=VG= SemlerPDX

same here, count me in anytime, anywhere

The fact that those rifles are zeroed to 300m does not mean that the RH weapons packs are broken. A large majority of standard military rifles are zeroed as such ranges, otherwise the range the round would travel would be far shorter, and it's drop more severe. Certain barrel lengths or modifications may change the zeroed range of some of these RH weapons, but the fact remains that it is not an unintentional outcome or in any way different from the standard BI or ACE weapons and zeroing.

The barrel is not curved, it's the travel of the round that curves - so rifle barrels are actually pointing up a bit, so much that you can notice it with your naked eye.
You may see the 3+ inch end of the barrel coming out of the heat shield, but inside it does not travel a straight line back along the line of sight, but falls at an angle straight down above the mag well:




Here is a simple diagram that will explain better than words (the curved line is the path of the round):

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all our Veterans for serving!
!fans

Shared on my Facebook.... what a crock. The good thing about cell phones was that those jackals couldn't get to us.

First of all, thank you for being honest and not making excuses. What you did was intentional, grievous against other players just chillin and trying to have a good time in what I consider, even after 1000+ hours in game, a difficult game to get up and go.

It takes honesty to admit that before all of us and the public. However, that is exactly the kind of behavior that is so disruptive that it is our most important rule. We cannot and will not allow intentional disruptions in our game.

The fact that you were with a group doing the same things, and after they were gone "(you were) the last to partake in those actions..." makes me feel that you missed every warning sign coming from the Admin trying to regain control and peace in the game server. These are just games after all, and we're all just trying to have a good time.

Another thing that I appreciate is your honesty with your age, stated on your Profile as 24. If you were much, much younger, I may have considered it as a simple "youth in gaming" mistake. Instead, I agree with the admin who banned you in his request that you remain banned. You are far too old, and should know better than to be so disruptive to your online peers. We are all real people, this isn't random, and I have other things I would like to do with my time. Some have far less of it, but that did not stop you from disrupting theirs.

Please keep that in mind when you go play on the rest of the servers out there. Good day, sir. !hi


/locked

Haha! thanks for the input! Keep up the hard work!

I have confirmed and tested a new system involving the Map. Players have it, but only 2 channels available are Direct and Vehicle - as in (tested) we are standing next to each other or are in same vehicle, I make a mark on map, it's on your's too.

If I move away or out of vehicle, and make a mark, only I can see it. Just as if I was standing next to someone and we both make marks on our maps. And if too far away, we need to use COORDS.

I intend to use or write a "share map" function as well, but what I think would be super cool, would be custom maps that are smaller sections of the full one. Obviously, that is crazy hard work, and would involve 5 different maps (1/4 for each quadrant, and the default "full" map) - just a thought, too hard for me to implement.

or....new idea where player has no map himself, but it's mounted in the HMMWV:


Either way - the dependancy on blue marks on map is going away fast. I don't like it, and feel it is only good for "casual games" and other "archade" style game modes for Arma 2. I don't feel in any way that it's "too hardcore" to not have those blue markers in our ACRE styled missions, be they persistant or "1 life to die" Events.

Am writing a simpler Primary Weapon Selection GUI that should keep people from "suckling at the ammo box teet" for 15 minutes on each RTB - but I gotta say, it's the huge number of different M4's that is killin me here - taking FOREVER!
Makes me want to write my "scope pack kit" so that people can just "grab a bag of scopes" that fit their rifle, and in the field can "assemble" the rifle with an alternate scope. Just like the Silencer Script, but with Scopes. If it has a varient with several scopes, then they can be attached in the field (will make an appropriate "build animation and timer" so it's not "instant")

Keep up the input, guys!!

(@Castor - even if you don't get into the scripting side, I will never discount your ideas for game modes, or anyones ideas - they go onto the back burner in my head, and may very well get implemented or used in some way. Although, if you were to get into it, you could start like Carry, and just play around in the 2D editor in Arma, using triggers and physically placed units to visually describe your mission, and Savage or I could then make it into a full mission. Either way, keep up the cool ideas and different gaming opinions!)

Things happen. It's why we have an unban forum section, where you can state your case. We will get on this, but could you please copy and repost this in your own unban thread here:

http://veterans-gaming.com/vg-plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?217

(or if that link is porked:
http://www.veterans-gaming.com/vg-plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?217 )

I kinda want to lock this one for posterity, as you can see, even people who have eventually made it into our clan as a trusted and welcomed member may have at one point been banned for one reason or another. We police our servers as best we can, but sometimes people get lumped together or banned hastily to regain control over a server.
(technically, we should have had this particular thread locked already...)

I'm locking this thread, please re-post and also include a date or approximate date of the incident in question.

Follow these guidelines:



/locked

It takes a real man, and strong character to say the things you both just did.

