ALiVE.OS · ALiVE 3 Development

Operations Command

Gives commanders a tablet for battlefield intel and hands-on control of friendly groups.

In development · ALiVE 3

ALiVE 3 is in active development. This briefing describes work in progress, and the behaviour it covers is subject to change as testing continues. Check the changelog at the foot of the page for what has moved recently.

On this page

Overview

What Operations Command does

This module hands players a command tablet split into two screens: an intelligence view and an operations view. The intel view shows commander objectives, unit marking data, and (if enabled) an imagery camera a player can pan, zoom, and switch between normal, night vision, and thermal to inspect the battlefield from above. The operations view lists AI groups under the player's side or faction, shows them on a map, and lets a player take direct command of one, either by joining it in person or spectating it, plan and issue movement waypoints for it, and lock a group so the AI Commander stops giving it orders while the player is using it. The tablet interfaces are now scaled to a fixed shape that no longer stretches on ultrawide screens, and joining a group opens a unit picker so a player can choose exactly which soldier or vehicle seat to drop into.

The intel view also opens the Commander's Picture: what your side's AI Commander has found out about the objectives it's about to attack, what you've heard on the radio and how your own air requests are going. If the mission allows it, the same page lets players hurry an attack, call an airstrike, and pause, resume or change the stance of the commander itself.

Capabilities

What it handles

Battlefield intel

Objectives, unit marking and imagery

The intel screen lets a player pick between commander objectives and unit marking data for their side, faction, or the whole battlefield, depending on how the mission is set up. If imagery is turned on for the mission, a third option puts up an overhead camera the player can aim at any point on the map and view in normal, night vision, or thermal.

Commander's Picture

What your AI Commander has found out

Press Commander on the Intel page, or pick Commander's Picture in the C2ISTAR menu, right after Intel. The Commander tab lists the objectives your side's AI Commander is finding out about, with how sure it is ("sure 25%", then "sure 100% (enough)") or whether it's "going in", has "taken" it or has "let go". It needs a commander with Find Out Before Attacking on, and Commander's Picture on the C2ISTAR module not Off (Read only by default).

Recon and sightings

Where the recon has got to

Pick an objective and the map goes there. A line says where the air, ground and player recon have got to and how many enemy groups were seen, and how long ago. The groups show on the map only when the commander's Intel Markers are on; otherwise you get the counts. Once an objective is taken, the line says what happened to the groups seen there: destroyed, last seen falling back, or not accounted for. The page refreshes every 30 s.

Radio and Air

Radio Log and Air Picture

The Radio tab lists what you've heard on the radio since you joined, newest first. The Air tab shows the air reports and, under "Your air requests:", your newest 8 requests to the air commander and where each stands: being planned, waiting for an aircraft, under way, aircraft on the way, aircraft heading home or over. Pick one that's still open and press Cancel. Only the player who asked can cancel it.

Commander orders

Go now, Look again, Strike

With Commander's Picture at Read and orders, players the C2ISTAR Ops limit admits get buttons for a picked objective. While the commander is still finding out, Go now sends the attack in with what it knows, and Look again has it find out for up to 10 more minutes (twice per objective), asking for another air recce if the last one is over. Strike, while it's finding out or going in, asks for close air support on the latest enemy vehicle seen there. Each objective takes one order a minute, and each player one every two minutes.

Commander settings

Pause, stance and Start the war

With no objective picked, Commander > opens AI Commander settings: each commander on your side, whether it's running, paused or holding until Go, its stance, Intel Wait and how sure it must be. Pause, Resume, +5 min / -5 min and +10% / -10% need Commander's Picture at Read and orders and are for admins unless Commander Controls says otherwise. Set stance also works whenever the C2ISTAR menu's OPCOM Stance would: Player OPCOM Stance Control on and a C2ISTAR access item or ALiVE tablet carried. A read-only page says which setting stops the change. While a commander set to Hold Until Go is waiting, an admin gets Start the war on the Commander tab.

