[Command Interface] The three button solution

Introduction and Intent

So, Arma2 has hit us. Improved graphics, micro AI, huge campaign, and for most of us; surprising performance. Unfortunately the command interface has only made baby-steps from Operation Flashpoint days.

To supplement the old system, we are given a so called context sensitive menu. While this is a great step forward, its implementation leaves something to be desired. Whats that you ask? SPEED. A Look-Find-Activate solution is an agonizingly slow procedure, particularly when bullets are flying and you are forced to rely on the inexact MouseWheel as a selection tool.

Whats needed is a simpler and robust mechanic. Whats needed are KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS.

Three Button Doctrine

To effectively harvest the full potential firepower a fireteam or squad, there are generally two weapon systems that need be mastered and controlled. They are of course the machine gun and any AT weapons. Additionally there is the matter of surviving those first few precious second when the "shit hits the fan". Something which immediately prioritizes the survival of the team.

Therefore what you need are three buttons. Direct Fire, Area fire, and Stance.

Direct Fire

Area Fire

COVER!

Concluding

By applying the three button doctrine consistently through the game, and augmented by the new context sensitive (look-find-activate) menu; one could greatly increase the efficiency and craft with which Squad Leaders lead.

-- Direct Fire, removes a whole step in the target prioritization routines. Namely because the squad leader does not have to 'look' at his available soldiers. The leader merely focuses the attention of his squad. "That target needs to be eliminated. See too it!"

-- Area Fire, grants the ability to designate fire-corridors and safe zones. All at the press of a single button! Additionally it permits squad leaders to engage enemy infantry without manually assigning each target. LOOK THAT DIRECTION, KILL THEM ALL.

-- Stance, is there to buy you time. It codifies and simplifies many of the ROE options and makes them easily accessible. Ambush or respond to such with ease and confidence.

Thank you for reading.

-Ken Mikkelsen

Wow Impressive. I agree with you I was just thinking how long we have been using the same sort of clunky from the start interface.

I like it

Sorry to sound like a complete NUB but what are the buttons do do all this?

I look through the options when I select my squad F1-F* and see something similar to the old ARMA but nothing like the above?

In fact there are none, which is part of the purpose of this thread.

Sounds all well thought out etc but in OpF/ArmA the AI has always been the most stubborn thing to fiddle around with when it came to combat situations. You can give them move-commands, standup and formation commands, you can tell them to disengage etc etc but the truths is they will do their own thing. They'll happily ignore all your move commands, crawl right in front of you blocking your line of side, or push you in the back and around the corner you tried to get some cover from, all the while spamming the com channel with messages about numerous targets.

It's a start though.

Can this sort of thing be modded?

The context menu seems moddable. At least parts? of it are defined in the config.

So get work. :D

Wonderful idea. It's true that in Arma the general concept of "RoE" or "Situations" is never really used, instead you have a handful of different things to take care of at the same time.

That's a good idea and I guess anybody would agree that something needs to be done about this cluttered and unpractical command-interface.

Another suggestion: how about the option to define macros and the possibility to bind them to any key/input, like all other controls?

For example you could define a macro:

1. select all units
   
2. setBehaviour "AWARE"
   
3. select all units
   
4. setCombatMode "BLUE"
   
5. select all units
   
6. setSpeedMode "FULL"
   

and another one:

1. select all units
   
2. setBehaviour "STEALTH"
   
3. select all units
   
4. setCombatMode "YELLOW"
   
5. select all units
   
6. setSpeedMode "LIMITED"
   
7. select all units
   
8. hit the dirt/search cover
   

and so on. Let there be as many macros (and commands in there) as a user likes, and let him be able to name them and assign them to any keys/input as he likes. IMHO that would offer a great relief once setup.

As for the combatMode in general: how about a definable `automatic` combatMode with some basic rules? Like:

• No threat in sight: [default to: "AWARE"]
  
• Threat in sight, not within reach: [default to: "STEALTH"]
  
• Threat in sight and within reach: [default to: "COMBAT"]
  

or why not the full palette:

• No threat in sight: [default to: "AWARE", "BLUE", "FULL"]
  
• Threat in sight, not within reach: [default to: "STEALTH", "GREEN", "NORMAL"]
  
• Threat in sight and within reach: [default to: "COMBAT", "RED", "LIMITED"]
  

Somehow I expect at least a little automatic adaption to the situation at hand from my ai-squad-buddies. :)

i just need the arma1 interface, it was absolute perfect and i could command my squad with space and mouse very easy.

