Welcome to boot camp, Private! This section covers some of Operation Flashpoint's important concepts. Follow the strategies revealed here to start down the path of success.

It's Not a First-Person Shooter

Don't play Operation Flashpoint as you would Quake or Unreal Tournament. You can't charge into enemy territory and hope to take down all enemy soldiers without the help of your squad or without the safety of cover. It takes only a couple of shots to kill you. Plus, missions don't take place in tight corridors--you'll be in wide-open landscape--and enemy soldiers can take you out at long range from any direction before you can even see them!

Everything Can Be Used As Cover

To survive you must find cover during combat situations. Objects such as trees, forests, bushes, hills, abandoned vehicles, and the corners of buildings can be used as cover. The Soviets are good shots. If you stand exposed, you will be taken out. Get prone and take cover in foliage or behind objects so enemy soldiers can't eliminate you in a single shot.

Many Solutions to Each Problem

One of the beauties of Operation Flashpoint is its open-ended mission structure. There's no clear path through a mission. It's possible to solve problems through a variety of solutions. For instance, you may discover a drivable vehicle and use it for your mission. Then again, you may eschew the vehicle and tackle the mission on foot. If something isn't working, try a different route, search for a vehicle, or use other weapons in an effort to achieve mission success.

Don't Forget Your Explosives

In addition to your firearms, you also have access to a variety of explosives, including hand grenades and satchel charges. All types of explosives should come in handy during missions. For instance, you can use satchel charges as a trap. Place a satchel charge and lure enemy soldiers within its blast radius. Stand out of the radius and detonate the charge to eliminate the soldiers. Experiment with explosives and put them to good use, especially if you are having a tough time with a particular mission problem.

Zoom and the Sniper Rifle Are Your Friends

All of Operation Flashpoint's weapons are powerful, but you may find the most success with the sniper rifle. Nailing enemy soldiers from long range has obvious advantages. You can eliminate most enemies before they are ready to fire back. The sniper rifle is best used with the support of a squad. The squad can battle the enemy soldiers while you pick those same soldiers off with the long-range weapon. Also, don't forget to use the zoom (defaults to the right mouse button) with regular weapons.

Take Matters Into Your Own Hands

Sometimes your squad just won't get the job done. Sometimes they perform well, but play the mission again and the Russians may overwhelm them. If your squad can't seem to handle the opposition, take matters into your own hands. For instance, if the mission contains an enemy tank or BMP, you may wish to equip a LAW launcher (if available) and destroy the vehicle yourself.

Safety in Numbers

Whether you are in command of a squad or just a member of a squad, it's wise to remain in formation--the same goes if you're the commander or a member of a tank platoon. You'll have a much greater edge over the Russian soldiers if you are near additional firepower. As a commander, you can order your squad to attack specific targets. As a squad member, you can let your commander assign specific targets to you or assist other members in taking down a particular Soviet or enemy vehicle.

Use Enemy Supplies

It's possible to find enemy weapons and ammunition during the mission, which can be used to replace your own. For instance, search a dead enemy soldier and grab his weapon. You'll also find ammo crates scattered around enemy bases. Make a pit stop and replenish your supply of grenades or grab some ammunition for your new weapon.

Taking Command

Being in command of your own squad is one of the most enjoyable aspects of Operation Flashpoint. When ordering your squad, apply the same rules to the squad as you would apply to yourself. For instance, don't expose your squad to enemy fire without available cover, and don't send a single soldier to accomplish a task the whole squad should help support. Assign specific targets for your squad and use numbers to your advantage. For instance, assign two LAW soldiers against a single tank to ensure its destruction. A single soldier may not find the same success.

The Overhead Map Is Vital

In nearly every mission you have access to the important overhead map. It breaks down locations by grid coordinates and provides vital information on where to proceed next. You can also use it to instruct your squad where to go or what to attack. You can use the overhead map to pinpoint the optimum route to a particular town, objective, or mission area.

Use Repair Trucks, Ammo Trucks, and Medics

Don't forget to employ other means of support during the mission. For instance, in a tank mission, you may have access to a repair truck or an ammo truck, which can repair or restock your tank's ammunition respectively. Also, in an infantry mission, you may have a medic as part of your squad. If you've been wounded, use the medic as soon as possible. That same medic may perish in battle, and if you failed to use his medical expertise, you may pay the price later in the mission.
 

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