Tac-Ops brings Arma's "choose your own path" moto into its extremity. There are so many ways to approach the missions (and I have played only two by now), that I think it will be very interesting how people chose to completed the missions. So, share your Tac-Ops experiences! I'll start. Naturally, spoilers
Beyond Hope
During the briefing, I marked the lost squad's path. My plan was to follow it, or at least observe and look for them. After venturing into the enemy heartland, I spotted several patrols and moved in along the lost squad's trail, avoiding them. I had to stop several times and let them move away, ensuring that when my team moves, we will not get spotted.
I marked the map with landmarks I managed to spot, which were first only a burned out Strider and a distant smoke column. I still didn't spot any significant targets to mark for artillery fire missions when I found the survivor. I sent him away and climbed on the nearest hill. From there I was able to mark one of the enemy strongholds. The survivor reached safety and I was informed that he passed intel about an enemy mortar site, that was the smoke column I saw, probably from a campfire.
I moved towards the mortar battery and as I ascended higher hills, I spotted more strongholds, the captured squad by a warehouse, and an enemy Gorgon IFV. At that point there were patrols all around my team, and we layed in cover. I split my team in two, and assigned targets to each soldier. We were in hitting distance from the mortar battery although we didn't see any yet. Just some sentries.
I decided it's time to call in the fire missions. I realized that I was limited to three, so I selected the Gorgon and two strong-points guarding the attack routes into the town. My team will attack the mortar site itself.
I ordered in the fire missions and waited anxiously as I had patrols around me in less than 100 meters. The first rounds impacted in the distance. The Gorgon was burning, its crew dead besides it. We opened fire as we heared the distant gunshots of the main attack force.
*Thump*, *thump*, the mortars opened fire. That's according to my devilish plan but we have to be quick. I kept a suppression team with my machine gunner and assaulted up the hill. We took out a team that tried engage us as we climbed up. I reached the wrecked building on the hilltop. I heard a rifle firing behind the wall, I leaned and shot, killing two greenbacks. I lead my team right of the house and ordered my suppression team on the left. We saw the mortar gunners and killed them, leaving the tubes intact.
I set up a forward observation point on the wrecked building and as Stag puts it, put my optics to use. I had my team in line with me, right and left of the building and they engaged distant enemies. I didn't care whether they hit or not as long they kept them suppressed. The attacking friendlies will eliminate them easily if I'll manage to keep the enemy heads down.
And now for my devilish plan. I ordered my number 5 into one of the mortars. I chose targets and ordered the AI to "Fire mortar (or was it 'artillery fire')?" The AI fired at the point I looked at, or the point I marked on the map and we scored accurate hits. When we couldn't spot any targets, we rearmed, and boarded an enemy truck. We headed towards the lost squad who were cuffed by the warehouse. I un-cuffed them all, and they took arms. We got back to the truck and now only the town remained.
I drove from the back of the town, directly opposite from the direction the friendlies attacked. I hoped to shoot some backs. That worked and we engaged down the road in staggered column, taking out the defenders who took cover behind barricades, but were completely revealed to us. Mission accomplished, good run.
Beyond Hope
During the briefing, I marked the lost squad's path. My plan was to follow it, or at least observe and look for them. After venturing into the enemy heartland, I spotted several patrols and moved in along the lost squad's trail, avoiding them. I had to stop several times and let them move away, ensuring that when my team moves, we will not get spotted.
I marked the map with landmarks I managed to spot, which were first only a burned out Strider and a distant smoke column. I still didn't spot any significant targets to mark for artillery fire missions when I found the survivor. I sent him away and climbed on the nearest hill. From there I was able to mark one of the enemy strongholds. The survivor reached safety and I was informed that he passed intel about an enemy mortar site, that was the smoke column I saw, probably from a campfire.
I moved towards the mortar battery and as I ascended higher hills, I spotted more strongholds, the captured squad by a warehouse, and an enemy Gorgon IFV. At that point there were patrols all around my team, and we layed in cover. I split my team in two, and assigned targets to each soldier. We were in hitting distance from the mortar battery although we didn't see any yet. Just some sentries.
I decided it's time to call in the fire missions. I realized that I was limited to three, so I selected the Gorgon and two strong-points guarding the attack routes into the town. My team will attack the mortar site itself.
I ordered in the fire missions and waited anxiously as I had patrols around me in less than 100 meters. The first rounds impacted in the distance. The Gorgon was burning, its crew dead besides it. We opened fire as we heared the distant gunshots of the main attack force.
*Thump*, *thump*, the mortars opened fire. That's according to my devilish plan but we have to be quick. I kept a suppression team with my machine gunner and assaulted up the hill. We took out a team that tried engage us as we climbed up. I reached the wrecked building on the hilltop. I heard a rifle firing behind the wall, I leaned and shot, killing two greenbacks. I lead my team right of the house and ordered my suppression team on the left. We saw the mortar gunners and killed them, leaving the tubes intact.
I set up a forward observation point on the wrecked building and as Stag puts it, put my optics to use. I had my team in line with me, right and left of the building and they engaged distant enemies. I didn't care whether they hit or not as long they kept them suppressed. The attacking friendlies will eliminate them easily if I'll manage to keep the enemy heads down.
And now for my devilish plan. I ordered my number 5 into one of the mortars. I chose targets and ordered the AI to "Fire mortar (or was it 'artillery fire')?" The AI fired at the point I looked at, or the point I marked on the map and we scored accurate hits. When we couldn't spot any targets, we rearmed, and boarded an enemy truck. We headed towards the lost squad who were cuffed by the warehouse. I un-cuffed them all, and they took arms. We got back to the truck and now only the town remained.
I drove from the back of the town, directly opposite from the direction the friendlies attacked. I hoped to shoot some backs. That worked and we engaged down the road in staggered column, taking out the defenders who took cover behind barricades, but were completely revealed to us. Mission accomplished, good run.
The fewer men, the greater share of honor