It's the nature of social networking on a global level that these things happen (it's why we don't talk politics or religion/philosophy here as a policy).

And I for one love this thread (skimming past anything off topic) because it shows truth and the different opinions that I, for one, need to hear because I very much DO want to make my own video game (with VG) one day, and will learn anything I need, beit programming or "best practices", and it needs to be a game of the people for the people - This is gold to me, and will direct my efforts for years to come.

Keep up the great ideas and opinions.

How about maps, locals, and that kind of variety?

I found PR cool in that, though one match could take hours, when it was over, it was a new map.

I also like Arma persistant missions where the "island" stays the same, and I prefer HUGE maps, too. That way, each area is kinda like a new map. But what I like most, and the most CONTROVERSIAL, is that in DayZ I started with NO map, and it was cool to orient. Even with an Online map picture, it was so fun, and when I got a map, I felt I had earned it - that I didn't fully need it, and that it was a luxury.

Unfortunately, most people don't agree with my opinion, and they always need that map or sometimes even GPS to feel comfortable and entertained as well in any given (random) game. Only in events does it kinda become acceptable to them to not have a map, if say, their FTL had one or whatever the situation may be.


Anyway, what do you all think about that?

@Murder - thanks, well said.
Brought over from the last page, because screw it, I can.
AND it NEEDS to be understood in this forum. Lost in translation can be an issue, so can emotions.... we all need to take both in stride!

Gonna have to make a Thanksgiving one now.

Are Turkeys one of the ambient animal models in Arma 2? !lol

Wow? Really Castor?

Maybe that is best.... you seem to be taking all this way to personally.....

(and since we're replying in re-post edits, I'd like to say I'm not a superior officer, but a superior lunatic...)

oh, and btw - Murderface was trying to inject a little humor to break the tension with his very dry and perfectly appropriate comment: " 68% of all percentages are made up. " - hell, I think that joke was from the Simpsons, if not directly(they have done everything)

BUT STILL, you took it offensively and threw it back like a hot potato.

As far as I know, no one is taking any comments out of context before offering up their views on them or their personall feelings on that topic or quote. (except now, I am getting the feeling you are. be mindful of it, no one is attacking you or your opinions by asking, commenting on, or debating them)

Being called on what one says is not an offense in itself, if it's done with constructive criticism in mind. And that's what this thread is. I don't see any other people getting pissed off here....


Time to chill and stop taking things too seriously, but still take things seriously - how does that translate?

Screw Gaz, *(well, not literally, of course), but I have something against you if you are going to take criticism and difference of opinions so personally.

Time to take some chill pills and remember that this is an OPEN discussion, we are going to have different opinions, and we need to be able to talk to each other about our differences - not to berate or feel berated by the comments and criticisms.
How else would I know that I had to take off the "Where's the Beef?" T-Shirt when I had been wearing it 5 years after it was old? We need our friends to mirror back at us our flaws at times, and have the maturity to accept it or take it in stride.

No one hates you, Castor. Stay off the defensive - keep on topic, guys.
(And please, everyone, continue to try not to be offensive, but be truthful with your opinions on this topic.)
And, Gaz - I have different opinions than you on one or two matters, but I wouldn't kick you to the curb. Same with anyone who posts in this discussion.

If you let any of this get to you on a personal level, I will point and laugh at you. !rofl
Be mature, and be respectful. Basic stuff here.


PITN and Castor brought up good points -

PITN is so right about this being a rather limited simulation - we can try all we want, but it does seem the closer we get to any kind of "realistic" large group ops, we find ourselve with the very real (and not so entertaining) aspects such as "dry, dull" ops that need to be done by someone, while the other group "goes in for the glory".

It's almost like we need a video game reward system for the dull, boring logistics roles if we were to continue on a route to a "full realistic op" scenario to be simulated.


Castor mentioned that... "also the problem is that we dont learn that much from our mistakes, look at our missions: we do it and then leave. where is the after action report? we did it last time with Calvs missions."

Well, I feel some learn differently than others. Some prefer a debriefing while others play so often that they are quite clear on what happened, what went well, what went wrong, and what should be done differently the next time for maximum fun/success.

Since they take up several minutes, or longer, of "non-playing" downtime, I feel this would be more important and should be followed more if we were, say, a competitive clan. As we are casual, but serious about having fun - I suggest we do debriefings when appropriate, like Events or Large ACRE Ops, but nothing to say we can't have a more relaxed debriefing here on the site, over the days following the event, using the forums.

I can understand how some people may not have time or desire to hang around for 15 minutes after a long, 2-4 hour gaming session with ACRE and tons of restraint and patience. Forum is best bet in that particular example, in my opinion.




Me too.

But, I hate the "automated" commander that is the "Server" in most persistant missions. Rather have a real evolving world with changing front lines, and a human commander offering up some sick ops.



