Basic guide to loadouts and stamina management

This guide will cover the impact of weight on your stamina and how to better manage it, and will give you some basic loadout templates and equipment recommendations.
Be aware that the following is true for the standard FK Modpack in servers 1 and 2, where our Main Missions happen. The other servers, as well as non-standard modpacks are likely to have different equipment and stamina settings.

Index

1. Terminology
2. Weight
3. Stamina and its management
4. Loadouts
   4a. BLUFOR
   4b. REDFOR
5. General advice and personal recommendations on equipment
6. Change Log

1. Terminology

• Sprinting: You are moving while holding your “Sprint” key (“Shift” by default).
• Jogging: You are moving with your weapon lowered after using your “Toggle raise weapon” key (2x ”Ctrl” by default).
• Combat pace: You are moving with your weapon lowered after using your “Toggle raise weapon” key (2x ”Ctrl” by default) and your “Combat Pace (Toggle)” key (2x ”C” by default).
• Walking pace: You are walking with your weapon raised, after using the “Walk/Run (Toggle)” key (“Ctrl+C” by default).
   

2. Weight

Approximately, big changes on stamina happen every 5kg or so. I will cover what happens when you are 20kg or heavier, as you will almost never have equipment amounting to less than that.

• 20-25kg: You can sprint for a long time, and recover stamina very quickly. You recover stamina while jogging and combat pacing.
• 25-30kg: You can sprint for quite a bit, and recover stamina fairly quickly. You don’t deplete stamina while jogging, but don’t recover any either. You still recover stamina while combat pacing.
• 30-35kg: You can sprint for moderate distances, and recover stamina fairly quickly. You slowly deplete stamina while jogging. You still recover stamina while combat pacing.
• 35-40kg: You can sprint for short distances, and recover stamina after a short rest. You can jog for some time. You slowly recover stamina while combat pacing.
• 40-45kg: You can sprint for very short distances, and recover your stamina after a short rest. You can jog for a short time. You slowly recover stamina while combat pacing.
• 45-50kg: You can sprint for very short distances, and you need a moderate amount of time to recover your stamina. You quickly deplete stamina while jogging. You don’t recover stamina while combat pacing, but you don’t deplete it either.
• >50kg: You can sprint for a handful of seconds. You need a few minutes of rest to recover your stamina. You quickly deplete your stamina while jogging. You also deplete stamina while combat pacing.

3. Stamina and its management

As we've seen stamina is important to you because it determines how much and how far can you move at a certain speed, but it also affects at which speeds can you move. If you don't manage your stamina properly, you can be shit out of luck if you need to sprint to run away from something or across open terrain, only to find out you're out of breath. Thus, one of your priorities is to keep your stamina as high as you can for when you really need it.
So, how does stamina work? And how do you preserve it?

• You have 5 stamina bars at the top right of your screen, below where your weapon and spare magazines are listed.
  • When your stamina is full, you won’t see the indicator, since it will be transparent.
  • As you deplete stamina and go down to 4 bars, it will become slightly visible, in white.
  • If you continue to deplete stamina, the indicator will become yellow as you approach 2.5 bars.
  • After you go below 2.5 bars, your character will start panting. The indicator will become orange as you approach 1.5 bars of remaining stamina.
  • As you go below 1.5 bars of stamina, you will become unable to sprint anymore.
  • As you approach 1 bar of stamina, the indicator will turn red and your character will start breathing heavily, and when you reach 0.5 bars, the borders of the screen will periodically darken.
  • Finally, if you fully deplete your stamina, you will only be able to walk until you regain at least 1.5 bars of stamina.
• Use walking pace while clearing buildings. You will only deplete stamina while walking with an insane amount of equipment (60+ kg), so you will be able to move continuously and recover stamina at the same time. If you run with your weapon raised, you’ll deplete your stamina very quickly.
• When you head up or down a steep hill, don’t go straight up or down. Advance at an angle and from side to side. The steeper the climb up or down is, the more stamina it requires you to advance. But at the same time, the more even the terrain is, the less stamina it requires.
• Take every pause and stop your squad makes as a stamina break. Find a good position to hold quickly and don't move from there. To further increase your recovery, use freelook to look around, as moving your entire body to do so lowers your stamina recovery rate.
• If your assigned equipment makes you fairly heavy, see if you can crossload ammunition with squad mates. Ask riflemen that aren't carrying anything to help you, or request your TL/SL for a buddy/assistant.
  • If you are still heavy or can't get somebody to help you, there are ways you can manage. Make sure you use combat pace at all times, and remind your SL. If even then, your squad is jogging, try to switch between jogging and combat pace every now and then to keep up as much as possible without depleting your stamina.

