Player Guide
This document is intended to be a guide for players in different Domination combat roles. Different player actions are available depending on player role and player location.
The following buttons are important to playing Domination.
- mousewheel
- spacebar
- hold down the “U” key
Almost all actions in Domination use the three keys above. Powerful keys! Don't forget!
WARNING: If the “U” key didn’t do anything then you must visit Arma settings and configure the “Team switch” key. This should be configured to “U” key by default.
Hold the “U” key to see the Domination menu.
Use the Domination menu to perform many different actions:
- executing artillery strikes
- calling air taxis
- use hearing protection
- open the Domination dashboard
Hold the “U” key and press "1" to see the Domination dashboard. The Domination dashboard contains information regarding the current objective and side objectives as well as squad functionality and client features.
- shift - T
Press "Shift" key and "T" key to ping a target. A small yellow icon will briefly appear at the spot where you are looking. When you ping, all players on your side can see the yellow icon. This is an intuitive way to direct your teammates to fire on a specific target or area.
Players who are in a squad can “see” each other with extra game overlays and can use “green text” group chat to talk or type. Most importantly, you can teleport to the squad leader and quickly join the action. Be sure to join or create a squad!
To join a squad:
- open the Domination menu (hold U and press 1)
- click “Squad Management”
- left menu: create, join or invite players to a squad
- right menu: manager players within your squad (promote to squad leader, remove from squad etc.)
Most Domination servers allow unconscious players to be revived by anyone. To revive an unconscious player look directly at the player and use the mousewheel and spacebar. Note the revive action requires the player to hold the spacebar until the action is complete.
Reviving other players is required for a successful Domination game. Most games are configured with many enemies outnumbering the players. Getting killed is inevitable ...but your teammates can bring you back for more action.
Due to the large size of Arma 3 maps players may be far from the action. Here are the most efficient methods to get to the fun:
- teleport to a Mobile Headquarters (if MHQ is deployed)
- teleport to your Squad Leader (if squad leader is alive)
- parajump near the target
Here are the least efficient methods:
- fly a helicopter (every target area has anti-air defense)
- walking or driving a vehicle (very slow and some targets are 10+ km distance)
Some Domination servers emphasize realism and may disable the teleport option. In that case, be sure you meet the server requirements to fill the “pilot” role for the team. Realism servers often have dedicated pilots to transport players so be considerate.
To quickly move to where you can join the fight you can consider these options:
teleport between the following locations
- base
- mobile headquarters (MHQ) if deployed
parajump
- from base only
To teleport or parajump from base:
- look directly at the “base flag”
- use the mousewheel and spacebar to choose "parajump" or "teleport"
The “base flag” can look different on each map. Some maps will have a presentation “map board” stand. Other maps will have a flagpole. Just look for the “teleporter / parajump” marker on the map.
An example “base flag” (the map stand) below:
To parajump, choose a location outside of the target zone and don’t forget to open your parachute!
To teleport, choose a destination on the left. Note if you are in a squad there is an option to select “Squad Leader” as the destination. You will appear next to your squad leader.
A mobile headquarters (MHQ) is critical to giving players a spawn point near the action. Setting up an MHQ involves the following steps:
-
MHQ vehicle is available
-
pick up an ammobox
drive or fly the MHQ vehicle to “ammo service point”
- move the vehicle near the target area
Be careful. The enemy will hear you approach. If you are too close to the target area your vehicle/helicopter will certainly be destroyed.
- deploy the MHQ vehicle
use the mouswheel and choose “MHQ Menu” and choose “deploy MHQ”
The process of establishing an MHQ usually only needs to happen once at a target area. When a new target area is assigned it’s common for the players to elect someone to reposition the MHQ near the new combat area.
Domination servers support player-directed artillery. There are two phases to executing artillery in Domination:
- (mark) tag the target
- (execute) call the artillery strike
The mark phase is available in the laser designator “scoped” view by using the mousewheel when the laser is turned on.
The execute phase is available in the Domination menu.
Any player can tag an artillery target with a laser designator. The type of artillery fired can be determined when tagging the strike. There is usually an artillery “cooldown” period to limit the number of strikes.
Who may execute an artillery strike varies from server settings. Some servers will allow any player to execute the strike. Other servers will restrict the execution to squad leaders and players in the artillery slots.
Why didn’t the artillery fire? Did you forget to execute the artillery? Often players mark the artillery correctly but forget to issue the order to fire.
Why can't I see the artillery options in the laser designator? Did you forget to turn on the laser?
Laser designator required to mark artillery and CAS
Mark Artillery and CAS in the Domination menu
While marking the target choose type of artillery and number of salvos to request
Call the artillery strike (hold the "U" key, may be restricted to only squad leaders and artillery observer slots)
Allow time for the bots to fire the salvos and flight time for the shells. The delay before a splash depends on the map and location of the artillery units and the target.
CAS is the fast way to destroy an area. An eligible player can use a laser designator to mark a target. A friendly air asset will happily blow up that spot for you! There is a five minute “cooldown” period to limit the number of strikes. Please note that anti-air defenses can shoot down your friendly air.
Ordering CAS is available in the laser designator “scoped” view by using the mousewheel.
Some actions can only be executed while the player is standing at an MHQ. Walk up to a deployed MHQ, use the mousewheel to highlight "MHQ Menu" and press spacebar.
The MHQ menu provides free drones for observation. The player must switch operation between pilot (drone movement) and turret (camera). Note that "ping" markers (with shift-T) while in drone view cannot be seen by other players.
A high altitude view of the current target area via satellite.
Fact: there is a 99% chance that you shouldn’t be flying.
If you are flying then you hopefully you are experienced with all Arma controls. There is a “magic” service area at player base to repair, rearm and refuel helicopters and jets. Check the map for “plane service area” for these services.
Connecting to a Domination game is almost always a join-in-progress connection where the game session may have been running for hours, days or even weeks. Before you start, please be considerate of other players and how your actions may affect the ongoing game.
Examine the game situation and discuss strategies with other players particularly before moving vehicles since in many cases there is no need to drive or fly at all. Recognizing the “multiplayer” nature of Domination is critical to good gameplay. A bad player rarely even notices his teammates and would perhaps have more fun playing offline.