Gaswell

When in formation the AI troops seem to prioritize actually staying in that formation (i.e. moving with you) over stopping and engaging the enemy. I always get better results ordering an advance/flank while in formation, or splitting my squad into teams and giving each team move orders. And keep them moving, as once they stop they're easy targets due to the AI's excellent markmanship. As squad leader I rarely open fire myself as I don't feel I need the enemy's attention. I'm the spotter, my AI teams are the shooters. My .2€ anyways.

Here's hoping that OFP2 doesn't end up like Unreal II, or Battlezone II, or TA: Kingdoms, or...

Here's hoping that OFP2 doesn't end up like Unreal II, or Battlezone II, or TA: Kingdoms, or...

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (theavonlady @ Mar. 12 2003,12:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I would assume it is a rare opportunity in real life to find a helo flying slow enough for a tank gunner to have a chance at hitting it.<span id='postcolor'> A Norwegian ex-tanker (gunner) once told me shooting down a helo wasn't as difficult as you'd imagine. Most helos wouldn't survive a large-calibre high-speed round passing near the blades, so you didn't really need a direct hit. That's what they had been told in training, anyway.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Hidden @ Mar. 09 2003,14:15)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Whenever possible, equip as many as possible in your team with Bizons or MP5s so that they can take down guards without making noise. Well, not always, use your judgement of course, it depens of the missions.<span id='postcolor'> Gotta say I've had some mixed results with AIs using Bizons/MP3s. Short firing range, low accuracy, single shot only. The Uzi is even worse, IMHO. Usually I'll have my AIs carry MGs, sniper rifles and M16s/AK*s, in that order. I'll keep the silenced weapons for myself - less likely to become a target that way.

Anyone ever played that old classic "Hind"? Great sim.

Lately it's been the AK47CZ.

Squad leader with M16 and LAWs, or 203 if no armor.

"Aware" + "Engage at will" IMHO most closely resemble the default AI squad behaviour. When you're the leader, just spot an enemy or go prone, and the AI stance will change to "Danger" automatically. Once the threat is gone, or you stand up, they switch back to "Aware". You don't get to hear "contact" or "clear", but in effect it's the same thing. The only downside is that AI soldiers set to "Aware" doesn't match your speed when walking (such as uphill) and when you're running you're much easier to spot for the enemy AI than if you were walking.

Curse their eyes!

There are ways to disable the system hotkeys, and if you do a Google search you'll probably come across a few freeware tools. I only know about dWinlock, from my Delphi days. Try their demo.

Some observations: First of all, OFP AI MGers never fire in bursts. They fire single shots, with the delay between each shot depending on 1) distance to target and 2) their skill. (You can notice this in other AI firing behaviour as well, such as the M2A2 when it advances on a target.) A better solution would be to have the AI MGers fire a random-length (6-9) burst of full auto. Skill should IMHO only benefit accuracy, not rate of fire. Hell, even I can pull a trigger. Second, AI skill doesn't actually seem to have any great influence on the accuracy at all. Once they've got you in your sights there's IMHO too little difference between a recruit and a veteran. To make matters worse, the AI does an extremely good job at leading a moving target - even at considerable range. What this means is that engagements in OFP are over in the blink of an eye. Going prone is actually a Bad Thing - you're effectively a stationary target and the AI will hit you anyway without breaking a sweat. Edit: Didn't see the reply from Uziyahu - sounds like I gotta try the SEB Nam Pack. BTW, is there any change in AI accuracy between 1.90 and 1.91?

