New Idea to Improve Battlefield Awareness

[DarthDisco]

A lot of people complain about wanting to see the minimap come back into the game for infantry. I don't believe the DEV's are about to do that, so I have been thinking about other ways to give soldiers additional battlefield awareness to compensate for the limitations of the game.


What I think IS a more realistic (in the sense that the DEV's might consider it) is to continue adding more information to the 3D map aka, the HUH itself. The extension of the nametag appearance was a good addition, but I think other things should also be displayed on the 3D map as well.

In the current game, Squad leaders use attack markers to denote enemy locations, rally points, and just about anything else they want their squadmades to look at. I think the DEV's should implement an independent system of symbols to serve this function. For one thing, since the removal of the minimap, using the Spotting function, now limited to Officers, Snipers, and Spec-Ops, has been nearly useless except to aide Airborne assets in tracking ground targets.

I would have spots appear on the 3D map so that when your squad leader spots an enemy sniper in the trees, you actually SEE something on your screen to indicate the spot.

Also, CAS and LGB markers should appear on the HUD as well just like attack markers.

Ideally I think this system should be implemented as follows: Spots from SL's, Snipers, and Spec-Ops should only appear on the HUD of a soldier within a set distance, lets say 25m, of the spotter. I would even just use the existing Spotting Icons, and just put them on the HUD with a range below, just like an attack marker except that it only lasts for a short time. I would not limit it to only fellow squad mates because Snipers and Spec Ops are meant to assist the whole team, not just a single squad.
Spots should still appear as normal on the main 2D map.

CAS and LGB markers should ideally only appear on the HUD's of people in Jets and Helicopters, but I don't know if this is possible with the engine. Assuming it is not I would have it appear to anyone within a set distance of where the marker is placed. Lets say 750m as this usually close to the maximum visual range on larger maps. The point of this feature is to allow pilots to better hit targets on the ground. They would have to use their minimap to get to the general target area, but then have something to actually shoot at when they get there.

To address some of the concerns I know will be expressed against this idea. I don't think either of these additions is unrealistic. The spotting system currently really is useless in aiding other infantry, and in real life a soldier would be able to use language to direct the vision of a fellow soldier to whatever he was spotting. By having an icon appear on the hud this does that in game in a simple, effective manner.

Some might say this could risk cluttering the HUD. To those I give two responses. Firstly, you can always chose to use your ALT key to hide the 3D map. Secondly, with the range limitations on the spotting system, and the fact that spots only last a short time, the odds of a screen full of spots are slim. However, just to make you happy, We can limit the number of spots a person can issue simultaneously to one. So if a SL spots a soldier and then spots another before his first one has disappeared, it automatically removes the first, just like placing another attack marker.

Lastly, some will say "this seems to be the same thing as using attack markers, leave it at that." To those I say, the attack marker system is not meant to represent this kind of direction. The objective markers are meant to give a squad general strategic goals (i.e. Move Here! Attack This! Build That!) not specific tactical instructions (i.e. Look over there! Shoot that guy! Check out this Rally!). So while yes, this spotting system would work very similarly to the objective markers, it is separate from them, and serves a separate function. Additionally, do not forget that it is to be used by more than just the SL.

And thats my idea for spotting.

EDIT: I just thought of one more objection with relation to the SL ability to place spots on the map itself. These spots should not appear on the 3D map as they represent a more strategic level of communication in the game. The only spots that should appear on the 3D map are those made with Line of Sight spotting.

[Artnez[US]]

There are 2 main problems with what adding markers to enemy spots:

1) Sometimes it will make the enemy impossible to see (ie: if only their shoulder is popping out from behind cover).

2) It will make the game look too much like some futuristic combat shooter (ie: Ghost Recon or Frontlines Fuel of War).

The minimap and spotting targets aren't very related at all. Spotting out enemies should be up to the squad and VOIP. Without VOIP, teamwork in PR falls apart altogether.

[turnpipe]

Deaf people are screwed with the instant awareness thing.