Notice.
ArmA 3 (A3) is heavily dependent on cpu performance so if you want the most out of this game and have the ability to overclock or willingness to learn then overclocking the cpu is a big help. This is beyond the scope of this guide (obviously) and you do so at your own risk.
Any Mods installed may cause issues playing on public servers. If you play online then be wary that mods may cause conflicts. After installing any mod listed below test it on your favorite servers and if it causes conflicts then it is not for you.
Any Mods installed may cause issues playing on public servers. If you play online then be wary that mods may cause conflicts. After installing any mod listed below test it on your favorite servers and if it causes conflicts then it is not for you.
Install the game and initial setup.
After installing the game, back up your game files somewhere safe. Next run it for the first time and you will be greeted by the game launcher. The Dashboard tab is the generic home page of the launcher, the News tab displays the latest information pertaining to the game, the Mods tab is where you organise your mods the Battleye tab is basically a legal notification place for the third party Battleye software (leave it enabled), the Servers tab is a server browser and for now we will vist the Parameters tab and configure some settings.
Parameters Menu.
Inside the parameters menu there are two tabs; the "Favorites" tab and the "All Parameters" tab. Under the "All Parameters" tab search for the following game parameters and set them accordingly. There are two other parameters not shown here that you should enable if you want to load to the menu as fast as possible. If that is what you wish to do then also select the "Show static background in menu" and "Skip logos at startup" parameters. Once you have done that at the bottom left click the orange "PLAY" button.
Inside the parameters menu there are two tabs; the "Favorites" tab and the "All Parameters" tab. Under the "All Parameters" tab search for the following game parameters and set them accordingly. There are two other parameters not shown here that you should enable if you want to load to the menu as fast as possible. If that is what you wish to do then also select the "Show static background in menu" and "Skip logos at startup" parameters. Once you have done that at the bottom left click the orange "PLAY" button.
Now that you are in game load up a showcase mission or preferably an empty editor map (Tanoa is best) and configure your video and sound settings to your desire. If you use the editor place a character and play/preview. The reason I suggest an empty map is that some of the showcase missions rely heavily on the cpu so you will be running at lower than usual fps which has nothing to do with your video settings.
You can also take some time to configure your keybinds. There will be many to set to your liking, however luckily A3 has presets you can apply to save you time. Upon further exploration of the games menu's it can be noted that the HUD is completely configurable, I turn everything off for the purposes of immersion.
Wide angle and surround/eyefinity fixes.
Fixing the FOV
Sometimes A3 sets the field of view just fine, however especially for multi-monitor setups the FOV can be set incorrectly by default. The following slideshow demonstrates the difference a FOV adjust can make, with the minimum FOV set to 70, the default FOV and the maximum FOV on a multi monitor setup. This online tool will help you calculate the correct FOV settings, which you will need to edit in the Documents\Arma 3\**yourprofilename**.Arma3Profile file using a text editor like Notepad++.
Enter your resolution and your desired FOV in tool and click the "calculate FOV values" button. Find the two values "fovTop=" & "fovLeft=" and set the new parameter, then save and close. If you want to revert to default then change your aspect ration back in the video settings menu. |
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Sli fixes.
The only major issue present for sli/xfire users is that the Picture in Picture elements (pip) such as the rear view mirrors of vehicles or the targeting screens in vehicles have a flickering effect. There is currently no known solution for this that I have tested. Please comment below if you know of one.
Mods to Further enhance visuals and immersion.
Note that after installing any mod you should ensure it is compatible with the multiplayer servers you enjoy playing on as some of these may conflict with the server rules. If you only plan on playing single player then you can freely install of the following mods. Installing mods through the steam workshop is simple, just find the mod you like and click the "subscribe" button. This will ensure the mods download, install and remain updated.
A comprehensive mod management guide can be found here, I will just cover the basics. A description of the mods used in this guide can be found in the "Mod descriptions." section of this guide below. To streamline mod installation instead of having you hunt through the workshop I have shared the mods list for you, which can be used to auto install them. First download the following file:
A comprehensive mod management guide can be found here, I will just cover the basics. A description of the mods used in this guide can be found in the "Mod descriptions." section of this guide below. To streamline mod installation instead of having you hunt through the workshop I have shared the mods list for you, which can be used to auto install them. First download the following file:
Once you have saved that file to a directory of your choice open the A3 Launcher. Under the "Mods" menu (1) click the "---More" drop down list (2) and select the "Import list of mods from a file..." option (3). Now navigate to where you saved the file you just downloaded and select it. the mods listed here will then begin to download and install.
Once the mods have installed you should enable them by selecting the checkbox. afterwards select the "PRESET" drop down menu (4) and select the "SAVE AS" option, then name and save your preset. From now on the game will launch with the activated mods applied. If you wish to play the vanilla game then select the "PLAY" drop down menu (6) and choose the "Play without mods" option (7).
Mod descriptions.
ADR-97 Weapon Pack (Official Mod)
This is a simple mod release by Bohemia Interactive to promote the modding community. the following video includes a tutorial on installing mods if my instructions were unclear, along with the mod showcase.
This is a simple mod release by Bohemia Interactive to promote the modding community. the following video includes a tutorial on installing mods if my instructions were unclear, along with the mod showcase.
Blastcore Edited (standalone version)
Blastcore is a mod that overhauls many visual effects in game, mainly explosions and tracers. The original author has ceased updating the mod, however Paladin has updated it for the latest version of A3. On top of this mod you can add an extra mod to increase the burn time of wrecks. I did not include this in the install package because of potential performance hit, you can subscribe to this extra mod here.
Blastcore is a mod that overhauls many visual effects in game, mainly explosions and tracers. The original author has ceased updating the mod, however Paladin has updated it for the latest version of A3. On top of this mod you can add an extra mod to increase the burn time of wrecks. I did not include this in the install package because of potential performance hit, you can subscribe to this extra mod here.
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CBA_A3
This is a modding tool, it is used to give extra functionality to mods. You need this mod to make other mods work.
This is a modding tool, it is used to give extra functionality to mods. You need this mod to make other mods work.
CH View Distance
This mod adds an in game configurable menu to change the view distance dynamically based on whether the player is on foot, in a land vehicle or an air vehicle as well as terrain quality. this is useful because in an aircraft a large view distance and low quality terrain is preferable, whilst on foot a shorter view distance and higher quality terrain is preferable. The following video showcases this mod well, however instead of accessing it through the acition menu as the video suggests simply press ctrl + backslash.
This mod adds an in game configurable menu to change the view distance dynamically based on whether the player is on foot, in a land vehicle or an air vehicle as well as terrain quality. this is useful because in an aircraft a large view distance and low quality terrain is preferable, whilst on foot a shorter view distance and higher quality terrain is preferable. The following video showcases this mod well, however instead of accessing it through the acition menu as the video suggests simply press ctrl + backslash.