase "no mods" in the server name. Plus, no password, minimum players ~5+ and blam, You've got what You've searched for. You can also use -noPatchCheck in the game command line to get rid of the "download patch blah blah blah from arma2.blah" ;]

Really. Try it. It kicks ass now.

Other than that - get last version of the ACE mod.

Actually I tried the "no mod" name filter, but there were only four servers at all - all empty and only one with suitable ping :(. Ace mods were one of these i downloaded. However, I still have problems connecting most of the servers. Allways missing some addon or having different version....

I know it is a good game. I remember the fun I had with the original OFP. But the multiplayer interface is so unfriendly, discouraging and lacks such a basic functions... I think it probably puts off majority of potential players, which is really bad...

[ben_s 11]

ArmA II should only show joinable servers. Or have options to only show servers with same mods / no mods, too. As it needs that.

[tankkiller01 0]

well said

[celery 8]

Actually I tried the "no mod" name filter

"no ace" gives more results. Usually though you might get lucky if neither the server name nor the mission name have ACE or @ in them.

[terox 316]

Not searching for discussions of a similar topic, spreads out the issues at hand over a miriad of threads with the same discussion repeated over and over again.

The following thread goes more into detail with the addon issue and Maruk also replied to it, which gives us encouragement that a fix for this is w.i.p

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=100951

There is a comment in this thread about the Gamespy browser not being more informative though, which may be valid. However there is an awful lot of information listed on it, if you look more carefully.

It's also important to note the distinction between a mod and an addon pack.

For example many servers use a custom addon pack, which for example may contain their preferred set of 3rd party islands. This is going to be specific to an individual server.

Whereas you would find a mod, for example ACE to be used throughout the community by many servers.

In the meantime, why don't you go to Armaholics.com download all the arma2, OA islands, stick them in a mod folder called @Islands and always load them.

That will reduce the chance that you wont be able to play on a server somewhat.

Ofcourse there is other content that private servers will use such as men, vehicle and equipment packs, best way to see what they use is to visit their website/communications server and ask them.

A lot of these points are covered in the following manual.....

Newcomers Guide to ArmA2 Multiplayer

If you find it useful, please bump the thread so that others can see it on the first page of the MP forums

Edited July 17, 2010 by Terox

[Murklor 10]

(I don't have the OA yet as the pack of both costs the same money as buying these separately here. So I bought only A2 to give it a try first.)

Well there's your problem.

A2 is pretty dead server-wise, or soon to be. Most have moved to OA. ACE2 made up many of the A2 servers previously, but it is no longer being developed for A2, only OA.

[Mortem86 10]

I have the multiplayerbarrier too, its just annoing.

I have CO speak Arma2 and OA and i have 10 Servers to pick...with no Players, the othesr are red i thought with CO i could play on both Vanilla and OA Servers this just sucks beside the Addonproblem...both versions fully patched.

So much for Multiplayerfun...the fun was with Arma2 gone with the addonsearching now it is with OA...

BUT thanks really big thanks for the modding support and dedicated servers ,now it needs only getting easier into the multiplayer and it would be perfect!

I hope my english is not too bad to understand :P

[Nicholas 5]

if there are more servers with more player slots (like BF2) and more than BF2. it will be very entertaing war game, hey.

i just feel very alone in the game :( :( :( that's BIG minus

Well, that's not BIS's fault, it's not BIS that runs the servers. The servers you see are people paying to host them or people hosting them from their PC. There are no official servers.

[Militant1006 11]

I have no problem with the multiplayer interface system really, i find games easily and quickly and everyone is a great teammate even if i don't know them, i think it has a very good multiplayer system, but there is one thing it needs, a list of the mods being used on the server.

This doesn't usually affect me because i only play on two or three servers, but shouldn't it be possible for it to automatically detect the mods being used on the server, OA already has a mod detection system at the main browser so i think they could probably fit a mod detection system in for servers, because it would make a huge difference to the people who do not know the servers very well.

[Sim.M 48]

@Militantsausage; don't some of the game launchers have that ability? I'm sure I saw the mods on servers listed with one of the Arma2 launchers. I think it was Arma2 Launcher by Alpinestar but am not 100% on this. Take a look at some of the launchers and see.

There is a pretty good MP community for Arma2 and OA (now becoming more popular), it just requires a bit of research to get involved; some servers use mods - they also usually list their 'clan/unit' name on the server. Can't get in? Check their webpage and see if they have a server list or tech area, they most likely will help you. Download only the mods you think will be useful to you, don't go 'mod wild' and download and start your game with SLX and GLX and ACE and ....etc...etc... and expect server admins to want you in. Some mods cause server instability, others are considered 'cheats' in multiplayer PvP, some might be hacks. So server admins (like myself) usually ask folks not to come in with them, if they don't remove the mod we kick them. Sorry if it sounds harsh, but if you're causing trouble, even inadvertently on our server, you are still ruining the experience for everyone else, and the needs of the many....so turn them off unless the server requires them.

There is talk of BI getting some sort of 'mod' download thing happening, hopefully it will be a 'choice' thing, where if I want to join I can download the mods from somewhere (hopefully not MY server) and join... We'll have to see.