Newcomer's questions!

Party-approved discussion of ArmA 3
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SuicideKing
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Newcomer's questions!

Post by SuicideKing »

Hi!

So I've been wanting to play with you folks for over a year now (hence my registration date), but since Sunday sessions correspond to 00:50 IST on Monday, I've not been able to so far.

Anyway, I had some questions:
  • How exactly does Channel Commander work? As in, what's it doing?
  • Does VON stand for Voice Over Network? How is it different from TS? Is it the game's own VoIP system?
  • How do I talk to my own team (I read VON is the way)? If I use VON, does it mean that only people nearby can listen to me?
  • Is hit detection in Arma 3 client side or server side? I'll probably have ~150ms latency to the UK, so I was wondering whether I should aim ahead to compensate.
  • As I noted above, Folk ARPS sessions on Sunday 19:20 GMT correspond to 00:50 IST on Monday, so while I'll try and see if I can pull it off this week, I'm also curious about any other sessions that are held. Thursday/Friday/Saturday are all good days, at the same time, for example.
Looking forward to playing with you all tomorrow!
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Freyja
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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by Freyja »

Channel commander allows you to talk to a family of channels at a time

It does stand for Voice Over Network, it is different from Teamspeak in that teamspeak is a seperate process

You select which channel you want to talk over (default keys "," ".") and press the talk key (default caps-lock)

I do not know how the hit detection in Arma works

Sunday 19:20 GMT, Tuesday 19:20 GMT

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Kefirz
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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by Kefirz »

Ok, here we go, answering as best I can:
  • Channel Commander works by some kind of magic (I really don't know :D ), but I know that it ''overrides channels'', so that you can speak with people who have it also enabled but are located in different channels. For example, between BLUFOR Alpha and BLUFOR Bravo. OPFOR guys shouldn't be able to hear what BLUFOR is saying and vice-versa.
    Generally only squad leaders and the commander should have it on, for all the rest of the guys it should be off. But it is recommended that you set it up anyway (it can be toggled on and off), because people die and you might have to take charge.
  • Yes it stands for Voice Over Net and yes it is A3's VoIP system.
    It differs in how many people will hear you, in your fireteam there are going to be 3 other dudes with whom you would speak through VON, because the other people don't need to hear it.
    But in TS you would speak to 12-ish guys, which are in your squad (Alpha/Bravo/Charlie) and generally only the squad leader and fireteam leaders speak in TS, or if you have something super important and urgent to say, for example, if a tank is about to run over EVERYONE.
  • Yes VON is the way to talk with your team, but make sure which channel you are talking in, you should be talking in group (green colored) channel. Because only your fireteam will be able to hear you.
    If you use VON some nearby people might (I dunno), hear you, but people in your fireteam will hear you anywhere you are.
  • Personally I don't think latency is not that important in Arma than in other shooters (CS/Insurgency/Whatever), because Arma is a slower paced game and fighting happens over long distances, which don't really require you to have 360kwikscope twitch shooting skillzz.
    I've played in US servers, which also have a 150-ish ping for me and it was fine, I didn't do any compensation stuff and just played like usual.
    Be aware though, you might see some desync when traveling in vehicles.
  • Well yeah, FA sessions are on Tue an Sun, but there are other games being played whenever people want to, but it all gets organized through Skype (which is a shame that you are having issues with it).
    Usually people just ask in the chat if anyone is up for Insurgency/Wargame/Warthunder and then it just goes from there.

That's about it, but regarding with the VON channel stuff. Make sure that when you speak, you only speak in Group channel (Green colored), but when you need to place markers you switch to Side channel (Blue colored).
You need to switch the channel to side, when placing markers, because you want all of your side (BLUFOR/OPFOR/INDFOR) to see the marker, not just your fireteam.
The reason I am emphasizing the channels, is because it is annoying when people speak over Side or Global channel, because we really don't want to hear that stuff, we have our own stuff to worry about.
To avoid this, some people bind their Capslock key as Group VON push to talk button, but I just change channels with the , and .



Anyway, I hope that you understood at least some of my ramblings, but I think the best way to understand it is to do it.
''I am not going against tanks'' - Tryteyker, MAT gunner.
''Downboated so much, it's an u-boat now.'' - Boberro.
''Sorry, I meant hon hon hon baguette baguette Eiffel Tower'' - Mabbott

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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by wolfenswan »

Kefirz wrote: To avoid this, some people bind their Capslock key as Group VON push to talk button, but I just change channels with the , and .
I'm using the two thumbs button on my mouse for speaking on TS3 and speaking on group VON. There's hardly ever a need to talk in any other channel, so I have bound my "normal" VON key to my right shift key. That way I can keep my VON channel set to SIDE for map-marking.