But what about weapon sway? Doesn't weight or stamina influence it?
Not really. From the tests I've done, and not counting the influence of wounds, weapon sway increases due to movement. When you stop and aim, the amount of weapon sway and how long it takes for it to stabilise depends on two factors:

1. The speed at which you were moving prior to stopping. The faster you were moving, the greater the weapon sway you'll have, and the longer it takes to stabilise.
2. Your stance while stopped. Being prone will reduce your weapon sway and help stabilise your aim faster than if you are crouching. Being crouched is also better than standing up.

4. Loadouts

These loadouts have been made only with RHS and NIArms equipment (besides base game things), as these two mods are very unlikely to be removed short term. Mind you, these are my personal recommendations and might be influenced by my particular playstyle. Furthermore, remember that the weight amounts are merely for reference, as equipment restrictions might force you to carry much heavier equipment or not allow you to carry as much.
To import a loadout, copy the text within the box below it, and click on the “Import” button in the ACE Arsenal. You can now save it with whatever name you want to give it, and change it at your leisure. However, bear in mind that you can't use the "Import" function while you're connected to one of our servers. You must do this by going to "Tutorials", "ACE Arsenal" in the top of the main menu of your game.

All loadouts include the following:

• Rangefinder
• Map
• Compass
• AN/PRC-152 radio
• GPS
• Altimeter watch
• In uniform:
  • Medical supplies
    • 6xBandage (Packing)
    • 1xMorphine autoinjector
    • 1xEpinephrine autoinjector
    • 1xTourniquet (CAT)
    • 1xSplint
    • 2xSaline IV (500ml)
  • Entrenching tool
  • 1x M83 Smoke Grenade (White)
  • 1x M18 Smoke Grenade (Blue)

4a. BLUFOR

Basic rifleman loadout (5.56 NATO assault rifle) [19.24kg]

• ACH OEF-CP
• Combat Uniform OCP
• MBAV (Rifleman)
• 2x M67 Fragmentation Grenade
• Mk18 Mod 1 + SU-230/PVS (4xScope) w/ 10x 30rnd magazines

Quote

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Basic rifleman loadout (7.62 NATO battle rifle) [20.96 kg]

• ACH OEF-CP
• Combat Uniform OCP
• MBAV (Rifleman)
• 2x M67 Fragmentation Grenade
• Mk 17 Mod 0 (STD) + SU-230A/PVS Coyote (4xScope) w/ 7x 20rnd magazines
• If you want additional ammo: Assault pack (Coyote) w/ 5x 20rnd magazines [+4.61 kg]

Quote

[["rhs_weap_mk17_STD","","","rhsusf_acc_su230a_c",["rhs_mag_20Rnd_SCAR_762x51_mk316_special",20],[],""],[],[],["rhs_uniform_cu_ocp",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1],["SmokeShell",1,1]]],["rhsusf_mbav_rifleman",[["rhs_mag_m67",2,1],["rhs_mag_20Rnd_SCAR_762x51_mk316_special",6,20]]],[],"rhsusf_ach_helmet_headset_ess_ocp_alt","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Grenadier loadout [22.29kg]

• ACH OEF-CP
• Combat Uniform OCP
• MBAV (Grenadier)
• Mk18 Mod 1 (M320) + SU-230/PVS (4xScope) w/ 10x 30rnd magazines + 13x M443 HEDP Grenade Round

