UNIT: Vertexmacht
TO: Arma 3 Creator DLC Users
OPSUM: Introduction to Global Mobilization Update 1.6
EVALUATION
Hello Arma 3 Community!
Today we are introducing the 1.6 update for Global Mobilization - Cold War Germany. A lot has changed under the hood of GM, besides new content, new gameplay features have also been introduced, as well as some fundamental adjustments to how GM plays overall. Let's dive right in:
OVERVIEW
Fundamental AI Weapon Rework
GM's weapons were unintentionally too accurate in the hands of AI, while you as a player got the actual ballistics that we encoded. For the longest time, this aspect of GM went unnoticed even by us, as from the technical side (the plain numbers in the code) everything looked correct. The community reported tougher battles against AI, and we couldn't find any reason why this should be. We were going nuts, chasing what seemed to us to be some ghost bug.
Turns out there was a parsing issue with the AI weapon accuracy values. We used some more advanced configuration formatting, which happens to explicitly not work with AI values but worked elsewhere just fine. So even when we directly compared the weapon configuration values to those of other A3 weapons, they were not suspicious to us. We couldn’t spot any difference that could explain the reports.
Long story short, this is now solved and the AI will no longer shoot you with deadly accuracy. You’ll actually hear some bullets whizz by first for a change.
RakJPz 2
Based on the chassis of the Light Tank Family, the Raketenjagdpanzer 2 is a light and nimble tank hunter, with a low profile and 14 devastating SS.11 anti-tank missiles. It provides NATO forces with lethal precision all the way out to 3000m.
The Multiplayer Coop Mission “Missile Safari” was updated to provide a couple of these for you to go hunting with.
9P133
The East is getting a counterpart to the missile hunter: The 9P133. A BRDM-2 based carrier with six guided missiles, it is viciously fast, small, and very effective at repelling advancing Western tank formations.
KPz 1A4
The KPz 1A4 arrives! This particular variant of the West German Main Battle Tank (MBT) has one specific advantage over all its other siblings: An advanced Hunter-Killer system was deployed on this variant, enabling the vehicle's commander to temporarily take control of the turret to override the gunner's aim. This greatly enhances the cooperation between the gunner and commander.
To make this new feature more accessible in game, we have updated the Multiplayer Co-op Scenario “Fat Cats.” You will now be sent to destroy the enemy in this new tank.
Additionally, other vehicles like the SpPz 2 and Spz 1 also now have this feature enabled. To use it, simply press Ctrl + T as commander to toggle the override mode (You can change this hotkey binding in the options).
KPz 1A5DK1
The KPz 1A5DK1 is a unique variant of the large KPz 1 family. Based on the hull and turret of a KPz 1A3, it incorporates all the benefits of the KPz 1A5 in a modern package. One vehicle per platoon was equipped with a dozer blade, similar to that of the BPz 2, ready to move obstacles out of the way.
Drivers of vehicles equipped with a dozer blade can operate it via the Dozer Blade Up/Down controls (You can set these hotkey binding in the options, as they are unbound by default).
Mortars
West Germany is now equipped with the M120 mortar, both as static and or inside a new PzMrs M113A1G variant. East Germany and Poland receive the 2B11. Since no mobile equivalent exists for the East, we've enabled these static mortars to be loaded using Arma 3's Vehicle-in-Vehicle system through the action menu. The same loading functionality is available to the SPG-9 as well. The static tripod DSHKM can now be disassembled and carried, albeit slowly.
TPz1 Versions
Battlefield support in the form of Medical and Radio Jamming arrives on the TPz1 Platform. While the medical variant works as all other ambulance vehicles, the TPz1 VHF Jammer is purely cosmetic and has no deeper gameplay features, besides serving as a great high value target that you don't regularly see in games.
DDR ‘90
East Germany is getting a modernization! We're introducing the East German Uniform Trials (UTV), consisting of a new uniform, carry rig, and M86 helmets - a shorter variant of the M56 helmet. The new motorized infantry will also by default carry the BESPA armor vest system, giving them ballistic protection equal to Armor Level II. As their default weapon they carry an East German produced all-black MPi AK74N.
Their rides have gotten an upgrade, too: The BMP-1P with its 9K111 ATGM.
All in all we found this to be the most believable selection of real, existing historic gear that would have been a logical upgrade of East Germany’s military throughout the 1990s.
Poland
The Polish and East German special forces are now partially equipped with the Ochra protective vest, a ballistic vest made in Poland, comparable to Armor Level II of other vests in Arma 3. It is available in six different colors.
Scene Building
Various grenades and rockets are now placeable objects. Along with a new selection of crates for both East and West.
Light Features
All vehicles now offer additional light mode settings. With the default keybind of Ctrl + L you can now switch to blackout lights or convoy light mode for vehicles where appropriate.
Additionally, all vehicles that have turn indicators can now make use of them. The default bindings for this are Q and E. You can remap them from the Control Options if you wish to do so.
CLOSING WORDS
This now marks our 6th update for this CDLC after it was released six years ago. That is quite a long time, which leaves both the community and ourselves wondering if the ride will continue. We can confidently tell you that we are going on further. There is more to come, a lot more. As usual we cannot reveal any details about what's next, but we can share with you the fact that we are already way too deep into it, and that it will be sooner than later.
You can reach us on our Discord Server to get into direct contact with us developers should you have feedback, wish to report and resolve issues, or you have a great idea for the project that you want to share!
We made the decision to release the GM 1.6 update the way it is now, to not leave you all waiting too long.
Until then,
- Vertexmacht