What is the large red circle on the map?

[Magirot 14]

I'm talking about this: http://i.imgur.com/K8o0gPK.jpg

Is it some kind of a new helper feature for navigation, as in "you're in this approximate area"? What's the logic by which it works?

I'm sure it's been discussed somewhere, but the only mention I could find via search and google was a sidenote in some feedback ticket.

[Dowly 0]

Is it some kind of a new helper feature for navigation, as in "you're in this approximate area"?

Yes, it shows your approximate position.

[Smurf 12]

Mine detector?

[KevsNoTrev 44]

it looks to me like a site module - this one is held by opfor forces.

I don't think the sites are working right at this time. My thought it if you clear out enemy forces then it goes neutral until held by friendly then changs to your colour.

Sites come in different types, currently only Base and observation post seem to work - mor likely due to missing models in the alpha (radar site etc.)

Look at this screen shot.....https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bzz2-_vRVL2DaUdoT0JvLVUwOEk/edit?usp=sharing

[viper[cww] 14]

Were you playing escape the island (Stratis) coop mission by any chance? We've just finished playing that and noticed it followed us where ever we went, we came to the conclusion it was following the Group Leader.

And yes, I think it is a handle to show you the current area you could be in, checking the map for landmarks and checking the area will help you to narrow down your exact coordinates.

[RogueRAZR 1]

I can confirm, its a module that tracks your position.

It seems to be exactly 1km squared at all times. I have seen this both in the Stratis coop mission and Wasteland.

It appears when ever there is no exact position marker, perhaps its a module to aid you in finding what region of the map your in. So its easier to triangulate your position with landmarks.

[Magirot 14]

;2347464']Were you playing escape the island (Stratis) coop mission by any chance? We've just finished playing that and noticed it followed us where ever we went' date=' we came to the conclusion it was following the Group Leader.[/quote']

We were playing a set of our own coop missions, and it appeared in all of them. Are there some people or some missions where it's not present, beside apparently when you're not using extended map info with friendly tags?

And well, I wouldn't want to sound like a gaffer who's immediately negative towards anything new, but does anyone happen to know if it can be disabled? The concept seems a little confusing and weird, especially if you're not playing alone.

[ryanbeckey0 1]

I think its the new GPS system appears on Elite difficulty aswell

[andersson 285]

Say what? How to turn it off?

[metalcraze 290]

You can't turn it off. Even if you don't have GPS on you it still will be there.

Honestly I can't see a point in it.

People who play on Regular have themselves marked on a map anyway and people who play on veteran do that to avoid seeing map helpers.

[Avneet 10]

I always thought it was an approximate area you could spawn in during coop missions after death. As the group moved together, the circle follows. That's just my guess though because I've only played so many coop missions.

[viper[cww] 14]

We were playing a set of our own coop missions, and it appeared in all of them. Are there some people or some missions where it's not present, beside apparently when you're not using extended map info with friendly tags?

And well, I wouldn't want to sound like a gaffer who's immediately negative towards anything new, but does anyone happen to know if it can be disabled? The concept seems a little confusing and weird, especially if you're not playing alone.

As ryanbeckey also said, it may be a feature of Mercenary/Elite difficulty as I've not seen it before in other difficulty modes. I guess to remove it the host would have to look through his Mercenary settings, and adjust accordingly.

[Tonci87 163]

It shows your aproximate position

[viper[cww] 14]

A circle 2 maybe 3 km is not an approximate position. ;)

[sxp2high 23]

This is a HORRIBLE feature. Navigating and reading the map is a great part of the game which I enjoy a lot, well ,used to enjoy... :(

[HKFlash 9]

;2348698']A circle 2 maybe 3 km is not an approximate position. ;)

Still better than nothing.

[andersson 285]

I just checked it to confirm. On veteran all extras disabled and I still see that bloody red circle. Why oh why BIS... FFS.

Ok if its part of some setting, or if its some module you can activate in a mission. But default. Again, why?

This makes navigation boring, I can't make any missions where you are lost and it's very strange seeing a dynamic circle on a papermap.

I take it's an alpha bug?

[Zickefoose 1]

I just checked it to confirm. On veteran all extras disabled and I still see that bloody red circle. Why oh why BIS... FFS.

Ok if its part of some setting, or if its some module you can activate in a mission. But default. Again, why?

This makes navigation boring, I can't make any missions where you are lost and it's very strange seeing a dynamic circle on a papermap.

I take it's an alpha bug?

A Bug? No. Its working as intended. If the difficulty is turned up, it replaces the exact location marker with the circle. You can be anywhere within that circle. I've never hosted a server before, so I am UNSURE if you can turn it completely off. Though, in the full release, im sure we will have the option.

[Varanon 892]

Honestly I can't see a point in it.

That makes two of us. I can't see a point in it either.

And not only that, you can not turn it off at all, it's even there on Elite difficulty with everything disabled... sigh...

[viper[cww] 14]

Still better than nothing.

No, I do not agree with you, having GPS is all that's needed... If you having got that, basic orienteering skills can help you find your position.

[andersson 285]

A Bug? No. Its working as intended. If the difficulty is turned up, it replaces the exact location marker with the circle. You can be anywhere within that circle. I've never hosted a server before, so I am UNSURE if you can turn it completely off. Though, in the full release, im sure we will have the option.

FFS... What is BIS doing..? Let me get some grid numbers if I have a GPS, not some magic circle on my paper map. I don't even carry a GPS and I still get that information! That must be a bug.

edit: aaarrrgggh!!! I just found the "move map to player position" button!! What the flying fuck! How will we ever be lost in a mission now?? Any navigational training is also a lost case.

And how do I use the compass when I'm in map view? As it is now we have no use of our navigational skills.

edit 2: Ok, I see now how they are thinking. We dont have a "map", its all a gps. I dropped my map and tried to open it up and then I get this message "Cannot connect to the positioning system". I guess it makes sense that all soldiers carry GPSs in the future. In that case it doesnt make sense that the GPS is so shit. A GPS today can pinpoint your location atleast on the meter....

Will there be papermaps in A3? I really hope so, I dont want to use this GPS in the jungles of Vietnam or at Normandie.

Edited March 20, 2013 by andersson

[chortles 263]

The item labeled Map seems to act as a paper map in Arma 3... amusingly enough when I don't have a map or GPS I also get the "Cannot connect to the positioning system" message. :p

[HKFlash 9]

;2348775']No' date=' I do not agree with you, having GPS is all that's needed... If you having got that, basic orienteering skills can help you find your position.[/quote']

Thats IF you have a GPS. A 2/3 Km circle IS better than nothing. Now if you want to argue that it should or should not be present in Veteran difficulty, then thats another story altogether. And don't teach me how to navigate terrain because I've done it on the real world.

[afp 1]

I think its a nice new feature, since you can estimate your position without knowing it exactly. It's should be even more vague, so you can quickly see the area where you are in but still have to look around to see the exact location, by surrounding buildings, landscape etc.

[LeeManatee 4]

keep it as option only. thats just bullshit to have it on expert difficulty