Quote

[["rhs_weap_mk18_m320","","","rhsusf_acc_su230",["hlc_30rnd_556x45_SPR_PMAG",30],["rhs_mag_M433_HEDP",1],""],[],[],["rhs_uniform_cu_ocp",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1],["SmokeShell",1,1]]],["rhsusf_mbav_grenadier",[["hlc_30rnd_556x45_SPR_PMAG",9,30],["rhs_mag_M433_HEDP",12,1]]],[],"rhsusf_ach_helmet_headset_ess_ocp_alt","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Marksman [21.6 kg]

• ACH OEF-CP
• Combat Uniform OCP
• MBAV (Rifleman)
• 2x M67 Fragmentation Grenade
• Rangecard
• Mk 11 Mod 0 (EC) + M8541 (MRDS) + Harris Bipod w/ 7x 20rnd magazines
• If you want additional ammo: Assault pack (Coyote) w/ 5x 20rnd magazines [+4.59 kg]

Quote

[["rhs_weap_sr25_ec","","","rhsusf_acc_M8541_mrds",["rhsusf_20Rnd_762x51_SR25_m993_Mag",20],[],"rhsusf_acc_harris_bipod"],[],[],["rhs_uniform_cu_ocp",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1],["SmokeShell",1,1]]],["rhsusf_mbav_rifleman",[["ACE_RangeCard",1],["rhs_mag_m67",2,1],["rhsusf_20Rnd_762x51_SR25_m993_Mag",6,20]]],[],"rhsusf_ach_helmet_headset_ess_ocp_alt","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Machinegunner (5.56 NATO belt-fed) [33.63 kg]

• ACH OEF-CP
• Combat Uniform OCP
• MBAV (Machinegunner)
• Assault pack (Coyote)
• 2x M67 Fragmentation Grenade
• M249 PIP (Long/LCBA) + “SAW Grip + Bipod” w/ 6x 200rnd boxes

Quote

[["rhs_weap_m249_light_L_vfg2","","","",["rhsusf_200Rnd_556x45_mixed_soft_pouch",200],[],"rhsusf_acc_grip4_bipod"],[],[],["rhs_uniform_cu_ocp",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1],["SmokeShell",1,1]]],["rhsusf_mbav_mg",[["rhs_mag_m67",2,1],["rhsusf_200Rnd_556x45_mixed_soft_pouch",2,200]]],["B_AssaultPack_cbr",[["rhsusf_200Rnd_556x45_mixed_soft_pouch",3,200]]],"rhsusf_ach_helmet_headset_ess_ocp_alt","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Machinegunner (7.62 NATO belt-fed) [35.46 kg]

• ACH OEF-CP
• Combat Uniform OCP
• MBAV (Machinegunner)
• Assault pack (Coyote)
• 2x M67 Fragmentation Grenade
• M240G w/ 4x 200rnd boxes

Quote

[["rhs_weap_m240G","","","",["hlc_200Rnd_762x51_Barrier_M60E4",200],[],""],[],[],["rhs_uniform_cu_ocp",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1],["SmokeShell",1,1]]],["rhsusf_mbav_mg",[["rhs_mag_m67",2,1],["hlc_200Rnd_762x51_Barrier_M60E4",2,200]]],["B_AssaultPack_cbr",[["hlc_200Rnd_762x51_Barrier_M60E4",1,200]]],"rhsusf_ach_helmet_headset_ess_ocp_alt","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Additional equipment:

• (Any loadout) Sidearm: SigSauer P226R Combat (.357 SIG) w/ 3x 12rnd magazines [+1.9kg]
• (Any loadout) NV equipment: NV Goggles (Wide), Silencers for primary and secondary, AN/PEQ-15, 3x MS IFF Strobe-1 [approx. +2.00 kg, depending on silencer choice]
  • (Marksman) NV Scope: M8541A + AN/PVS-27 [+0.64 kg]
• (Rifleman/Grenadier/Marksman) LAT launcher: M136 [+6.69 kg]
• (Rifleman only) MAT launcher: M3 MAAWS + Optic + Assault pack (Coyote) w/ 2x FFV751 HEAT [+17.75 kg]