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SuicideKing
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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by SuicideKing »

Thanks a lot guys!
  • Understood Channel Commander. Just one thing, what prevents CCs on BLUFOR from listening to CCs on OPFOR, and vice-versa?
  • What does "whisper" do in TS?
  • Thanks for the explanation on VON. Global implies everyone (including OPFOR) can hear, right? And Side is just the side that I'm on?
  • What's the "Direct" Channel for?
  • "360kwikscope twitch shooting skillzz" :lol:
  • I tried opening the Skype link through my phone, as Skype was refusing to sync. I think it worked, god knows whether I'll get notifications. I do have Wargame installed, again new to the series, but like Arma I've been wanting a good set of people to play with.
Thanks for the head's up on the channels. I've used a mix of methods, Right Shift for TS and Caps Lock for Group VON, i'll probably keep it on Side by default for mapping. I'm running out of keys near my left hand, for Arma. :D

I use the mouse thumb buttons for throwing grenades and "keeping the weapon raised while walking", so couldn't use them for voice.
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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by Kefirz »

When you set up CC, there are some options that you have to choose and it will work :D Just follow the tutorial step by step (it has pictures :laugh: )

Whisper might/ might not be something connected with CC, I just remember something with ''whisper lists''

Yes Global is for everyone and Side is just for BLUFOR, OPFOR or INDFOR.

Direct channel is talking localy, where everyone-ish can hear you in a 20m (I dunno :D ) radius. I think it is a bit iffy and generally not used.

You might want to setup your notifications for the FA group in Skype, or it is going to go off all the time :D

For the keys... I just use the default settings, Group VON capslock, grenades with G, TS Mouse4, CC Mouse5 and ''Keeping the weapon raised while walking'' is C
''I am not going against tanks'' - Tryteyker, MAT gunner.
''Downboated so much, it's an u-boat now.'' - Boberro.
''Sorry, I meant hon hon hon baguette baguette Eiffel Tower'' - Mabbott

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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by Aqarius »

If you talk on CC, and I hear you, you are "whispering" to me.

CC, the way we use it, whispers to the channel family (so if you're in BLU-A, you hear people with CC in BLU-HQ, BLU-B, or any other BLU channel. If you're in OPF-HQ, you hear OPF-A, OPF-B etc.)

Arma channels in game are global (everyone), side (blufor/opfor/indfor), group (your unit) and direct (anyone close to your character, more or less plain yelling). There's also vehicle (anyone in the same vehicle as you) and command (for unit commanders) In practice, I bind group and direct to the same button and never use anything else.

A thing to note is the channels also apply to map markers.
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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by SuicideKing »

Yeah I had followed the CC and whisper instructions on the "getting started" guide before, so it's all setup. I just wasn't clear on how to use it, thanks for explaining it!

So if I'm CC for example, and I talk on TS normally, then only people in my channel can hear, but when I press whisper, everyone on my side hears? I hope I'm not being too tedious about this! :confused:

Thanks for the clarification on the VON channels. I've noticed ShackTac use a volume slider for direct, does FA use such a thing as well? Or is it strictly an optional mod? Anyway, I'll probably avoid direct unless I'm sure about the volume, don't want to give away my own (or my team's) position unwittingly.

Yup will take care of the map. IMO it's sort of crazy that BIS decided to tie the map with the radio channel, but I guess they had their reasons...I assume then the same channel rules also apply to in-game text chat?

I've finally got Skype working, and posted an introductory message. :lol: yes I'll fine tune it as soon as I know whether the notifications are working; from the time stamps it seems it'll be going off a lot at night, so...

I use C for crouch, and G is a bit too far. :P I've kept it as a reserve bind, because occasionally Logitech's software fails and I'm left with scroll buttons on mouse4 and 5. I think one day I'll just remove all Arma bindings and start from scratch.

BTW does anyone use CrossTalk for TS? I thought I'd use it for RadioFX, but I'm not sure what "Home" and "Other" do. I've checked to use RadioFX for "home" and "whisper". Probably test it during today's session.
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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by zitron »

Comrade, forget about these complicated shit, if you can make bullets come out of you gun, you are qualified to fight for the Socialist Egalitarian Revolution! You will have plenty of time to figure out the buttons when you are dead.

Also there's usually a pre-session workshop at 1830 GMT, which might work better for you time wise, and allow you to work things out: http://www.folkarps.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=32

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Re: Newcomer's questions!

Post by SuicideKing »

:lol: bullets shall fly, Comrade!

Thanks, I'll check it out. Hmmm. On in 7 mins!
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