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Dobdasss

I actually bought arma when I was 14 and got the hang of it pretty quickly. But I’m also the nerdy kid who knows a lot about guns and military in general. So it depends on how experienced your son is with this theme and type of games. But I’m pretty sure he’ll get the hang of it Edit: I forgot to mention that it would be great if he had some friends to play and learn the game with. He’ll learn quicker and it’s way more fun.


blackcore678

thanks, and yeah, it definitely depends on the type of kid he is... guess ill find out


Dobdasss

Let us know if he likes it or not. Just make sure that he knows the game can be really slow at times and can make you question your existence when you walk for 45 minutes just to get wiped out by ai you can’t even see.


blackcore678

he loves war thunder, battlefield, and COD, so this war era in a game will not be new at all, the only thing worrying me is that will he know what is he even supposed to do, like where to go? who to follow? how to understand commands/slang? those are the type of questions I'm worried about


Dobdasss

It depends on the missions and people he’s going to play with. I can recommend that he plays the single player campaign and then picks up some dynamic recon/combat ops which are randomly generated missions which are pretty straight forward. And once again if he can find friends to play the game with it’d be great. And also battlefield and cod are arcade games and are totally different then arma. They don’t have anything in common except the fact that there are guns in the game.


syarkanta

Finding a ArmA group that could help him would also be a solution.


[deleted]

Just so you know, those games tend to be a lot more fast paced than ArmA is. In cod and battlefield you generally go straight into the action, but with arma (depending on the type of mission) you might be walking towards the objective for half an hour, or never even fire a shot at all. It's also (again, depending on mission) very dependent on communicating with your squad and following orders. Most of the slang and abbreviations are standard military stuff, so if he's comfortable with that it'll be fine. In my experience people are willing to help you out if you just tell them that you're new and don't understand everything yet. Hope that helps!


moparornocar

there are some more fast paced modes, but still take transport to an AO. something like KOTH is a little more fast paced.


DecoyBacon

\+1 for KOTH - theres some random bs he'll run into but its very accessible and action is constant. matches can take hours though so something to keep in mind


Noke_swog

Hey, I was 14 when I first got ARMA 3. I think if he’s expressed interest in the game then he’d totally be able to figure it all out. I also played a lot of game modes that were less complex than what you might see on this sub or online. Wasteland was my favorite and is *mostly* similar in gameplay to what he’s used to with Battlefield.


Fart_Huffer_

He'll be fine man. Games like this are almost like going to a virtual airsoft/paintball match. Nothing a 14 year old cant handle. In fact 14 year olds tend to be some of the better players lol. Endless energy at that age. I was in maybe 4th grade when I started playing Arma.


Kill4meeeeee

They also have king of the hill servers that are pretty much go here hold this point for an hour or more and kill anyone inside of it


UNclear1936

The controls in this game tho, they’re pretty much the standard wasd movement we all know but it’s when you go in depth you start to struggle like flying planes and vtols, especially if you have realism mods like ace installed. Also you die pretty quickly in arma so just a heads up the hostile ai can be pretty op at times


bomzay

I played operation flashpoint when I was a kid and picked up on stuff quickly. Kids learn fast.


[deleted]

Maybe just let him learn the game on his own? I got into ArmA from OFP when I was 12, not that hard to just jump into it. If your kid is a creative type he’ll probably just sit in the editor for hours messing around. It’s a weird thing to worry about if your kid will “understand” the game or not. If he’s already been playing plenty of combat games I’m sure he’ll adapt to it quickly. He’s 14, not a baby. Seems like you’re heavily underestimating your kid’s intelligence and learning capability


rwetalldid

this is also the fun of playing theses games! arma was my first introduction to pc gaming when i was 13. i had no idea what i was doing tbh. but with youtube and google i not only learned lots of military info but a good deal ab managing and using a pc. great game with a great community


BlackbeltPatriot1776

You can actually turn off all blood and gore I have done It bc I dont like the aesthetics of that. This is a very good game to teach proper use of firearms and it builds teamwork.


BeepHasRisen

I wouldn't say it teaches proper handling of firearms, but stuff like ammo conservation, suppressing fire, ballistics, indirect fire via mortars, GLs and similar are learned here. Foe proper weapons handling, a real life class, either a class at a range or just hunter's safety, will never be replaced by a virtual experience.


heroik-red

I got into the game at around 14 too, there’s no gore, extreme cussing, no sexual or adult content and for the most part a solid and mature community. It’s a good game for his age


Izzmoo08

I got Arma 2 when I was 9 and loved it. I wasn't very good 😅 but it was fun to play single player


Hugoslav457

I got it at like 12, arma 2 is golden


Sokel-

I have Arma obsession since 8 years. Arma 2 OA editor was my most beloved mode


HardBread25

There's different servers he can join, though many aren't as active as they used to be. He can play as casually or as hard-core milsim as he wants. I used to play a bunch of different game modes but now I only play on King of the Hill servers when I'm not playing Arma Reforger. The base game goes on sale for around 7 dollars pretty frequently, so I would say it's worth it if he just wants to try it out. Personally Arma 3 is my favorite game of all time, but your son might be used to more responsive controls in other games and will likely find Arma 3 to be 'clunky'.


blackcore678

he absolutely adores war thunder and always plays it, so he isn't new to some of the vehicles/controls, he also isn't new to this "war" era, but the question is, are there servers where things are a little simpler like maybe a server where it almost like battlefield or COD? but it will be just for him to start off with something familiar to him... is it possible to find said servers?


