Battlefield 3

[schm0]

Yeah, its not the highest rank jerks that bug me, its the skill level of my Squad that I always seem to get stuck with..

^^ This. My quit percentage is at 12% because of it.

It is a rare opportunity to find people to add as you noted, but whenever I play with someone online I always do better when a) the person has a mic and b) the person actually discusses real-time tactics. Surprisingly the vast majority of people who play this game on PS3 don't have a mic, and even when they do, it's frustratingly limited by the poor quality of in-game VOIP (which has been on my wishlist for patching since Day 1.) Then you have those that have a mic, but don't talk and instead blare music in the background. Ugh.

It was annoying because it was so blatant.... an entire squad pounding a heli with rockets should take it down no questions.... this exploit definately needs to be fixed.

DICE was discussing making heli passengers more vulnerable to rocket splash damage in a future patch, I just can't find the link (it's on MP1st.com though, just not sure where.) I was in a Little Bird last night repairing and I was getting shot up by the Tunguska left and right. When I finally bailed I was at about 20% health and got killed rather quickly by enemy infantry.

You can snipe them too, or the pilot if you're so inclined, but they move so fast it's incredibly difficult to line up a shot.

Well just take the bases and ignore them. They can't defuse anything while they are in a chopper, can they? So just ignore 'em.

Yeah, taking another base can be difficult when they have an enemy chopper hovering over your spawn and stealing your tanks and choppers. Plus, I assume that Mac's team was outnumbered, and they had a full team capping the other side too.

Mac, I assume this was on Caspian (that's what it sounds like, at least)? The other option would be to jump in the anti-air turret to take them out... problem is getting there without getting shredded to pieces.

[grayspence]

Well, if DICE isn't going to have a fix for helicopter spam any time soon, at least add the mobile Anti-air vehicle to a few more maps. If I can remember correctly I believe its only spawned in "Kharg Island" and "Gulf of Oman". That, or increase the cooldown and constant use duration by a mass amount to decrease the chopper repair rate.

On a more story related note, the pilot most likely had the vehicle perk "maintenance" which dissipates the amount of time a vehicle needs to be undamaged to automatically repair itself. I'm pretty sure it increases the speed in which the vehicle heals itself as well... It's quite hard to obtain fortunately though, I have just only unlocked it after attempting to add some more scout heli kills to my record it's one of the last packages you can get for air vehicles. Not sure if it's the same story for attack choppers though.

[WoodburyRaider]

Well, if DICE isn't going to have a fix for helicopter spam any time soon, at least add the mobile Anti-air vehicle to a few more maps. If I can remember correctly I believe its only spawned in "Kharg Island" and "Gulf of Oman". That, or increase the cooldown and constant use duration by a mass amount to decrease the chopper repair rate.

On a more story related note, the pilot most likely had the vehicle perk "maintenance" which dissipates the amount of time a vehicle needs to be undamaged to automatically repair itself. I'm pretty sure it increases the speed in which the vehicle heals itself as well... It's quite hard to obtain fortunately though, I have just only unlocked it after attempting to add some more scout heli kills to my record it's one of the last packages you can get for air vehicles. Not sure if it's the same story for attack choppers though.

I completely and respectfully disagree. I too felt the helicopters were unfair at first, but after the initial learning curve of about an hour passed, I could actually fly the thing and even land it. While this might not sound like much, landing the helicopter and staying inside of it while capturing points on Conquest is an easy way to unlock new attachments and weapons for it, especially the first few which take only a couple hundred points to unlock. (Maintenance being one of the first, actually.)

While I can't speak much on behalf of the effectiveness of the Maintenance ability as I prefer other attachments, the AA guns are by far more overpowered than anything. Sure, in the heat of the moment it may seem like the only viable option, and when that is the case, I'm all for it, but being a frequent chopper user myself, I cannot stress enough how ridiculous it feels to be shot down by an invulnerable (yes, invulnerable) AA gun. (The Tungsta/tungsten thing is different, as that one can actually move.)

