December 6th Update

Latest update has support for the color blind, tac light nerf, and no more infinite AT mines to name a few changes.  Unfortunately, DICE continues to hate on pilots in this update.  Also, a much needed nerf to IRNV, limiting its range.  Stupid decision to nerf the spec ops effectiveness against IRNV, however.

The update notes are below:


We will release an update to the PC version of BF3 on Dec 6th -- that is, Tuesday morning around 8AM GMT next week. This coincides with an upgrade of many of our central systems which will be down for some hours starting around that time.
It will be both a client update -- approximately 2GB in size -- and a server update.


The client/server combination will be incompatible with older clients/servers. All players will be prompted to download the update once it has been released. All RSP companies will begin upgrading their servers at the same time.

The client update is large because it contains most of the content for Back to Karkand. This is not ideal, so we aim to make potential DLC content in the future as optional downloads.


Bugfixes

Fixed a problem with spawn timer now showing blue border on startup and lost spawn point
Fixed a problem where player who joined queuing on End of round got spawn screen stuck on screen, but unable to do anything with it untill next round loaded
Fixed a problem where camera would change to 3rd person on killcam when killcam was turned off in server settings
Fixed stat references on several dogtags
Fixed for surveillance ribbon not counting TUGS
Fixed a missing combat area lines on the minimap for Grand Bazaar conquest small
Moved a tank spawn in US base on Caspian Border so it would not be destroyed by a falling tree
Fixed a problem where placing C4 with the russians soldier was playing US faction VO
Fixed a problem where TV guided missiles could be shot into its own helicopter and destroy it
Fixed a problem when attempting to fire lock on weapons without a target
Tweaked the chat, it should now be a bit easier to read
Fixed several vehicles that did not properly shoot rockets and guns towards their predictive sights
Fixed the G17 Supressed Laser not working properly
Added alternate HUD colors to help colorblinds
Added a network interpolation setting. This allows users with good bandwidth reduce latency, but might increase some stuttering. The user can find what works best for his connection by tweaking the slider.
Increased the Spawn protection radius on TDM
Fixed a problem with smoke on land vehicles, Missiles should now miss more often
Fixed a problem where users could end up with IRNV scope in any vehicle
Fixed a problem where player dies if vaulting over a ledge and into water while sprinting
Fixed several crashes and increased general stability
Fixed a problem where the user was unable to revive two players that have the bodies one over the other
Fixed so you can assign an axis and use as a digital input. This makes it possible for the player (on pc) to assign one of the sticks on a gameped to be used for throttle/brake.
Fixed a problem with the Kill camera acting up when suiciding from parachute
Fixed air radar was showing to much. now lasertagged, heatsignature above threshold, enemy missiles and capture points are only visible on air radar
Fixed a problem where the game would enter a technical hang if the user pressed pause menu and tilde at the same time
Fixed a problem where you could get green flashes on screen
You can now reassign cycle weapons
Fixed so the weapon zooms automatically after bipod deploy is gone when using zoom toggle
Fixed a problem where the parachute would stay stuck in air if the owner was killed


