attack marker

[Garmax]

since attack markers are used a lot for pointing out targets and not just placing a rally for where the squad should go instead of when its placed the SL saying move out, attack here, why doesnt he just say something like attack here!

[bullock]

to small of a thing ingame to really care about

[McBumLuv]

Better question:

Why are markers visible on the screen in the first place?

[badmojo420]

Yeah what McLuv said.

But also, Garmax, i didn't fully understand your extremely long sentence. You want it to say "Attack Here" when the SL places any type of markers?

[jbgeezer]

The sounds are vBf2, which means that in Vbf2, "move out, attack here" pretty much is used for markers on flags and stuff. Dice never thought about PR (and never does) when they released BF2 and its patches.

[arjan]

Better question:

Why are markers visible on the screen in the first place?

What mcluf said.

[Nimise]

Better question:

Why are markers visible on the screen in the first place?

Become a SL for 1 round and see if you can stop yourself from using markers. In games you cant point so having markers is ok.

[Gore]

In games you cant point so having markers is ok.

You can always voice it. But markers should stay anyway. Doesn't have to make it harder for the player than it already is.

[McBumLuv]

Become a SL for 1 round and see if you can stop yourself from using markers. In games you cant point so having markers is ok.

Hmm... Same thing with hax I suppose, or the good ol minimap. "Play one round without it, and see if you can't go back."

Also pointing weapon at something is JUST AS EFFICIENT as point your finger at something IRL.

[Garmax]

not on a sniper squad where the sniper constantly has his scopes up, and its the SL's job to designate targets pointing doesnt work there.. or in an APC squad.. it may work in regular infantry just kinda reffering to where something is..

its a simple suggestion, attack markers are rarely used for the meaning to 'move out' and attack just to attack there..

[McBumLuv]

I'm sorry, I've completely forgotten about how often APCs point at targets. And if a sniper is constantly looking through his scope in real life, then of course he wouldn't see a spotter pointing out targets with his finger. Why do we continue to extend this unrealistic aspect into PR?

Anyways, communication is key, and this is an unrealistic element detracting from other aspects of PR, such as using landmarks for orientation, smoke for bearings and transportation organisation, and usage of the map.

I don't mind if they say "attack here" instead, because it means nothing to me, so long as all that gets affected is the marker on the map.

[badmojo420]

I'm sorry, I've completely forgotten about how often APCs point at targets. And if a sniper is constantly looking through his scope in real life, then of course he wouldn't see a spotter pointing out targets with his finger. Why do we continue to extend this unrealistic aspect into PR?

Anyways, communication is key, and this is an unrealistic element detracting from other aspects of PR, such as using landmarks for orientation, smoke for bearings and transportation organisation, and usage of the map.

Exactly.

I don't mind if they say "attack here" instead, because it means nothing to me, so long as all that gets affected is the marker on the map.

And when your SL places a marker, you usually hear him say something like "Enemy this position" "move to here" "Suppressive fire on the marker" over voip. So even if the vBF2 audio doesn't match to what is happening, his verbal commands always will and should be what you're listening for anyway.

[ChiefRyza]

The on screen markers should be completely removed, but leave the markers show up on the map when you bring it up. That way you can still give orders to locations on the map, but not have all this visual pollution on the screen.

[badmojo420]

The idea of the markers replacing someone pointing is a semi-decent idea. But the system in place is much more exploitable than someones finger would be in real life. For the marker system to actually work, everyone would have a marker, that was only visible to others when they were in close proximity to that player. So for example if McLuv was standing 10m away from me, he wouldn't see my marker, but if he came within 5m it would become visible.

That way you do not have the tactics of spotters on the ground marking targets, while the aircraft stay out of view and range high above, raining down munitions on anything marked. Or a squad who doesn't stick together, but only works together. Staying within a 100m radius and then swarming any marked targets from every angle. Not to say that these types of tactics would cease to exist if the 3d markers were removed, but they wouldn't be supported by a feature in the game, like they are now.

To be honest, whenever i'm spotting for CAS, i feel like i'm cheating. Throwing down a marker, or even walking the marker along as a tank moves, then BOOM. There is no reason for the pilot to even visually identify the target, look at his map, or anything. Just fly at the magical marker and fire. At least with laser targeting the pilot needs to think a little bit.

I don't really expect the DEVs to create the system I suggested above. It's most likely hard coded and honestly a hand pointing animation would achieve the same thing. I just wanted to show how the current system is not exactly the perfect metaphore for a soldier pointing with his arm. And how it can be exploited for other uses.

[killonsight95]

Better question:

Why are markers visible on the screen in the first place?

because you can point in real life and not in game games will alway be games untill someone messes with your mind

[sickly]

I don't really expect the DEVs to create the system I suggested above. It's most likely hard coded and honestly a hand pointing animation would achieve the same thing. I just wanted to show how the current system is not exactly the perfect metaphore for a soldier pointing with his arm. And how it can be exploited for other uses.

Difficult to argue against that because PR is about realism and oriented toward a more mature audience; if we were talking about vBF2, I'd say that the marker just simplifies the whole means by which communication occurs and amalgamates all forms of target designation in to one function (so aircraft can use it to hit targets just as infantry can use it to identify specific threats quickly).


If you aren't using VOIP (I personally choose not to use it for reasons of security and anonymity), then not having a means of directing attention can turn coordination into a real chore...and that's as SL; as a squad member, communication without VOIP is virtually impossible.

I would add more appropriate preset messages to the Commo Rose first (PR is still using mostly vBF2 stuff, aside from the build orders menu).

[McBumLuv]

because you can point in real life and not in game games will alway be games untill someone messes with your mind

And then there's always the reason that people don't understand.

Go into the woods. Spot a creature/deer/something somewhere. Tell your friend and point.

People really overrate how effective pointing is at something. It's only effective if you ARE COMMUNICATING. Since that factor is covered by multiple VoiP programs, including the one built in, we needn't worry about it. The only thing pointing does is give you a very general sense of direction, just as pointing one's gun ingame does.

I have no idea how a floating marker visible from 3000 meters away and not needing anyone to be remotely near the person spotting the target/objective can be likened to lifting one's finger and stretching it out towards anything.