The ability to now 'go on patrol', explore, and complete objectives is a magnificent addition to the game. Here ate the problems that I can see with the way it is currently set up:
- The first opportunity to patrol was totally missed by me. I started at the guerilla base, walked up to the brit to 'report in', and then followed the next waypoint to the 'supply convo'y mission, without ever realising that the patrol options were available.
- When I first went on patrol, I was dropped in front of a small hamlet in the middle of the night with no NVGs or GPS. Because I was playing with no player map markers I had no idea where I was.
- The only way to find out about the patrol tasks are to evesdrop on conversations at base. Whilst this is a good way to get the player interested, it can be frustrating to a player who actively wants to know which tasks are available. Furthermore if the player encounters the areas in which tasks are happening without having heard of them the player will telepathically have the task assigned to him.
- Have some radio contact between Kerry and the base! This would allow Kerry to ask what tasks need to be done on the field (ask and be told about a random task), and would allow Kerry to radio when approaching an area asking if he needs to look out for anything (instead of automatically knowing about it). Also allow Kerry to phone home via supports when he completes a task, giving the player feedback for his actions.
- The interaction between the base and the player is an odd one. When I went on patrol from the second base I had only the 'reconnaissance' objective to the south to do, however heading south down the road only landed me back at the base. Furthermore when I returned to the base form the south I could see from the hills that the factory complex was totally empty. A few random patrolling FIA guards would help with this issue.