[Suggestion] Commander mode

psypath · Post by **psypath** » 2006-05-19 12:49

Being commander in PR is a pain (I think).
It's good to not have those fency toys like UAV and satellite scan as vBF2 provides them, but some technical help to spot enemies is missing, IMHO.

Taking a look to the real battlefield (or better say: what I think to know about it from Hollywood movies):

There are a couple of satellites crossing a combat area in a (un)certain period (lets say between 1 and 3 minutes).
Those satellites take (static) pictures. Remember those (manipulated) pictures of mobile chemistry laboratoies in iraq?!
The picture is kept as long as another satellite crosses the area and takes more recent photos.
The photographs show enemy as well as friendly troops, vehicles and so on.
I personally don't think that those subjects could be marked as red dots or tank icons as it is done in vBF2. This is not realistic.
This will help the commander to place squads since he can spot enemy troops (or better say: where enemy troops were when the picture was taken).
Of course it must be a realistic photograph which can not spot covered subjects, for example players that are inside a building or under a tree or bridge.

Perhaps those pictures are limited in resolution and size, so they never show the whole combat area but only (propably previously requested?) parts of it.
Perhaps a "PEEP" signals the commander, whenever a new satellite picture was taken, so he knows when its time to rearrange squad movements, etc.

Just a bunch of ideas, perhaps it will inspire you guys.

PS: Of course this should not be missing: Well done, men. PR rocks!

the.ultimate.maverick · Post by **the.ultimate.maverick** » 2006-05-19 12:52

I like the idea of a screenshoted version of the 'Commander Eye' but the problem comes when looking at the MEC - they don't have keyhole satellites or satellites they can task into position. Without this 'eye' they'd be weakened, unless we thought of some advantage for PLA/MEC

Post by **Rhino** » 2006-05-19 13:01

I like the idea of 1 frame pictures of the BF that the commander needs to go on but only the US and maybe the PLA would have these, MEC would not be able to have this so it would be abit unbanlced...

psypath · Post by **psypath** » 2006-05-19 13:01

My solution to this (hey, I am not going to code all this stuff

):

"Randomly" (invisible) Civilians tell the PLA/MEC commander in which quadrant of the combat area US forces have been spotted. Perhaps the commander should have a cheque book to pay for those hints ...

Wild_Wokman · Post by **Wild_Wokman** » 2006-05-19 13:04

Could it be balanced by more tickets or a faster respawn for the non US forces? I don't know if it is true now, but in the cold war days, the soviets thought was to over power with numbers, not advanced weapons. This is about reality, and the US does have a technolgical advantage.

Post by **RikiRude** » 2006-05-19 13:13

psypath wrote:My solution to this (hey, I am not going to code all this stuff ):

"Randomly" (invisible) Civilians tell the PLA/MEC commander in which quadrant of the combat area US forces have been spotted. Perhaps the commander should have a cheque book to pay for those hints ...

why did this make me laugh really hard?

"Enemy boat spotted -$50"
"Enemy troops spotted - $20"
"Enemy tank spotted - $75"

ZupaflyBE · Post by **ZupaflyBE** » 2006-05-19 13:17

well doesnt a uav in BF2 also spot troops inside buildings, clearly in real life this wouldnt be possible unless the building has a sun roof right ? A normal satelite would only spot troops on ground which are visible from sky no ?

Or do they use like thermal stuff or something ?

psypath · Post by **psypath** » 2006-05-19 13:33

Yes it does. And this is really unrealistic, I think.
So the picture taken should only show up visible/uncovered subjects.

Eden · Post by **Eden** » 2006-05-19 14:18

Or completely get rid of the satalite, its not as if it does anything anymore, you have to zoom right into a small area to see anything and by the time you give out orders the troops have moved on anyway.

so my suggestion, completely remove the UAV/ arial satalite map thingy in commander mode, its not work the hastle now anyway. Instead give the commander a greater role in organiseing squads and planning attacks on flags, thats what he should be used for in the first place.

Malik · Post by **Malik** » 2006-05-19 14:34

No way, the satellite needs to stay. I used it all the time as commander, it's great for plotting attacks with squads, and using VOIP or text you can inform squad leaders where any hidden threats are. There's no need to really take it out. The UAV may play no role at the moment, but the trailer is a vital repair station for vehicles since 0.3.

psypath · Post by **psypath** » 2006-05-19 16:16

as far as i could experience by now, there is NO satellite scan in PR available at all.

Or did I test with the wrong server settings or maps?

And as the Mod-Name implies, main focus lays on realism - a satellite won't discover people inside a building, I guess.