ArmA/ArmA2 - A New player resource

[TJ]

Hopefully in this thread some of the more seasoned players can add tips for the newer players to help ease them into the game.

First off the game is only as difficult as you make it.
If you expect to play like you do COD or TO then you are going to die - alot.

There are many different types of missions available due to a vast editing community.
Here are a few issues which may help you get started faster.

1. The controls Bugbear
Looks scary? No its not.
Set up the controls you need to play the game as infantry at first.


If you take time to look at it you will soon realise that its not much different from any other FPS.
Just concentrate on getting your normal FPS controls working first WSAD, left click fire and right click for Zoom weapon (and reveal). Of course the 'use' key.
There is a key to change weapon and 2 more keys (or mousebinds) required for on screen menus and thats mainly it.

Remember concentrate on what you will use, sort the rest out later so

W,A,S,D
V - Stepover
Left click - Fire
Right - Click Zoom/Reveal
Shift -Toggle walk/run
Left Alt - Free look
F - Weapon mode
G - Gear
B - Binoculars
N - Night vision
M - Map
R - Reload
and whatever you prefer for crouch and pronw.

Thats all you really need.
If any of these show as red they are duplicates, just remove the command from the duplicate and set it up later when you are more adventurous.


2. Mission types, Death and Respawn
There are the usual types of Missions available in ArmA such as Capture the Flag, Advance and secure, TDM even DM - However we mainly play co-op missions which are great fun. The AI is tricky and will flank you and are very ' real world' Accurate.
When you have 5 or 6 enemies 500m + away, bullets and tracers flying all around, this heightens the urgency to get your head down. Then again you may be unlucky and a Sniper gets a bead on you - Dead.

Now one of the easiest parts of ArmA is dying
This is made even easier by cerain 'realisms' in the game such as, standing, changing weapons, reloading.
No one key press and your reloaded here.
Your character will go through an animation which seams to take forever when you are under heavy fire to reload or change weapon.
Changing from an M16 to an M136 rocket launcher incorporates:
Put M16 over shoulder
Get M136 from shoulder and raise
..and then you may need to reload
A far cry from the usual point and click approach of most FPS games.

Dealing with this is easy tho can catch you out - FIND COVER
You run out of ammo, move behind a wall to reload.(bushes offer no protection)

So the inevitable happens and the enemy AI with a PSO gets you right between the eyes - what can you expect?
Well it all depends on the mission running on the server.

The Hardcore missions have no JIP and no respawn/revive.
This means when you die you may find yourself flying high above the battle as a seagull. I can see this being very annoying to newer players however we do not run these types of missions automatically on server.
This 'Hardcore' type of gameplay is best used for serious campaigns or PvP.

Respawn at base - Pretty simple to understand, you die and after 20 seconds or so respawn at the main base with or without your weapon loadout.

Respawn immediate with group - or 'Easy mode' as I like to call it. You respawn with your group after a few seconds.

Revive scripts - My personal favourite. You are injured and can be 'healed' by a medic character or sometimes revived.

3. Squads

Now as with all games there are two real ways to play - as a team, or Jonny rambo.

Personally I think Jonny rambo style play only really works in a sniper position, but sooner or later you will get overrun.

ArmA really shines when you get a group of likeminded players on voicecoms and actually look at the mission notes / map before you dive in.

A squad commander should play his role to complete the given mission objectives AND to keep his squad alive.
A squad member should never endanger himself or his team by going johnny rambo.
If you have a plan stick to it.
If you need a new plan - regroup and take time to make it.

more to come.....





A WIP tBC

[TJ]

Reserved

[Riott]

Very helpful

[AnÐros]

Will you want my sniper skills i ask

[Althulas]

Devs diary vid for basic controls

[B2.1]

http://www.game.co.uk/PC/Strategy/~r340775/ArmA-II/

[bulldog]

eeerrrrmmmmm im looking at it all now i have it installed and ill be a bit slow at first but ill keep trying it

[bulldog]

oh and i have it patched

[Mant]

Good post TJ, all good info for the newcomer.

[B2.1]

I DL'd the demo through Steam & it runs-result. Now it's only a case of waiting till i get some ££
http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/...&title=arma_ii

[TJ]

cool keep us updated

[Mant]

Good news, im rusty and lacking motivation...but would welcome some games again.

Maybe we should try that city mission again, now that the beta patch has improved performance.

Once we get a few active players again we could restart ArmA night.

[B2.1]

Can't find this anywhere now

[Smeg77]

B here you go:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/33900/ (£24.99)

http://www.zavvi.com/games/platforms.../10044005.html (£16.99)

http://www.play.com/Games/PC/4-/9004...t/Product.html (£11.99)

So you've not been looking hard enough

[B2.1]

Mostly out of stock- except Play.
& was searching whist in work so limited choices as well

[TJ]

so you joining the fold m8ty ?

[B2.1]

Next month after payday I hope to m8.

[TJ]

nice one, will make sure srever sorted (provided I can actually log in)

There is a new Ace mod as well but will concentrate on vanilla for server - let me know what you think.

[SoLt3c]

let me know when ya wanna play arma2,allready installed it on new machine.
just need to set it up