Something we tried to fire up back in the day, but either through bugs or modpack issues, never really got around to playing. I've been going it solo for the past week (no persistence, but still pretty fun) and it seems stable and serviceable. The neat thing is some of the events that Salazar has built into the map. The first mission I took was to provide site security for a research facility. Things started off dull: patrol the fence. Open the gate for a truck. Run off a few civilian gawkers, but changed suddenly when a group of (I kid you not) AI protestors showed up at the front gate. They were pissed off about a pipeline or something. I don't pay attention to the chanting, just that they're blocking the gate and are blocking my view of the town. Not knowing what I was supposed to do (use ACE3 to tell them to beat it) I arrested the whole group (joining them to my squad of two) and sent them around the hill and away from the front gate. As soon as they left, the first shots started coming in. It had been a distraction. Two squads of rebel fighters were pushing towards the facility up the North side of the hill. Caught off-guard, I was hit in the leg and had to crawl back to cover. My AI compatriot was promptly pinned behind cover and I had to provide my own medical care. Both squads had gained the fence line by the time I was back on my feet. My first instinct was to lay into them with the underslung grenade launcher. About to fire, I pulled up short. More civilians had shown up and were standing amongst the rebel fighters. One of the things Salazar included in this mission is War Crime. You're free to murder and destroy just about anything on the map, but civilian casualties and wanton distruction will net you a penalty. Too many and you'll end up forfeiting your pay. So now, it all made sense. The Rebels had organized the protest. Whether or not the civilians knew they were pawns was moot. I couldn't fire into the crowd without seriously damaging the reputation of the unit and costing us a shitload of cash. I picked off a few of the fighters as best I could and gave the order to withdraw. PMC Simulator by Cody Salazar (Fr33d0m). http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=28668 ACE3 ALIVE CBA_A3 Leights OPFOR Pack Task Force Radio Real Armor Mod RHS:Escalation (AFRF/USF) Full simulator Flight controls appear to be default and un-changeable. AI is recruitable, but painfully stupid. Gear can be saved in the personal locker back at HQ but is otherwise not persistent.
Day 2: Loaded the map back up. Operational budget reset to default ($12m. Put into perspective, an MH-9 costs $2m). Gear stowed in personal stash where I left it and personal account had the correct amount. Time for mission planning. After some practice with helicopters of various sizes, I decided on the E&E assist mission. A NATO team is backed into a corner and can't evade much longer. My team is sent in to relieve some of the pressure and assist in an extraction. I load a team of 5 into an MH-9 and take a round-a-bout route to a hill near the stranded team. On the way in, we took fire from multiple directions. Not unexpected for the West side of the island where OPFOR and rebels control most of the terrain. Something big took out two of my operators (the same Heavy MG round through both bodies) and did minor damage to the chopper. Evading, I dropped into the valley below, dodging trees as well as bullets. No easy feat for a rookie to the full-sim flight system, but we made it to the general area of our LZ in one piece. Two men down and no clue to what we'd find when we RV with the team, we set out through the low hills surrounding the site. Enemies in sight all around (did I mention this is mid-morning and good weather?), I kept my team quiet. No unnecessary shooting. Two hills over, we found a roaming patrol between us and the NATO team. No options, no suppressors, so we hid, slowing down the mission but avoiding notice and more risk. As we waited, I scanned further up the valley, spotting more enemies and what looked like an active camp. Camo netting, sand-bag bunkers. I made a note to come back to check it out once the current mission was complete. Long story short, the AI was painfully stupid and got themselves caught in a gunfight. Mission failed. No big deal. I RTB, punch my time-card ($8k), and pick up another 5 man team to take back to the enemy outpost. This is where things get fun. This place isn't on the map. It isn't an objective, but damn if it didn't catch my interest. Once again, we take fire on the way in and I lose an operator. I need to get better at NOE flight before doing these missions. Landing about 1km from the camp, we cross hills to an overwatch and recon their position. I hadn't appreciated the plight of the NATO team until now. At least three teams of six standing guard at various points on the road to the camp. A Ural-BM21 (Rocket Artillery) and a BMP-1 block the road. Unnoticed, I put my team where they can see the camp and cover my approach. Yeah. My dumb-ass is going to get a closer look and a more accurate count and to see what was under the camo-netting since it's obvious we're not going to be able to take this place without a LOT more help. I was glad we landed when we did. Just to one side of the net and facing the direction we landed is a static AA missile platform (fortunately un-manned). In fact, the camp is empty. Everybody's on patrol or standing guard just outside the walls. I roll the dice. Sneak, sprint, crawl. I make it to the AA. It's not a typical emplacement. It can be dismantled. So away it goes. Without firing a shot and sneakily to boot, I manage to eliminate part of the AA threat in the area. I'm patting myself on the back as I sneak back out when I hear a shout. Good job, dumbass. Up and over, I clear the wall and sprint away from my team on the hill, giving them the order to fire that they've been pestering me for ("Ready to fire... Ready to fire... Ready to fire...). They drop a team leader and platoon leader in the first volley. Nice work. I use the chaos to break line of sight and circle back to my guys before smoking up the hill and ordering the retreat. So far so fucked up, but not a disaster yet. BUHBUHBUHBUHBUHBUHBUHBUHBUHBUH! Oh. The BMP.