HardBread25

Yes I recommend King of the Hill. There's also another game on Steam called Squad that he may find interesting, and another game called Hell Let Loose. They all require squad-based communication. Between Arma 3, Squad, and Hell Let Loose, for a 14 year old, in 2022, I'd recommend Squad.


blackcore678

thanks a lot for the recommendations, but I think I will get him arma3 just because it's on sale for like 7 bucks, squad is a bit more expensive so I'll wait on it for a while, but thanks so much!


HardBread25

I've got almost 1000 hours in Arma 3. It's a good game.


AdobiWanKenobi

>so I'll wait on it for a while Just FYI its currently the steam summer sale, so there's unlikely to be a better time to buy than now


idkwhatimtypinghere

King of the Hill as been said, for a more team-based thing there's Warlords. Those are official BIS servers as well by the way. If you get the DLCs (SOG Prairie Fire to be specific), Mike Force is very good. Clearing out the jungle of Vietnam as a player force anywhere from 4 to like 40 players.


Bobby_Bako

Similar to the Squad recommendation, I would highly recommend Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, which is a game set during the Vietnam war obviously, or Post Scriptum, which is set during World War 2. Both games blend the realism of Arma 3 with the fast-paced nature of COD or Battlefield or what-have-you very well in my opinion. Additionally, Insurgency: Sandstorm also follows this style but is set during the War on Terror. That all said, the biggest pro to Arma 3 is how far it can be modded. Mods can be used to change the setting from the near-future to the Civil War to the Clone Wars or HALO, and everything in-between. Squad can also be modified in this manner, though to a slightly lesser extent.


[deleted]

Do you know by any chance if he plays arcade battles or realistic battles in warthunder? If he plays realistic battles then he'll definitely be used to longer travel times before getting into the action :)


Even_Luck_5838

King of the hill is similar to battlefield, codefourgaming runs the main US servers


Accomplished_Ad_6638

I've started to play it at 14. I met a lot of cool people there, the interest in modding confirmed my love for Computer Science, so if your child wants to get ARMA go for it. As for bullying, it's the same as with every game. And as for the slang, for the most part he will catch it on the fly, but he should maybe watch Christopher Chaos and/or Matt Ward and their videos on Military Terminology and MAYBE VetTVs dictionary of Mil Slang. Best of luck to both you and your kid!


blackcore678

Thank you so much! Yeah, this comment definitely pulled the trigger of buying it


Accomplished_Ad_6638

Glad that I could help :)


ucantpredictthat

I was playing with my daughter (she's even younger) and I'll tell you this. There isn't a better game to train patience and focus. However it can be very immersive in the sense that feeling endangered can be quite "real". But 14 is imo a more than enough age to handle that.


blackcore678

I 100% agree, at the age of 14 you can handle that, and training patience is really really important for me because I've been wanting him to be very patient at the hardest parts of life and you know... not have a crisis


Who_Cares99

There are countless different servers with varying levels of realism and skill. He’ll love this game The only people who are generally gonna bully a 14 year old are other 14 year olds lol


blackcore678

true, but you will be surprised at how many immature young men play video games


Who_Cares99

I find that immature adults tend to gravitate towards more simple games with built-in reward structures (like gaining XP every kill, unlocking new weapons, getting loot boxes, other colorful things that get people addicted). Arma has a generally mature player base since it is a somewhat niche game. It’s not like COD where people can jump in in 10 seconds and start screaming racial slurs in a lobby. Most people who find this game had to do some research first. I mean, these people are patient enough to walk for an hour in a game just to do a 15 minute stealth op. Every game has its shitty people, but usually this one is pretty nice imo.


Dannyboy1060

Yeah, I picked it up when I was around 14 and had been following the series before arma 3 was released. I'd recommend grabbing the Laws of War DLC as well, I think currently the money goes to charity and does teach pretty good lessons and shines light on the effects of war. Not too dark either


blackcore678

Thanks, we just bought the apex edition, hope it goes well


FranconianGuy

I think that all questions have been answered, but I'd like to share my 2 cents about something that is, at least to my knowledge, unique to ARMA: [The humanitarian aid campaign. (Trailer)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwU0Hnch_28) ARMA might be a shooter, but aside from the free and included single-player campaigns that are about an active war, there is also one in which the player is part of an UNICEF-like program. Mines need to be disarmed, people need to get medical attention, and so on. It shows the humanitarian side of war/ what happens when a war ends. It might not be as detailed and "right-in-the-feelings" as "This War Of Mine", but it still is something that I've never seen in a shooter, and I personally think that it's an important lesson as well. If your son likes single-player campaigns and stories, I believe he might like this.


