Leave "blue force tracking" for commander only

[Oak]

One of the things that immediately drew my attention when I started out PR was the need to check your fire. And I loved it. It made you think before every shot - "do I have a friendly in that direction?" or "it's too far, I can't tell if that's friend or foe - I better not engage".

Currently, every soldier on the field has the equivalent of a "blue force tracking" monitor - in 2 seconds they can check the position of every single friendly unit on the map. This is not very realistic - such systems should (realistically) be limited to vehicle operators only, and I'm counting the command-post as a vehicle.

This means that now you can't pop out your magical map to check, you actually need to make sure by pulling the binoculars or asking the SL to verify with the commander, before firing. This would also give a whole new, extremely-important role to the commander. It's not that the commander is necessary for that - you can still just look carefully - but it certainly helps a lot.

For gameplay sake, I think the display of your squad-mates should remain on individual soldiers' map, if it's possible to divide the information like that. In addition, if the system would prove to cause too many teamkills, perhaps some middle-ground can be reached, for example by being able to see all other squad leaders, but not individual squad members.

[Rudd]

I agree with taking the blue mob off the map

edit - my bad, need red bull: brain no worky today

[Oak]

I agree with taking the blue mob off the map, but the 2seconds blue name thing is important for overcoming engine limitations.

What I meant by 2 seconds is that it is roughly the time it takes to bring up the map. I wasn't talking about the name above the head thing - I think it's great in its current form, the time it takes to identify distant targets feels right to me.

[Zegel]

I agree here. Its sensible, and takes the friendly- or enemy-recognition aspect of the game to a whole new level. And, also, I'm digging it giving the commander something to do - Anything to make that guy feel like he's doing something.

[HELPME7]

That's somewhat unfair to those with lower graphics settings. It effects anyone on and under moderate graphics settings. The soldier does not become clear (with helmet, uniform, etc) until they enter 100 metres. I believe it is great as it is. It is set to a certain distance where they are automatically shown, and they are shown if you have your gun pointed directly at them. Wait that 2 seconds. TKing is a problem because the player who was shot still suffers the same time as when the enemy kills them.

[daranz]

Oh god. I can already imagine the chaos this would bring to PR for the first 3 months.

[Priby]

This idea would be awesome with the hardcoded SL-to-SL-VOIP.

[Masaq]

I suggested this as a non-Dev months and months ago. I'm still pushing for it... no idea if it's possible code wise, but well, we'll see.

[Deadfast]

That's somewhat unfair to those with lower graphics settings. It effects anyone on and under moderate graphics settings. The soldier does not become clear (with helmet, uniform, etc) until they enter 100 metres. I believe it is great as it is. It is set to a certain distance where they are automatically shown, and they are shown if you have your gun pointed directly at them. Wait that 2 seconds. TKing is a problem because the player who was shot still suffers the same time as when the enemy kills them.

Set your geometry to medium or high.


There's just a little (if any) performance impact.

Tested with my my old FX5700.

[Noobofthenight]

Hmmm, nice idea, but in practice? I dont know... could be just a little step too far perhaps.

And in real life you spend hours of training, understanding, briefing etc (at least in the British army xD) to avoid friendly fire incidents.

You'd know if there were other forces on your mission irl, in a game you dont get a briefing like that. (Unless you are in the PRT).

[DeltaFart]

For once Masaq comes into here without his master key
I like the idea, but yeah not usre if its possible...Maybe use the code from the commander that is used to highlight the selected kits, but in this case its always off for soldiers.


SOmething like that, My head hurts at moment and my dog is dying so Im having a bad day

[LtSoucy]

I agree, but its a combat map and many missions have briefings. Still to tell there area is a no. If possible just do the SL. Everyone knows were a squad or company is in battle.(I hope)

[Masaq]

So what? FF is a reality. It'd be easy to avoid:

1) Don't open fire unless you know it's enemy
2) Communicate via TeamChat to let other units know where your Area of Operations is. "Squad 4 will NOT push further south than Row 5" or "Squad 1 will wait WEST of the village - village will be hostile only".
3) Use the commander. Commander would be able to place markers on friendly positions, tell squads if an area contained friendlies, order squads to stick to a specific AO...


+100 for realism.

[burghUK]

will be good in encouraging all players to use a mic.

[Psyko]

like there wasnt chaos when new players started playing 0.8

We dont need a map that shows friendlies. we could do with a topographical map that shows your current location(or maybe not even show your current location)

What we need are people to NOT fire when its right not to fire, and to FIRE when it IS right to fire. Think of the differences there would be if the blues wernt there.
#Jets wouldnt blitz targets without support
#Tanks wouldnt throw random rounds past friendlies
#Noobs would teamkill the first time, and realise emmediatly how flaud their perception was and consider checking their fire before shooting next time.
#Support gunner would ACTUALLY need an attack marker. (and all of this im talking about getting rid of a heap of pubbie problems through eliminating one single aspect.)

What i would like to know is...why is it still here, how does it reflect realism, and do any of the DEVs think it is causing to much frantic behavior?

[bad_nade]

in a game you dont get a briefing like that.

We have the 3 minutes briefing time in the beginning of each round. Are you saying that it's not enough?

[hexhunter]

If it's possible, then it has to be tested, and it should be tested on public servers, I am one of those people for whom the insurgents balaclavas can sometimes only appear when they are 15 m away...

Maybe if SLs were visible.

[Bringerof_D]

remove friendly troops from the map? that sounds good, but keep the friendly squadleaders.