Does knowing how to read a topographic map help you?

[rooniedoo 68]

as the title says. Just curious, since Arma II uses a topographic map, is it helpful or is the topographic map just there because they couldn't change the map?

[xalienax 621]

It is, until you know the map so well that you don't actually need a map to know where every vantage point it.

[mercules 1290]

How would a topographical map NOT be helpful? Unless you have the area so memorized you don't need the map at all.

[applejaxc 2500]

Yes. Unless you're me and Chernarus is essentially your summer home... in which you spend every winter, spring, summer, and fall...

[St. Jimmy 1631]

Topographic map and compass and you don't get lost ever. Reading topographic map is teached in junior high school.

Edited October 23, 2013 by St. Jimmy

[hogscraper 328]

It helps when you first get started. It might help you later on if you find yourself in a part of the map you don't usually go to. When you first start playing you have to learn the cities and where they are in relation to each other. After a little while later you will start to know the land for the most part. I remember being a noob then one day realizing I knew exactly where I was and how to get where I needed to go. Maybe it could help you with distances if you were sniping. 

[Diggydug (DayZ) 331]

Well it can't hurt. It's a basic skill that can help a lot, especially if travelling in a vehicle and looking for the past of least resistance off-road. Most don't do so well up hill.

[BioHazard050 49]

Certainly, it helps you find spots with cover like rock walls, boulders and trees, and where the hills are.

[EndEffeKt 87]

Hmm I dont know if you really need to get taught to use a topographic map. I might not be a ranger, but I can farely well use it to navigate without any further lessons.