I couldn't stand the Arma1 interface either. Not yet in position to know if Arma2 is any worse or better though. But a qualifyer key+rmb to open up a list of available squad commanding macros doesn't sound too bad. Mod idea?

on a second though: I'd be totally happy if such macros could be simply defined in an external file (placed in the userprofile-directory), like something along those lines:

class cfgCommandMacros
{
  class Macro
  {
     class Macro1
     {
        name = "At ease";
        commands = {
           _grp = _this select 0;
           _grp setBehaviour "AWARE";
           ...
        };
     };
     class Macro2
     {
        name = "Hit the dirt!";
        commands = {
           _grp = _this select 0;
           _grp setBehaviour "STEALTH";
           ...
        };
     };
  };
};

Then any defined Macro will show up under options/controls and you could define any button/input to such a macro. This would keep things very simple and thus forwardcompatible to whatever there might come... yet very effective! (though I'm not sure if it would be enough to pass only the group to the macro.. but it would be a good start at least)

Deal? ;)

Ares Macrocorporation

The idea of having Macros and being able to bind them to certain keys is a grand one. The reason I specifically framed the Three button approach in terms compatible with the current interface is because new allround rewrites to the AI are improbable at best.

I'm guessing one of the reason why we've seen so few 'real' advanced in AI from opf days is because of the way it is built into the engine. Even so.

Have you ever wished to..

What its all about

This is a game that very much centers around applying firepower or winning Fire-superiority. Yet the tools we are given are clumsy and clunky at best of times. The reason we want this functionality is simple. It is to save the most precious resource a squad leader has available. Namely time. Time enough to worry about tactics, time enough to look around, time enough to enjoy the game.

Vote three buttons if you want this!

Thank you,

-Ken Mikkelsen

External files outside of a pbo are possible.

vote 2 buttons if u want it easy as in arma1 :D

+1 for three buttons:)

+1 for three buttons too.

Another interface suggestion: The game should make use the Fireteam Structure more, especially with Marine Infantry having 3 of them.

Some here certainly have played Full Spectrum Warrior or the second part Ten Hammers - in that game, you by default move the whole fire team or buddy team (two guys). They will stay together, cover their angles, and with a few simple key presses you can tell them to sort a target out.

Commanding individual soldiers around is sometimes nice, but certainly not up to speed. A mix of "Three Buttons" and a Fire Team structure might work wonders.

+1 for three buttons too.

Another interface suggestion: The game should make use the Fireteam Structure more, especially with Marine Infantry having 3 of them.

Some here certainly have played Full Spectrum Warrior or the second part Ten Hammers - in that game, you by default move the whole fire team or buddy team (two guys). They will stay together, cover their angles, and with a few simple key presses you can tell them to sort a target out.

Commanding individual soldiers around is sometimes nice, but certainly not up to speed. A mix of "Three Buttons" and a Fire Team structure might work wonders.

This is true. I often split my Squad into two sections whenever possible. Albeit more than two teams unfortunately becomes somewhat clumsy due to the way formations work. (Line. Odd numbers out left, Even numbers to the Right)

If a three button approach were to be included, I'd like to see the same privileges of command given to the leaders of individual teams. That is the highest Ranking member withing a "colour formation" (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, etc) can also declare point or area fire, and Cover/Firm.

Additionally I would enjoy seeing an automatic option in the team menu. That is automatically assign teams. (Its a bit of a chore to do this at the start of every mission)

- K

Do the bump-de-bump

Beautiful idea, we need to move away from micro-management to battlefield managment. As a squad leader I'm responsible for the tatics, not holding each persons hand.

So anyone actually implementing this?

Seems very doable in a2. Either via the standard command menu

or by building your own.

That would be a must-have.

Anyone modding it? Kju? Some free time left? xD

There is a great freeware called Autohotkey. It saved me a tone of key presses into one, two , three. It is a macro, scripting program, it lates you define your own hotkeys with tasks they will execute. Works in a background together with the game. You can bind as many keys you like into one key, don't have to peck,peck,peck at a keyboard anymore.

http://download.cnet.com/AutoHotkey/3000-2084_4-10279446.html?tag=mncol