Balance Tweaks

Fixed several weapons so they are properly suppressed and hide the player on the minimap when fired.
Tweaked Tactical Light so it is not as blinding over longer ranges.
Tweaked the IRNV scope so it is limited to usage only at close range.
Reduced heat masking effectiveness of Spec Ops Camo.
Fixed a bug where Ammo spec would give additional 40mm grenades instead of Frag spec.
Increased the number of additional 40mm grenades from Frag spec.
Fixed so AT mines only live for 20 seconds after a player dies to prevent infinite mines.
Increased the Time to Live on sniper caliber rounds to allow extreme distance shots.
Fixed several weapon descriptions, calibers, and fire rates. The weapons themselves have not changed.
Fixed so the M9 and MP443 pistol can be equipped by the opposing faction when it is unlocked at 100 kills.
Fixed Laser Guided Missiles missing their targets if the target is moving too fast.
Reduced the effectiveness of Stealth on Air Vehicles.
Reduced the effectiveness of Beam Scanning for Jets.
Reduced the damage done to Armored Vehicles and Infantry from AA guns.
Increased the damage RPGs and Tank shells do to AA vehicles.
Slightly decreased the accuracy for all weapons on fully automatic, burst fire is now preferable at mid to long range.
Increased the effective accuracy of long bursts for LMGs when using a bipod.
Slightly increased the range of the 44magnum bullets.
Increased the close range damage of 4.6x30mm and 5.7x28mm bullets.
Increased the reload time of the Mortar from 3.5sec to 4.8sec and increased the time it takes before a shell hits the ground.
Reduced the aimed accuracy bonus given by a Suppressor for the MP7, P90, PP2000, PP-19, and UMP45.
Increased the range and FOV for designating targets with the SOFLAM and vehicle Laser Designators.
Decreased the effectiveness of 12g FRAG ammo when equipped on semi-automatic and automatic shotguns.
Slightly Increased the power of Fighter Jet Cannons against all vehicle targets, especially Helicopters.
Decreased the power of Miniguns against Jets and Helicopters.
Increased the power of Stingers against Jets.
Flares reload times for Jets and Helicopter Gunners have been increased.
Tweaked the AN94 so its burst fire better conveys the real world advantage offered by this weapon.
Added Single Shot to the AN94 as an available fire mode.
Slightly increased the recoil on the M416 and removed the Burst Fire mode (this weapon incorrectly had burst fire, which was not authentic).
Tweaked the spawns for TDM on Kharg Island, Grand Bazaar, Caspian Border, Seine Crossing, Operation Firestorm, Damavand Peak and Noshahar Canals
Moved a tank spawn in US base on Caspian Border so it would not be destroyed by a falling tree
Tweaked the Gas station Capture area on Conquest on Caspian Border
Tweaked the max vehicle height on Noshahar Canals


Min player requirements

Also, it will once again be possible to reduce the number of players required to start a round to 1 both in ranked and unranked mode. We changed it back after getting a lot of negative feedback from both individuals and the RSP companies.

Our plan for the future is to introduce a warm-up mode, where players can move about and play the game, but with scoring disabled; then, when the number of players goes above the threshold -- that's when the real round starts.

November 22 Patch Update

After playing Skyrim exclusively for two weeks straight I returned to BF3 to find some nice improvements have been made. They have improved the overall enjoyment and performance of the game and have balanced out a few issues, such as AA guns causing aircraft to turn on its side or lose control.  Another welcome change is that shotguns now have more umph, as they should.

Even after the changes it still seems that air combat is unbalanced.  Piloting is an aggravating experience when it seems every soldier, tank, and aircraft is able to lock on and take you out of the sky.  IMO, stingers should have shorter max lock ranges.

The complete patch notes are below.

Patch notes for Nov 22 patch

Major client update for the PC version Battlefield 3 as well as a server-side update for all platforms. 

The update will be made on Nov. 22nd 7:00 AM UTC / Nov. 21st 11:00 PM PST. 

We’ll share release timing on the console patches as soon as we are clear on the timing, these take a bit longer due to console certification process. 

---- Client-Side Changes: 

-- Visuals, Stability and Performance Fixes: 

• General performance and loading time improvements 

• “Black Screen” fix for an issue occurring on some PC Configurations 

• Stereo and Rendering Support for Nvidia and AMD Graphics Cards 

• Adjusted the “stuttering” encountered on some PC configurations. 

• Fixed several Crashes when joining MP and Co-Op sessions 

• Fixed multiple problems when using multiple monitors (Eyefinity / Surround). 

• Fixed visual corruption issues on certain Nvidia Cards 

• Improved loading times for certain textures 

• Added console command “GameTime.MaxVariableFps” to limit max FPS 

-- Balance and Gameplay Adjustments (PC) 

• Fixed a problem with high speed mouse movement 

• Added back some missing Growlers on Kharg Island Conquest Large 

• Added back EOR sound for SQDM and TDM 

• You should no longer be able to damage a friendly vehicle when sitting in an open position 

• Grenades now drop to ground if you get killed while attempting to throw it(note the affect this will have on Hardcore mode!) 

