Battlefield: Bad Company 2

[Strazos]

Hey, what do you want? I was bored and playing, hoping enough people would come in for the server to reach critical mass and loop in "Play Now" random types.

[WayAbvPar]

Let's get some people together and start it up- we should have enough to get it started and visible.

[caladein]

For those that haven't picked it up yet, there's a deal right now, $10 bucks off for the weekend, and another $20 bucks off if you use the code PAXEAST842 on checkout.

Today is the last day for both deals.

Is this on the EA site, Steam, or where?

Sorry, EA store, DD only, no physical copies.

You still use the PAX East code on a physical copy of the game, you just don't get the extra $10 off from the weekend sale.

Still, $20 for BC2 is worth braving the EA Download Manager again...

[Strazos]

Wow, was on a Hardcore server earlier...Really wish you could search for servers based on the Hardcore setting. So I have to tab for the map, and the spotting doesn't show up as much. The damage is more like what this game should be.

 - If I burst-fire a guy in the head, he should die.
 - A shotgun blast from close range, if it's even close to a direct hit, should probably kill a guy most times.

The damage just feels right in that mode. As a bonus, the mg50 seems less overpowered on this mode, especially with the superior accuracy of the top-end assault rifles.

[Malakili]

Wow, was on a Hardcore server earlier...Really wish you could search for servers based on the Hardcore setting. So I have to tab for the map, and the spotting doesn't show up as much. The damage is more like what this game should be.

 - If I burst-fire a guy in the head, he should die.
 - A shotgun blast from close range, if it's even close to a direct hit, should probably kill a guy most times.

The damage just feels right in that mode. As a bonus, the mg50 seems less overpowered on this mode, especially with the superior accuracy of the top-end assault rifles.

Its sort of a double edged sword for me.  I do like the more realistic feeling damage, I have to admit.  But on the other side, I feel like the maps have largely been designed for the slower paced normal mode combat.   In the end, I feel like the game generally plays better all told on normal than hardcore, even though I really do like some of what hardcore has to offer.  I do like the slower deliberate objective based game, and I feel like normal mode delivers that better, and hardcore mode can basically devolve into pure death matching, especially on conquest mode.    I also feel like defense has a pretty large advantage on rush in hardcore.

[Strazos]

Normal mode should have about 65% of the damage of Hardcore, or something. As is, it's a little silly when I can shotgun a guy in the back at point blank, and he's not dead.

You can just take way too many shots on Normal. I have the flak vest, but not sure it helps a whole lot on either mode.

[Jimbo]

I quit the Hardcore after you left, just finished out a round.  It is good and bad, like how the 9mm guns turn into beasts, but the 7.62 guns tend to get turned down (i.e. was taking more hits with the M1 or M14...) of course it could have been the lag monster.  Something is not right with the X8 Compact, I was seeing people 1 or 2 shot me with it & from a range that should make it less effective, probably not a cheat, but some bug with the latest patch.  M1 Garanda and the M14 continue to be great all around weapons (just wish they held more ammo!), heck tonight I had more fun using M1, M14, M1911, and the M1a1 "tommy gun".

What is up with all the cheaters today?  I saw a ton of people getting banned for aim-bots, & there was a bunch of crazy stuff on xbox live today too (on Modern Warfare 2). 

[Engels]

I had a dubious experience just now with hardcore. I emptied half an x8 clip into a sniper that just hip-shot a sniper rifle and one shot me.

Also, is anyone able to use the server filter mechanism to get PB only servers? I tried to filter it, but just about any server I join has PB off.

[kildorn]

I think a few weapons are underpowered in normal (most of the lower tier SMGs, the first AR, any semi auto sniper rifle, and the shotguns pre slugs seem to top out at ~99% damage at point blank), but some of the higher tier weapons in normal are practically one burst kills as is (the m416 to the head, same with the AN, the MG60), and the SMGs make up for it with large clips and close range killing power at the higher tiers.

I'm not entirely fond of how it feels Magnum rounds completely change the weapon dynamics, either. I need to find someplace that's done the math on them, because they feel like they make anything into a sniper rifle. I had some crazy 18-2 ratio sniping with an M416 and a 4x scope with magnum rounds earlier on a pug. Part of it was people being stupid and sitting in my killing corridor, part of it was some two bursts and anything died at long range.

[kildorn]

Also, I take it the team balance mod is broken, because now it's decided to never let me switch teams after doing it once to balance them, and every goddamned match on Bat Country today turned into 20-12 when a victorious side became likely.

[Strazos]

The m416 and m16 are almost unfair with magnum rounds on hardcore. I tend to play pretty carefully now on hardcore as assault; just flank and snipe with a red-dot sight.

[harmonicker]

I had a dubious experience just now with hardcore. I emptied half an x8 clip into a sniper that just hip-shot a sniper rifle and one shot me.

I've been on both sides of this exchange.  I've hip-shot people with an M24 about 7-9 times and killed 3 enemies i think.

[Surlyboi]

I hip shoot people all the time with the .50 and it's awesome.

That said, there was a shitload of spawn camping on all the conquest maps I played today on the 360. I spent pretty much an entire round sweeping my teams start point because the assholes we were playing were more interested in killing us where we started rather than taking and holding objectives.

[Malakili]

I hip shoot people all the time with the .50 and it's awesome.

That said, there was a shitload of spawn camping on all the conquest maps I played today on the 360. I spent pretty much an entire round sweeping my teams start point because the assholes we were playing were more interested in killing us where we started rather than taking and holding objectives.

You can spawn on your squad mates or any of the objectives that you have, so it should be pretty easy to get around spawn camping unless the other team controls the entire map.