!butcher IF ANY OF YOU START SLINGING MUD AT EACH OTHER IN PM's AS A RESULT OF THIS THREAD, I WILL SEND A FLAMING BAG OF DOGSHIT TO YOUR DOORSTEP! KEEP IT COOL, GUYS! KEEP IT CONSTRUCTIVE AND ON TOPIC - DON'T MAKE ME TURN THIS CAR AROUND, CAUSE I WILL AND THEN NO ONE WILL GET TO GO TO WALLY WORLD!

"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man" - Huxley

*On the MCC note: I am pushing to have a playable BETA up asap because the initial structure I have made is strictly Infantry oriented - as in, it's a Platoon - max 50 players (I wish we had that, lol) - 3 Squads, 3 Fire Teams in each, FT's have 4 members.

HMMWV Mounted (M2 only, not CROWS), and the FT roles start at a cool default mix (ex. FT1: FTL, MG, Asst. MG (ammo bearer and takes up MG if MG dies), Rifleman)
or AT FT example: (FTL, SMAAW Operator, Asst. SMAAW, Rifleman)

Rifleman is always newest member (noOb, or new to ACRE) and is the FTL's Battle Buddy. You get to choose your role pre-op, wanna change? Jump back to lobby w/your friends and nab another FT. Ezy Pzy.

If you haven't, this is the coolest guide to skim over or read thoroughly, and this particular page makes huge ACRE missions easy (we ACRE junkies should all at least read this one page, most of it that relates anyway):
Arma 2 Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures Guide by Dslyecxi

(I will add an Armor Platoon and Civs one day,
teaser img:


...but this playable BETA will make for great Inf. focused experiences we can all use to get on the same page, as dman suggested. okay - less talk, more code - back to work with me now. COMING SOON, I SWEAR!)

No worries, Castor, I am getting used to taking what you say with a grain of salt. !crazy


It's only natural that we will have differing opinions about one thing or another - let's be mindful of our different styles and when we bite each other's heads off, at least have the decency to bite above the nose, so they have a chance to reply again.
KEEP IT CONSTRUCTIVE - I myself will always welcome criticism if it has a constructive purpose (and it isn't presented offensively).

2 great points have come up.....OP Weapons, and Small Group Leadership.


OverPowered Weapons

While down to the Mission Designer, OP Weapons which have such high superiority can make the game "unfun" for the rest of the group, just like infantry fighting along side a Bradley may feel less danger, shoot less enemies, and have what they may consider a less than awesome video-warfighting experience in said round of gameplay.
The Persistent missions with repetitive attack styles are the worst for OP Weapons, in my opinion, because the only thing a group has to keep a fresh gameplay style on the next AO is to mix up how they attack - and I feel that OP Weapons, unless agreed upon globally for the assault, can detract from the others "desired difficulty and vulnerability in game".

I always feel "safer" when I have an overwatch team, perhaps with snipers or CSW all scoped and zeroed in, but not everyone wants a constant "safety bubble", and going through the motions as it were can be boring, and unentertaining..
Sometimes, we may want a particular kind of challenge, so, that means agreeing on or designing Ops and Missions that either favor them or that do not use them at all. (ahem, again, touting the USMC Platoon Ops (MCC))

@Murder - "yes i did do brackets inside of brackets.. bracketception" !rofl


Small Group Leadership:

Before any of this gets too far out of hand, I think we should all agree on a thing or two: That there will always be times when you will run into some of our regular Arma 2 battle buddies who don't really want to play a longer, structured, ROE and "request permission to fire" kind of match (at that particular moment). This will happen - dude, this is Arma - you could probably get some form of stress from this shit if you pushed yourself too hard and took things too seriously all the time.

Again, good thing we don't play that super-strict mil-sim style, beleive it or don't, but VG has the most awesome chill to it, and I'd never want to lose that. But as we get into using our Calandar for "all day" or "1 life to die" events, we also need our "Blow off the steam and go grab your favorite Arma toy" missions. Gotta respect when people are in a game like that, and have the personal tact and flexibility to either fall in with what the current group is into, or offer the opposite style yourself on one of our other servers.

Be grown up, be respectful - if your good buddy =VG= JoeAnyone is happy farting around with an A-10, with three random soldiers also farting around just consider offering an impromptu Event with ACRE and Platoon Structure, on a different server if they don't want to all stop, and if they don't want to join you, there will always be another day.

Never feel bad for saying, "I just want to play around in Arma 2 right now - I do want to play with Radios and Squads, just not at this time...." !gam
or my personal favorite, "Not tonite, honey - I have a headache"



I know it takes most the team to make a structured game work, but imagine if we had more numbers - more Arma players who hung around, there would be plenty for ACRE Platoon Games and we wouldn't suffer for not having, say, Gaz and Oni and Wooz who are (example) not wanting to do a group thing but fart around.
(again, MCC can do anything all at once...it may smooth out this very issue...)

