Project Reality Forums

Okay I've been wondering about this for a while now since I always do my best to mark any contacts I observe when I'm a squadleader.

In theory the markers should be a big advantages for the team because threads will be known for the whole team before they arrive to a certain area.

But often I see behaviour that indicates that the markers are being completely ignored.

So how serious do you take the markers?

Do you start looking in the direction where enemy contacts were marked? ...or do you assume that the marker will be out of date within few minutes anyway and stop worrying about it?

The most respected marker, I think is the FOB. Most of the time the rest of the team will be interested enough to take out an enemy FOB but marked HATs and a single infantry marker rarely gets the respect it needs.

An example: A certain point on a certain road is constantly being ambushed so I mark that point with an infantry marker and a HAT marker. That should be a clear warning for people not to drive down that road right? Wrong!.. well most of the time anyway.

I personally love the marker system and want to encourage everyone to use it every time they spot something and I hope in time that we will be given even more markers to put down. I would love to see an "enemy squad spotted" marker for one example.

It really depends on which marker... Usually, I will care less if I saw an APC marker and heard no APC sound at all... because if the marker was 1 minute out of date then the APC may be out of the area, however, I consider the fact that it may have dropped troops so I remain conscious of my surroundings.

The enemy often moves so fast that markers become irrelevant. I never use them unless I am also commenting on the contact in SL mumble, otherwise people simply look at it and then forget about it straight away.

Don't trust them from other players because I've had too many experiences chasing ghosts.

Mostly they're an effective tool for CAS.

I find the markers are not accurate no matter how long i stay still before calling them in, the r-devs should address this before the next patch.

Most markers aren't all that useful on 2k and smaller maps(Static emplacements and infantry markers being the exception), but on 4k maps vehicle markers begin being useful, especially as general indicators of the enemy's deployment.

The main issue is still that most SLs, especially vehicle squads, either ignore or simply don't notice the markers, making the information meaningless. It is an issue which arises due to a lack of or non-competent COs and SLs inability to effectively coordinate efforts between themselves.

The enemy often moves so fast that markers become irrelevant. I never use them unless I am also commenting on the contact in SL mumble, otherwise people simply look at it and then forget about it straight away.

which increases SL coms unncessarily.

I trust the markers 100%, but not for precise locations.

e.g. theres a tank marker 500m to my NE. That just makes me treat the NE, about 90 degrees worth of my surroundings with the appropriate action. E.g. if I'm in a tank I'll either manouvre around that position or guard against an enemy advance from the NE.

Using SL coms to mark targets is only useful when directly guiding another unit to that location or warning of a unique asset, otherwise its wasted breath that is getting in the way of other people hearing necessary communications.

e.g. Calling out the enemy attack helo's position, altitude and direction is ok.

Always mark them, even if outdated it provides a valuable reading of the big picture. It is very important to transmit that intel through SLs channel to any relevant friendly squads. It is so so helpful sometimes.

xambone wrote:I find the markers are not accurate no matter how long i stay still before calling them in, the r-devs should address this before the next patch.

The problem you're having here is that you're not doing it right. They're not based on where you're looking, they're based on the input through the radio comms and your WASD direction.

So, first you place your move/attack/whatever marker on the area you wish to place a radio marker. The next step is to look in that direction(Obstructions don't matter, just use the compass chevron) and then tap your forward key(W). Then you simply input the distance and select the marker type, at which point it is placed.

The important thing to note is tapping forward while looking in the direction you want to place the marker. It doesn't matter if you're looking right at the thing you want to mark, if you for instance tap left(S) the marker will pop up to your left at whatever distance you set, not what you're looking at.

I trust them with common sense. I prefer information that enemy infantry was in some spot 5 min ago than no information at all. Pretty much what Rudd said. I almost always mark contacts on map and find them very useful, fast and easy to use. I would prefer more people using them sometimes, but overall they are fine.

I agree with Rudd and Kain. No info is better than nothing and if you update the markers once in a while it will also indicate which direction the enemy is moving.

Another note: Enemy AA (whether stationary or hand held) should ALWAYS be marked for friendly CAS.

