Chess, I still can't find you (frizby) on Battlelog to invite to the clan and friend request - have you made an account there? I have no idea if that has anything to do with your lack of being able to choose servers or not, but it's something to think about because I know the PC players absolutely must use Battlelog if they're going to be able to use servers to the fullest.

Under quickmatch should be a link to the server browser and you seek out the one that you want: map, game mode, hardcore or not, etc. That's where you can see the servers with less than 20 people to join with a full squad. It definitely works for bringing the whole squad with you.

As for lamenting the differences between BFBC2 and BF3, you're not alone. I was there. I'm there less as I've been enjoying BF3 the more I play it. I still prefer BFBC2 but well, that's that.

I think I'm starting to finally get the hang of the way these servers work. Whenever I use Quick Match, it almost always puts me in a full server. If I plan on friends joining me, it's an absolute MUST to go to server browser and pick one with at least less than 20 playing. They seem to be able to join no problem that way.

Just signed up...see if it makes a difference.

I've never seen anything like this.

The difference is I don't think "that's that". I played Warhawk for 4 years because it clicked with me, and I have no qualms about sticking with BC2 and hoping that BC3 is more like it. The maps and gameplay are much better IMO, and while it doesn't look as photo realistic as BF3, I think it looks great in its own way...and I never get shot by dudes who are half embedded in the scenery.

If I get an invite, I'm down for some BF3, but if I'm just popping one of them in to play, it's going to be BC2...no doubt about it.

Yeah, I've tried to join you a bunch to no avail.

It also helps to squad up before going in.

So I'm developing something of a plan to have devious fun in BF3.

It involves playing support class with explosive upgrade and claymores...rocking my old SAW.

Saw you just popped on but I have to run to work. I have high hopes for your plan! Are you on tonight?

Yeah...I'll be around. Played with Ogs for a bit and had a decent time. The support class is much better than the medic IMO...but I wasn't having much success with the claymores...not sure what I'm doing wrong. Might have to rock C4 for vehicles instead.

I hopped on for a second and saw a couple of you...flip and somebody else...had to do a quick chore and you guys were off by the time I was done.

Maybe tomorrow night.

I did have a pretty good time with Ogs today though. It was good to communicate with someone, and I was definitely glad to be rocking the SAW again...can't wait to get a proper red dot on it...or maybe try holographic and infrared.

Huh, I still can't find you. Try to find us or the DVDTalk Platoon.

Looks like there is a way to hold the grenade and aim it before you throw it like in BFBC2. One just has to be quick on two buttons instead of one:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YcICkPOVFbs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yeah it was at least me DieCast, Ogs, Spatula and Dogofwar at different times last night over four maps or so. After getting brutalized on Metro (what else is frackin new?), the rest of the maps were pretty competitive. We had gold squad a couple of times and I even managed a positive k/d ratio.

Then I was going to jump on for some hockey with nic but my in-laws arrived last night from New Mexico and I couldn't get back on.

That "How Not to Be a Noob at Battlefield Bad Company 2" video from PixelEnemy was so great I went on YouTube to see if they have anything similar for Battlefield 3. Turns out they haven't made it yet (pretty much):

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6WG5XQqMsmw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

But PixelEnemy does have a few great tips and tactics videos with some information I didn't know about.

Lots of new stuff for me on Assault:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vpjn5PwI1o0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'd heard destruction could kill enemies but I hadn't seen it yet. This guy really knows how to do it! Plus, I never really tried the different assault rifle launcher attachments in BFBC2 so knowing there are some cool reasons to try them in this game makes me want to give Assault another shot (after I platinum my current Engineer rifle... Can we platinum rifles?!).

Here's one on fire modes, attachments, and reloading:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ir5bv53cUQQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I haven't played around with shotguns yet so I learned a lot with this video (especially with that reloading perk). Plus, I'm still figuring out how the different firing modes will work to my advantage because I don't really adjust this usually.

I put in a much later night last night than I intended, which I guess is a good sign.

Along with playing with you guys (finally), it turns out that switching from Assault to Support was the key to me having some fun in the game. The Support class much better fits the style of play I developed in BC2, and I can't even explain how frustrating it is that they reversed the buttons for defib and health pack. There's nothing like ducking behind cover after taking a few rounds and going to toss a first aid kit only to leave yourself totally exposed and unarmed for the dude who's coming around the corner to shoot you in the face. That alone probably accounted for 100-150 of my most frustrating deaths.

I also know most of the maps pretty well now, and while there are some good ones, I maintain that the overall mix in BC2 was much much much better. The only map I didn't like in BC2 was Heavy Metal, and not because it was frustrating but rather because it was sometimes boring.

Claymores were a bit of a disappointment, but I am enjoying putting C4 on vehicles and sploding them. I never really played Assault or Recon in BC2, so I'd never really done that. It's really nice to not be helpless against vehicles. I also got my M249 pimped out pretty good with infrared/flashlight/foregrip. If nothing else, I feel like I can jump in with you guys and be productive.

