Steam Community :: Guide :: Graphic Control Measure (GCMs) for Arma III

Store Page

Arma 3

All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos Workshop News Guides Reviews

Arma 3 > Guides > Greybeard's Guides

61 ratings

Graphic Control Measure (GCMs) for Arma III

By Greybeard

* * * Rate, Comment & Follow * * *

Graphic Control Measures (GCMs) allow Ground Force Commanders to better manage their Soldiers through the use of: symbols, terms and text. GCMs use become increasingly important as the complexity of missions increase (such as in Combined Arms). GCMs allow the Commanders Intent (CI) to better remain failthful to its origional mission outcome requirements.

Award

Created by

Greybeard
Offline

Category: Gameplay Basics

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

6 Feb, 2018 @ 4:34am

20 Feb, 2018 @ 7:16am

3,994	Unique Visitors
144	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

Introduction

1) Military Units

2) Unit Size

3) Maneuver Markers

4) Civilian Markers

5) Terrain Features

6) World Flags

7) A3 Map Modification Example

8) A3 Scenario Example (Map Briefing)

8a) A3 Scenario Enemy ORBAT Example

8b) A3 Scenario Friendly ORBAT Example

9) Real World Aviation Markers

10) Real World TRP

11) Real World Engineer

12) Real World Target Overlay

13) Real World Support Markers

14) Respawn Markers

15) "Free-Hand" Markers

Conclusion

Comments

Introduction

In this guide we will look at both 'real-world' map markers and A3 map markers (default and modification) AND a scenario...

1) Military Units

1a) Real World Military Units

Friendly Forces - Rectangular shape (blue)

Enemy Forces - Diamond shape (red)

Neutral - Square shape (green)

UNK - Clover shape (yellow)

1b) A3 Military Units

Friendly Forces - Rectangular shape (blue)

Enemy Forces - Diamond shape (red)

Independent - Square shape (green)

UNK - Not used as symbol but as a color marker

2) Unit Size

2a) Real World Unit Sizes

2b) A3 Unit Sizes

3) Maneuver Markers

3a) Real World Movement

3b) A3 Movement

4) Civilian Markers

4a) Real World Civilian Markers

4b) A3 Civilian Markers
Civilian - Clear/white but can be colored if used by other forces

5) Terrain Features

5a) Real World Terrain Features

5b) A3 Terrain Features

6) World Flags

6a) Real World flags

6b) A3 flags

7) A3 Map Modification Example

Some examples taken from the Workshop mods:

8) A3 Scenario Example (Map Briefing)

Map view with NO markers

Map WITH markers

OBJ area

ASSLT lanes - covered by terrain/smoke

SBF position - covered by rocl/smoke

OP Miller/IFV QRF Infil

EA Ford/Nissan - AT engagement area(s)

EA BMW - AA/Speedboat engagement area(s)

Supply Point/QRF

East Side Security Position - AT position

West Side Security Position - AT position

IDAP - No Fire Zone (NFZ)

Rotary/Medical - Restricted Fire Zone (Medical)

LOA

MLRS - On call only to avoid collateral damage

Map view with NO markers

8a) A3 Scenario Enemy ORBAT Example

Thermal Image

Supply Point

Rotary

Medical (Restrictive Fire Zone)

IVF Blocking Position

Static AT

Static AA

Static MG

8b) A3 Scenario Friendly ORBAT Example

C2 Command Post

East Side Security

West Side Security

AA Position

Medical

Supply/Repair Point

Speedboats Position

MLRS

ASSLT Element

SBF

IFV QRF

9) Real World Aviation Markers

10) Real World TRP

Target Reference Point (TRP)

11) Real World Engineer

12) Real World Target Overlay

13) Real World Support Markers

Medical

Supplies

14) Respawn Markers

Default plus some modification choices:

15) "Free-Hand" Markers

CQB marking (marking each house and side) (blue dot to signal house is 'cleared')

Blue/Purple Kill Box (Air to Surface/Air to Air engagements)

CAS targets with SDZ (Surface Danger Zone) and PL (Phase Lines)

Conclusion

As we can see, GCMs are very helpful for A3 players to identify:

Enemy/Friendly position(s)

key terrain

movement route(s)

No/Restricted Fire Zone (NFZ/RFZ)

"Free-Hand" markings (CQB, Surface Danger Zone, Phase Lines, LOA)

GCMs allow everybody to be:

on the same 'page' with each other

informed about important information available to everyone (on the map)

allows coordination bewteen different elements (Combined Arms)

15 Comments

< >

Pripyat Lizard 🦎 11 Dec, 2021 @ 1:38pm

It's an ACE3 feature.

DeWeese 11 Dec, 2021 @ 9:14am

nope

Greybeard [author] 11 Dec, 2021 @ 9:13am

Not sure but you should be able to manipulate the markers by engaging the 'shift' button and clicking on the marker and rotating it via your 'mouse'

DeWeese 11 Dec, 2021 @ 8:47am

in vanilla u can't make ur markers point anywhere other than north

Greybeard [author] 11 Dec, 2021 @ 8:44am

DeWees...some are vanilla and some are mods found in the workshop...

DeWeese 11 Dec, 2021 @ 7:17am

how did u make those map markers ???

Jingle 18 May, 2020 @ 1:34am

What map marker mods did you use in Section 7?

Pripyat Lizard 🦎 4 Jul, 2018 @ 10:21am

If you'd like to be more in depth about the examples that'd be helpful for people that use this as an actual guide. As of now unless you know what you're looking at it probably just looks really confusing. A quick example briefing under each picture would explain when and where to use different markers. I like the guide, it looks very enthusiastic and hopefully will be stumbled upon by future players.

Greybeard [author] 4 Jul, 2018 @ 10:13am

Good point. I've thought about a "Terms" section at the end but it really should be at the begining, like you said. Thanks for the idea.

Pripyat Lizard 🦎 4 Jul, 2018 @ 9:04am

I was just curious considering this extensive guide. Some feedback, you might want to introduce terminology at the start. Most people don't know what a limit of advance (LOA) or phase line (PL) is etc.

If you ever want to help it might be fun making some missions together focused on coordination and realism rather than cutscenes or run and gun.

< >