I'm considerably less skilled at this game than Buff is, so I'm going to respond to his own post as someone who frankly, isn't very good at this game.
[1]: Absolutely. You'll find a squad's worth of us around, and considering I've been playing with Buff with zero problems and he's an ocean and a half away, their netcode is pretty damn good.Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
[1]: -Friends. GW can help out here if you have none
[2]: -Mics/Speakers. Ebay + $5 = solved.
[3]: -Time to spend 1-2+hr sessions. It takes trial and error to get everyone onto the same team, then squad, because BF3 doesn't like self-managements of squads. Once you DO organise yourselves into the same squad though, BF3 will make sure you spawn into the same team/squad every round afterwards. That's why you'll need to be prepared to invest some time into getting everything to work right - then enjoy the game for even longer to get your investment back.
[4]: -The patience/mindset to get your first few unlocks so you're no longer cannon-fodder. Modern Warfare's been better at this. The starting guns in MW2 are powerful enough for you go dive into the action without sucking too much. The latter weapons add to the fun without necessarily increasing your lethality. In BF3, levelling up is required to get some better guns and gadgets. You must weather the storm before getting to those. To make the process slower, the US and RU start with different guns, so you must get xp for those separately to unlock their scopes etc.
[5]: You will find that a fair chunk of time will be spent travelling on the map or trying to spot enemies to shoot. If you can't handle that and need to shoot people quickly (think Quake), then this game may not be for you. General online game-play isn't that tactically demanding, but for the most part, run-and-gun won't work. (A bit hypocritical for me to say this, but anyway..)
[6]: I would suggest to start off playing a bit of Team Death Matches in the beginning. It helps you get used to the new guns, makes it easier to learn some of the maps and enemy density helps you get more kills.
[7]: I haven't touched SP or co-op so I can't tell you anything about that.
[2]: Speakers yes, mics...not really necessary. They make things more efficient, but the in game chat 'K' for team 'L' for squad, works surprisingly well for making large strategies. The best games are the ones where the teams communicate, no matter the method. There are also in game commands/warnings that work surprisingly well for the most common things (namely, ammo and getting pinned down). The biggest advantage when you're not playing on a Hardcore server is the spotting mechanic, [pressing 'Q']. Do it whenever you can, and do it often. Makes it seamless for your team to fill in the gaps with a quick rocket launch, cover fire, sniper fire, or airstrike. Plus you get exp for it!
[3]: Pretty much agree here. You need to put in some time when you play. In addition, it helps you get a feel for your squad, team as a whole, what guns work for you, which don't, and learning hiding spots on the maps.
[4]: Unlocks suck. You'll always feel outclassed by the people who can play 12+ hours a day, but if you can get kills, you'll catch up quickly. If you're not that good, and fill in the fodder role more often than not (i.e. Ryllharu), it can get a little frustrating. But I disagree with Buff that it puts you at a huge disadvantage. It makes things harder, sure, but there's a simple way around it:
[5]: The maps are big, and take some time to figure out. So what you should do above all else...is back up your squad. If you find yourself in a squad composed of lone wolves (or 100% recons), switch ASAP. Experiment from the safety of a squad. Try out the different classes, follow one or a pair of them around and stick to them. You'll learn the maps quicker this way, and backing them up will keep the both of you alive better. Even if you're the cannon fodder. Your squadmate will see them while the enemy is busy pumping you full of lead, and get a bonus for either saving you, or avenging you. BF is a team game. It is meant to be played that way, and it will reward you for it.
[6]: Disagree a bit here. Play whatever mode you like the best. I can't stand deathmatch modes unless it is a UT/Quake style game (I like the twitch shooters, so sue me...), and Rush rubs me the wrong way, because a lot of the maps are honestly pretty unbalanced given where DICE placed the MCOMs. So I always play Conquest. But if Rush (Assault/Search and Destroy/etc.) or Death Matches are your thing, by all means play it. While ranking up is important, play for fun.
[7]: Same, I haven't even touched it either.
EDIT: To actually answer animus' question: It is a ton of fun so far, whether you play in random pick-up teams, or with friends. Even if you're kind of bad at the game. It's a team game, play it like one, and you'll have fun. I get frustrated sometimes, but I don't think I've ever actually raged at the game, even once.
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