• Spawn protection now should work in Conquest. You should no longer spawn on points too close to enemies 

• You should no longer spawn too close to enemies in TDM and SQDM 

• Combat areas on Kharg Rush tweaked in order to disallow defenders to access the carrier ship after 1st base is taken and being able to enter the AA gun 

• Fixed a problem with revived players not suffering suppression 

• Fixed a problem with the camera when being revived in COOP 

• Added joystick deadzone setting 

• Fixed sound for when climbing ladders 

• Fixed an issue with some weapon sounds in first person 

• Fixed a swim sound loop error 

• Increased the damage of Helicopter Miniguns, AA guns, and Jet Cannons against infantry 

• Increased the damage of Helicopter Miniguns against jeeps. 

• Reduced the physics impact of AA guns and Jet Cannons, players under attack from these weapons should no longer lose control. 

• Increased the damage of the 44 Magnum slightly. 

• Increased the range and minimum damage of the .357 Round from the MP412 Rex. 

• Increased the range of all .45cal and 9mm weapons. 

• Slightly increased the range of the P90 and MP7 and PDW-R. 

• Slightly increased the range of the 5.56mm PDW-R and decreased the minimum damage at long range. 

• Slightly increased the minimum range of the Mk11, SVD, and M39 EMR 7.62mm rifles. 

• Decreased the maximum damage and maximum range of the G3 and SCAR-H 7.62mm weapons. 

• Reduced the damage from FIM-92 and SA-18 IGLA missiles against aircraft. 

• Increased the damage and range of the 40mm BUCK rounds. 

• Reduced the damage .50cal weapons do against Helicopters. 

• Updated T90 canister shell tweaks to match Abrams canister shells 

UI Changes (PC) 

• Added round duration and ticket summary at EOR 

• Advanced squad polish – should be more intuitive 

• Significant changes to the Join Squad functionality (see below) 

• Fixed a problem regarding keybindings while playing 

• You should now get a better error message when being disconnected via Battlelog 

---- Server Update Highlights 

• EOD Bot exploit fix 

• Several crash fixes 

• Anti-stat padding measures taken, disallowing ranked servers to run obscure settings 

• Improved team kill kick configuration 

• Support for unranked servers. Unranked servers do not report players' scores to Battlelog, but server administrators can freely control all settings 

-- Share your profile and stats with new Battlelog functionality 

• Ability to share your Profile and Stats pages to Facebook, Google+, and Twitter 

• User Profile and Stats pages on Battlelog can now be accessed without being signed in to Battlelog if you know a user's URL 

• Single sign on from Battlelog to Origin. If you're not logged in to Origin and join a game server, Battlelog will automatically sign you in to Origin in the background and join the game server 

-- Quick notes on Squad changes in the Nov 22 update 

• Removed FIND ME A SQUAD option 

• Allow players to join empty Squads alone, thus having 1/4 squad members 

• Change order of options to LEAVE SQUAD, INV A FRIEND, SWITCH TEAM 

• Disable Privacy flag when 1 man squad 

• Reset Privacy flag from Private to Public when squad drops to 1 player 

• All occupied Squads will now show up colored blue on the Squad Selection screen 

• Players who choose not to join squads will also show up as Blue in the "Not in a Squad” line 

• Squads that are currently empty will display as white -- if you wish to join an empty Squad, you can choose the first one marked with white text 

-- A detailed look at Squad refinements 

A detailed look at Squad refinements 

Today's PC client patch features numerous tweaks to Squad functionality and is part of our ongoing efforts to make it easier to play with friends and Platoon mates. These changes will also be implemented for consoles when we release the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 updates shortly. Stay tuned for the exact date of the console updates. 

First, we need to look at how joining with Squads and Platoons affects the balance of teams. Initially, servers are commanded to equal out each side, so joining with friends can impact that balance while joining with Platoons further hinders this. As a result we have made some adjustments to the in-game Squad management screen. 

For PC, you are now able to highlight the various Squads and select which one you wish to join by selecting a Squad and then clicking the Join Squad button. Please note that the Squad Privacy option still allows 2 man Squads which, during 64 player sessions, can lead to players with no squad position –- the number of people with no Squads will be shown at the bottom of the Squad selection list. 

After the patch is applied to consoles (in the near future) you will be able to join Squads by cycling through the list and selecting which Squad you wish to join.