4b. REDFOR

Basic rifleman loadout (5.45x39) [20.58 kg]

• 6B47
• VKPO
• 6B45 (Rifleman 1 or 2)
• 2x RGD-5
• Izhmash AK-12 + SU-230/PVS (4xScope) w/ 11x 30rnd magazines

Quote

[["hlc_rifle_ak12","","","rhsusf_acc_su230",["hlc_30Rnd_545x39_B_AK_Black",30],[],""],[],[],["rhs_uniform_vkpo_gloves",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_MapTools",1],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["SmokeShell",1,1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1]]],["rhs_6b45_rifleman",[["rhs_mag_rgd5",2,1],["hlc_30Rnd_545x39_B_AK_Black",10,30]]],[],"rhs_6b47_ess_bala","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Grenadier [24.93 kg]

• 6B47
• VKPO
• 6B45 (VOG)
• 2x RGD-5
• Izhmash AK-12 (GL) + SU-230/PVS (4xScope) w/ 11x 30rnd magazines + 13x VOG25 (HEDP)

Quote

[["hlc_rifle_ak12GL","","","rhsusf_acc_su230",["hlc_30Rnd_545x39_B_AK_Black",30],["rhs_VOG25_HEDP",1],""],[],[],["rhs_uniform_vkpo_gloves",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_MapTools",1],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["SmokeShell",1,1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1]]],["rhs_6b45_grn",[["hlc_30Rnd_545x39_B_AK_Black",10,30],["rhs_VOG25_HEDP",12,1]]],[],"rhs_6b47_ess_bala","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Marksman [20.75 kg]

• 6B47
• VKPO
• 6B45 (Rifleman 1 or 2)
• Range Card
• 2x RGD-5
• SVDM (NPZ) + M8541 (MRDS) w/ 18x 10rnd magazines
• If you want additional ammo: Sidor w/ 20x 10rnd magazines [+5.47 kg]

Quote

[["rhs_weap_svdp_npz","","","rhsusf_acc_M8541_mrds",["rhs_10Rnd_762x54mmR_7N14",10],[],""],[],[],["rhs_uniform_vkpo_gloves",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_MapTools",1],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["SmokeShell",1,1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1]]],["rhs_6b45_rifleman",[["ACE_RangeCard",1],["rhs_mag_rgd5",2,1],["rhs_10Rnd_762x54mmR_7N14",17,10]]],[],"rhs_6b47_ess_bala","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Machinegunner (5.45x39 magazines) [33.52 kg]

• 6B47
• VKPO
• 6B45 (Machine Gunner)
• UMBTS (EMR)
• 2x RGD-5
• RPK-74M w/ 18x 60rnd magazines

Quote

[["rhs_weap_rpk74m","rhs_acc_dtkrpk","","",["hlc_60Rnd_545x39_m_rpk",60],[],""],[],[],["rhs_uniform_vkpo_gloves",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_MapTools",1],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["SmokeShell",1,1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1]]],["rhs_6b45_mg",[["rhs_mag_rgd5",2,1],["hlc_60Rnd_545x39_m_rpk",7,60]]],["umbts_emr",[["hlc_60Rnd_545x39_m_rpk",10,60]]],"rhs_6b47_ess_bala","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Machinegunner (7.62x54mmR belt-fed) [34.93 kg]

• 6B47
• VKPO
• 6B45 (Machine Gunner)
• UMBTS (EMR)
• 2x RGD-5
• PKP w/ 3x 250rnd boxes

