ALiVE has been active for many years and many things have been changed and created, the mod has evolved and today we have a unique mod that brings an unparalleled experience compared to any other mod out there.
Of all the things that have already been inserted into the mod, what would you like to see improved in ALiVE?
1) Tasks
2) Transport
3) Logistics
4) Player Command
5) Intel
6) Combat Support
7) Battlefield Intel (markers, map, squads and more)
8) Experience between ALiVE and Player
@Friznit has some interesting feature ideas written as open tickets on the issues section of the Github if you’re ever curious to see a lead dev’s idea for expanding immersion elements related to OPCOM.
All of the above plus bringing back convoys....that is all.
I'd like to see improvements to the civilian placement module by way of adding a whitelist for spawnable vehicles. A similar feature for VBIEDs is much needed. Also the last 5 or so Alive scenarios I've made deal with historical time frames like Vietnam War and currently the Soviet Afghan War. It would be nice to have more accessable control over spawnable crates and vehicles for different factions via in-module whitelists. More control and randomization dealing with OPCOM installations using the insurgency feature would be awesome too. For example adding custom crate via whitelist for weapons depots and the option to use crates instead of IED tables ect. It sucks to see an office water dispenser in an afghan or vietnamese hut out in the middle of nowhere. It would be cool to add random intel chances to installations as well. The intel could be used to identify the installation and provide the legacy info as well. It would make a more immersive intel gathering and installation searching process. Last thing the dismantling of installations suck right now, perhaps just a UI change or the ability to destroy and/or collect all relevant intel at site could help. I found it to be more immersive when there wasn't any spacebar action or UI text and we just blew them up hoping that would put an end to it. Anyway a couple of wanted and needed features.
Couple of things really, and this really is just a wishlist.
One thing that's been bugging me lately is that if there's no airfield on a landlocked map then I can't use ALiVE for airstrikes. It would be awesome if there was a virtual airstrike option. I know there's always been a push to avoid virtual supports, but I just think given the size of a lot of maps, virtual would be a good option to simulate coalition air forces on standby.
Rolling in Spyders civilian interaction system, or coming up with something similar for that increased immersion. Nothing like being told certain civilians are up to no good. I know the devs looked at persisting civilian names and struck issues, but something like that would be amazing. Making the civilians seem more "alive"
IED's could use some love. The EOD mod promised so much but never actually delivered anything that wasn't a buggy mess. I'd really like to see actual dickers watching over IED's they've planted, maybe IED making materials in a house/compound which could work in with the civilians being up to no good, more IED objects like gas canisters etc.
Now this one's really pie in the sky and a ton of work no doubt, but it would be awesome if ALiVE detected ACE running and replaced all the addactions with ACE interactions. The scroll wheel interaction system needs to die.
A couple of things I've picked up playing BTC Hearts and Minds missions:
An interpreter role/s- These are set by the mission maker and only players with this role can get information from civilians, simulating lack of knowledge in the local dialect.
OPFOR UAV's - In the H&M missions the OPFOR will use the cargo drones and drop grenades from them, similar to the way ISIS have been using drones to drop 40mm grenades.
I also really like this one side mission in the H&M mission where you have to go and do medical on an injured civilian, although that's only really fun if you play with ACE advanced medical.
One final thing, and I have no idea how this couple be implemented, but it would be amazing if the enemy ran supply convoys (especially for the non insurgency missions) that could be disrupted. I just really like the idea of doing recon to find a convoy route and setting up an ambush/calling in a strike to take the convoy out, and for it to actually affect the war somehow.
Oh and just to back up @Cobra I also preferred having to blow up installations instead of the hold action. It was often fun to just drop a JDAM on target buildings :)
@HeroesandvillainsOS @Friznit has some interesting feature ideas written as open tickets on the issues section of the Github if you’re ever curious to see a lead dev’s idea for expanding immersion elements related to OPCOM.
I've been following everything from ALiVE lately but I'm very curious to know what players expect from this mod!
@Nichols All of the above plus bringing back convoys....that is all.
I tested convoys several times after the B.I changes, actually the bots learned how to maneuver (sometimes they hit something but nothing absurd). Maybe it's time for the convoys to come back.
@JD_Wang Couple of things really, and this really is just a wishlist.
One thing that's been bugging me lately is that if there's no airfield on a landlocked map then I can't use ALiVE for airstrikes. It would be awesome if there was a virtual airstrike option. I know there's always been a push to avoid virtual supports, but I just think given the size of a lot of maps, virtual would be a good option to simulate coalition air forces on standby.
