spectator slots?

[alleycat 28]

Is it possible to setup a dedicated spectator slot? Does arma3 support that or would one have to do it messy by having the slot force spectator mode after the game starts?

[-Noodles- 2]

I'm looking for the same thing.

According to the Wiki:

It is also available on pre-defined playable slots for users who wish to observe a mission or even stream its progress.

I just don't know how to create or add these playable slots.

Edited October 1, 2013 by Ficc

[kylania 567]

Everything I've tried has failed in this regard and the documentation is weak regarding spectators.

[shuko 59]

I assume you just have a slot that will kill/delete the unit and force spect at the start?

[kylania 567]

That's so inelegant that I never considered doing it :)

[shuko 59]

That's so inelegant that I never considered doing it :)

Yes it is, but that's what Arma scripting is all about. Making simple things the hard way. :)

[lappihuan 178]

you could hide the unit in one Slot and then switch to a free Floating Cam with a script.

[-Noodles- 2]

I assume you just have a slot that will kill/delete the unit and force spect at the start?

That's what i was thinking about. And how do we do that?

[feuerexcz 11]

I was looking into this matter for some time and I think I have the solution now. It may not work with every mission, but on the simpler ones it works. I am no great expert in scripting, but at least the spectating works on my missions. If anyone has a better solution or more clean way of doing this, I'd love to see it.

Step 1 - create a playable civilian unit (or more if you want more spectators)

Step 2 - Set the respawn in description.ext in a following way:

respawn = 3;

respawnDelay = 6;

respawnTemplates[] = {"Base","Spectator"}; //set the templates for all units in the game

respawnOnStart = 0;

respawnTemplatesWest[] = {"Base"}; // both west and east soldiers (real players) will spawn normally on base markers
respawnTemplatesEast[] = {"Base"}; //both west and east soldiers (real players) will spawn normally on base markers
respawnTemplatesCiv[] = {"Spectator"}; // civilians (spectators) will automatically switch to spectator mode

Step 3 - At the start of the mission, respawn times are set accordingly to description.ext. Find a script that launches just after the mission start (any script) and add this line:

if ((side player) == civilian) then {setplayerrespawntime 9999999};

It will set the respawn time to a high value so that spectators can stay dead and spectate others. Others will still respawn normally on markers after 6 seconds.

So yes, spectator mode is actually a type of respawn.

I want to commentate multiplayer matches and tournaments and for that the spectator mode is a necessity. This works fine, if anyone has another solution, post it please. Hope this helps!

[SavageCDN 231]

What about having a civilian slot where the unit spawns in a limited area and you just let them use the Splendid Camera?