Weapons jamming considerations

[afp 1]

That would be both realistical to have this in game and easy to implement. I will start with the so called "dust test", that happened several years ago, when US army tested some of the most reliable existing assault rifle, see details here:

Officials tested 10 each of the four carbine models, firing a total of 60,000 rounds per model. Here’s how they ranked, according to the total number of times each model stopped firing:

• XM8: 127 stoppages.

• MK16 SCAR Light: 226 stoppages.

• 416: 233 stoppages.

• M4: 882 stoppages.

Let's consider a medium of a 400 stoppages at 60.000 rounds, this roughly lead to one stoppage at 150 rounds, meaning about one stoppage at about 5 magazines. This happened in dusty/mud/wet environment, but the action in ArmA doesn't take place in shooting range but in war conditions, right? Well, reality is weapons do jam, I'm not sure about the rate but the result above it's a point to start.

About having this in game, it wouldn't be to difficult to add a "jamRate" factor in config file for each weapon model, the "empty magazine click sound" when the weapon jams randomly (based on that factor) and the need to tap "reload" key twice or several times to unjam it, with the "reload" sound. I know there are mods that already do this, still I think its a must have for what should be a realistic military simulator.

[System98 10]

I actually like this idea. But this should also apply to AI soldiers so the game stays fair. :)

There was something like this done in AA3 and when it happened, the avatar turned the weapon so the player could see the problem. That might be possible in ArmA III too. That way the player could see that the mag is not empty, but that the weapon jammed/doublefed and knew that he now has to tap reload several times to fix it or something like that.

Picture: http://dslyecxi.com/images/bestoftactical/aao_jamming.jpg (174 kB)

[PFC Magician 10]

There should be a system of degradation

should be related to the maintenance of the weapon

should be created a maintenance kit item

[Blaf 1]

IMHO, 1:1 000 chance for weapon jamming might be enough - it still may happen occasionally but not so much to get actually annoying...

[ROCKNROLLA 1]

Even tough I kinda like the idea of a more realistic way of weapon handling, I'm not too upbeat considering weapon malfunctions. There are just too many ways a weapon could jam, and another bunch of ways you can get it back firing again.

Each for itself an own animation + probably sound recording for "Jam" or whatever.

Kinda much work for a minimum of realism added. Furthermore those futuristic weaponry should handle those environmental challenges much better then it does now :p

But interesting thought anyways.

Edited March 19, 2013 by ROCKNROLLA

[metalcraze 290]

can use generic unjam animation. It's the mechanic that counts.

And yeah 1:1000 or even lesser chance will be good. Even something as simple as click click click and an unjam icon appearing so you can hit space (whatever action key you use) to unjam will make a difference.

An unpleasant surprise that happens rarely but adds a bit of unpredictability to combat. And being unpredictability is one of the main core features of ArmA that makes it so fun.

If it's possible in America's Army 3 and plus it's an issue soldiers have to deal with - it should be in ArmA as well.

[Doktorcky 1]

IMHO, 1:1 000 chance for weapon jamming might be enough - it still may happen occasionally but not so much to get actually annoying...

Yeah, that sounds good enough.