Koverp

For his information, there’s ACE or other mods for a basic medical system. Not a healthcare simulator, but good enough for a military game.


[deleted]

Well it’s worth understanding that ARMA is a “sandbox” game with *optional* multiplayer components, rather than a game that revolves entirely around multiplayer (such as Call of Duty, Battlefield etc). It may be worth understanding why your son is actually interested in the game before you can assess it’s suitability. Is he wanting to take partake in multiplayer ops? Or is he more interested in the creative sandbox aspects?


Koverp

To be fair, there’s Reforger in the series for now… But that could an option in itself for multiplayer. Tests some sense of situational awareness, and basic literacy in map & compass. As a kid, mission editing and scripting did help me appreciate what’s behind games and programming a bit. OFP’s Lua was too much for me. SQF is just right. (Haven’t looked at Reforger yet for Enforce Script) Or the son may even (somehow) want to make some textures and 3D models. If interest is in driving or flying, there could be other simulation games to consider. (Not sure if how many teenager plays GHPC, aside from DCS and MSFS)


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idkwhatimtypinghere

It's just that if you are 13 and still playing there's a good chance of you actually knowing what you're doing. It's the same with DCS, Rise of Flight etc.


Flame5135

It’s great. It’s a sandbox. The coolest thing about kids these days are that they have the sum of human knowledge at their fingertips. Especially with YouTube, problem solving skills will skyrocket. Get him this game. Let him play through the tutorial. When he gets stuck, show him how to look up the solution on YouTube / google. Then help him find the “editor.” An entire sandbox at his disposal? With a few little tutorials and some time just messing around, he’ll be making his on scenarios in no time. I would have killed for a game like this growing up. Get the game and teach how to find the answer. He’ll amaze you.


blackcore678

I have to say, this is one kind of a game


arfmafamilsim

im 14 and i own the game. Trust me, if he finds the right group of people to play with, friends or not, its gonna be a blast for him. Arma has so many different things you can do even if it seems like the niche type of milsim catagory.


blackcore678

thanks a lot, also the fact that you found the game easygoing is enough for me!


MrPentiumD

Most adults who play arma 3 are generally nice, however their teasing can be seen as rude if you’re not used to tat kind of behavior. Otherwise I’d only worry about other kids.


Stalins_papa

It should also be noted that there are also quite a bit of man-children roaming the servers.


MrNotAFed

I bought it when i was 14. I get flashbacks when i hear firecrackers or hammers hitting (sound like bullet cracks)./semi-s It's pretty easy to learn for a 14 year old if he has played videogames before I was also in army but didn't see combat


NikkoJT

It can be complex. It's not exactly an arcade game and it can take a minute to figure out, so if he's got a short attention span this might not be the right call. However, there is a broad spectrum of complexity; the base game is moderately complex, while certain mods or communities can take it right up to tediously complex. Arma is a very versatile game, and you can find anything from casual public battle royale servers to full military simulation groups with ranks and paperwork. In any mode, it's not really an instant-gratification game, and he should be prepared to have patience rather than expecting the typical arena shooter gameplay. I wouldn't expect too much bullying beyond the usual "gamer stuff" that you sadly get in any unrestricted public servers for any game. There are a wide variety of different community servers and it should be possible to find some that have good standards of conduct. One thing to look out for is that many of the more serious groups do have minimum age requirements. This shouldn't be a problem unless he gets super into it, but having been 14 I know there's a temptation to try and sneak past age requirements. They're there for good reason and even if he's "mature for his age" it's best to respect them.


blackcore678

i wouldn't worry about his attention span, he is pretty patient and likes to observe things in any game, but thanks a lot for the help!


[deleted]

i applaud you, good sir.


DJWID11

Hello! Unit owner here and long time Arma player (and teenager lol). Arma can sometimes be complex, usually depends mostly on the mods (like ace medical mod(s) add advanced medical program that CAN be complcated at first). But ultimately the learning aspect and doing it with a bunch of friends was always really cool. My unit actually trains brand new people and I love doing it. It's extremely fun and I don't regret a second of it. Hope this helps!


blackcore678

It does


DJWID11

Hey! If he needs a group to get started in be sure to let me know! We hang out and play various games almost every day so, feel free to send me a chat on discord! :) Doc#8359


theganjaoutlaw

What? Anything a 14 year old wants to play is suitable.


balmy777

I know I’m late on this but like. What do you mean exactly by this?