All in all, I can understand where you're coming from, but I can really only see this being an issue in Rush, where only one side has a chopper at a time (on consoles). Also, you have to remember that there are different types of choppers. The kind that shoots rocket pods are the Attack Helicopters, and those can only have a pilot and co-pilot gunner, that's two people and none of which can repair. A second type is the Little Bird, where the pilot has a machine gun and there can be three or four other passengers. This is probably the most overpowered of them all as every player can have a gun and the passengers can repair. I haven't played around much with the third, also repairable kind, but I think they're at least somewhat balanced as the pilot doesn't have a gunner. Hopefully this post can clarify some things and give you an idea from the other side of the spectrum, if you decided to read it at all.

[schm0]

You can C4 the AA stations and kill whoever is in them. So they're not invulnerable. I think they can even be destroyed completely in this manner (I could be wrong, but I'm 100% positive on killing the player inside.)

The Tunguska can be taken out by rocket pods, which can be equipped on the Little Bird in addition to being standard on the attack heli's. With the mobile AA it's more about getting your Engineers to help you out on the ground.

It's frustrating to get shot out of the air by AA fire, but in the situation Mac was describing they needed all the help they could get. If you had everyone on your squad firing AA missles at once you might have a chance against 2 repairing engineers, but if everyone was sporadically firing away they'd just drop 40% and get healed back to 100% in a matter of seconds.

[Macnme]

I think the map we noticed this on was Noshahr Canals... with the defenders starting in the Aircraft Carrier.

It's not like I'm against helicopters. I consider myself an above average pilot and I'm an evil shot when I'm the gunner in the attack helicopter.
And I enjoy taking the AA guns - as I know how to lead my shot to shoot down just about anyone as soon as they're in my line-of-sight.

It was just the rediculous situation of seeing the Angry J bird get hit with 6 consecutive rockets - and not even start smoking. You could see the Engineers were making constant repairs, but they should have died from the rocket damage.
If one of the passengers is an assualt/medi kit - would they be able to just hold onto their medi-kit and heal the engineers? - That's the only way I can figure that the engineers didn't die from the rocket barrage?!

I think they just need to slow down the repair rate for the Helicopters and increase the splash damage against passengers. That would solve it.


& I'm still not sure I've even SEEN the Mobile-AA, let alone had a go on one.

[Kog]

So I got the .44, and it's everything I dreamed it would be

Now to get a service star for it so I can get the dogtag.

Also, anyone have any tips for leveling up recon fast? Whenever I play as it, I get barely any points and I'm still quite far from getting either the M4 or M98 :c

[grayspence]

So I got the .44, and it's everything I dreamed it would be

Now to get a service star for it so I can get the dogtag.

Also, anyone have any tips for leveling up recon fast? Whenever I play as it, I get barely any points and I'm still quite far from getting either the M4 or M98 :c

I hate to say this, but the only way to level the recon class quickly if your not good at sniping long range is to either...

Use the All-Class weapons, or a Semi-auto sniper with an acog or red dot sight on it.
The bullet drop seems to have changed, that or its the speed, because I just cant seem to get used to the Long- range sniping either.

Fortunately you get the acog scope on the SVD and the T88 early. I think its only a few unlocks afterwards.

[grayspence]

Especially the first few which take only a couple hundred points to unlock. (Maintenance being one of the first, actually.)

Also, you have to remember that there are different types of choppers. The kind that shoots rocket pods are the Attack Helicopters, and those can only have a pilot and co-pilot gunner, that's two people and none of which can repair. A second type is the Little Bird, where the pilot has a machine gun and there can be three or four other passengers. This is probably the most overpowered of them all as every player can have a gun and the passengers can repair. I haven't played around much with the third, also repairable kind, but I think they're at least somewhat balanced as the pilot doesn't have a gunner. Hopefully this post can clarify some things and give you an idea from the other side of the spectrum, if you decided to read it at all.

