Concern over comms & noobs w/beta patch

[trav 11]

I have been playing on beta servers for a couple of weeks now. For those not playing with the beta, one of the recent patches have removed all the global channels... leaving us with only Direct, Vehicle, and Group channels. I appreciate the realism, and the feeling of isolation that this imparts, but it also takes away from the social aspect of the game.

*Haters, I know you are wanting to flip the hate switch, and start railing on me now. Please resist the urge*

I bought OA strictly for this mod. I love the post apocalyptic genre, and this mod is a pretty damn good representation of it. I love Rockets vision, and I love it that the zombies are not the focus of the game, but the foil to the focus (scavenging).

My concern with the comms, is that the servers feel empty, and leave no way for a noob to ask questions, or for servers to form a sense of community. For the more solitary players, this kinda sucks. The group of 5 raiders/survivors who are on their own TS dont notice, because they are their own community... but the guys who cant get their worthless friends to invest in a game just for an alpha experience, then the lack of the social channel sucks.

Now, I have read that there are plans for radios, etc... But I imagine those will be fairly rare, which limits their accessibility to people who are more skilled at the game, which eliminates them from noobs getting them, which keeps them from accessing help from the others on the server.

My suggestion is that you start with a radio that transmits only on a global channel. You can find upgraded radios that will transmit (text only to limit voip spam) on global channels, as well as GROUP comms. I am unclear on how ARMA works with the group channels, but I think it would be cool if you could invite ppl to join your squad, so that everyone with a radio could communicate (vocally) on that radio channel.

Dont know if that is a possibility, but wanted to give it a go.

tl;dr = dont respond please

[Deuzerre 64]

Wondering if it would be possible to form "groups" like squads, where chat would be possible, or at least facilitated.

It might help at least for non external VOIP players.

Adding items like flare guns would also help a bit, I think.

There are quite a few "authentic" ways of doing things without communications.

[Dinnj 4]

Game - alpha

Wait for radios. I'm more than sure they'll happen.

Noobs can ask for advice on the forums. They can ask friends on steam. They can read guides or watch youtube videos. You really don't give players as much credit as they deserve. They aren't totally helpless gibbons.

If they have to learn the hard way because they neglect resources of the meta game, good for them. You must understand OP that what you are telling us is a bad thing is totally subjective. I mean I for one am happy about this removal of global chat.

There's just no way to convince us of opinion if we don't agree. There is no real problem that needs to be fixed. The system you suggest sounds too simplistic, and quite nonsensical.

"They will introduce radios, instead; let's introduce radios but unrealistically" Bluh? Nope.

[zorkmid 2]

It's pretty easy to just hop a TS server and make some DayZ buddies. I know I did.

[trav 11]

Game - alpha

Wait for radios. I'm more than sure they'll happen.

Noobs can ask for advice on the forums. They can ask friends on steam. They can read guides or watch youtube videos. You really don't give players as much credit as they deserve. They aren't totally helpless gibbons.

If they have to learn the hard way because they neglect resources of the meta game' date=' good for them. You must understand OP that what you are telling us is a bad thing is [b']totally subjective. I mean I for one am happy about this removal of global chat.

There's just no way to convince us of opinion if we don't agree. There is no real problem that needs to be fixed. The system you suggest sounds too simplistic, and quite nonsensical.

"They will introduce radios, instead; let's introduce radios but unrealistically" Bluh? Nope.

Dinj, I appreciate most of your response. I dont think my suggestions are nonsensical however. And I am not saying "PUT THIS IN THE GAME EXACTLY AS I STATE IT"... I am trying to open a dialogue on different ideas for the comms.

I also dont believe that noobs are all helpless gibbons. I just dont think that all of them can be bothered to check the forums, and research the info... which in effect limits accessibility to the mod.

My opinion is subjective, just as yours is. So I dont see how that discounts EITHER of our positions.

I am 100% aware of the alpha status of the game, I dont need reminded. I think the idea of a Suggestion forum, is to plant a seed.. not to install a rainforest.

In regards to this :

"They will introduce radios, instead; let's introduce radios but unrealistically" Bluh? Nope.

I am not sure if YOU are aware that this is alpha, where things are introduced and removed, alpha is where things that made the cut are fine tuned (that is from the fingertips of Rocket himself). I will fall back on the old standby of "you are complaining about realism in a world that is overrun by zombies, where farmers keep chopper rotors in their sheds, and automatic weapons and grenades are easier to find than knives, and matches".

Like I said, the basic premise of my idea was a starter radio that has one wide area broadcast range, then a more rare radio that you can tune into "group" channels with. 100% realistic, no... But in a game, you have to try to find that fine line where realism and good gameplay meet.

[A Man Named GOB 1]

I gotta say that it feels like adding anything that makes this game friendly for new players feels wrong to me. I am all for adding radios but they should only be available as loot and bandits should be able to spy on radio channels. Use mumble, vent or TS with some friends if you want "global chat". Everyone who plays this game consistently had to get through the learning curve, it makes being good at surviving that much more satisfying.

[dallas 5195]

Play with a TS crew, but I like answering noob questions in side.