Status line

What the commander is waiting for

The Commander tab's status line says what each commander on your side is doing, whether it finds out first or not: "Holding after taking Agia Marina: no new attack for up to 10 min, or until its tasks are done.", "Preparing to assault Kamino: 2 tasks asked for, 5 min until it goes ahead." or, for an Assault (waves) commander, "Assault: wave 1 is on grid 040030, the next in 10 min." With Military Logistics it adds the force pool, such as "Force pool: 700, with 10 more every 15 min from held objectives." On the settings page, Send now sends an Assault commander's next wave as soon as there are groups free.

Group command

Take command of AI groups

The operations screen lists eligible AI groups on the map, with any you've locked pulled into a battle group at the top. Pick a group by double-clicking it on the map, join it in person (teleporting to it) or spectate it remotely, then lock it so the AI Commander stops ordering it while you use it. Objectives you set on the tablet for an insurgency commander get insurgents sent to them too.

Instant Join

Pick the exact unit to take over

Joining a group opens a unit picker that lists every soldier in it, marks the group leader, and shows vehicle seats (driver, commander, gunner, turret, passenger) so a player can drop into a specific role rather than a random slot. Taking over works on dedicated servers, survives the player being killed and respawning, and hands the AI unit back cleanly when the player cancels.

Display scaling

Ultrawide-friendly tablet

The command tablet, and the other ALiVE tablets alongside it, now use a fixed aspect ratio centred on screen instead of stretching across the full width, so text and controls stay inside their panels on ultrawide monitors.

Waypoint planning

Plan and issue movement orders

Once a group is selected, a player can lay down waypoints on the map with a chosen type, speed, formation, and behaviour, then push the plan to the group. A group that is still virtual (not yet spawned) only offers Move and Cycle; the full set (move, attack/search and destroy, cycle, load, land - engines off, land - engines on, transport unload) becomes available once the group's profile is active.

Access scope

Side, faction or all-access settings

Mission makers can restrict who a player's intel and operations screens can see and touch: their own side, their own faction, or everyone on the map.

Readable map

Textured, zoomable tablet map

The tablet's main map now shows real satellite terrain (fading in as you zoom) instead of a washed-out plain background, and includes a Terrain button to switch between the satellite view and the plain schematic map.

Player objectives

Tell the commander to take or hold

Set an objective for the AI Commander from the Operations tablet, or with a map marker whose text starts "obj take" or "obj hold" (delete the marker to cancel it). "obj recon", "obj sad" and "obj ambush" send a group to scout the place, search and destroy there, or lie in wait there for ten minutes; the tablet has buttons for these too. On by default: Allow Player Objectives. The wait between objectives and the number allowed at once are Player Objective Cooldown (s) and Max Player Objectives on the C2ISTAR module (300 seconds and 3 by default). Insurgency commanders take these objectives too.

