A new class (radio operator)

Artnez · Post by **Artnez** » 2005-09-17 05:31

Ok, I made an earlier post regarding removing the engineer. If this possibly happens (or some other class is removed), would the engine be able to support the following?

The radio operator could carry an M16, a couple of frags and some sort of communication radio on his back.

Here's what he would do:

- If you switch to the radio "weapon" in your kit, the guy would reach behind his back and grab the radio phone piece.

- The crosshair would be a large circle (about half the size of the screen).

- When you hold down the fire button, you start transmitting the location of enemies within your view.

- When you are transmitting, the enemies show up on all friendly maps (much like a UAV does, except they are persistent--not like a radar that goes around in circles).

- Maybe you should have a meter (like medic, engineer), or maybe not, I don't know.

The idea is that you have a radio operator who will relay enemy locations from a distance. While he is doing this, he cannot fire or move. (is it possible to make him need to crouch/prone in order to transmit?).

He will be distinguished by the radio pack on his back (no, not those huge WW2/Vietnam packs) -- so enemy know who to shoot first

References:
Photo1
Photo2

As far as the enemy forces?

Well, quite frankly I dont know who the Marines will be fighting

But, if they are fighting an insurgency... the insurgents definitely should not have radio operators.

They should use other means by which to communicate enemy locations amongst one another.

Beckwith · Post by **Beckwith** » 2005-09-17 05:51

i duno how feasible that is

having him reveal all enemy locations is a bit much

Artnez · Post by **Artnez** » 2005-09-17 05:58

Beckwith wrote:having him reveal all enemy locations is a bit much

It's the equivalent of me going to the on-screen menu and hitting Enemy Spotted on every single enemy I see.

The difference here is that every enemy that the radio operator sees is permanently on the minimap until the radio operator dies or stops transmitting.

What he sees is the key here

its not a UAV

Beckwith · Post by **Beckwith** » 2005-09-17 06:14

Artnez.com wrote:It's the equivalent of me going to the on-screen menu and hitting Enemy Spotted on every single enemy I see.

The difference here is that every enemy that the radio operator sees is permanently on the minimap until the radio operator dies or stops transmitting.

What he sees is the key here its not a UAV

but your spotteds only last for so long, what your saying is a little crazy

Acidcrash · Post by **Acidcrash** » 2005-09-17 06:40

perhaps give the RO the ability to call in artillery/supplies etc even if there is no commander

Eddie Baker · Post by **Eddie Baker** » 2005-09-17 06:51

It sounds like what you want is a scout class. And I'm not sure how feasible the rest of the idea is.

Just so you know, in US infantry platoons, an RTO/RATELO is not someone with a dedicated communications/signals MOS. He is an infantryman who showed better than average proficiency in commo tasks, which everyone receives some training in, or just got assigned the job of carrying the radio for the platoon since they needed someone to do it.

In sniper, long-range surveillance or reconnaissance squads / teams one man will carry a man-portable, medium to long range radio and all members are trained to use it.

In Army Special Forces, SAS and other special operations units with individual operator specialties the communications sergeant or signaler is highly trained not just in radio operations, but may also have training in electronic surveillance, wiretapping, and other tasks.

Also, man-portable radios are quite common, even among guerrilla/irregular forces. It may not be as modern or as capable than what the US has, but in the hands of someone who knows how to use it well, there's no reason it can't be used to effectively communicate.

Artnez · Post by **Artnez** » 2005-09-17 07:02

Beckwith wrote:but your spotteds only last for so long, what your saying is a little crazy

I don't see why it sounds crazy... maybe you're not really understanding it.

Let's take a real life scenario.

A platoon is on patrol and encounters enemy fire.

What's the first thing they do after they take cover? They report their position and that they have engaged hostiles, right?

The radio operator would do this.

So, as the radio operator, when you're pointing at a specific location, you are basically telling the rest of your company/battalion/division/whatever the location of the enemy.

This allows for planes to know who to bomb and reinforcements to know where to go.

I dont see why it's so hard to understand really.

It's the equivalent of using the on-screen menu to spot out enemies. The difference here is that the "spots" are available as long as you are holding down the fire key when you have the radio selected (thus killing the radio operator is important).

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-09-17 16:46

how about just an Forward observer class, since theyre more of the arty spotter deal.

R.Johnson_USMC · Post by **R.Johnson_USMC** » 2005-09-18 22:38

Why not take out the Commander class all together? I personally dont like it, waste of a good soldier when hes just sitting at the base. I say take his Idea and have him be able to call arty and give him a special GUI window that shows how long till arty is able to be fired and be able to request supplies too.

Beckwith · Post by **Beckwith** » 2005-09-19 00:44

commander isnt a class its a position

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-09-19 01:28

i say make him useful for direction only, have him be able to show his guys where he needs them and to DIRECT artillery fire where he thinks its needed. which will of course be directed by some sort of FO and relayed to the commander who can relay it to the players using arty.

OverwatchX · Post by **OverwatchX** » 2005-09-19 04:19

Discussed...

http://realitymod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1402

Artnez · Post by **Artnez** » 2005-09-19 07:43

The whole basis of this idea was to promote squad based warfare.

This way, everyone in the squad has a thing that they can do, while still being able to fight on a descent level.

The radio operator should be the one to call in for supply drops, call in artillery, etc.

It may not be completely realistic, but making it completely realistic is simply impossible anyway.

Having a forward observer is much less logical because he can't be considered part of a squad that is, say, assaulting a building.

Allowing any member of the squad to call in artillery would also be sort of illogical.

It also makes logical sense as per the current squad layout:

- Squad leader directs the squad.
- Medic "heals" the squad.
- Support has the ammo for the squad.
- Sharpshooter provides cover from a distance and terrain overwatch.
- Engineer clears mines works with demolitions (places c4, etc)
- Radio Operator calls for artillery/resupply/reports enemy locations to the rest of the "company" (division, battalion, whatever)

JoW · Post by **JoW** » 2005-09-19 23:35

Maybe take this class and make it more realistic.
As someone said the radio operator is basicly just a soldier assigned to carry the radio. Something not all soldiers think is so fun cous its so damn heavy. I am happy I never had to carry one when I was in the army lol, it looks painfull at times.

Make the Radio Operator a normal Assaulter, or better yet the radio pack is randomly or by vote given to one of the members who form a squad.

These are the extra menu for a radio carrier.

- Can call a artillery strike at position in view, when you go into radio menu you get into a binocular view and can report a location to the commander.

- Commander is only limited to call in airstrike on called in positions.

- If you want to go all out you can use the same feature for supply crates as well.

If you want some coding hell you can even make the commander position a squad option, where the squad leader of the commander squad has the ability to see on the minimap "M" the positions that are called out. And can quickly from what he see page up "YES" page down "NO". This way the commander squad can be a active squad enjoying the round like everyone else but without the whole commander screen thing.