ARMA 3 Basic Navigation

An Arma 3 Field Manual to Navigation. Beginner guide.

Directions

To better understand direction codes (bearings):

Open your GPS [Right Ctrl+M] or compass [2xK].

The direction matches the 360° system. North is marked as 000, East as 090 and so on. Coordinates are also visible on the map.

Clock position is often used for a relative direction. Based on a 12-hour clock analogy, 12 o'clock means directly ahead, 3 o'clock means right and so on. When you receive such information, a simple clock icon appears.

Bearings

Members of your team will often use phrases such as "enemy, 200 meters, west" in both the single player missions and multiplayer. It is then best to use a compass. You can also see the "bearing" on your compass. Bearing is a set of numbers that are spaced apart at the edges of the compass. For example, if someone in your group says "enemy, bearing 250", then open the compass and turn it, so the red line is on the number 250.

Map

The map is a powerful tool for navigation and commanding.

Open it by pressing [M].
Zoom the map in or out with [mouse-wheel up and down].
Try hiding or showing map textures or centering on your position. Buttons are located on the top toolbar.
Close the map by pressing [M] or [Esc].

Remember, you can only see the map if you have a GPS or Map in your Inventory.

Coordinates

Another element of navigation in the area is also the co-ordination of "grid". For example - the members of your group will use a phrase "enemy, grid 035051", when they'll spot an enemy at a certain location. In order to find out that location, you will have to open your map (M by default). You'll notice numbers on the left and the bottom side of the map. Grid co-ordination numbers always begin with the bottom side then the left. From each number there is a line, so you need to look at a spot where the lines from the number 035 and 051 connect with each other - that is where the enemy is located.
The coordinates refer to the whole squared area (grid location) not just the line-crossing. This is how the GPS will also report the location.

Tasks

ou have a new task. Tasks are mission objectives received from Command. To open mission tasks:

Open the task list [J].

Alternatively, you can access your tasks on the map.

Open the map [M] and select Tasks.

Goals from the active task are marked on your screen. To select a different task as active:

Open tasks [J].
Click on the task.
Then click on set as an active task.

Waypoints

Waypoints mark a location you are ordered to go to by your team-leader or a task. All waypoints and go-to orders will be shown by a marker on the screen. When moving in a formation, a formation marker will also be shown on the screen, but without any distance and description.

Task related waypoints are shown on the map. The displaying of waypoints depends on difficulty settings chosen.

Custom Waypoints

You can add a custom waypoint to a map. It will be displayed both on the map and in the scene. To add a waypoint

Open the map by [M].
Place the waypoint with [Left Shift]+[LMB].

[[H:T] Daniel]

custom waypoint likes to not work, any way to check settings?

[O6 Lima]

fadedreaper86, If you're talking about the tasks, maybe it is a custom mission that doesn't have tasks?

[fadedreaper86]

when i open my map i dont have that list on the top left could you help me out?

[Onisarius]

Pioneer 11, I didn't say anything about it teaching you about multiplayer, this is about it teaching a player core gameplay mechanics, and being able to find a way around in a pretty large open world that new players may not be familiar with. Those said new players could just be playing SP scenarios, campaign or some MP, everybody benefits from being able to navigate the map and use it to your advantage. Also I agree A3 Campaign = Top Campaign, and multiplayer is lacking, mainly just because it's extremely unorganised and lacks any team effort half the time.

[Jeni]

Onisarius, campaign doesn't teach you crap about anything on multiplayer lol. Tbh, I first played campaign when I got this game and those are my favorite memories playing this game, now at 600+ hours. Multiplayer seem's too CoD-ish now, if you know what I mean.

[Evilserge]

Well, calculating a distance with a map its a must know basics to use grenade launchers, rocket launchers. etc. I saw alot of ppl who didnt knew how to do that. They just shooting for a luck, and in 90% they didnt hit a target.

[O6 Lima]

I guess i could but tbh i intended this to be a beginner/basic guide. I might do an extended one soon

[Evilserge]

Please add to yre guide a more complete and extended info about map navigation. Calculating distance with a map, placing marks, etc. There is much more u can do.

[O6 Lima]

I can try but I need to get a little more proficcient with the level editor :P

[Onisarius]

I think it'd be helpful to add a little tutorial on cartography and learning how to navigate in the world using compass bearings and landmarks to find map locations and coords, like they do in the first mission of the a3 campaign, still I think new players might lack that info.