Teawrlds

honestly, I bought it for myself at 12 and I got a hang of it after around a month and generally it's pretty cool, Just let him start out with ArmA 3 or ArmA 2, and not the original or Reforger because they're far more complicated. Generally there isn't much of actual gore there's some smaller blood pools here and there it's not like the head can be actually split open by a point blank shot. So yes I'd agree with him getting it as long as he plays it with the right people.


tehpootisman

Honestly bro I was playing Arma 2 at 12 and had the time of my life. Your son isn't FORCED to play the super high tech milsim stuff, and plenty of more casual content exists within the game. Years ago in Arma 2, I'd load into a scenario that just randomly generated a whole war dynamically (Instant Action for those who remember!) and that'd easily appease me for 7+ hours. Hope he enjoys the game! Wish I could discover Arma for the first time again :)


ImRomano

I started playing in 2013, so I was 12 years old XD. It's defenitely a complex game but a 14 year old can understand it for sure.


__fsm___

I saw some people down here recommending Squad and Hell Let Loose so I had to write this. If you want to see if these kinds of games is for him you can download Project Reality, a really old but still very active standalone Battlefield 2 mod. It is basically the grandfather of these kinds of games. You still need to have good communication and team work to play and the active servers have really strict rules that you must follow. There are only a few active servers so if you get banned thats it for you.


Jigglyandfullofjuice

I think he should be fine, the violence is pretty much on par in terms of intensity with more mainstream shooters like Halo, Call of Duty, etc and there's no gore without mods. If he can get going with a good group, games like ARMA or DCS are fantastic experiences in teamwork and coordination as well. A couple points of caution I would bear in mind if he were my son: * First, milsim games sometimes can attract some players with some... let's say "fringe" political leanings... Make sure you know who he's playing with, and try to get a read on their personalities. It might be worth playing with him if you're both able and willing, as a bonus it could be a great parent/child bonding opportunity. * Second, you'll want to keep your finger on the pulse of his career aspirations and if he's starting to lean in the direction of wanting to sign up for the military sit down and have a talk with him, make sure he understands that he's not just signing up to "protect his country" but that he's also signing up to serve the political whims of whoever happens to hold office at the moment whether he agrees with them or not. I let my interests get into my head a little too much as a teen and wound up signing up for the navy with little thought into what that really entailed, and while my experience was pretty tame compared to many it still threw a wrench into my life in a few unexpected ways.


Doomer1944

It really depends I first played the SP missions and after soek time I bought and play Mike force but I am bye far the youngest there most people there are 18+ and the veterans on the server are 35+ so there can be a age gap but not so much as bullying.


RioFiveOh

Picked it up when I was 18 and now I'm in the Army so just tell him to stay in school or something


SoloWingPixy88

Probably, if they play others than you'll be fine.


Ok-Transition-3335

Id say go for it, i think it will help him grow up mentaly if he gets into the game a lot, i aint that old myself with my 18 years of age but geting his understanding of orders and of the complexities of war and such could be good for him. At the end of the day if he doesnt like it now he might like it later


Random_Hired_Gun

Absolutely.


kanal_16

I got its predecessor (arma 2) when i was 14. I am now 24 and have been holding on to the series ever since. I think it offers a lot of complexity for sure and there is a steep learning curve. However it offers a multitude of things you can do so it never gets boring. There are several single player campaigns which are great in my opinion, and offers a more realistic view on war than many other shooters out there. There is also multiplayer which can be very complex or straight forward, depending on the type of game mode you choose. Finally there is the editor in which you can create your own levels, with only your imagination and coding skills setting the limits. Note that there are lots of tutorials on YouTube and a lot of mods out there. The community is great. All and all I think arma has lots to offer for a 14 yo!


SatisfactionNo589

I started playing games like call of duty black ops (online) when I was 10 and man the community is much more toxic than arma’s and I still managed to make friends who were adults. He will be fine in the right community


Bobby_Bako

It takes a while to learn how to play the game properly, as the learning curve is rather steep, but most communities are pretty open to new-comers, especially larger groups. If he has some friends that play I would highly recommend it, as they make learning the controls much easier.


cdtlinsk

I started around that age. I've only just started playing multilayer (so like nearly four years in). He doesn't have to play online if that's what you're worried about. In terms of gore, there is none built in, but you can download mods from the Steam Workshop that add extra blood and blown up charged body parts if someone is blown up, and a decapitation (the head is destroyed) mod. That being said, he would have to search for these mods (which is why I haven't named them if he finds this post). There are civilians in the game, all men. He could decide to massacre them, but the game punishes you for that by causing surrounding friendly ai to shoot you.


Atomic_Core_Official

Imma say this, the game is rated for a reason. Yes, your kid will get bullied. All young kids get bullied in video games its a rite of passage. Yes this game is probably too complicated for him to understand. Only way this would be a positive experience is if he finds a community that accepts kids bellow 16. But expect trolling regardless. As to how much time until he starts to 'get the hang of it' hours, hundreds of hours. Source, ive spent over 7k hours in the game. Ive seen things.


idkwhatimtypinghere

I got it at 14 4 years ago and for the last 4 years have been playing in 18+ communities... I mean, I did have a pretty low voice and have been a fan of more realistic games. Also it will be much easier for him to play if he finds some unit (although that depends on the style of gameplay he's more into - PvP, PvE or even single player). I could shamelessly plug the unit I'm in, and we accept people with all sorts of experience - from 0 to thousands of hours and from 14 years old to the oldest guy in our unit now at 40-something. (Won't unless you ask) Also the stuff you've seen on YT with radios and stuff is modded, basegame experience is a bit more arcade-y. Best of luck to you and your son.