How to use it

Getting started

Place the Player Command/Control (C2ISTAR) moduleThe command tablet has no module of its own. It comes with the Player Command/Control (C2ISTAR) module, so place that anywhere; no sync is needed, and all the tablet's settings are on it. The Operations screen also needs a Military AI Commander (OPCOM) on your side with forces to command.
Enter the mission as a playerPreview or launch the mission and spawn in as a player. The tablet isn't handed out automatically: the player must carry an item from Access Item Categories on the C2ISTAR module (default Laser Designators, so give the unit a LaserDesignator), or an ALiVE_Tablet, which always grants access. Without one, no Commander Actions entry appears.
Open the command tabletThere's no inventory item to click. Press the ALiVE menu key (the Application key by default, or Use Action 20 if you've bound it; rebind under ALiVE > Open Menu in the CBA keybinds) and pick Commander Actions. Intel and Operations are both in there; open each one and check the screen loads. The C2ISTAR menu also has Commander's Picture, right after Intel, which opens the Intel tablet straight on that page.
Check the intel screenConfirm it shows commander objectives and unit marking data, and if imagery is enabled in the mission, confirm the overhead camera can pan, zoom, and switch between normal, night vision, and thermal. Its Commander button opens the Commander's Picture.
Read the Commander's Picture (optional)It needs an AI Commander on your side with Find Out Before Attacking on, and Commander's Picture on the C2ISTAR module not Off (Read only by default). Open it from the C2ISTAR menu or Intel > Commander, pick an objective and check how sure the commander is, where its recon has got to and what was seen there. Radio lists what you've heard since you joined; Air lists the air reports and your own air requests, with Cancel on one that's still open.
Give the commander an order (optional)Set Commander's Picture to Read and orders. Pick an objective the commander is still finding out about and press Go now to send the attack in, or Look again to give it up to 10 more minutes (twice per objective). Strike shows once enemy vehicles have been seen there and asks the air commander for close air support on the latest one. The status line gives the answer, and your side hears it on the radio, for example "The attack on Kamino goes ahead now." followed by who ordered it.
Pause, change or start the commander (optional)With no objective picked, press Commander >. An admin can Pause and Resume the commander, pick a stance and press Set stance (it takes about a minute, and needs Player OPCOM Stance Control set to Yes), change Intel Wait with +5 min / -5 min (1 to 120 min) and how sure it must be with +10% / -10% (10 to 100%). This needs Commander's Picture at Read and orders; Commander Controls (Admins only by default) decides who else may. Set stance also works on the C2ISTAR menu's rule: Player OPCOM Stance Control on and an access item carried. Changes last until the mission is loaded from a save. If an AI Commander is set to Hold Until Go, an admin presses Start the war on the Commander tab and every holding commander starts.
Take command of a group on the operations screenPick an AI group from the list (or double-click it on the map), press Instant Join Group or Spectate Group, then Lock Group from AI Commander so the AI Commander leaves it alone while you use it.
Choose a unit with Instant JoinWhen you join a group, pick the exact soldier or vehicle seat from the unit list and press Take Control. Check you drop into that role, and that cancelling, or dying and respawning, hands the AI unit back cleanly.
Plan and push a waypoint routeWith a group selected, press Issue Orders, click the map to add orders, then press Apply Orders and check the group follows them. A still-virtual group only offers Move and Cycle; once its profile is active it also offers Attack / Search & Destroy, Load, Land (engines off or on) and Transport Unload.
Give the AI Commander an objectiveOn the Operations tablet, press View Objectives, then Designate Objective, click a place and press Take Position or Hold Position. Or place a map marker whose text starts obj take or obj hold (delete it to cancel). obj recon, obj sad and obj ambush markers, or the matching buttons on the left, send a group to scout, search and destroy, or lie in wait.

Recent work

What's changed lately

Search and destroy and ambush ordersTwo map markers, "obj sad" and "obj ambush", and three tablet buttons (Recon Position, Search and Destroy, Ambush Position) let a player send the commander's nearest free group to look at, sweep or lie in wait at a place.
Take or Hold, from the tablet or the mapPlayers choose Take or Hold when setting a commander objective on the tablet, and can set one from the map with a marker whose text starts "obj take" or "obj hold". Allow Player Objectives is on by default.
Insurgency commanders take objectivesAn objective set on the tablet for an insurgency commander now gets insurgents sent to it. With nobody free, the commander borrows the nearest insurgents from its other operations, never an installation's guards.
Back on every tabletEvery C2ISTAR tablet has Back. Inside a tablet it steps back a page, and on the first page it opens the C2ISTAR menu, so you can go from one tablet to another.
Follows the game's languageThe Intel and Operations screens show in the game's language, in all 7 languages, instead of always English.
Truer unit markings and group listsUnit Marking shows artillery, AA and boats as themselves. Operations lists the groups of every faction of a commander with more than one; with Limit Command set to Faction, a player sees only their own faction's groups.

Status

Where it stands

Delivered

Intel and operations tablet

Both the intelligence screen (objectives, unit marking, optional imagery camera) and the operations screen (group listing, join, spectate, lock, waypoint planning) are functional.

Readable, toggleable tablet map

The main tablet map now shows proper satellite terrain with a working terrain toggle button, so map markers and objectives are visible.

Player objectives

Take, Hold, Recon, Search and Destroy and Ambush orders for the AI Commander, from the Operations tablet or by map marker.