[Slayerik]

I just bought this, if we have active players here I also have a couple groups of friends playing. Maybe we can help populate each others servers and shoot each other in the face.

[Lounge]

If you guys havent already seen this here's some pretty decent weapon damage charts.  It will likely confirm most of what you've probably already figured out through play (it did for me).

http://www.joinaclan.com/?p=356

[kildorn]

That kinda confirms what I'd felt about magnum rounds. That and I really want the m14 soon to use with my medic leveling. I hate the LMGs, and there's something charming about a random rifle that can almost twoshot people.

[Venkman]

Wow, was on a Hardcore server earlier...Really wish you could search for servers based on the Hardcore setting.

Man, I know, right? I'm enjoying the game, but the Bat Country server's been 0 pop every time I check. What time you guys usually play? I suck, but love the game. Particularly destroying buildings snipers hide in.

[caladein]

The lack of a functional server browser (with pings, and filters that stay on and/or work, and more of them) isn't so bad when you get in a decent server.

When you have to hop out to it two or three times in quick succession because the first server you tried has things turned off (and no mention of them in the name), and then you load into a game with twice as many people on the other team and a knife in the face, and then you fail to find a server with LA in the title so you don't have latency that would make the Pony Express blush... it is soul crushing.

[taolurker]

I agree with all complaints about the server UI, but also will add no way to add favorites via IP, inability to actually add a fav after locating it in the list (I tried last night with Bat Country 3 times but it never did anything but sit there saying "Please wait") and the extreme delay with server information appearing in the list causing servers to show open slots when they were already full.

I also wasn't able to get wrap my head around this:


Their UI person should be taken out back and shot.

[LK]

So, dedicated servers and server browser for your FPS's, so long as they aren't designed and implemented by Simple Jack.

[Malakili]

Yeah, I'll admit that recently I've been playing less just because I don't feel like contending with the browser, which is kind of sad.  I do enjoy the game when I sit down with it long enough to really get into a round of it, I just find myself less and less willing to. (Full Disclosure: Part of this many be due to the fact that I got into SC2 beta).

[WayAbvPar]

Let's fill the server up. Just logged in and there are 3 others.

Server is doing something weird- just loading map after map after map and never starting the game. Might be why no one is playing on it. Will restart it and see how it works.

Edit again- that seems to have done it. Let's go!

[Slayerik]

Patching now.....

and thanks to however posted the code:

PAXEAST842

20 bucks off got me and a friend playing. Still works....

[taolurker]

Patching now.....

and thanks to however posted the code:

PAXEAST842

20 bucks off got me and a friend playing. Still works....

Yeah thanks... Now everyone can enjoy killing brain cells... Especially binfuser and his gustov spam

[kildorn]

That was an amusing match.

[taolurker]

That was an amusing match.

I actually think it more fun with smaller teams, and I seem to survive long enough to actually kill people.. Compared to 15 vs 15 where I have died within seconds of spawning.

[kildorn]

That was an amusing match.

I actually think it more fun with smaller teams, and I seem to survive long enough to actually kill people.. Compared to 15 vs 15 where I have died within seconds of spawning.

I prefer 16v16, but mostly because running around with motion mines and knifing people seems mean with small squads.

Really though, the starter LMG and starter assault rifle are just shitty imo.

[WayAbvPar]

Yeah the starter stuff is pretty crappy. I would suggest working up to medpacks and then point whore with medic until you get a better feel for things. That will help unlock other stuff along the way too.

I was not too effective the last half of that map- I have kiddie duty tonight and he was on my lap 'helping'  Hopefully I can jump back on a bit later.

[taolurker]

Really though, the starter LMG and starter assault rifle are just shitty imo.

Well, the starting weapons definitely don't do much when everyone you're fighting can rip you to shreds faster. I will need to die way too much to unlock weapons, but it's still fun.

I think the game is going to destroy my hearing though, because 15 minutes after logging out of the game I could still hear the explosion whine in my left ear.

[Nightblade]

Newbies start off way too naked in this game.

Like for example: Medics don't start with the healing pack or the defib... What the fuck is that? Newbies now not only know not how to play, but can't even HEAL people as a medic.

[caladein]

I think the game is going to destroy my hearing though, because 15 minutes after logging out of the game I could still hear the explosion whine in my left ear.

Yes, it's definitely on the loud side by default.  I knocked all the volumes down about 20% after my first couple of games.

I'm sort of torn about the starting equipment: I genuinely like the PKM more than the the next two unlocked LMGs but agree that it's dumb that you don't get the Med Kit/Ammo/Repair until a few games in.

[kildorn]

Newbies start off way too naked in this game.

Like for example: Medics don't start with the healing pack or the defib... What the fuck is that? Newbies now not only know not how to play, but can't even HEAL people as a medic.

Yes. Shitty weapon, no healing, no rezzing. I've yet to level medic past I think the second LMG/heals/defib. The only class that's mostly functional out of the box is the engie, and mostly because repair is the least important thing they do most maps.

[harmonicker]

Does anyone know how to add a server to favorites via GameSettings.ini?

I managed to favorite one server, and this is what it looks like in the ini:

FavoriteGames=2217048389,c4eea16e-7fc3-45a6-8b4b-13db1606be58,MEDICK'S MAD HOUSE BAY AREA CALIFORNIA;

[Malakili]

I'm not sure how to do it, but this is what I have for Bat Country:

1579307081,903d021f-1732-4d4b-80c2-2075dda58d4c,Bat Country [Dallas\, TX/Ranked/FF]