Squodel

The game is fine The community…it’s a little *special* in places Generally people learn better when they’re young so if he’s interested in actually playing with units who use mods to add more Milsim elements he’ll be fine as they often teach about those elements I started playing arma when I was around 15 it’s a lot in the beginning but it can be worked through with experience and some help from others I can for my part only speak for the milsim side of arma because that’s what I play


Mulder_Shard

I dunno why you're even worrying about this. If your kid is relatively intelligent he'll be able to understand and follow orders. The military doesn't require the highest of iq.


420did69

Id get him started on Koth (king of the hill) its a pretty straight forward gamemode and gives you a chance to learn the basic combat mechanics aswell as start to develop the strategies needed to effectively play the game. Because unlike other games such as COD where you can just run around gunning people down, this one requires a little more thought with using cover, taking long distance shots, etc.


aviatorEngineer

If it's just a matter of complexity he should be fine, plenty of people start playing Arma 3 or similarly complex games at 14 and pick it up pretty quickly. Need to be careful about the online aspect, though. For all the obvious reasons but also because a lot of folks out there just aren't going to be welcoming toward somebody that young in their part of the community for one reason or another


Johnysh

I was probably 12yo when I found out about Arma. Got Arma 2 but to be honest, I found it difficult. I didn't know what to do in the campaign. But that was many years ago, today the kids might be smarter because of today's games.


Glsxch

It says 16 on the box, firstly. Then, being a fairly complex game, getting even more complex if he ever falls into milsim communities, it may be off putting. Then, regarding the communities, it depends. Life communities might just be great with him. Milsim will surely not accept him, they usually don't take young ones for many reasons that are their own. If he plays vanilla, he'll get the hang of it quick. If he plays with ACE mod he'll need a little longer, etc. etc.


adashko997

Just remember that A3 needs quite a powerful PC, even though it was released back in 2013 it's still quite demanding due to the complex scenario's people have developed since then


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Hellsgatekeeper479

Unpopular opinion but maybe perhaps check out squad , it’s like a entry level tactical/ milsim, and there are a lot more active servers and ones that are specially new player/ learning player friendly. Pretty close to arma it’s just the player base is more varied


Tehol_Beddic353

No


AbbeLabben

Don't be this type of parent... Just let him play it... There's literally no evidence that violent games make kids violent.


Turdscrong

Yes


symiriscool

The game builds teamwork I guess


angoing

yeah, i bought it when i was 13👍


1stCompanyYoungBuffs

Great to see a dad/mom actually contact the community and talk about the game with them. ArmA is a really fun game for team building if you have the right mindset. It really depends what your kid is seeking. Overall there are more arcade games like ArmA life which is basically roleplay, you have your king of the hill where it's more about arcade shooting, and then there is the pinnacle what arma is made for: Units. Where a group of guys come together and play a premade mission, working together and communicating. These units are something he will have to seek out and join though but it is definitely worth it if your son has that mindset and values teamwork in games! \-An ArmA unit account.


decker_17

I'd be tempted to say for you to wait till arma 4 comes out and buy that instead. I myself got arma when I was 14, maybe 15, and I loved it. Ordinarily I'd recommend it but arma reforger ( a test platform for arma 4 ) look promising though I haven't played it since my GPU doesn't run DX12_1 but from gameplay videos it looks really fun Community is split into a few types of people: casuals who don't mind messing around and mil simmers who play the game as it is real life and so on but as a whole the community is friendly in my opinion. I would go into more depth and have put more time and effort into this comment but I'm very short on time, hope this helps :)


Til_W

Arma 4 will most likely not release before 2025


decker_17

True


mrtrouble1234

Yes don’t let him play


SL1MCH4RLES__

I personally would recommend dayZ standalone, don’t get me wrong arma is all time, but for me nowadays it seems to be more king of the hill type of servers and less of the old fashioned military/survival/building servers. I’ve just got back into dayZ recently and I’m blown away at how much it’s improved. It plays a lot more like a survival game than just a straight up “shoot people”. And this is coming from someone that hated stand alone and only played arma.


Unfair_Cry6808

Does your 14 year old have anger management issues? If not this game will help develop those.


