01-22-2016, 02:27 PM
Use this thread ONLY to read the content of the first post and reply to confirm you have read and understood it. If you have any question use the dedicated discussion thread.
To go right ahead, I know we're not a MILSIM group. We don't have ranks, we don't have mandatory drills, we don't pretend to be anything but some dudes playing together. However, that doesn't mean that discipline and concentration isn't a requirement, and I notice a recent trend that I find worrisome to say the least, and yesterday I saw quite a lot of it.
Please don't take it personal, even if you recognize yourself in some of the things I am about to say. I am not trying to say that anybody is doing these things intentionally, but they happen and that is an issue.
(See also: Standard Operating Procedures)
Without any particular order, and without further ado, let's get down to brass tacks:
Formation.
We have an easy set of rules when it comes to formations. In a column, just stay in column, don't overtake the guy in front of you unless there is a good reason. In a line or wedge, evens move to the right and odds to the left of the leader. HOLD your place in the formation.
I've seen people run left and right during firefights to get more kills, and I cordially dislike this behavior. You are running in front of others, risk friendly fire incidents at worst, and take away line of sight from someone else.
We hardly use anything else but column, line or wedge. We certainly don't have a "crowd" formation, but very frequently in recent weeks that is exactly what it looks like
"Looting".
We're playing Arma 3, not DayZ. There are certain things that bother me, and one of them is realism. While (as I said) we're not MILSIM, I hate it when people ditch their service weapon at the first opportunity. If you were a soldier, you wouldn't throw away your M4 and pick up an AK at the first opportunity, and likewise I don't want to see this kind of behavior in our games.
Yet, I frequently hear "Hold on, let me see if these guys have better weapons". This behavior MIGHT be acceptable in a guerrilla mission were you generally tend to go with inferior equipment, but it bothers me a lot in non-guerrilla missions were it is completely out of place.
Likewise, while you can never have "too much" AT, I really dislike it that after half a mission everybody has become an AT sniper. It is my opinion that we should not all grab every AT weapon we can get hold of, I don't think that is realistic, and on top of it it depraves the guy that picked the AT slot of his job. I remember missions were I was the AT guy but didn't get to fire a single AT shot because everyone and their brothers already had AT. That is not how it is supposed to be, you wouldn't all want to grab Medikits and be Medics if it were possible.
In general, stick to your role. If you picked a rifleman, stay with that and do not go to pick up a sniper rifle. If you are a machine gunner, leave that AT. Otherwise we don't need roles.
On a similar note, I really, REALLY hate it when specialist roles are taken over by regular infantry. For example, a number of my missions contain special precautions so that only a pilot can fly a damn helicopter. I dislike regular infantry jumping into a helicopter going "Look ma I'm a pilot". You aren't. Nothing is technically stopping you from doing this, but it isn't logic, and I hate missions that make this a principle (this is more directed at mission makers
).Communication.
You have to be present on comms all the time, whether you are a team leader or not, but for team leaders this is especially true. Make sure you can understand your comms. If Arma is too loud, open the Windows mixer and make sure TeamSpeak gets more volume.
Some choppers are incredibly loud, so it isn't a major issue if you cannot hear comms very well if you are sitting on a Taru's bench, but in other circumstances, be present. In yesterday's game we had thought that Charly team was dead because they didn't respond. If you cannot give a meaningful response, at least say "Wait one" or something similar.
Also, confirm transmissions. If I tell you to do X (especially for a complex X), your answer should be "Understood, doing X" or at the very least "Copy". I really want to know you actually understood me.
Also, if your team leader has to repeat himself four times and you still did not answer, don't be surprised if he gets pissed.
This is a coop game, so I cannot stress enough how utterly important Communication is. This also means you have to be precise in your communication. That means addressing people properly ("You, this is me. Do you copy"). I had several instances of missions were I had no idea whether the radio message was addressed to me or someone else, and that someone else shared in my confusion.
This also means that you have to know how to operate the radios. TFAR isn't overly complex, there are three key combos you have to remember, plus some that are rarely used (like setting different frequencies). That involves using the long range radio; LR radios are a necessity when you are leading. If you have any problem with the long range, either technical or in its use, let us know and we will try to sort it out, or do not take a leader slot.
(2016-01-24) Since communication is a very important factor, it is also important to restore communication with your commander or other units when/if communication is lost. For example, if your leader is killed, one member of the squad should try to retrieve the long range radio from his body if possible. Ideally, this is a team member without a backpack; if no one has their back free, someone with a non-specialized backpack (for example, a normal rifleman) should drop his. Engineers and Medics are bad candidates, as are AT gunners, gunner assistants or ammo bearers. If there is no way to retrieve the radio, you should be able to use your rifleman radio's alternate channel (Standard key: T) to radio the rest of the team, but since the range of individual radios is limited, this might not be an option. Alternatively you might want to try and find a vehicle with built-in radio
Cohesion and Discipline.
Stick with your team, unless the team leader explicitly orders you elsewhere. Going off on your own will likely get you killed. Follow the orders of your team leader. Part of the frustration of leading is that your team doesn't do what it is supposed to do. If I say "odds on me, evens stay and cover" then, surprise, what I mean is that the odd numbered units should follow me while all even numbered units stay were they are and provide cover fire. If I arrive at the location and all of a sudden notice I am alone, you'll better be dead because anything else means you didn't follow orders.
Fire discipline is another topic. If your team leader tells you to hold fire, you hold fire. If the enemy is already engaging you, you do not need to ask for permission to return fire, someone shooting at you is implicitly giving you permission to open up. Likewise, don't ask for permission to use frags or smoke grenades, unless the team leader explicitly tells you not to use them, use them (example: "No grenades in the vicinity of the UAV, it might get damaged").
This topic also includes score whoring. We're not playing this game to rake up kills, or for personal glory. We play this game to get a common sense of achievement, to get the feeling that we, as a group, achieved something. Individual achievements might be acknowledged ("That was a great shot" or "Damn fine leading, Alwarren. You rock.") it is not why we play this game, or at least it isn't why CiA plays this game. We're called "Comrades in Arms" for a reason.
Conclusion
Anyway, these are the main points I have noticed in the last couple of weeks. I have avoided mentioning anyone by name, mostly because this isn't specifically aimed at specific people. It's a general collections of rules of conduct, or bits and pieces that are important for us. I would like everybody to adhere to these principles.
And did you know, the first Blackfyre Rebellion against King Aegon IV Targaryen started in 196 AC, and is named after the blade Blackfyre, a Valyrian Steel sword?