Anyway, there will always be times when we all get together, seems more than once a week now. If it isn't happening - don't whine - fall in, be cool, be patient. Arma ain't goin anywhere - you'll get your fix before too long in any given week.
!cmdo

Briefing.html is for offline/singleplayer - you just want to add "notes" to the player's diary, in some "notes.sqf" or whatever. I will get an example together for you tomorrow that you can customize to any mission.
!cheers

@Murderface - haha! nothin worse than a self-appointed leader when you're trying to play casual or have been for the game so far. Very True - if we're gonna play casual, we don't need self appointed leaders - and when we could use them, they should be chosen not forced on players. Like in Project Reality for BF2 - you choose your squad, can see it's leader before entering it.

Democracy in gaming groups seems to work fine with small numbers, on familiar missions or game modes, and non event style play - it becomes more like a "spec-ops" squad than an independant "rogue" team, where input should be encouraged from the members that make it up.

Very good point, Terremer - there is a tendancy to get either a feeling of non-cooperation or anti-solidarity from players who just want to go off alone and try something, or from players who literally want to play alone (say, CAS) while online with an active group of players, even in non-event games.

When we use ACRE, we almost assume that everyone will be available on some radio, and cooperate directly in the team effort at hand. It's one thing to selfishly spam an AO that infantry players are planning to assault on foot, but to expect full "event" structure in a casual game is another thing entirely.

Again, not to keep touting about this MCC thing, but it can cater to EVERYONE at the same time - want to snipe with your buddies, but don't want to interfere with the Squads taking an AO? Fine - MCC can drop them somewhere different with a different mission without lagging up the server in any way for the other players.

Hell, maybe even the sniper mission preludes the Squad's next mission - things can work together even when the are functionally separate.

keep the discussion going, guys!
!2cool

Good point - I have assembled all these great discussions to another thread, please keep up the input and discussion there:
LINK: Open Discussion - Teamplay, Leadership, Mission Variety, and COOP Gameplay in Arma 2

ON THIS TOPIC:

@dman - do it! I love them old school M113's and barely get to use them cuz we always rock the Stryker's or Bradley's as mech-infrantry. I'll make it to every one you make, schedule permitting!! If you need any access to the dedi, say for a test server to test things as they would be in multi-player, I can hook you up. We have like 2 dev test servers that stay off most times for just that purpose.

!2cool

@Castor - Well, I can't see how this input would hurt dman's efforts to make missions that cater to our skill levels, and challenge us, too.
With any luck, this feedback will help us to interact better in his missions, and it's good to get this out now so that we are all on the same page.

@Castor/Calv/Gaz/Everyone - I am very interested in "mini-missions" because after years of playing, I am all too familiar with each and every sidemission that Domi could throw at us, and Insurgency, though always different in some ways, is also always the same in the same ways - which can make for repetitive gameplay and the dreaded "one or two RIGHT ways to accomplish the tasks".

When you simply throw a situation at gamers, then they get to react and act on their own decisions. I look forward to any such missions dman can make - and I will try to be there for every one of them.

CASTOR HAD NOTED:



GAZ REPLIED:


CASTOR REPLIED:



CALV REPLIED:


CASTOR REPLIED:



GAZ REPLIED:


CASTOR REPLIED:

Way cool video! I know what it takes to get all the cuts and titles goin - you did an amazing job! Hope you're getting the hang of Sony Vegas - it does get easier, trust me.
Keep up the good work, bro!
!2cool

It's not a helpful as you'd imagine - in shouting mode, you simply become louder, but gotta turn it back to normal or people will think you are closer to them than you are.

It's great for the pre-briefing huddle, when you are trying to talk to 3 other players, in separate groups of 4, you can lower yourselves to a whisper, and not disturb the other teams.

And since we play vs. AI, instead of humans, it is far less important to "be quite" on the battlefield. You can set off a bot to know your location, but who knows if they react same or different at your different volume levels - it may be straight across the board "enemy spotted" to them...

Cool new toy, tho! Again, just be sure to set it back to normal when done using it - can get confusing in the "shit".

Those are some cool ideas, many of those have come up on the DayZ forums before, and some are implementations in the upcoming WarZ game - I'd like to see DayZ become more COOP, but with a PvP element.

If I were to try to improve on DayZ, the first thing I would do would be to remove scoped weapons and NVG or anything thermal or IR. And I'd add a very dangerous AI faction that is not aflicted with the 21st Century Plaque, and the ability to be captured by them and taken to "the island".

DayZ has proven to be almost impossible to play without safety in numbers, because of the PvP element, but the fat lady hasn't sung yet.... We have yet to see what DayZ will really be in the end, once it is a stand alone game.

!coffee

Good info. I was wondering about this lot.
!cheers

[Moderator Move from Chatbox to Forum]