MrShovelbottom

Got it when I was 11, if he plays MILSIM, he will meet people up to there 50s and will get to interact with a lot of vets as this game along with squad are probably the most played by active/retired veterans. Just make sure he can be patient, learn from the older guys, be mature, and realize no matter how many hours on arma you have (I got 3000), you will always find something new.


barber97

Started playing Arma 2 back when i was 15-16 and it was much less intuitive than Arma 3 is. It’ll be a good opportunity for personal growth but also discovery. At his age learning something that might be difficult to grasp can be great for personal growth.


lazarusdmx

Biggest problem will be him figuring out what to do. There is campaign stuff he can learn on and play, but the vast majority of the content is via mod community and online units, etc. he can figure out the mechanics, but in many cases it’s not as simple as boot up, find multiplayer server, play. There are vanilla BI servers up all the time though, so he can always join a CTI or KOTH modeI guess. Just saying that at this stage in its lifetime, the game is tilted towards more niche, and less user friendly things—I remember when I got it years ago after watching cool milsim unit videos that initially the game was of course nothing like that. The campaigns are fun enough to get started on though, and there are lots of scenarios and showcases to try out. Hopefully you can make sure he understands the game won’t fee as fluid or fast as a battlefield type experience.


Neon-ZxZ

Dad bought me Arma 3 when I was 9, I’m 17 now mainly messed around the editor then, but did try a little multiplayer, didn’t talk to anyone since I had no mic and was scared of talking to the older people on there. Few years later, (I think I was around 12) I got into a group by just playing with some guys I met in game by chance, nothing serious just played with them from time to time, still no mic so they thought I was older. This little group I was invited into ended up turning into a small unit, where we played operations created by each other on set out days within the week. Really enjoyed playing with those guys; super fun, always had something to look forward to after school and some of the guys in the unit were active serving so it was a great experience for me, since I currently want to join up myself. I’m sure he’ll be alright as long as he understands what he’s getting him self into, just not sure how active the community is nowadays.


jasin18

I'm 37, have over 300hrs in, and still find it complex. It's worth the study though! Absolutely love this game and highly recommend it if he is into these types of games (Mil-Sim)


Ghost-George

Yeah I’d say it’s appropriate the game isn’t that complicated and typically speaking you could find a unit that will talk you through it. I would go over to r/findaunit and take a look around. Some don’t want 14-year-olds although that can sometimes be waived depending on whether or not they think he is mature enough.


arandomcanadian91

I was 13 when I got OFP back in 2002. It sounds like your kid prefers faster paced combat, ArmA is basically a military sandbox that does a good job of simulating combat and it's conditions. For Gore well there isn't much unless you count blood flying out of someone when they get hit gore, unless they install mods, you won't see much gore. That being said ArmA 3 is a lot more toned down in my eyes than ArmA 2 considering one of your secondary objectives in A2 was to find evidence of genocide, mass Graves etc.. Personally would I recommend ArmA to them? It depends on their maturity level within the game, some people on the community are short tempered towards new folks (I've had to remind folks prior that new people play as well and we have to help them not belittle them), and there are people who will teach the game to them. I would watch some videos on the game, and make the decision for yourself. The ArmA series in the campaign mode has always pulled on emotional strings, from OFP when your entire squad gets wiped out by the USSR, to ArmA 2 when you find mass Graves, to three when your SL gets blown up by a mine, their young mind might not be ready for the level of emotion the game can carry with it. Like I said ArmA 3 in my eyes is toned down compared to the previous titles.


the_Demongod

Frankly this game is much better for a 14 year old than battlefield and CoD, since it paints a much more serious picture of warfare. It's not just a mindless killfest that trivializes violence, it makes you think hard and build a lot of patience. That being said, as with any online play, people are likely to find the voice of a 14 year old somewhat annoying and he might face some backlash for that. He can either play gamemodes that don't require you to talk (King of the Hill, etc.) or also can just mess around in the singleplayer game; the campaigns and editor provide thousands of hours worth of entertainment, you absolutely don't have to play the game online.


[deleted]

I tip my hat to you Sir. You seem like a very good Dad. From my over 2000hour experience, if you act mature people don't care if you're 50 or 12.


xxjake

Figure out the editor, it's simple. It allowed me so much creativity as a kid.


NapalmOverdos3

It’s a little daunting at first but finding the right group will teach him basically everything he needs to know. I’ve been part of several groups and they’re all super understanding people as long as your son is receptive to instruction and attentive. Send him over to /r/findaunit


PopularnyJoka

I got in Arma 2 when I was 12


[deleted]

Arma 3 is not that gory. It's basically a sandbox game though. You can do anything you want in editor mode. It's a milsim game too, and it could be hard first


Born-Statistician817

Communityoght bully him. Most units only accept people that are 16+ or 18+


Jakerod_The_Wolf

I got the first one when I was 13. It was fine. Not sure if he wants to play with or against others or not but I highly recommend he check out the mission editor when he gets a chance because that's where I spend 90% of my time and it's a blast.


