Combined Arms

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It is called Digital Combat Simulator — not Digital Flight Simulator — and this module allows for that distinction to make a small amount of sense. Combined Arms is (almost) all about commanding and controlling mobile ground units. The “almost” part comes in because, while that is the mainline feature, that command functionality also extends to AI aircraft.

In terms of actual gameplay, Combined Arms gives you access to a couple of new roles that mostly come into play in multiplayer, and to some optional additional functionality for pilots. Specifically, missions can assign the roles “Game Master,” “Tactical Commander,” “JTAC,” and “Observer” — the latter being somehow distinct from picking the observer coalition as opposed to the A or B side. These roles simply offer different levels of control over ground units on the F10 map, along with different levels of map filtering:

• Game Masters can see and command all air and ground units on the map, and also directly control all mobile ground units.
• Tactical Commanders can command air and ground units for a specific coalition.
• JTACs can only directly control ground units, but cannot issue commands to entire groups.
• Observers can see all units, but cannot command or control any of them.

In addition, mission designers can offer pilots the ability to command (and control) ground units at an access level similar to the Tactical Commander, and assign exactly which units can be controlled this way. This means leaving the aircraft to its own devices while the pilot fiddles with the F10 map, or abandoning it to AI control to go drive around in a ground vehicle instead. Thus, unless the aircraft has a sensible autopilot and/or proper waypoints set up for an AI to follow, using these options will often avoid in a loss of an aircraft.

Commanding ground units

Troop command interface.

With Combined Arms installed, the F10 map

Acting as JTAC

Lasing mechanised infantry

Links and files

• DCS: Combined Arms in the DCS shop.