Forward Air Controller Needed (and more)

[paul]

PR seriously needs a link between the pilot and squad on the ground. Perhaps the squad could request an air strike from the command which opens a comm link between that squad and the air crew, or just moves the attack order for the pilot squad so they can see what the ground guys need destroyed.

Pretty much some form of a Foward Air Controller.

Also, I think a UAV within PR would be realistic and make the commander spot much more realistic (and fun).

However, the UAV should only see armor / moving infantry / and infantry in the open.

Any infantry that is not moving or under cover should not be revealed.

What says you?

[The 13th Raptor]

I was thinking about a UAV that needs an operator, it works similar to what the commander in BF2 had, but the operator needs to ID targets by himself and spot them (which happens silently), so squads can only see what he sees, and not what he misses or doesnt spot.

The uav would be fairly high up, so the operator would have significant zoom and limited control over where the UAV patrols.

[KP]

UAV w/operator = OH-58D Kiowa Warrior?

[Wipeout]

KIOWA OWNS!!!!!!!

Anyways currently you just need to be in a squad and have someone dedicated to the FAC position. When I'm in an air squad and can't fly I pick myself up a sniper or marksman kit roll out into the field perch myself in a high but covered position, take out enemy units and spot areas and relay information via voip. Really all pilots do in the air is fly fast, fly low, engage large area's of people and tuda.

[The 13th Raptor]

UAV w/operator = OH-58D Kiowa Warrior?

To much of a hassle really, its too noisy, requires two people and wouldnt be as useful in the urban enviroment with all those RPG monkeys about. If i recall the optics are ontop of the rotor which makes it rather unpractical for observing build up area's.

Where as a UAV would be able to provide a more satalite-ish picture, and wouldnt require two people to fly, nor would it be as "OMG LOOK AT ME OVER HERE HOVERING IN THE LIGHTLY ARMORED HELI!1111".

I know, they are suppost to mask and stick their optics over the cover, but like i said, with PR's maps that's just not practical.

[paul]

Perhaps the UAV image would only be visible to the commander?

[zeidmaan]

I was thinking about a UAV that needs an operator, it works similar to what the commander in BF2 had, but the operator needs to ID targets by himself and spot them (which happens silently), so squads can only see what he sees, and not what he misses or doesnt spot.

The uav would be fairly high up, so the operator would have significant zoom and limited control over where the UAV patrols.

If I understand you he would have the same (or similar) "zoom view" as commander and could spot units just like a commander in vBF2. And that wouldnt work because just like the commander in vBF2 you could just blindly spot enemies around the map without even seeing them.

Anyway I hated UAVs and Scans in BF2. It made it impossible to remain undetected.

[The 13th Raptor]

Perhaps the UAV image would only be visible to the commander?

No, another person should take that job. Flying and manipulating the optics turret is a full time job i reckon.

If I understand you he would have the same (or similar) "zoom view" as commander and could spot units just like a commander in vBF2. And that wouldnt work because just like the commander in vBF2 you could just blindly spot enemies around the map without even seeing them.

Anyway I hated UAVs and Scans in BF2. It made it impossible to remain undetected.

Not quite, as the uav would be constantly moving, any 2 lane street not directly underneath or close to it would basically be obscured by the buildings surrounding it. Though i wouldnt mind it staying as it is now, having to rely on eyeball mk1 is nice when you compare it to battlefield 2/2.142 where everyone knows where you are most of the time.

[daranz]

As to FACs, I believe that there simply should be a really beefy smoke grenade, producing large amounts of smoke that goes up in air (ie, it doesn't stick around like the usual smoke grenades you use for concealment). That would allow SLs, or whoever else would have the kit, to mark armor positions, and request airstrikes at smoke grenade locations. For added fun, make it a launchable grenade, so that the GL guy can actually mark distant targets with it.

[{GD}Ghost]

All you need is one squad 4 ground troops and 1 or 2 aircraft. Use TS or the ingame squad chat system. The squad leaders would not only be able to mark where they want the pilot to attack, but they'd be able to use the "enemy spotted" feature to also pinpoint enemies. The pilot would then use this info to know where to lay their ordinance.

I was on some Texas server a few weeks back playing with a squad who was using this method. I was gunning in a chopper and our SL was on the ground with a few other ground troops spotting enemies and letting our A-10s and choppers know right where to strike by designating attack locations and "spotting' enemies. This was on Al Basrah. Not only was it great fun, but it was one of the most coordinated attack efforts I'd seen in any squad I've played with on a public server.

We dont' need any additional "mechanics" built into the game to organize this. People just need to learn how to actually play as a team and this stuff falls into place with what we have.

[MichSt-Spartan]

Spec Ops soldiers should carry special grenades that explode in the air to mark air-strike targets.

[{GD}Ghost]

Often, you won't be able to get close enough to your target to put smoke on it unless you are calling in a strike within throwing distance of your position. This is not something you want to do unless you absolutely have to.....nor do you want to get any closer to the target than you have to. Having your SL mark the spot on the squad map should be sufficient for a decent pilot.

[DarkTalon]

we need ATC for that matter, on kashan i was trying to line up on the runway (which is fairly difficult) i go forward a tad, then the a-10 spawns, i start reverse throttle, someone gets in the A-10, i finish lining up and i get a warthog stuck right up my ***.
and to think, i had the F-16 ready for take-off

[daranz]

You know, it's pretty common for the commander to work with aircraft and tell them where the land forces need airstrikes. This is especially easier if people in aircraft have their own squad, so that the commander can give them waypoints directly. Of course, this requires a lot of communication, but it is doable. You could, for example, set an attack waypoint somewhere and then ask the commander to copy that waypoint over to air support, therefore enabling anyone to call airstrikes in. Unfortunately, most people don't get as creative as that, and most of the time there isn't even a commander.

[ghost_dog]

no uav !!!!!! real life rememberrr...........

[Mongolian_dude]

UAV is pest to code, possbily hard coded.
The link between the Toops and fly boys is the CMD. He has a push to talk button that speaks to EVERY SL so he can cordinate CAS and all that jazz.

...mongol...

[El_Vikingo]

UAVs do exist in real life remember, it just doesn't mark your enemies on a map.

[Mongolian_dude]

UAVs do exist in real life remember, it just doesn't mark your enemies on a map.

And the ones under 30fts worth of concrete.

...mongol...

[Wipeout]

It's still up to the independent player to provide FAC.