Quote

[["rhs_weap_pkp","","","",["hlc_250Rnd_762x54_M_PKM",250],[],""],[],[],["rhs_uniform_vkpo_gloves",[["ACE_morphine",1],["ACE_tourniquet",1],["ACE_packingBandage",6],["ACE_epinephrine",1],["ACE_MapTools",1],["ACE_EntrenchingTool",1],["ACE_splint",1],["ACE_salineIV_500",2],["SmokeShell",1,1],["SmokeShellBlue",1,1]]],["rhs_6b45_mg",[["rhs_mag_rgd5",2,1],["hlc_250Rnd_762x54_M_PKM",1,250]]],["umbts_emr",[["hlc_250Rnd_762x54_M_PKM",1,250]]],"rhs_6b47_ess_bala","",["Rangefinder","","","",[],[],""],["ItemMap","ItemGPS","TFAR_anprc152","ItemCompass","ACE_Altimeter",""]]

Additional equipment:

• (Any loadout) Sidearm: 6P53 w/ 3x 18rnd magazines [+1.78 kg]
• (Any loadout) NV equipment: NV Goggles (Wide), Silencers for primary and secondary, Perst-1IK, 3x MS IFF Strobe-1, Chemlight Shield + Chemlight [approx. +2.00 kg, depending on silencer choice]
  • (Marksman) NV Scope: M8541A + AN/PVS-27 [+0.64 kg]
• (Rifleman/Grenadier/Marksman) LAT launcher: RPG-26 [+2.89 kg]
• (Rifleman only) MAT launcher: RPG-7V2 + PGO-7V3 + RPG Carrier w/ 4x PG-7VL [+15.09 kg]

5. General advice and personal recommendations on equipment

• Have a temporary loadout save. Each time you have finished adjusting a loadout for a mission, save it. Your game might crash, your connection might fail, or the server might take a big shit. Whatever the reason might be, it will make your life easier to just load it in the moment you’re back in.
• Always carry a silencer or flash hider on night missions. The muzzle flash of your gun will blind you when you fire with your NVGs on.
• I strongly recommend you to always carry a sidearm. They don’t weigh that much, and can save you in a pinch, such as:
  • If you run out bullets in front of an enemy (It really is faster to switch weapons than to reload! Especially if you’re carrying a belt-fed machine gun).
  • If you or a teammate run out of primary weapon ammo and nobody can share and you can't loot anything around you.
• Use a chemlight shield with a white chemlight instead of a Maglite XL50 to illuminate your map. They weigh the same and chemlights illuminate a larger area in your map. And no, they don’t run out.
  • To use the chemlight shield, make sure you have one plus a chemlight in your inventory. Then, use ACE self interaction and go to "Equipment", “Chemlights”, and choose the “Prepare Chemlight Shield” option corresponding to the colour of chemlight you want to use. You can only choose once.
  • Alternatively, if one of your weapons has a mounted flashlight, you can use that as well to illuminate your map. It has the advantage of not taking inventory space, but it also weighs more. Illumination is identical to that of the Maglite XL50.
• Other things you can carry when you are very light and essential equipment is sorted:
  • If your squad is using a vehicle, bring a toolkit. From changing a tire to fixing up the engine, any repairs will require you to have one [+3.63 kg]
  • More ammunition is always good, so be an ammo bearer. Get 3-4 spare mags for each squadmate and a belt or two for each Autorifleman. Balance ammo types and fill your backpack until you're around 35 kg.
  • Explosives can create openings and entrances, deny enemy assets, or just outright get you out of sticky situations against enemy armoured vehicles when AT is unavailable. Bring an M152 Firing Device, a Defusal Kit, and 2x M112 Demolition Block [+2.19 kg]
    • If things look bleak, go to your inventory and double click the M112 Demolition Blocks. You will be prompted to "Convert to short fuse". You now have one "M112 Demolition Block (Throwable)" that you can throw as a grenade. You can convert as many as you're carrying, and revert them back to placeable explosives by double clicking them again and choosing "Remove short fuse".
    • You can also do this with the M183 Demolition Assembly. But bear in mind that it's heavy, and doesn't reach very far, i.e. throw it and run the fuck away.

6. Change Log
v1.0 – 24/10/2021 – Initial guide release.