Bottom line is that I still think that BC2 is a better game (and it's not close), but last night, BF3 was starting to feel like Battlefield for me, and that's a very good thing.

I just can't get into the BF multiplayer. I hate it, as a matter of fact. The single player was way too clunky and short. All around, this was a big bust for me. Luckily I bought it for $60 w/$20 amazon GC, then traded it back to amazon for $33.75. Good riddance.

Wow...that's just great. Thanks for stopping in to tell us.

@ spatula...this is the one in the OP...has some good tips not covered in the BC2 one...but still not quite as good overall.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/is3_eNchr9Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

@ Spatula...I'm looking at graphics again, and a few new ones are pretty good:

Clean with lots of data...I like that it lists favorite vehicles too:



More visually appealing and cleaner...I like that it lists vehicle KILLS, which is as good a measure as any of sheer badassery, and I like the "longest headshot", but it has a clan tag in the background.



Just because:

I like how your rounds played is 69 in that last pic!

I'm enjoying BF3 for the most part, biggest let down for me is it seems that the recon kit is broken. The early rifles are terrible. In BC2 I could be the top player in the room using the first rifle we got. I know you guys hate snipers but I was a very good one and miss the excitement of nailing some dude at a full sprint from 700 yards.

Anyway, I'm getting ok with the assault class, my K/D is terrible but improving.

I'd like to join the Chew Crew but I need an invite?

Ian

Sorry I dropped out a bit ago...playing with pfchudson and ogsoley. System just froze on me...seems to happen a lot on this game...for me anyway.

I need an invite too.

I don't think you've actually joined battlelog yet (the official stats tracker, etc.: http://battlelog.battlefield.com/). Once I find you on there, I can invite you to the "clan."

You should be able to find the "platoon" on battlelog as DVDTalk, or I can send you an invite if you accept my friend request.

Hudson, I sent you a friend request a few days ago. If you accept, I can invite you to DVDTalk. Otherwise, search for it in the Platoons and request to join so Ogsoley or I can add you.

Tuesday night had an incredible moment at Alpha on Seine Crossing. The enemy team was working hard to capture Alpha but ogs, frizby, dogowar, and I just kept holding our ground and taking them out. Eventually, however, they simply had too many infantry there and they took it. However, dogowar and I were still alive and nestled in one of the garages with a perfect view to keep taking them out. After a while, they were spawning right in front of us and we just kept mowing them down until they finally blew us up. I wish I could remember what the K/D was for that round but I can only find access to my last five Battle Reports on Battlelog and it was a map or two before that. I remember dogowar and I just laughing and eating it up as they kept spawning on us. Simply gold.

Tonight was awesome. Just a great handful of maps with ogs, Octo, and dogowar - an outright blast! Good teamwork from the blueberries and excellent squadplay, of course. Check out these battle reports for some of my best kill/death ratios ever and a little taste of all the fun (in order of play):
http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3...7/4/301480411/
http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3...2/4/301480411/ (K/D 30-8!)
http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3...2/4/301480411/
http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3...9/4/301480411/

I especially love that those four maps all came on the heels of this crapfest:
http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3...4/4/301480411/

I think this is a good one for now because I like how much information is in it, even if it isn't all that pretty. Plus, the ribbons are only the MVP and Ace Squad which are the only two I really care about.

I'm on there under "psnfrizby".

I got that beat. Anti-tank personnel, my ass!

http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3...2/4/175104099/

Good times with meatpants and some dude we met.

One epic comeback story that I just have to tell:

We were badly outnumbered in the island map and down by probably 150 points when we got just enough blueberries to take the majority of the objectives. We're holding all or 3 of the 4 objectives for most of the last few minutes, but we didn't have a lot of tickets left to work with while they were bleeding tickets. We were looking at something like 100 to 20...then 75 to 15...then 50 to 10...then 20 to 5...then 10-2...then 5 to 1...then 1 to 1 with me yelling "JUST STAY ALIVE!!!!". We were listening to the "game over" music for probably the last 3-4 minutes of that map, and when the screen finally went black at 1 to 1, I thought we'd lost because it went on a red kill...but HOLY SHIT WE WON!!! They must have bled their last ticket just before that kill, and we celebrated heartily. Awesome times!

I'm warming to the game quite a bit, but I have one more gripe: I loved the way dogtags were integrated into BC2 with the results screen showing the guys you stabbed and then adding them to your collection. A dude might kill me 50 times and pwn me like a noob, but if I got that bitch's dogtag, I had it forever. Not to mention bragging rights in our group. I thought that was a pretty fun thing, and they've wiped it almost completely from the game. Now, the only bragging right is that I have more dogtags than you...and I DO have more dogtags than you.

I also still think BC2 had much better maps. Granted, that was after several updates and packs, but from the start, none of them had meat grinder choke points, and if they did, they were only used for Rush. The charm in Battlefield is that you always have options, but in that subway map and the tunnel map, you often don't.