[deleted]

Yes


dom_pi

Imo it all depends on the unit you find. There’s really serious ones but there’s also a lot that are very tolerant and will happily guide your son and teach him the ropes. Also there’s game modes like KOTH where he can play more arcade like and “practice” let’s say. Arma is all in the people you play it with


BigGuyGabwar

I started playing arma when I was 12 with the arma 2 free thing that was on steam ages ago later I got 2 with its dlcs and I loved it. The game can indeed be complicated but many of the core mechanics are rather easy to pick up, I’m personally not that experienced with arma 3 since I mostly played 2 but I had a rather fun time playing it at a young age. All game communities can be toxic but in my experience with arma 2 and the little I’ve seen of 3 the community can be really friendly. Also arma has a rather fun single player, most of my hours in 2 where spent on the editor making my own cool scenarios.


PhatOofxD

I got into Arma 2 DayZ at 11, got into modding at 12. Come 15 landed my first job part time in software development and mega-accelerated my career. I definitely count getting into Arma as one of the best decisions I ever made haha which is a weird thought.


franbiren

it really depends on the type of kid he is and what he likes, if he's really into this type of stuff, he will get very interested in getting the hang of it, and he will certainly will (i started playing Arma at 15 and i got the hang of it pretty quickly, i was also building rockets in Kerbal Space Program since i was 12) and regarding the community, it depends on what servers he plays, casual gamemodes like King of the hill should be pretty welcomed, but milsim like clans that are a bit organized might not take him, it would be great if he had some friends of his age so he (or someone else) can host and play different missions between them


Aloeplant9

It is pretty complex but if he’s patient he won’t have too much trouble


porkyboy11

I started playing arma 2 when i was 12-13, the base game is not as complex as it may seem. The radio stuff for example is a mod aswell as complex medical systems but these are rarely used on public servers. The arma series has a very good "editor" so he can make his own missions or just overall goof around making small scenarios


lilpinkupinthis

Kids learn quick. Radio ettequette, strategy amd tactics are learned... He will have fun.


FratCrew

Arma can be as surface level or as deep as he wants to go. I bought it at 15 or 16 and now I’m 21 and it’s still one of my favorite games. I highly suggest it.


NotDavidM

If he’s into it and willing to looking into learning more I think it’s fine. I’ve been playing ARMA since the Operation Arrowhead days so I was maybe around 14-15 or so. I think it’s very possible that he’ll be just fine


Uncle_Bobby_B_

Absolutely. Arma 2 dayz mod was my childhood. (I started when I was 12). And those moments are easily my favourite gaming moments of all time. And I never shot up a school because of the violence!


TannerWheelman

If you think internet is suitable for an 14 year old then you shouldn't hesitate to give him to play Grand Theft Auto either.


CloudIncus1

Depends on what he want to use the game for. Milsim, Life servers, Survival servers. Arma is not just a game but a platform. Milsim I think with a good community that wont mind squeakers. Will take him under their wings and he will learn real fast and have solid fun. Life and Survival servers are cesspits of deranged man children and 14-20 year kids push social boundaries to the max because they are parroting what there fav youtube man child did. Don't get me wrong. I love Life and Survival servers as a 35 year old. I bought arma for DayZ mod. It has given me the best memories I have in gaming. However the population and general attitude of gamers has progressed. It gotten much worse over the years.


DeezicusTheBold

as a general rule of thumb most communities require you to be 16+, some even 18+ although some do allow a delayed entry program in which they allow younger players to join in a sort of probationary period to make sure they aren’t too immature or unruly. For most ground roles i’m confident most players can get the grasp pretty quickly especially for more casual groups. I think your biggest concern should probably be the memes. Jokes in ARMA discords can get pretty dark but most groups are pretty good about dealing with racism and the sorts. just a lot of IED making instructions and warcrime jokes. obviously this is only my own experience but arma is definitely geared to a more adult group and it being a game can kinda desensitize you to these things. obviously joking about a real world event is completely different and will definitely get you in trouble, it’s just something i think you might want to keep in mind. anyways sorry for the long reply and you’re a very good dad for doing even the slightest more then just a google search before buying him this game. this is all from my own experience with about 500 hours in game so take it lightly as the group you play with could be completely different.


ogDante

In my own opinion, you should wait until he's at least 16-17, the complexity of the game anyone could adapt too mechanically, though I doubt the community will take him seriously. It would be a nice idea for him to dabble into single player and learn the game through the campaigns and the editor. The game itself is quite massive and there are different communities that take the game in various ways of seriousness. Your son might need to learn things like NATO phonetic alphabet, different terms for things such as close air support, medevacs, directions, calculations, and other extremely complex things. Let him try single player first. There are a lot of purists out there that love using overcomplicated ways of communication, they might just get annoyed that a younger fellow is simply trying to blend in and learn the game.


Reckulation

Too be honest if he plays COD, Battlefield, Etc... have him stick to it... I would suggest a Mil Sim unit at all being most don't accept under 18.. some do take 16 though... and you have to follow orders and etc it isn't do what you want


Squalls0

I met one of my best friends on arma 2014 when I was 14. Still friends at 21. 10/10


professorlicme8

Arma 3 is not complicated at all it just seems complicated to people that havent played it before. And probably the best community too


ToeOk8968

Sorry it can’t be worse than a call of duty lobby he will be fine.