Thanks, that does seem to clear up some things, but Maybe there are quite a few differences between Console and PC versions. Are you playing on the PC? Because Maintnence is the LAST unlock on the PS3 version, and Im sure of it because I JUST unlocked it on the Attack chopper and there arent any other unlocks to progress towards in the Status menu. Rocket pods are indeed a package you can add to the Little bird or Z11W, and they DO infact have the same damage ratio and destructive force as the Apache Rockets do. The oly other Chooper type is the transport helis, which can only use defensive vehicle packages.

Immobile AA guns are placed at the bases to PREVENT spawn camping and jets destroying the spawning vehicles and players, so I think its COMPLETELY fair to have them slightly tougher to take down from the air.

[WoodburyRaider]

Thanks, that does seem to clear up some things, but Maybe there are quite a few differences between Console and PC versions. Are you playing on the PC? Because Maintnence is the LAST unlock on the PS3 version, and Im sure of it because I JUST unlocked it on the Attack chopper and there arent any other unlocks to progress towards in the Status menu. Rocket pods are indeed a package you can add to the Little bird or Z11W, and they DO infact have the same damage ratio and destructive force as the Apache Rockets do. The oly other Chooper type is the transport helis, which can only use defensive vehicle packages.

Immobile AA guns are placed at the bases to PREVENT spawn camping and jets destroying the spawning vehicles and players, so I think its COMPLETELY fair to have them slightly tougher to take down from the air.

And that clarified things for me, lol.

Yeah I am a PS3er, but I could have sworn it was one of the first unlocks, but then again, maybe it is the only one I have left. I see your point about the spawn camping, but I also think their reach is way too far on most maps, and should have a rock blocking the majority of their view as on Gulf of Oman.

[grayspence]

And that clarified things for me, lol.

Yeah I am a PS3er, but I could have sworn it was one of the first unlocks, but then again, maybe it is the only one I have left. I see your point about the spawn camping, but I also think their reach is way too far on most maps, and should have a rock blocking the majority of their view as on Gulf of Oman.

I see your point about range. Ive had a few frustrating moments in which ive been shot down from across the map, as im sure everyone else has.

Another pet peeve of aircraft for me is the Incredibly cheap lock- on distance. Ive tryed everything to keep those **** Missiles off me, even deploying flares frantically, and they STILL seem to track me down. The flares on the PS3 version seem to be delayed by a second when deploying right before the lock is initialized, which also leads to death as the missiles will hit in such a short time window...

And that "Stealth" Vehicle package doesnt do a thing, people are STILL constantly locking me , even if theyre at the first set of objectives on Caspian Border rush and Im getting my mates into a transport heli at the Attacker deployment... Its brutal and unfair.

[schm0]

And that "Stealth" Vehicle package doesnt do a thing, people are STILL constantly locking me , even if theyre at the first set of objectives on Caspian Border rush and Im getting my mates into a transport heli at the Attacker deployment... Its brutal and unfair.

If you have stealth enabled it just means it takes them longer to get a lock. It's a matter of seconds but it can be a world of difference when waiting for your flares to re-arm. I enable it on my helis since they are far less maneuverable than jets, and also because I don't have anything better for that slot. (I can rarely dodge a missile in a jet, but flares are my best and only friend when flying helicopters.)

[grayspence]

If you have stealth enabled it just means it takes them longer to get a lock. It's a matter of seconds but it can be a world of difference when waiting for your flares to re-arm. I enable it on my helis since they are far less maneuverable than jets, and also because I don't have anything better for that slot. (I can rarely dodge a missile in a jet, but flares are my best and only friend when flying helicopters.)