Back button on every tablet

Back steps back a page, and on the first page opens the C2ISTAR menu.

Commander's Picture

Commander, Radio and Air tabs on the Intel tablet, with Go now, Look again and Strike orders, Cancel for your own air requests, the AI Commander settings page (pause, stance, Intel Wait, how sure, Send now), and Start the war on the Commander tab.

Planned

View units action is a placeholder

The operations screen has a 'View units' option under a selected group's extra actions that is wired up but currently does nothing when clicked.

Testing

How you can help

Place the Player Command/Control (C2ISTAR) module in Eden (linked to a side or faction as needed), and give the playable unit an item from its Access Item Categories setting (Laser Designators by default) or an ALiVE_Tablet. Enter the mission as a player on that side, press the ALiVE menu key and pick Commander Actions, then open the command tablet and check both screens: confirm the intel screen shows objectives and unit marking data (and imagery, if enabled) for the correct scope, and confirm the operations screen lists the expected AI groups, lets you select one, join or spectate it, plan a waypoint route, and lock it. Also click the Terrain button on the tablet map and confirm it switches cleanly between the satellite and schematic views without breaking map clicks. Then set a commander objective with an "obj take" marker and with the Recon Position, Search and Destroy and Ambush Position buttons, and confirm the commander sends a group. On the first page of each tablet, Back should open the C2ISTAR menu. Then, with an AI Commander that has Find Out Before Attacking on, open the Commander's Picture from the C2ISTAR menu and from Intel > Commander. Check the rows move from sure N% to going in and taken, that groups seen show on the map only with the commander's Intel Markers on, and that Radio and Air fill up. With Read and orders, try Go now, Look again (a third time on one objective is refused) and Strike once a vehicle has been seen. Ask for close air support, find it on the Air tab and Cancel it. As an admin, press Commander >, pause and resume the commander and change its stance; as a player who isn't an admin the page should be read only. With Hold Until Go on the AI Commander, nothing should move until an admin presses Start the war.

Spotted a problem? Please report it on the ALiVE issue tracker on GitHub, with the map, rough location and what the units were doing so it can be reproduced.

