Anyone read through the guide? Some good info in there, most of it common sense if you have played at all but a lot of it was new to me. The map details and breakdowns are sweet giving common names to locations on the map which would help in communication and teamwork. Worth a read I think.
There was some talk about knifing the other night...maybe this will explain:
The knife is a standard-issue weapon available to all players,
regardless of their class or rank. When approaching an enemy from
behind, you can kill them instantly by attacking with the knife. But if
you attack an enemy head-on, it now takes at least two swipes with
the knife to score a kill from the front—a new gameplay mechanic
introduced in Battlefield 3. So if an enemy is looking in your direction,
think twice before attempting a knife kill. Chances are they’ll shoot you
in the face before you can get within striking range. Instead, always
look for opportunities to flank, sneaking up behind unsuspecting
opponents and knifing them from behind. As in Battlefield 2142 and
every installment since, scoring knife kills earns you the victim’s dog
tags, providing you with a permanent trophy. In addition to scoring
stealthy kills, the knife is also great for slicing through chain-link
fences and other obstacles.
TLDR: When approaching an enemy from behind, you can kill them instantly by attacking with the knife. But if
you attack an enemy head-on, it now takes at least two swipes with the knife to score a kill from the front. I think that would also be why you get animation sometimes (from behind) and why you don't sometimes (from the front).