Friendly fire, and the attack of the Blue Falcon

[Brian McIlmoyle]

I have been noting quite frequently people mentioning how they "got Friendly fired" or "team killed" .. and complaining about it as if it is the fault of the person pulling the trigger.

The reality is , 9 times out of 10 if you got shot by your own team it's because you screwed up.

You either,

1. took off ahead without telling anyone
2. decided to flank without telling anyone
3. were out hunting solo
4. failed to re-organize with your unit after a fight
5. Ignored communications
6. had no means of communication
7. lost track of where your guys were because you failed to communicate
8. got tunnel vision on one opponent and lost track of the larger fight moving around you.
9. just not paying attention to where your team mates are .. and get caught in the crossfire.
10. You did everything right and one of your own guys just got too excited and shot you accidentally.


Putting yourself at risk of being killed by your own team seriously screws over your own team, as while they are trying to figure out , who you are, what you are doing, are you a risk .. and then choosing to shoot you, The other team is taking advantage of this distraction.

As much as possible, you need to Know what the plan is, know who is involved, know who is to the left and right of you. Always operate with a buddy. Pay attention to what is going on and COMMUNICATE.

There is NO NEED for green VS tan.. or any other markings if you organize your group, have a plan and communicate.

EDIT- distinctive uniforms certainly ASSIST with target discrimination, but it should be your Last line of defense not the only one.

If you get shot by your own team, Kick yourself in the ass, as it was probably your fault.

[Szevin]

Good post sir!

[ex]

I might also add..

Failed to fully comply with uniform guidelines.

[Mitchell12]

I agree with this on so many levels, Nothing pisses me off more than shooting my own team when I'm clearing a building that's near pitch black where the enemy is known or expected to be. I identify my targets as best as I can, but 90% of the time in those buildings your out of cover if your moving.

I agree that uniform isn't necessary in an organized group.

[ex]

I'm sorry...uniform guidelines are absolutely necessary. This past weekend a large event at the lz had a few blue on blue incidents due solely to people not following the uniform requirements.

If you are playing with 20 people it's easy to remember who is who..but if you have 80+ players on the field and moving through bush...good luck with that.

While I agree it does not necessarily have to be green vs tan....that combination or combination's there of seem to work best when everyone plays ball.

[Eeyore]

I see alot of blue on blue happen because people don't bother to properly identify their targets before firing.

[Danke]

Last big game I was at a group first showed up not in their approved uniform. Then proceeded to step outside the rules and infiltrate the visiting team's base. And when I say visiting team I'm talking about 100+ players from another province who were blended in with locals so the team uniform was a requirement too play that was relaxed for that group.

End result? Next time someone shows up like that and begs in because they have only one set of camo they get wrapped in caution tape. The extra shots they take as a result should speed the learning process.

[FOX_111]

When people will stop playing like they do in online multiplayer, blue on blue will not be a major occurence.

[Mitchell12]

Originally Posted by ex

I'm sorry...uniform guidelines are absolutely necessary. This past weekend a large event at the lz had a few blue on blue incidents due solely to people not following the uniform requirements.

If you are playing with 20 people it's easy to remember who is who..but if you have 80+ players on the field and moving through bush...good luck with that.

While I agree it does not necessarily have to be green vs tan....that combination or combination's there of seem to work best when everyone plays ball.

Oh I agree with that size, I meant exactly what your saying. I meant I shouldn't be shooting my Squad mates because they went all lone wolf.

[FACE]

Great Post Brian.

Worthy of a Sticky.
A+++++

[Brian McIlmoyle]

Originally Posted by ex

I'm sorry...uniform guidelines are absolutely necessary. This past weekend a large event at the lz had a few blue on blue incidents due solely to people not following the uniform requirements.

If you are playing with 20 people it's easy to remember who is who..but if you have 80+ players on the field and moving through bush...good luck with that.

While I agree it does not necessarily have to be green vs tan....that combination or combination's there of seem to work best when everyone plays ball.

agreed, and edited to clarify..

I think sides split by camo style or Green VS Tan is a good idea, but it is by no means the only defense against Blue on Blue actions.

In Fact let me relate a tale that illustrates this.

At Border War I ( I think) a large contingent of Russian speaking players attended and were on the side I commanded.

They were known to be a cohesive and aggressive fighting force. But it became clear soon into the game that they were just as dangerous to us as to the enemy. they were all dressed in Distinctive Russian Camouflage patterns and to the last armed with AK style rifles. They numbered 20+

They literally killed everything in their vicinity that was not them.

At one point I actually split their team and send them in opposite flanking actions outside our FOB so that they would engage each other , so I could safely send out a large Assault force out the other side of the base.

I had Berkut running Liaison Coms as they did all their coms in Russian, It was funny hearing them call in the contact against one another ON the SAME NET . Even funnier hearing them shout at each other in Russian while engaging in Mutual Annihilation.

[MadMax]

Sometimes I have trouble recognizing team mates at TTAC in a particular scrim because the teams get remixed so often. It's not a great excuse to shoot a friendly, but sometimes I get a little jumpy in a fierce CQC engagement with a lot of movement and Jer is just plain dangerous. If I go through the roster every time before shooting him I'd never get a hit on him because he's too quick. My default action is to shoot Jer without prejudice just in case he's not on my team

I try not to get too bent out of shape when I get friendlied at TTAC because I realize that shooters are often either shooting impulsively or shooting at targets who are oriented a particular way. I often have to make a quick decision on who to shoot based on their gun orientation relative to their movement direction.

It's unfortunate, but in rapidly developing situations there are tradeoffs to be made when adhering to deliberate procedures and pouncing on opportunities as they present. I occasionally get team killed when I lunge out to grab an important firing position. I occasionally can shape a game by seizing a good strategic position so I accept that I may provide greater value to my team, but expecting everyone else on my team to be extra careful not to shoot me would degrade their effectiveness far more than my individual value so that's a personal tradeoff I accept. That being said, there is little value to bitching someone out for a teamkill unless they frequently inflict kills on their own team. In that case you should put them where they're less hazardous to everyone. Usually I find that the embarrassment of fratricide is "punishment" enough.

I agree with the need for uniform requirements, but that's a symptom. Good comms and a solid C&C element can prevent or severely limit bluefire. Reality dictates reality, however.

[Scouser]

great post, i know ive jumped the gun a few times and popped a teammate, usually only happens at the indoor arena where you cant hear yourself think

[Outcast569]

Originally Posted by Scouser

great post, i know ive jumped the gun a few times and popped a teammate, usually only happens at the indoor arena where you cant hear yourself think

+1 for that. Moving fast threw hallways with a partner after telling the rest of the team to clear the area and they dont... makes for a few friendly shots for sure. Usually why I try to let the high strung guys go ahead .