I wanted to find out what is the best way top setup a stealth singleplayer game? I've been setting up a Quick Match with low soldier counts, around 20-30 to keep it small, but it always feels like it falls back into a major shootout since most of the guys go running into the next objective, so I can't really sneak around very well. I feel like I need to go help out winning the objective area or I'll lose if my base gets taken over.
Am I doing something wrong and is there a better way to do stealth based play?

New to the game, but having a blast.

Most of the time an even initial situation in a map should lead to a stalemate if you only let AI fight each other at the attack area. This should also leave the rest of the bases less alert and less manned suiting better for some backdoor base captures or other stealth action. With this approach, playing with fairly high soldier counts (e.g. about 20 soldiers per base, e.g. map1 with 300-400) should be fine for stealth too, as long as you stay away from the primary attack target where your commander calls the attacking bots for the running charge.

The map I end up using such tactic more than others is map1 (Stalemate), possibly because the bases are conveniently all over the map and kind of attracts to go check out what's going on in the other bases, but I think any map other than map6 (Al Tabul), map7 (Insular Complex) and map8 (Wake Island) should fit stealth to some degree at least.

If you're not going lonewolf, keep your AI buddies somewhere farther to the side as they will ruin the situation by getting seen. However, the buddies can be useful in e.g. destroying a fleeing comms truck when hunting one, if you can guess right where it'll flee.

Also having the mobile spawn truck with you helps should you get killed in the action, just park it far enough from the battle that might take place to keep the spawn point available.

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It's also fairly simple to come up with a mod where e.g. the factions would only defend their bases, and you'd be alone or had troops just enough to get your squad up in your faction. Playing this with a bit lower soldier count than normally could be an interesting setup for some stealth heavy stuff. Adding super high commonness for MP5 would get your buddies to spawn with silenced weapons as well, so they might be of some actual value in the quiet fights.

Nice, thanks. I tried it out and Stalemate worked good for my first try. I was thinking less was better because it would make everything quieter, but more soldiers on a busier map means you can go to the rear areas to attack. I didn't realize that those bases had patrols guarding them.
It's great that there is that level of detail that the guards will say if they are alerted and if all is quiet so you can sneak around and clear out a rear base.
Still getting familiar with all there is to do.
Great work devs.

stealth is they key to success, nice and clean

basically every map fits to stealth, thought it might differ alot.

try to stealth and get the cargo truck or comms truck it gives the great feeling of success

just btw dunno if you need this but you can set like mode for AI squad from (Default home and end buttons) to following modes: default, assault, destroyer, stealth, might be worth to give a shot, not sure as ive been used to get bases alone

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co-owner of NEWA