First, some genuine appreciation.
I've noticed a lot of positive changes since the 1.7 patch:
- Less chopper spam and fewer trolls/griefers
- Matches last longer and feel more balanced
- I haven't heard one complaint about "aimbot NPCs" – that used to be a real problem
- No one has mentioned getting their radio dug up recently
Whatever the devs did with the third-party system (serendipity or whatever you call it), it's working. Thank you for that.
Now, onto the FIA.
Ranking System – It Needs Work
I understand the idea behind ranking, but for the FIA it feels backwards. We have two invading forces to fend off. Ranking should have been settled before they even landed.
Here's the problem:
Everyone spawns as a Volunteer with just a pistol. Running supplies ranks you up fast, but killing enemies or their AI gives very little. If you join late, you're stuck at low rank with limited gear. Yes, I get you can steal it! But, only your ranked weapons.
And here's the kicker – Arma is fickle. I've died just from jumping next to a vehicle. So you respawn with nothing, you're under attack, and you have to find weapons again while the enemy is shooting at you. If you're not a high rank? You're stuck with a pistol. Yes, again I know you can pick off the dead, I am raising a broader point with this.
My Suggestion for FIA Ranking
If ranking stays (and I'm not sure it should), then give us a default loadout that persists:
| Rank |
Loadout |
| Volunteer |
Pistol, no storage, fine. |
| Partisan |
Sa-58, better clothes, little storage (no backpack) |
| Captain |
Max storage, random gun, more medical supplies |
Right now, if I die I lose everything. That's punishing in a game where half the deaths are engine-related, not skill-related.
Vehicles – A Real Problem for FIA
The BRDM is my most used and most flipped vehicle. But here's the issue:
If the FIA loses all its bases, we have no way to get vehicles back. We can't build a Heavy Depot. We can't spawn anything. We're reduced to a running simulator. And I just as well go back to DayZ and my 5k hours of running there. Tents yeah, I understand how they work, but we need more ways to skin the cat and tricks up our sleves!
The the "despawn timer” or “cleanup script” as old-timers call it, removes vehicles that haven't been moved. I understand it's for performance. But when I flip a BRDM and run to find a repair truck; only to come back and find the vehicle already despawned; that's frustrating, I am sure this kills it for more then just me.
My Suggestions for FIA Vehicles:
- Give FIA a way to keep vehicles persistent. The engine allows it this memory tell me old .sqf code was… addEventHandler ["HandleDamage", {0}]; (I think??), prevent despawn. FIA should have that option.
- Add "jacks" to the FIA arsenal. A big backpack item that can flip a vehicle. Exclusive to FIA only. Load it from an arsenal or arsene/ truck, use it in the field.
- Let us establish new hidden bases. The island has caves, basements, castle, docks, ruins, and the entire southwest corner that nobody uses. If FIA loses all its bases, we should be able to set up a new secret base in one of these locations. RCON squads from RU and US could still find them; that's their job.
The Command Truck / MHQ
Right now it only sells tents and radios (which make this vehicle/tool useless kinda). In the future, maybe it could let us establish a new mobile base that only enemy RCON squads can detect.
Supply Depot Destruction – Love It, But…
I love that teams can blow up supply depots. Great dynamic. But now I'm seeing the return of multiple Heavy Depots to counter it.
As an FIA player, I remove supplies by dropping them on the ground. But I don't think the devs know that supply depots don't report their own storage levels properly on one of the marker signs.
Maybe FIA should also be able to destroy base buildings? Just a thought.
A Few Last Things
- I no longer play mods much. I've been around since Flashpoint. I appreciate the convenience of jumping straight into a game, ranking up by running supplies, helping the team, and just having fun. I always tell people: "Play to have fun first. If you don't, we won't win anyway."
- Radios used to matter. I was disappointed when they were made useless because the wrong groups complained while the players who actually used them weren't heard. I call this "The Atlas Effect", listening to the loudest, not the most invested.
- I know FIA is still in development. I'm not demanding changes overnight. I'm just sharing what 30 hours of 1.7 has taught me.
- I wrote Bohemia a physical letter asking for a third faction. I'm glad they added FIA. I just want it to reach its potential.
TL;DR
- Ranking for FIA needs persistence or removal.
- Vehicles need a way to stay or be recovered.
- Let us establish hidden bases.
- Give us jacks to flip our own vehicles FIA exclusive.
- Radios and command trucks should matter again.
Thanks for reading. I'm open to discussion, not arguments. Play to have fun first.
P.S. This post has NEW anti-troll scripting in it. Negative or nasty remarks get a middle finger extended in kind if said, respect is given if old saying, "if you have nothing nice to say don't say it at all", you will receive 1 million in Turkish lira.
