MULTI-PLAYER GAME FEATURES
Multi-Player Features
Co-Operative Features Deathmatch Features

 

CO-OPERATIVE FEATURES

Co-Operative Mode emphasizes teamwork, and allows players the chance to work together as one or two five-man SWAT teams. With support for up to ten players, up to two teams of five can work in tandem to accomplish the mission objectives. One person on the team is assigned the position of element leader, while the rest of the players on the team occupy the assaulter positions: Red1, Red2, Blue1, and Blue2.

If and when the starting element leader expires, the player in the Red1 position becomes the element leader. Succession is repeated, followed by Red2, Blue1, and eventually Blue2.

 

Co-operative missions are scored like the single-player missions, with a debriefing screen at the end summarizing each team’s overall success at completing the mission’s objectives.

 

Visual Aids

As an assaulter, your primary job is to follow the commands of your element leader. However, receiving commands in a multi-player game can be confusing. To help you make sense of the commands you receive (the what & where of the command) four interface features have been added to the multi-player version of SWAT3:

Navigational Lines
Direction / Distance Assist
Command Box
Command Tags

Navigation Lines

Navigation lines graphically display the most direct path from the command recipient’s position to the command point or object. Nav lines are red and can be toggled “On” and “Off” using the (default) “P” key.

Nav lines are removed from the screen two ways; first, they can be toggled “Off” and second, they automatically disappear when the commanded player is in line of sight of the command point or object.

The “P” key is the default setting and can be changed in the Options, Key Mapping screen.

Distance/Direction Assist

Incorporated into each weapon’s reticule interface is a distance meter and a two-part direction arrow.

The  distance meter and the two-part arrow appear upon receipt of a command.

The distance meter displays the distance between the command recipient’s position and the command point or object. As the command recipient moves closer or further away from the command point the number dynamically changes.

Moving around the reticule in a 360 degree pattern, the two-part arrow points in the direction of the command point (arrow outline) and the direction of the best path (solid arrow). Both arrows dynamically adjust as the command recipient changes his position in relationship to the command point or object. The two-part arrow disappears when the command is completed

The Distance/Direction Assist feature cannot be toggled on or off.

 

Command Box

The Command Box displays commands issued by the element leader, and is located above the assaulter’s Response Menu.

Active commands are displayed in green text upon receipt. The active command persists until another command is issued or the recipient responds to the element leader using the Response Menu.

The Command Box feature is active only if the Response Menu is toggled “On”.

Press the “M” key to toggle the Response Menu “On” and “Off”.

 

Command Tags

Command Tags exist on the 2-D plane of the player’s “face shield”. This means that command tags will move or float across, and possibly off, the screen as the player moves his “head” (mouse direction).

There are two types of command tags available to help the assaulter; a tic box and a target icon. The tic box and target command tags are the same color green as the Command Box text and appear upon command.

Target icons are used when directional commands (Clear to the right, Breach door) and general commands (Clear room) are issued.

The tic box is used when the issued command relates to or targets a character, such as “Fall In” or “Restrain”.

The tic box command tag disappears when a new command is issued, or if a dynamic event occurs (such as shots fired).

The target command tag is shown at the location that the element leader is requesting an action. When you either enter the area designated by the command tag, or are less than fifty (50) feet from the target area and are facing in its direction, the target command tag will “snap” to your reticule to let you know that you are currently within or are aiming at the location designated by your element leader. The target command tag disappears permanently once the command has been completed.

The tic box appears around the character (element leader) that issued the command “Fall-In”. As the character moves away the tic box scales smaller. The tic box persists until a different order is issued.

 

Element Leader View Port

Just like assaulters, the element leader has a small camera mounted onto his helmet that can be accessed with the press of a key. 

View port keys function two ways. First as an on-off toggle switch, and second as a   sequential switch.

View port Key as a toggle: Click a view port key once and the view port of choice appears. Click the key a second time and the view port disappears.

View port key as a sequential switch: Click a view port key once and the view port of choice appears. Click a second view port key and the view port replaces the first.

To clear the view port from the screen, click the second key a second time.  

Should a second team be operating in the mission with you, you can switch to the view from that team by pressing the “]” key. Press the key again to return to your team’s view.

Default keys are assigned to each team position:

INSERT: Red1
HOME: Red2
DELETE
: Blue1
END
: Blue2.
BACKSLASH:
Element Leader 

To change the view port’s default key mapping go to the Keyboard Mapping Screen. For instructions on how to change the key mapping, see above Main Menu, Options.

 

Communications

The Element Leader’s Command Menu was introduced in the single player portion of SWAT3, and is incorporated into both Co-Operative and Team Deathmatch multi-player gameplay. The functionality of the Command Menu is consistent between single player and multi-player; it is a menu system built on a tree structure, with communiqués accessed by number keys. For details on the Command Menu, refer to the Single-Player Communications Section.

Multi-Player Command Menu

In multi-player mode, the Command Menu has been expanded to enhance communication between the element leader and his team. To that end, the Command Menu has new options, including an expanded root directory and the addition of branching Opti-Wand messages.

Expanded Root Directory

8: Copy

Pressing the [8] key from the root directory results in the element leader transmitting the phrase “Copy” to his team. “Copy” is a phrase used to acknowledge a comment, and is used in any situation in which the element leader wants to let his team know that a comment has been received and understood.

9: Custom Chat

Pressing the number [9] key from the root directory expands the message menu by one level. The expanded menu allows the element leader to send customized messages to the individual teams or to the element.

Custom Chat messages are configured through the Main Menu Options screen.

 

Opti-Wand Messages

1 - 3: [Element, Red, Blue]

Pressing the [1-3] keys from the root directory defines a recipient and expands the message menu by one level. When the Opti-Wand is active, the message options on the second level include the number [9] key, the Opti-Wand.

Pressing the number [9] key expands the message menu by one level. The message options on the third level relate to potential threats, or the presence of hostages, as seen in the Opti-Wand image screen. 1: All Clear – Reports no sign of threats, as seen through the Opti-Wand.

2: Civilian – Pressing the number [2] key allows the player to report on the status of civilian(s), as seen through the Opti-Wand, and expands the menu to provide various modifiers:

                    1: Lone Civilian
                   
2: Multiple Civilians
                   
3: Plus Lone Threat
                   
4: Plus Multiple Threats        

3: Hostage – Pressing the number [3] key allows the player to report on the status of hostage(s), as seen through the Opti-Wand, and expands the menu to provide various modifiers:

                    1: Lone Hostage
                   
2: Multiple Hostages
                   
3: Plus Lone Threat
                   
4: Plus Multiple Threats

4: Suspect – Pressing the number [4] key allows the player to report on the status of suspect(s), as seen through the Opti-Wand, and expands the menu to provide various modifiers:

          1: Lone Suspect
         
2: Multiple Suspects

5: Multiple Persons Down – Reports multiple persons are wounded or neutralized.

For further details on the Command Menu, refer to the Single-Player Communications Section.

 

Team-To-Team Communication

If you are playing the current mission with two teams of assaulters, you may converse with the other team using both the chat box and custom chat features. Note that only the chat box and custom chat messages which are directed to “All” will be seen by the other team.

 

Debrief

The Debriefing Screen for Multi-Player Co-Operative mode functions in the same fashion as the single-player Co-Operative Debrief Screen, with the addition of a chat box for you to talk to the other game participants. For information about the debrief screen, see the Single-Player section.

 


Return To FAQ Main

Next: Deathmatch Features
Previous: General  Features