I've been trying to figure out how to use the map more effectively. I wanted to figure out how to calculate distances using the map.

When you open the map, there are two possible distance indicators. There are the grid lines on the map (which get bigger and smaller as you zoom), and there is the distance bar at the bottom right corner which also scales according to your zoom level. I didn't know which we are supposed to actually use so I tried a little test.

[MEDIA=400,200]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_T_1yvFwplAI/Std0zRnRWfI/AAAAAAAAACc/R8YM7PmGG04/s800/OFDR%202009-10-15%2014-54-00-25.png[/MEDIA]

In this above image of my map, you can see that I am standing on one edge of a grid line, and one of my AI squad members is standing on the other edge of the grid line west of my position. So our distance is exactly one grid (at this zoom level). At the bottom right, you see the distance meter. And as you can see, it extends wider than the grid and claims to represent the length of 100 meters. So according to this image, I should be less than 100 meters away from my AI. Perhaps about 80 meters.

But look what the rangefinder on my binoculars comes up with when I measure the distance from myself to the same AI squad member:
[MEDIA]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_T_1yvFwplAI/Std01VdlYZI/AAAAAAAAACg/ynt6w1gXWEs/s800/OFDR%202009-10-15%2014-54-19-02.png[/MEDIA]

You can see that I'm actually at a distance of about 100 meters. So it appears that the distance bar on the map isn't very accurate. To have a good idea of how far away you are from something, you should know the size of each grid, and count the grid lines from point A to B.

You may be wondering why this matters at all. Granted, most of the time we can just use the rangefinder if we can actually see what we want to measure. But currently in coop mode, the FTL can't point to an area on the map and have it show up for the rest of the team. So describing positions on the map will rely more on knowing how to measure the distance between two points using the map.

This is also useful if you know the approximate area of enemy encampments and the effective range of your weapons. If I know the approximate location of enemy forces on the map that I haven't seen yet, then I can make a better decision on where to position my team so that we are within effective firing range of the target. This is especially useful if I have a sniper in my fireteam.

It also comes in handy if you have a good feel for how far out enemy AI can see/detect you.

It would be better if CM removed the distance bar at the bottom right and simply displayed the area size of each grid according to the zoom level you are at.