[R-DEV]Rudd wrote:which increases SL coms unncessarily.

I trust the markers 100%, but not for precise locations.

e.g. theres a tank marker 500m to my NE. That just makes me treat the NE, about 90 degrees worth of my surroundings with the appropriate action. E.g. if I'm in a tank I'll either manouvre around that position or guard against an enemy advance from the NE.

e.g. Calling out the enemy attack helo's position, altitude and direction is ok.

On the rare occasion I SL I use the markers to think about how I approach. Like Rudd says, I'm not trusting the exact location but at least gives me the idea that theres some infantry up there.

I always mark them when I have a chance. I'll mark first and than engage

When I'm SL'ing I try to mark everything that's not friendly. Especially when other SL's aren't in Mumble channel.

Yes, I've noticed that sometimes people play little attention to what's going on in the map. IMHO, the problem has the same roots as the old "people don't check map often".

It's crucial to check the map every time you see info popping up in the upper left part of your screen ("Enemy X spotted"). And not only than. You'll find that by checking map you can be a lot more helpful to your team.

What I really don't like is that I don't have a simple way in marking stuff as an APC sq SL (if I'm driving, that is). I always have to stop, get out, request the SL kit, mark something meaningful, pick up crewman and get back in the seat. It's valuable time. And actually I've done it like once

PROTIP: Some guy (thank you, random good player) from my squad once teached me that the three APC markers I've put down following the enemy APC's random driving won't do any good. That's so true. So how to "remove" those markers and mark the current exact APC's location? Just mark the same spot three times. It's funny because it's so easy.

What? Markers are like gods to me. If I see someone putting one up, I take it as real and get ready for contact for at least a 100m radius (infantry maps).

If it is relevant to me, I always check on SL mumble. Depends on the marker though. A FOB, TOW or sniper is more likely to stick around than an apc.

[R-DEV]Rudd wrote:which increases SL coms unncessarily.

I trust the markers 100%, but not for precise locations.

e.g. theres a tank marker 500m to my NE. That just makes me treat the NE, about 90 degrees worth of my surroundings with the appropriate action. E.g. if I'm in a tank I'll either manouvre around that position or guard against an enemy advance from the NE.

Using SL coms to mark targets is only useful when directly guiding another unit to that location or warning of a unique asset, otherwise its wasted breath that is getting in the way of other people hearing necessary communications.

e.g. Calling out the enemy attack helo's position, altitude and direction is ok.

I agree.

As for those of you who feel that it is necessary to shout out when you hear a tank nearby....well everyone with a sound-card knows what direction the tank is in since it makes so much noise, and if it is stationary (engine off) then a marker on the map should be sufficient, and perhaps a quick warning on the team-chat. Responsible vehicle drivers use the map a lot, at least for checking for mines but also dangerous opponents reported.

Like someone else mentioned. Make sure you take a step towards your target before calling it in with the radio or you will miss your target.

Think of it as your cheap GPS watch showing a compass. If you stop moving it will still show the direction you where heading last even if you turn around. Move slightly in one direction to get a real gps-compass direction.

sorry double post!!!

^ Thanks for the info up here. Wonderful explanation.

I assume it is the same thing for Mortar markers?

Kind regards

KiloJules wrote:^ Thanks for the info up here. Wonderful explanation.

I assume it is the same thing for Mortar markers?

Kind regards

yes it works the same for mortar markers. Only if you use T and then "attack" "defend" orders etc. then it will use whatever your pointing at in 3d view. It only works on things that you can see so it is not useful most of the time and it has no cross-hair like in BF2 vanilla so can be hard to control.

Out of interest is it really that much more of an overload for someone to say 'Tank in A5 on the marker' rather than just putting down a Tank marker? Chatter like that helps my SA, it doesn't hinder it.

mind you, that said when I say stuff like that I generally check the map and i'm more likely to say something to the actual squad it will concern, IE 'Armoured AA on the marker in A5, CAS be aware'.

That said, i've never played CAS and on the rare occasion I interrupt someone or vice-versa one of us stops to let the other one finish.

What Punkbuster said, and I won't take it serious if it is a noob constantly spamming markers.