Quick definition:Damage dealt to a player's own teammates by their weapons or attacks, whether accidental or deliberate, in games where allies share the same battlefield.
Meaning
Friendly fire occurs when a weapon or attack harms members of the same team as the player using it. It can come from stray bullets, explosions that catch allies in the blast, or area attacks that do not tell friend from foe.
Developers choose whether to allow it, and the choice changes the feel of a game. With it switched off, players can attack freely and the pace is quick. With it on, positioning, communication and caution matter more, and a careless action can cost a round or a life.
Where it is allowed, designers often add safeguards. Examples include reduced damage to teammates, warnings, penalties for repeated offences, or a system that reflects some harm back onto the attacker. The same word is used for allied units in strategy games that fire on their own side.
Origin:Friendly fire is a military term for attacks that accidentally hit one's own side, and it has been used in that sense for many decades. Team-based shooting and strategy games adopted the phrase because the same problem can occur when allied players or units share a space and their weapons can harm one another.
Example:During a team match, Priya throws an explosive just as her ally runs round a corner. The blast hurts him, and a warning message appears saying that friendly fire has been dealt. He loses a little health, she apologises in the chat, and the round continues with both a bit more careful.
Did you know?Games treat friendly fire differently. Some disable it, some reduce the damage, and some make it deadly to encourage careful play. Servers that allow it can also face problems with players deliberately harming teammates, which is why many punish repeat offenders.