Changelog

Updates to this page

2026-11-01
The tablet's commander settings can change the stance whenever the ALiVE menu's OPCOM Stance could: Player OPCOM Stance Control on and a C2ISTAR access item or ALiVE tablet carried. The other settings still need Commander's Picture at Read and orders.
2026-11-01
A read-only commander settings page says which C2ISTAR setting stops the change: Commander's Picture, the Ops limit or Commander Controls.
2026-11-01
With an Assault commander the tab says where its waves are and when the next one goes, and Send now sends the next wave as soon as there are groups free.
2026-10-31
The Commander tab offers Assault (waves) next to the other stances.
2026-10-31
The Commander tab shows the side's force pool and what held objectives pay into it.
2026-10-31
The status line says when the AI Commander is holding after a capture or preparing an assault, with the time left.
2026-10-31
The Air tab lists your own air requests and how each is going, and Cancel cancels one that's still open. Only the player who asked can cancel it.
2026-10-31
A Commander > button opens your side's AI Commander settings: an admin can pause and resume it, change its stance, and set its Intel Wait and how sure it must be.
2026-10-31
A Start the war button for admins when the AI Commander is set to Hold Until Go. Everyone else is told they're holding.
2026-10-31
The Commander's Picture page takes orders: Go now, Look again and Strike on an objective the commander is still finding out about.
2026-10-31
Commander's Picture has its own entry in the C2ISTAR menu, under Intel.
2026-10-31
New Commander's Picture page, from the Commander button on the Intel page: what your AI Commander has found out at each objective, with Radio and Air tabs.
2026-10-31
A Dug In AI Commander turns down Recon, Search and Destroy, Ambush and new objectives sent from Player Command.
2026-10-30
A group whose leader is gone no longer shows in the bottom-left corner of the Command tablet's map. It stays in the list at its last good position.
2026-10-29
The Groups page's map now shows the group symbols, and waypoint lines are thicker with a dark edge, so they show over any terrain.
2026-10-29
Every order you add on the map now gets its own numbered icon, with a different picture for each kind of order. The selected one turns orange.
2026-10-29
The lock button now reads Unlock Group for AI Commander or Lock Group from AI Commander, and fits on one line.
2026-10-27
The tablet now looks like kit from the mission's war: a modern tablet, a Cold War field terminal, a Vietnam map case or a 1943 map case, picked from the mission's terrain and units. Addon Options -> ALiVE -> Game -> Tablet style overrides it.
2026-10-25
The tablet's Terrain button now lines up with the right edge of the map and sits on the top edge of the screen, on both the toughbook and the map bag.
2026-10-25
With Tablet Intel Log on in C2ISTAR, the tablet's Intel page has an Intel Log button listing the intel your side has been given. Pick a row and the map goes to it.
2026-10-24
ALiVE's own map pins (Addon Options, Map pins and markers) now cover the command tablet's unit markers, grouped into one pin with a count when close together, and its objectives.
2026-10-19
Every C2ISTAR tablet now has Back: on Intel and Operations it steps back a page, and on the first page (or Operations' group list when there's one commander) it opens the C2ISTAR menu. The Intel type list no longer covers it.
2026-10-18
Placing an objective in the tablet's Operations tab now has three more buttons on the left: Recon Position, Search and Destroy and Ambush Position. They switch on after you click the map and give the same orders as the obj recon, obj sad and obj ambush markers.
2026-10-18
"obj ambush" sends a group to lie in wait at the spot instead, holding fire until an enemy comes within 80 m or it's already in a fight. Both need Allow Player Objectives and share the two-at-a-time limit with recon.
2026-10-18
A map marker whose text starts "obj sad" sends the commander's nearest free group to search and destroy round that spot for ten minutes. After that it goes back to the commander.
2026-10-17
A map marker whose text starts obj recon has your side's AI Commander send its nearest free foot group to look at the place from a distance; two at a time per commander.
2026-10-17
Players choose Take or Hold when setting a commander objective on the tablet, and can set one from the map with a marker whose text starts "obj take" or "obj hold"; deleting the marker cancels it. Allow Player Objectives is now on by default.
2026-10-15
The Intel and Operations screens (Issue Orders, Apply Orders, the camera options and the rest, 75 places) now follow the game's language in all 7 languages instead of always showing English.
2026-10-14
Closing the tablet now clears the Operations icons from the map, and redrawing no longer leaves old ones behind.
2026-10-12
The PiP warning for IMINT now show in the ALiVE message box, with the logo and the module's name as the title, instead of a plain hint.
2026-10-11
An insurgency commander now takes objectives from the Operations tablet, like invasion and occupation commanders. With nobody free, it borrows the nearest insurgents from its other operations, never an installation's guards.
2026-10-09
The commander tablet's server side refuses calls made straight from a player's machine; the tablet itself works as before.
2026-09-28
SCOM Ops now lists the groups of every faction of a commander with more than one. With Ops Limit set to Faction, a player sees only their own faction's groups.
2026-09-28
SCOM's objective, combat and direction markers are drawn flat, with no drop shadow.
2026-09-28
Marker labels on the tablet map aren't bold any more: they use the same plain face as the main map and the COP.
2026-09-28
Unit Marking now shows artillery, AA and boats as themselves. Artillery used to show as aircraft, AA as unknown and boats as mechanised infantry.
2026-09-28
Boats and AA units get the naval and anti-air markers in the Ops list too.
2026-08-06
Page corrected: the command tablet comes with the Player Command and Control module. There is no separate module to place for it.
2026-08-06
Panels now line up consistently across every tablet display, and Mapbag scaling matches the reworked tablet. Worth reporting any panel that looks misaligned or clipped.
2026-08-02
Command tablet overhaul: scaling no longer stretches on ultrawide screens, Commander Operations is rebuilt (double-click group select, Back to Groups, single-order delete, a player battle group), and a new Instant Join picker lets you take over an exact soldier or vehicle seat.
2026-07-27
Page first published.