A lot of the "new" weapons (FN-FAL, Uzi, etc.) have rather shorter AI engagement ranges than similar "old" weapons (AK47, HK, etc.) And since the AI is usually a pretty good shot at up to max engagement range, any AI with a G36 will usually be easy pickings for an AK47-equipped AI. Strange, especially considering the scopes on some of those new weapons... In addition, most of the new weapons lack burst mode, and the AI just doesn't seem to use single-shot very well at average engagement ranges. If BIS really intended the AI to use the new add-ons, why nerf them compared to the original weapons? Seems a bit pointless to me. BTW, the engagement (and detection) range of a max-skilled AI on Desert Island at default time of day and view distance ~1000 seems to be ~250m with an M16. Detection range is ~500m with binoculars - if the AI actually use them (is ordered to, or decides to). Snipers (w/M21) have a detection range of ~500m even without binoculars. Engagement range with the M60 is ~500m, but detection range is still ~250m without binoculars. Engagement range with most of the new guns is ~200m, even less for the Uzi. If I remember correctly, that is.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (joltan @ Jan. 06 2003,14:54)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Check this thread for some help with OFP & 3D glasses.<span id='postcolor'> Thanks - turning off T&L really did help with the iron sights. Unfortunately, with my current hardware OFP turns pretty much into a slideshow without T&L, so I guess I'll have to go without the 3D glasses for now.

I've tried OFP with the eDimensional glasses and a GF4, and the steps in the FAQ really do help on 3D objects up close - but not on the iron sights, at least not for me. </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Note that with some older GeForce cards, the iron sights may be rendered as 2D objects instead of 3D, and hence, unsplittable (only 3D objects split).<span id='postcolor'> NVIDIA 3D Stereo User's Guide might be of some help.

I've tried OFP with the eDimensional glasses and a GF4, and the steps in the FAQ really do help on 3D objects up close - but not on the iron sights, at least not for me. </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Note that with some older GeForce cards, the iron sights may be rendered as 2D objects instead of 3D, and hence, unsplittable (only 3D objects split).<span id='postcolor'> NVIDIA 3D Stereo User's Guide might be of some help.

What I did. But I'd like to play through that mission, though...

You need Bravo to trigger the on-ground briefing cutscene and the waypoints for the rest of the mission. Without Bravo you're pretty much stuck. I've restarted that mission 15 times, and the Bravo squad Black Hawk goes down in flames every time.

For regular work I usually go for an M16 w/4 mags, plus 3 LAWs. I don't use handguns, but would pick an automatic if I had to. Binoculars. NVGs if necessary.

After 1.85 I can do some real damage with an MG, by using iron sights and watching the tracers. The previously useless AI MGers have finally become a vital part of your squad. If anything I'd say that MGs are too effective now, but I've been told that's how they are IRL. I think it's a great fix.

I suggest you put the units where you want them, set them to "None" instead of the default "In formation", and add the following to their init line:</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Code Sample </td></tr><tr><td id="CODE">this disableai "move"<span id='postcolor'>The group leader will still call out targets and coordinate the squad (that is, share targeting information) but they won't run around. Not being able to move could present a problem when they're wounded or low on ammo as they won't be able to do much about it, but by then they're all dead, no?

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (advocatexxx @ Oct. 21 2002,01:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">complicated algorhitms that take into account the intensity of emotions<span id='postcolor'> Just a tiny bit of random wobble all the time would be fine. Not so much that you'll have trouble hitting stuff at 100m of course, but enough to present a challenge at longer ranges. And I don't see how it is a very minor thing. It causes all firefights to be over in an instant, with the AI units slaughtering each other (and me) due to two facts; one, they can't use cover and have little or no sense of self-preservation, and two, they are all great marksmen who really knows how to lead a target. Add a human player to the mix, and you've suddenly got an M16 sniper racking up easy kills from a faraway bush. Slightly reduced accuracy for all units at longer ranges would have a huge impact on the game.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (advocatexxx @ Oct. 20 2002,18:11)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Rifles are fine the way they are.<span id='postcolor'> Well, since I've never actually fired an M16 I'll have to take your word for it. So in IRL I'd be able to easily drop targets at 200m+ without being affected at all by the stress of combat. Man, I could be a super-soldier.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Blake @ Oct. 20 2002,17:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I would also like to see lesser accuracy for rifles in OFP as current system won't allow longer exchanges of fire. ... I think it would be better than to make rifles more inaccurate overall since they are accurate as they are now if fired with absolutely still sights as they are now doing.<span id='postcolor'> Couldn't agree more.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Kermit @ Oct. 20 2002,10:30)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Am I alone in this?<span id='postcolor'> Actually, no. But only on the condition that the AI has its long-range accuracy properly reduced as well. An option to switch off all zoom effects ('cept those from optics) seem like a good idea.