Rolling in Spyders civilian interaction system, or coming up with something similar for that increased immersion. Nothing like being told certain civilians are up to no good. I know the devs looked at persisting civilian names and struck issues, but something like that would be amazing. Making the civilians seem more "alive"
IED's could use some love. The EOD mod promised so much but never actually delivered anything that wasn't a buggy mess. I'd really like to see actual dickers watching over IED's they've planted, maybe IED making materials in a house/compound which could work in with the civilians being up to no good, more IED objects like gas canisters etc.
Now this one's really pie in the sky and a ton of work no doubt, but it would be awesome if ALiVE detected ACE running and replaced all the addactions with ACE interactions. The scroll wheel interaction system needs to die.
A couple of things I've picked up playing BTC Hearts and Minds missions:
An interpreter role/s- These are set by the mission maker and only players with this role can get information from civilians, simulating lack of knowledge in the local dialect.
OPFOR UAV's - In the H&M missions the OPFOR will use the cargo drones and drop grenades from them, similar to the way ISIS have been using drones to drop 40mm grenades.
I also really like this one side mission in the H&M mission where you have to go and do medical on an injured civilian, although that's only really fun if you play with ACE advanced medical.
One final thing, and I have no idea how this couple be implemented, but it would be amazing if the enemy ran supply convoys (especially for the non insurgency missions) that could be disrupted. I just really like the idea of doing recon to find a convoy route and setting up an ambush/calling in a strike to take the convoy out, and for it to actually affect the war somehow.
Oh and just to back up @Cobra I also preferred having to blow up installations instead of the hold action. It was often fun to just drop a JDAM on target buildings :)
Interesting idea about the maps and airplanes, I share the same feeling
SpyderBlack's civilian interaction is indispensable in insurgency, it would be a good one if it were introduced in ALiVE but by what I noticed from the code, it is very large lol
Yeah Convoys is something to really think about after this last update.
Military Logistics already has convoys. If the enemy AI Comd has a finite force pool set in the Log module, then ambushing the convoys will eventually reduce his battle casualty replacements to zero. No more BCRs makes the war easier to win. This is one of the key features of ALiVE - you can effect the outcome without directly engaging front line troops. It's the closest we could get to enabling a manoeuverist approach to warfare in a sim that doesn't take into account the human element of fighting power and the AI's "will to fight".
Finding the convoys takes a bit of intelligence work - you need to figure out the location of the enemy logistics base and forward edge of the battle area (FEBA) then recce potential routes between the two, lay an ambush...and wait.
For my part, I always wanted a more sophisticated operational layer to ArmA. Most computer games focus on either grand strategy or the tactical layer. Very few simulate what it takes to sustain a modern combat force on operations.
@Cobra Re: Disabling vs destroying insurgency installations....you can still blow them up if you wish. However, and this is why we introduced the new system, it was getting to the point that half of a village would need to be blown up to disable the installation and there was no way at all to remove a roadblock as you couldn't blow them up.
I agree that it's more satisfying blowing a building sky high..but at the same time...it's not a very effective way of winning the hearts and minds of the local population if you blow half of their village away.
If you blow up the building now, there is a cost to it. Yes, you remove the installation, but you also increase hostility as you are destroying the Civilian property in the process, which in my opinion, is a good thing.
I absolutely agree that Spyder's Civ interaction needs to be in ALiVE. End of statement. It's an absolute necessity for immersion within Assymetric campaigns.
I would LOVE to see more immersive tasks for Insurgencies as well....have a task that generates a Convoy from point A to point B that needs to be escorted and protected from insurgent ambush....have a task that identifies the local insurgent commander in the region and provide massive bonuses to capturing the target rather than killing them.
Tapping into more of the actual strategic objectives and using those for the tasks is my biggest wish. There have been improvements, but it can be so much more IMO.
Agree on some kind of "off map" air support. Lot of great maps, Kunduz, FATA, Schemwitz, and even some larger maps with one (if both sides need air support) or no airfields. A module that could be placed a km or more "off map" as an aircraft spawn point, maybe with settings for max # at a time, absolute max and even tie into logistics would be great.
Also would like to see some form of "click to activate" system for piloting. This was talked about a little a long bit back, but something to designate an "active" area so units spawn in for pilots to attack. Currently must have a player or drone which isn't always possible.
*Cobra, while not module based if you're having to gather config classes anyway for a whitelist, you can use a staticdata.sqf file to define crates etc for a given faction. The staticdata can be used on a per-mission basis.