Smoke

[TwoBad]

There was a lot of chat last night about the usefulness of smoke grenades and whether or not the AI can see through the smoke.

Did a quick Google today and found that while in OA the AI could see through smoke they can't in Arma 3.

I also did a quick test myself in the editor with an AI about 20m from my position.

• Without smoke - AI opens fire straight away (as you would expect)
• With smoke - AI no reaction
• With smoke and i open fire - AI takes cover but doesn't return fire until the smoke has cleared

[smilodon]

Well that's good to know. As a medic I did suspect that it might have some benefit as I seemed not to get shot while healing when using smoke. If we run maps where medics with medkits get limitless heals then a good load out would include a lot of white smoke. Thand for the clarification.

[Tutonic]

Ahh, that's interesting - it's suggests that while the AI can see through the smoke (as I've read elsewhere), it will only react on that vision based on the players aggression? What happens if you open fire on an AI unit, pop smoke and then cease fire?

Maybe our problem is that while one of us chucks a smoke grenade, the rest of the squad is busy unloading belt-fed weapons at the enemy - thus 'breaking' the smoke screen.

A quick search of the A3 bug tracker suggests that the AI will fire on your last-known position if you deploy smoke, so it looks like we need to employ the following if we want to use smoke correctly:

1. Stop firing. That goes for the whole squad, especially you Mr Machine-gunner.
2. Relocate. If you're obscured by the smoke, continue to hold your fire and move to a new position ASAP.

[Sparko]

Cool nice find twobad, worth knowing.  I did get the impression it worked to a certain extent as I wasn't getting sprayed when reviving people when smoke was around.  At least we know now

[TwoBad]

What happens if you open fire on an AI unit, pop smoke and then cease fire?

Have just tested this and you are spot on Tut, but i wouldn't call it a bug.  If someone is shooting at me i'll fire back even if i can't see them through the smoke.

Did a couple of tests.

• Came into AI's view before smoke popped and of course he opened up. Once smoke was up he fired for a couple more seconds but then stopped and didn't re-engage until smoke cleared.
• Came into AI's view before smoke popped and he opened up. I returned fire as smoke came up but then stopped, AI continued to fire for a couple of seconds and then stopped until smoke cleared.
• Came into AI's view before smoke popped and he opened up. I returned fire as smoke came up and continued to fire, AI continued to return fire
• Came into AI's view after smoke popped and AI did nothing. I opened fire in the direction of AI and he never returned fire until smoke cleared and he saw me for the first time

Only other thing i would like to test is with two of us, one in view before smoke and engage AI.  Once the smoke is up stop firing, second of us opens up and then disengage.  Will AI re-engage first player through smoke.  My thoughts are he won't.

[BrotherTobious]

Great work Gents I am sure this will make doing Geneva runs easier

Sent from my Nexus 4

[Sparko]

Great work Gents I am sure this will make doing Geneva runs easier

Sent from my Nexus 4

Please can we ban ridiculous colours though, like pink or purple...... Hehe, not looking at anyone in particular :narnar:

[sulky_uk]

you dont mind the colour when im picking you up.....beside i lose them all after i get killed for some reason