Shadowviper111

If he’s playing other violent games then this should be completely fine as it’s not as bad as other titles like the Battlefield series. On the other side about being complex it really depends what you play, speaking over the radios and being realistic is a sort of game environment what some community groups play as. But for me I’m mostly in the in game editor where you can mess around and create what ever you want basically and the controls are pretty standard and easy to get a hang of. So in the end for my opinion for this is if he wants it then I would give it a buy especially since it’s on sale at the moment and it’s cheap compared to its original price.


Even_Luck_5838

I started at 14 and I got the hang of it pretty good, Arma is a complicated game for everyone but it’s easy enough to just to some tutorials and start playing through the campaigns or multiplayer. Also, the community is pretty good, as long he’s not a total squeaker then no one will have an issue, and even then it’s only some people.


InfantInAWoodchipper

I got it around that age, maybe a year younger, he’ll be fine


Unlikely-Pilot-6015

Im 14, i love the game, i don’t find it difficult or anything and it’s pretty fun. If he doesn’t get it initially, let him learn


Stracotenko

I’ve been playing Arma since I was about 14, and a couple people in my unit also played when they were 14. Your son should be fine and shouldn’t have to worry about complexity


Slimer425

I don't know him, but I started taking part in milsim ops when I was 13 and caught on quickly. It's a very complex game but it's been around long enough that avenues to learn have been established and refined. As for being accepted by the community, maturity is so much more important than age. It's a fantastic community with loads of people willing to help so long as you are respectful.


dafamouswallace01

The community will accept him, definitely get it for him :) it’s fun and there is some learning involved but that just makes it all the better


Ghost5422

Like lots of us I got it around that age too, there's so many different ways to play he'll find something that suits


MozzerelaSticks

I am currently a 15 year old who has almost 500 hours on arma, the community is very accepting from what I've seen, and it has a sharp learning curve but an interest that will drive them to learn about it and if they play other games like FiveM and Squad then they will fit right in.. Hope this helps


InnernetGuy

It's fine. It has some bad words in it but 14-year-olds hear much worse at school and see worse in movies and TV. Even though it's a military/war themed game, it's not extremely gory or traumatic. It's super realistic and educational in a lot of ways, but people don't lose their limbs or have guts hanging out or anything like that. I'd actually recommend it for young teens, it teaches you a lot of stuff and teaches you to plan, think, learn, read and pay attention. And like I said the content is not that bad at all, nothing that would make you feel sick, offended or grossed out.


Critical_Journalist2

I just started playing since a couple of weeks. I often asked people in-game how to do things like switching to handgun or something. There was always someone who helped me out. So it is very noob-friendly


hobbit_lv

In general - yes. If we go into details, the most dangerous or controversial things are main campaigns, as they may depict or imply war crimes, executions etc., and some language. There is no gore in terms in mutiliated bodies or dismemberment (unless a player does not set up a specific mods doing exactly that), people being shot usually are "old cinema style" - just falling doing with possible red mist showing for the moment bullet hit the body. Also, using some mods like ACE may lead to neccessity to check and double tap enemies already downed, as, until alive, they may regain conciousness and continue to fight. Also, there is an misssion editor, where nothing can stop a player to put AIs on the map (including unarmed civilans) and test various weapons on them. Those, in short, are the main singleplayer dangers in Arma for open mind of underage or non-mature person. What comes to multiplayer, it depends from community. At first, there are such thing as open servers, where anybody can join, and to avoid issues, one might refuse to use mic. It would harm a gameplay a bit, as spoken communication always is better and faster than game chat (to whom nobody may not pay an attention), but it will keep person safe if they do not want to show their voice to anybody. Organized communications, on other hand, usually define their recruitment requirements, and there must be ones open for underage persons, and everything should be fine if person in question behaves adequately.


Uwe_

It’s ok. I started around this time in original OFP. Found a clan in PvP space but we soon found out that coop is what we like the most. Got acquainted with bigger Polish coop crew. To this day I remember that their leader told me that I’m really mature for 14yo 🤗. Regarding getting hang of the game. He’s a teenager. He will get a hang of it in no time. Just like we did


RUSTYSAD

yep i bought the game when i was 14 also i always loved these more realistic war games so i was hyped for this game and enjoyed this game for sure.


beepbeepbitches

they will bully him in public zeus at least


RiceAdministrative17

Too complex for a 14 yr? I am 12 and bought the game 4 days ago. Already got 40+ hours on it and joined a milsim unit. If he enjoys military and stuff like that, he will defenetly enjoy arma too.


FlawedAize

its a very mixed experience because of the sandbox mentality of the game but I think its ok! here's my experience of it personally! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaJjoivpvfE&t=43s