Signal Flares

+SiN+headhunter · Post by **+SiN+headhunter** » 2008-02-03 04:19

the Squad leaders have Green Sig flares

Deadmonkiefart · Post by **Deadmonkiefart** » 2008-02-03 04:25

I don't know, is it realistic?

BloodBane611 · Post by **BloodBane611** » 2008-02-03 04:57

I don't know, is it realistic?

Always a good start. I was under the impression that smoke grenades are used, as they have many uses beyond just signaling. Someon with first hand experience around?

kilroy0097 · Post by **kilroy0097** » 2008-02-03 07:34

Um like has been said they are already in the game. SL's have green signal flares for extraction requests. Press 9 I believe.

+SiN+headhunter · Post by **+SiN+headhunter** » 2008-02-03 10:04

ah i see.
Yea i use my Green sig flares for pick ups all the time.
My squad waits in hiding till the chopper/Truck arrive then we hop in reload and off to another flag we go.

RCMoonPie · Post by **RCMoonPie** » 2008-02-03 14:56

I think the use of RED smoke grenade by an SL for extraction is an excellent idea. I also give you props for the incorporation of the team points for helo pilot landing within distance.

This would also encourage the SL on the ground to find an appropriate LZ for the helo, if he knows he wont get the points if the helo cant land at his smoke.

Good suggestion!

These signal smokes also are available in a billowing YELLOW as well.

SnipingCoward · Post by **SnipingCoward** » 2008-02-03 15:39

different smoke colors would be dandy, like switching em via the mode modifyer

however the smoke not beeing a cloud on the ground but a high going tower something has been discussed

high smoke would stick out and alarm enemies - while the flat one is pretty much only seen by the aproaching air vehicle

burghUK · Post by **burghUK** » 2008-02-03 15:44

just to add on to these ideas what about this??

theres a option for flares . theres about 4 colours

red = infantry backup needed
blue = attack helicopter support
orange = plane support needed
green = transport needed

this saved u having to type it and will allow squads to help each other as atm its difficult with no voip for all squads.

so for example the commander will be looking round for flares. he spots a blue flare. he finds the squad with the apache in it. he will message the squad leader using voip and say apache support neeeded blue flare in (E6).

RCMoonPie · Post by **RCMoonPie** » 2008-02-03 15:56

crAck_sh0t wrote:just to add on to these ideas what about this??

theres a option for flares . theres about 4 colours

red = infantry backup needed
blue = attack helicopter support
orange = plane support needed
green = transport needed

this saved u having to type it and will allow squads to help each other as atm its difficult with no voip for all squads.

so for example the commander will be looking round for flares. he spots a blue flare. he finds the squad with the apache in it. he will message the squad leader using voip and say apache support neeeded blue flare in (E6).

This is a good suggestion and I do like it.
But....four different colors means that a SL is carrying basically four more grenades with the gear already at hand.
Maybe you could just make the color of the smoke the bright phosphorous red,yellow,green or violet and tell the pilot to look for "colored" smoke at whatever coordinate?

RCMoonPie · Post by **RCMoonPie** » 2008-02-03 16:16

Jonny wrote:I like crack shot's idea, but it needs to be simpler.

Green: need transport
Red: need bombing run
Orange: need support/backup
Blue tower (30m high?): hostile assets

@ moon:
SL/CO gets blue, ab-rifleman & assault troops gets orange, s-rifleman gets red, support troops get green.

If your squad is working well you can mark anything you need to.

Your assuming you can get all your squad mates to have all the right kits at the right moment that you need them? I can hear it now:
"We cant signal for transport because 'HeavyHitta357' didnt get a support kit like I asked!"
Sometimes its not on purpose, we all have accidently selected the wrong kit on occassion.

Its a lot simpler with one color per squad....
"Commander, we need transport at map Echo5 on my smoke marker"

arneboe · Post by **arneboe** » 2008-02-03 17:41

eh.. IRL smoke grenades are used as signal for pickup.. not much different than in the mod already.. as SL i use the green one to mark landing/extraction site for the choppers all the time.. no need to have a different signal flare..

bobfish · Post by **bobfish** » 2008-02-03 17:52

Use a radio.

Flares and signal smoke is for highlighting a specific location in an area that has already been radio in. The problem with the current smoke grenades are the smoke doesn't rise high enough and isn't a good signal at range for pilots.

But in reality, you'd get a radio message saying "Enemy infantry at tree line south east of my smoke, friendlies north west of smoke" so the helo pilot for example would know once they reach the location where to fire and where not to.

BloodBane611 · Post by **BloodBane611** » 2008-02-03 18:13

I do think that the smoke needs a little more vertical movement. Right now you get some decent volume, but it stays pretty low for the most part.

bobfish · Post by **bobfish** » 2008-02-03 18:21

It's probably coded to react the same way as normal smoke, which is ideal for a smoke screen, but not for a signal.

RCMoonPie · Post by **RCMoonPie** » 2008-02-03 18:56

I agree with Bloodbane and Bobfish in the behavior of smoke.

Thats why I agree to the suggestion that there should be one for signaling as well.
Just like arnebo said...it is possible to signal with what we have. But...the current smoke model we have, provides more of a screen for cover. It billows and just fills the area.

The model for the signal smoke could be modeled to "tower" and loft a little more.
This way it could be visible at a distance, over small hills, thru or above a tree-line, etc.
It would be both useful in the game and visually pleasing as well. (IMO)

Users would also have to take into account that signal smoke works like a tracer...just as a tracer allows you to adjust out-going fire....it allows the enemy to adjust their incoming fire on you!
Smoke can be seen by both friendly assets as well as enemy.....use with discretion.

There is also the thought of "smoke behavior" being dependent on the environment.
Smoke drifts with the wind, depending on its composition it may be thick and it may be thin. If dense humidity is present or rain it may cause the smoke not to billow and rise at all but instead stay anywhere from on the ground to just eye-level.
Many factors.

I still think that a signal smoke (not a flare) in a red or violet, that towers a little more instead of creating a screen would ADD to the game-play for both sides.

Deadmonkiefart · Post by **Deadmonkiefart** » 2008-02-04 05:31

Is it possible to make the green smoke grenades create a "pickup needed" icon on the map for everybody to see?