Reducing radio/message spam in the team UI without sacrificing communication.
One of the most voiced complaints by casual players in full servers is the degree of voice message spam created by team members spotting enemies or requesting specific class support. A quick search of this forum nets half a dozen radio-spam related complaints posted in the last few weeks alone, and I'm sure there are thousands of other players out there who agree but don't bother to come here.
To improve team communication for advanced players and reduce annoyance for everyone, I think that radio messages should have a filtering mechanism with regard to player role and player location.
Spotted Messages:
For nearly all players, 'enemy spotted' radio messages outside their immediate HUD-map zoom level are a useless annoyance, especially in a large/full server. This is a clear obstruction to teamplay, so it is my view that spotting messages should be filtered with the following criteria:
Once again, an incredibly useful feature which becomes overwhelming in large numbers and annoying when abused. Each player should be limited to one medic and one ammo request in a ten-second period, with the following additional restrictions:
Radio messages are an entertaining and immersive part of the game that contributes to both fun and teamplay. I think that the rules above will make the game more immersive by reducing radio spam and unrealistic repeated messages, but if the battlefield is totally quiet we've gone too far. To compensate, I recommend that if a player has not actually heard a radio message in more than ~30 seconds, the next message sent by their team should be heard regardless of the above filters.
I hope you think that my proposal is effective and simple enough to warrant being implemented by DICE in the upcoming 1.2 patch. If you agree, try to point people who do have influence toward this post. :)
To improve team communication for advanced players and reduce annoyance for everyone, I think that radio messages should have a filtering mechanism with regard to player role and player location.
Spotted Messages:
For nearly all players, 'enemy spotted' radio messages outside their immediate HUD-map zoom level are a useless annoyance, especially in a large/full server. This is a clear obstruction to teamplay, so it is my view that spotting messages should be filtered with the following criteria:
- Lone Wolf: Only enemies spotted at locations within the current zoom level of a player's HUD-map or enemies spotted by a teammate who is within twenty meters should be displayed, with the corresponding radio message played.
- Squad Member: Same as Lone Wolf, but in addition playing the radio message for all spots observed by squad members who are located within the current zoom level of the player's HUD-map.
- Squad Leader: Radio message for all spotted enemies on their HUD-map at current zoom, plus all spots observed by any squad member, plus text-only displays for all spots sent by the commander.
- Commander: All spotted messages should be recieved and played, except as listed below:
- All Players: Duplicate messages for units that are already 'spotted' on the map should not be played again. The general 'enemy activity at location' message for missed/general spots should be limited to one trigger every ten seconds by any one spotter.
Once again, an incredibly useful feature which becomes overwhelming in large numbers and annoying when abused. Each player should be limited to one medic and one ammo request in a ten-second period, with the following additional restrictions:
- Only non-medic players who are within 10 meters of a wounded or critically injured teammate should be able to send a "Need Medic" message. Selecting the option if they don't qualify should still highlight nearby medics on the map, but not spam their team with the message.
- Only players who actually need ammo should be able to send a "Need Ammo" message. Selecting the option if they don't qualify should still highlight nearby Support players on the map, but not spam their team.
Radio messages are an entertaining and immersive part of the game that contributes to both fun and teamplay. I think that the rules above will make the game more immersive by reducing radio spam and unrealistic repeated messages, but if the battlefield is totally quiet we've gone too far. To compensate, I recommend that if a player has not actually heard a radio message in more than ~30 seconds, the next message sent by their team should be heard regardless of the above filters.
I hope you think that my proposal is effective and simple enough to warrant being implemented by DICE in the upcoming 1.2 patch. If you agree, try to point people who do have influence toward this post. :)
![[3SA]D|Sgt.Colinloves](data:image/svg+xml;base64,CgkJCTxzdmcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNTAgNTAnPgoJCQkJPHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9JzEwMCUnIGhlaWdodD0nMTAwJScgZmlsbD0nIzk0Mzg4ZScgLz4KCQkJCTx0ZXh0IHg9JzUwJScgeT0nNTAlJyBmaWxsPSd3aGl0ZScgZm9udC13ZWlnaHQ9J2JvbGQnIGZvbnQtZmFtaWx5PSdBcmlhbCcgZm9udC1zaXplPSczMDAlJyBkb21pbmFudC1iYXNlbGluZT0nY2VudHJhbCcgdGV4dC1hbmNob3I9J21pZGRsZSc+WzwvdGV4dD4KCQkJPC9zdmc+CgkJ "[3SA]D|Sgt.Colinloves")
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