Nemesis

Not sure if this is even possible with how BF2 is set up, but I've wondered lately why the game doesn't have an "Observer" Mode.

Last nights scrimmage really brought this to the forefront in my mind. We had asch in as an admin and all he could do was hide in a corner of the map and watch over the general map screen. Basically, it was a pretty hard way to admin a match and I'm sure the issues on the public servers is a 1000 times worse since you have to rely on another person's POV regarding a cheat/exploit/rule breaker etc.

Now if any of you played Tribes or UT you know what I'm talking about with regards to an Observer Mode.

Basically, what it does is allow players that haven't spawned yet and joined a side, to follow in game players as a "ghost". Basically, you can switch to any player in game and follow their movements from a 3rd person POV.

Or, you could get a top down zoom look on the map ala the Commander view in game now. Hell, even that would work since it's already written into the game as is.

I know the one issue with it in Tribes was that people would hang around the servers in Observer Mode and take up slots without actually playing, so that could be an issue to avoid. And if we didn't want everyone to be able to "observe" then would it be possible to only have it available only to admins or specific players? Or maybe a time limit on it for the general population before you got booted for not joining a side?

Anyone else think this would be something to pursue? Personally, I couldn't MOD jack, so it would have to fall to someone smarter than I to get this done. If it even could be done.

I just know it would make admining the server a TON easier when the admin's could actually see and follow around a player that's being complained about.

Yes? No?

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mart242

That would be nice to have. Could be super useful for when you need to go to the bathroom as well.

I don't know why EA did nto implement it. Maybe because some people would do recon with that and know where to go after.

Rin

As far as I know it should be no problem to add an observer mode - this would most likely be a Server-side only mod, and could be designed to apply only to Admins etc.

From what I know from BF1942 modding this is quite easy to achieve, but don't quote me on this because I have not had much time messing with BF2 yet.

Rin

Bommando

It would definitely be useful.

The only problem is that it might be prone to abuse. Imagine going into observer mode and giving detailed info on squad member names, kit selection etc over TS to your team. You would almost need to restrict it to only show the POV of the team you join. Of course, I guess you could do this type of thing regardless by joining the opfor as a SL and reporting tactics back to the opposition via TS. Not that this would ever happen on TG servers.

BF2 is my first online multiplayer experience, so I don't know how this type of thing has been handled in the past.

Valuable idea.

Nemesis

No, you're absolutly correct Bomm, and it's why a lot of Tribes matches didn't allow observers outside of the Admin overseeing the match.

I'd think it would be best kept to an Admin only MOD or restrict it to a time limit regarding how long a player in general could stay in the mode. There's really no way to get around someone using TS to effectively cheat...but I would think that would only come into play over an "Official" match....and that could be controlled....

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perry

Before the game was released, I remember reading something about Battlefield TV.. was it supposed to be a feature like this, or is that the Battlefield recorder thing (kinda like tivo-ing your match )?

I could see ghosting being a problem in like an 8 on 8 match, but in 32 v 32, things change too quickly for it to be of any real use. Commander mode is almost like ghosting anyways!

flux

Battlefield TV = Battle Recorder (source)