PR 1.3 is a huge success

[PlaynCool]

If we can have 1000+ players playing @ midnight on Monday morning, if we are even not that far away from BF 3 player numbers - now they have 3000 on PC. It brings happiness to my eyes that after so much time PR is still standing strong. Apart from the few hiccups with the site functionality, PR standalone is the best thing to happen to PR in a long time. Thank you Dev's for doing such an awesome work again. I had forgotten how fun it was to see newbies, playing, trying to fly and running into bullets, but most of all helping them out to learn the game.

[nine_lives]

It is impressive to see so many full servers.

[MikeDude]

Yeah, it's amazing that we are here to see this happen! Who would seriously have ever thought?
PR Devs = Best devs

[Elektro]

Having a bit of a hard time finding Squad Leaders to work with so far. Most squads are lead by new people who don't really communicate with the rest of the team. Kind of miss that from 1.2, but really nice to see so many new faces. Hopefully people will get the hang of it.

[PLODDITHANLEY]

I've written of my playtime atm to teach and help. Its a full time job with 7 new players only 1 or 2 that have bothered to read the manual.

Annoys the hell out of me to see people locking squads right now, with this standalone it's our chance to keep the players that want to keep playing.

Sadly it's bound to quieten down soon.

[Cossack]

Yeah, doing some teaching as well. Like Ploddit said, it is a full time job.

[fatalsushi83]

I love this. PR is alive and well. Let's do what we can to turn new players into permanent addicts.

[AnA10Warthog]

Having a bit of a hard time finding Squad Leaders to work with so far. Most squads are lead by new people who don't really communicate with the rest of the team. Kind of miss that from 1.2, but really nice to see so many new faces. Hopefully people will get the hang of it.

I can agree with that. I was insulted by a squad of newbies for telling them the server rules, and answering some questions they asked. I expect those who act like that won't stick around long though, and will end up going back to whatever they did before.

EDIT: And I've had many good experiences with the new players too, so I really hope they stick around.

[sweedensniiperr]

Too be fair we'll back 300 in a couple months or so, just as with every release

[Ason]

Too be fair we'll back 300 in a couple months or so, just as with every release

I think this release is a bit different than others, it has never been so easy to get PR set up and start playing.
Imo it will go down over time but even if only 10% of the new players will continue to play, it will raise the average player count considerably. My guess is in a month there will still be an average of 100-200 more players than pre 1.3.

And I think that's a good thing. I'd rather have 500 serious players than 1500 lonewolfs.

[Cossack]

Well, its up to community to teach new guys.

Or second elitism wave is coming, new people just leave and we have just few servers and 2 full servers...

[CR8Z]

I think part of the problem is that mumble is only functional for some part of the time. I have experienced issues with members of my own party, as well as those in chat.

Another issue is that server rules vary so much from one server to the next that only veteran players really understand the idiosyncrasies, if even then, and that would certainly lead to plenty of confusion, frustration, and anger in the long run.

Add to it that this game has a pretty steep learning curve, and you're in for quite a few misunderstandings.

Personally, I think that the server admins should exercise a ton of restraint in enforcing server rules.

Veterans should not assume that new players have been playing for several years and iterations of the mod.

The various communities should unite in one central set of server rules to adhere to, without all of the minutiae that seems to plague every server. Every single round, I hear people ask, "When can we form squads?", "What kind of assets do we have to claim?", "What is the rule on this?". If veterans are asking this every round, what do you think new guys are thinking?

I love the attention that 1.3 has got, and I think it has a lot to do with the attention that Squad is getting, but I hope and pray that the community is smart enough to capitalize on it, rather than squander it.

[Raklodder]

I counted 1347 players over 21 servers yesterday!

The community is bigger and stronger than ever before (at least compared with the last few months/ active players).

[Mineral]

The more we teach the more stay. People who want back to low numbers seriously need to rethink. Morr variety, more server choice . more players only gives benifits. There will always be good and bad players, old and young, trolls and teachers. Get over yourselves and help the new players around.

PR hasn't had this many players and installs for years. This release is 20x popular then 1.0. And its only first week...

[Navo]

I'm just worried about the administration on servers that used to be empty.

[xantis]

PR 1.3 is a such a big success that it killed servers yesterday (evening european time). Hope it is already fixed

I had a great time leading a squad with nearly all newbies, we have usually built FOBs and defended flags. Few times being best squad, great joy for new ones. It is crucial to encourage new players to ask questions, usually they are reluctant to take an initiative on that.

[Ratface]

Agreed with Mineral. Personally I am an avid squad leader and commander when I get time to play anymore, and what we need to do is to teach people how to effectively use comms, effectively command, and use kits to their full potential, from Rifleman to HAT.

It'll take a few months, but focus on training up the new guys and eventually we'll have plenty of great squadleaders all around. Just remember, we all started at their point at some time, so learn to teach them all you know

[PLODDITHANLEY]

Veterans should not assume that new players have been playing for several years and iterations of the mod.

I got moaned at because I'm assuming everyones clueless and hasn't read the manual, telling a nearby medic on local to get out his bag and left click - "I've been playing years" in an annoyed tone.

Another few hours ahead soon.

[ComradeHX]

Too be fair we'll back 300 in a couple months or so, just as with every release

The key difference in 1.3 is that it no longer requires BF2.

Which means people, good or...bad, can get it without paying.