Doesnt seem to take much longer, mostly for the fact that the SA-18 and SGLA have extremely quick reload times. No matter, I only ever get taken down if theres actually someone smart enough to use it to begin with, or if I **** them off enough to MAKE them bring me down if its the LAST thing they do. :3

[schm0]

Yeah, I believe it's 25 or 33% longer to get a lock or to establish the signal in the first place. It's not meant to be overpowered. It's supposed to give you a bit more time to dodge and weave before your flares reload. AA missiles should still be able to hit you after you deploy your first set of flares (otherwise you'd be invulnerable in the air,) you will just have a bit more time to put some distance between you and whoever is trying to fire at you.

[grayspence]

Yeah, I believe it's 25 or 33% longer to get a lock or to establish the signal in the first place. It's not meant to be overpowered. It's supposed to give you a bit more time to dodge and weave before your flares reload. AA missiles should still be able to hit you after you deploy your first set of flares (otherwise you'd be invulnerable in the air,) you will just have a bit more time to put some distance between you and whoever is trying to fire at you.

I suppose this is only the fair thing to do, after all, people do end up getting tired of me butchering them like a Lawnmower on top of a frog every time I fly over thier base
It wouldnt hurt to nerf the reload time of the Lock-on Launchers by at least a few more seconds though.

[xero]

Last time I piloted a jet it seemed to take forever to lock onto enemy aircraft. It took about 15 seconds to get a lock, which is a lifetime in a battlefield setting. Whether the enemy had stealth or not, it definitely should not have taken that long.

[grayspence]

Last time I piloted a jet it seemed to take forever to lock onto enemy aircraft. It took about 15 seconds to get a lock, which is a lifetime in a battlefield setting. Whether the enemy had stealth or not, it definitely should not have taken that long.

Really? oh god that mustve been a pain in the ***. Its never taken THAT long to get a lock on anything for me before 0.e

[Merc]

Last time I piloted a jet it seemed to take forever to lock onto enemy aircraft. It took about 15 seconds to get a lock, which is a lifetime in a battlefield setting. Whether the enemy had stealth or not, it definitely should not have taken that long.

At least you've actaully gotten far enough as to unlocking heat seekers in the first place. 28 hours of gametime, and EVERYTIME i get into a jet, i get a few hits away from killing a guy, then i get locked onto and shot down, with no way of evading, thus giving me another failed attempt at getting my 5th jet kill, so I've just given up at this point, which is really sad because i'd love to be able to stand a chance in dogfights.

Is anyone else in the same situation, or is it just that I'm a bad pilot?

[schm0]

Is anyone else in the same situation, or is it just that I'm a bad pilot?

You're not a bad pilot. There are a few tricks for evading missiles that would help you but if you are working to unlock crucial items on jets you should be playing on Rush exclusively. Do everything you can to communicate with your teammates to spot tanks so you can take them out efficiently. Hide behind mountains if you can or stay around the edge of the maps until you have a target selected. Once it's spotted, approach from a high angle, reduce speed and lay into him with your guns. If you need to run, use natural ground cover (valleys, trees) to hide or evade the enemy, or fly through the pipeworks on Operation Firestorm and dare him to follow.

One of the best air battles I've ever had was on Firestorm, where I faced an enemy who made me chase him under gasworks, through the oil containers, around the valleys and over the valleys, close to the floor and back up into an arcing loop, all the time trying to take him out with guns. There is nothing more than another good jet pilot to make you appreciate your own skills and how hard it is to be good at this game. You'll unlock everything eventually, you just have to be patient.

[Bremnen]

Is anyone else in the same situation, or is it just that I'm a bad pilot?

Here, watch these

[grayspence]

At least you've actaully gotten far enough as to unlocking heat seekers in the first place. 28 hours of gametime, and EVERYTIME i get into a jet, i get a few hits away from killing a guy, then i get locked onto and shot down, with no way of evading, thus giving me another failed attempt at getting my 5th jet kill, so I've just given up at this point, which is really sad because i'd love to be able to stand a chance in dogfights.

Is anyone else in the same situation, or is it just that I'm a bad pilot?

Took me forever to get Missiles too! Its tedious but eventually youll trace that ONE n00b that doesnt even know how to do a barrel roll and youll take him down in seconds...