When does the CustomPC BC2 server get busy? I've checked the server a few times over the last couple of evenings and its never had anyone playing.
You have to join before it fills up. Usually once it gets 6 or 8 people on, the matchmaking does the rest.
To be fair I didn't play BC2 last night so I don't know if it filled up last night. I'll definitely be joining tonight though.
Devil's Advocate: Could we switch the server to Hardcore mode? I'm only a lowly level 4, and using starter guns against level 30+ players is impossible to get a kill on Softcore. Just played a good ninety minutes Hardcore and even the Recon starter rifle is deadly! It's just a thought, but I know that a lot of players are finding the game a bit too hard on softcore, and Hardcore mode is much easier to get to grips with....and fun
actually I go away for a week due to surgery and come back to a dead server, wasn't impressed. biggest complaint off my mats who've just got is is lack of HUD surprisingly
lack of spotting, no indication of where your teammates are? hardcore is not teamwork friendly at all! defeats core gameplay elements. the starting recon sniper rifle is the easiest to get hang of, it's same as all other bolt-action rifles, where 1 shot to the head kills. it's very straight forward, really don't see any problem with this. all the best guns are at the start of each class: XM8 for assault, SCAR-L for engineer, SAW or type-88 for medic and M24 (first) for recon. it's just learning to use them effectively is the key. burst fire, spot, working with squads, and sport more.
can and have in normal modes, i only play normal modes with kill cam and spotting. XM8 burst fire is more than enough for 2 people, i have used M14 with magnum ammo to take out 2 person one clip, also SCAR-L short-ish range taken out 2 people easily. don't need to mention LMG it's got huge clip. don't forget to pull out pistol often, it's there for a reason. also, know your range, don't try to snipe across the map if you know you can't hit them. spot and run for cover. give M14 a try, i am starting to love this gun. with magnum ammo it's a 2 shot kil close range, 3 shot kill long range gun. can be really accurate or can fire the whole clip really quickly for a 2 shot kill close range no-ADS.
Seriously, try the AN-94 w/ red dot and magnum ammo, then complain people have too much health. But most other rifles like the M416 usually only take half a clip of burst fire. Just make sure to use magnum ammo (when you get it) instead of the marksman specialisation since you're not (or shouldn't be) firing full auto. Hardcore was great when I was a low rank and only had access to the crappy guns and no scopes/specialisations, but it makes the gameplay much more 1-dimensional and removes one of the main things that was good about the game - teamwork. Not to mention the fact that hardcore servers are usually filled with snipers toasting marshmallows on a remote grassy knoll.
I'm starting to see a trend here. It's easy to forget that lower level players don't have access to the kit that makes the game easier, as higher level players have. I can understand having equipment that makes the game even more enjoyable, but when you're relying on upgrades as much as the above quotes then it needs serious consideration if softcore is worth playing at all. I'm used to working with my clanmates to win, so spotting is not an issue for me and I don't really miss having radar dots. What is an issue is being able to play on a level playing field with other higher level players. It's a great concern to me that enjoying softcore mode is so highly dependant on what you're unlocked....
Don't get me wrong, you don't need magnum ammo to do well, it just helps a lot (adds 25% damage). The class unlocks were one of the main reasons I didn't like the game to start off with. I mean, what use is the medic kit without health packs or a defibrillator? That means I have to play as a medic for several games while my squad mates are complaining because I'm not giving them health packs or reviving them. I'll never understand why they made that decision. For everything else it doesn't help too much, but the game does become more enjoyable when you unlock everything. Being able to plant tracer darts on vehicles, laying some AT mines in front of a tank, or equipping the recon class with a G3 and the explosive upgrades and plastering the M-COM stations in C4 is great fun.
magnum ammo isn't necessary, i usually use the armour perk or auto-spotting sniper scope as all the guns are already powerful enough. sure they aren't CoD's level of powerful, but that's where spotting comes in, spot while shooting will allow your teammates to help you to take down the enemy. team work! don't just relay on voice chat with clan mates, relay on the in-game communication. AT mines are the best equipment! people usually don't specifically look for them, and 3 in a line will kill any light tank, 4 in a line for heavy tanks. they also don't disappear when you die (unlike C4) so it's run-like-crazy-planting-mine at start of each match.
I've never bothered with that. As far as I can tell it doesn't even do anything, so I still have to spot enemies manually.
