leading a squad

[michaelsuave]

ok, couple questions that we who just started playing beta last week with the advent of file planet want to ask you people who had no life... um, what i mean got up to level 20br cr5 if there are any lessons to learn in how to lead a squad. simple things like how to set up way points to how hands on of a leader is best and any tricks you've learned from all of your time...um, well spent? ;) but seriously, help out us "new" people, not no0bs. thanks.

[Kyonye]

well to set squad way points you need cr1. about leading a squad, it depends your style. i love to hotdrop out of galaxies, other people like to land (only for towers i think). running a squad isn't hard as long as you have half the squad knowing what they are doing. watch out for idiots. try not to choose them. my personal opinion, don't even bother leading a squad unless you have had plenty of time playing the game.

[MilitantB0B]

Yeah, I remeber one day I got in a squad with this one commander. I could tell he was new to the game but I figured I would just deal with taking orders from a n00b. Then he asked me how to jump. I told him, and then I exited the squad. Please, don't try to command unless you are at least familar with the basics. :D

[Masurao]

Hey he said we have no life :eek:

No lessons for you!


cept this one:

Game tells you how to upload waypoints and stuff like that. As for leading a squad if you have ever played anyother FPS in a unit(and if you havn't this will be hard) you will have no real prob. Just: Get supplies --> Shoot --> Duck --> Shoot --> get mowed down by MAX --> respawn --> and Repeat :D

I'd say you should be in an outfit first and then worry about leading a squad into battle.

That help you at all n00b? err I mean "new" person.. :D

[Kyonye]

Originally posted by Masurao

No lessons for you!


cept this one:

Game tells you how to upload waypoints and stuff like that. As for leading a squad if you have ever played anyother FPS in a unit(and if you havn't this will be hard) you will have no real prob. Just: Get supplies --> Shoot --> Duck --> Shoot --> get mowed down by MAX --> respawn --> and Repeat :D

That help you as all n00b? err I mean "new" person.. :D

well said masurao, well said.:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[PlasticGEAR]

its fairly easy not to get any n00bs but if you get some kick them.

[Navaron]

The best leader grabs a few guys out of the shoot, yells at them, and takes them head first into the biggest fight on the planet!!!

HOOAH!

[Lanizer]

Yea, who to let in your squad lol...for instance, dharkbayne may look normal but he is a really crazy gal pilot.

[Omicron]

Aye I agree with that, rode with him a couple nights ago (I am Yuumai in game) can you say roller coaster :sick: had a good time with that squad though :)

[Warborn]

The biggest tip I can give you from my time as a squad leader is learning the game. If you know the game, you can lead much more effectively. Know where generators are on bases, where the cap is, what vehicles can be built where without a Tech Plant, and where the backdoors of each facility are. A good part of being the leader is being the man with a plan, and if you're going to have a plan, you should do your best to make sure that plan is a good one.

[TheGreatCarbini]

Personaly, at CR3 I think the biggest tip is to try and keep the same people with you if at all possible, most people log in at a certian time of day and usualy if you always log in around that time, you'll find those people. I'm not saying make Outfit-Only squads all the time(although they ARE the best) but generaly learn a good group of people to choose from. If you really want to be a good commander, you need good soldiers. The best soldiers are the ones you contantly play with. I know over on Johari in NC, me, Ghostling, Shirotiro, Legend, and Severetiredamage are almost ALWAYS together, with me comanding, then we try to fill up the rest of the spaces with a few decently ranked soldiers, it much easier to command people you know.

As for 9 people you just pick up? just TRY and see if after 1 hour they are sitll at the same place, hell the same ISLAND as you. It may happen, but I wouldn't put money on it hah. Regrouping is the hardest thing to do, usualy you have no choice but to just tell everyone to recall, or else you get stuff like this:

(Actual conversation)

Me:Alright everyone lets regroup over at Jarl station before the lattice opens up and they attack it.
Soldier1: ok, where is jarl i dont see it
Me:Its right in the northwestern section of the island man
Soldier1: I don't see it
Soldier2: HAHAHHAHA I JUST KILLED THIS VANU
Soldier1: you sure its northwest man?
Me: yes, Jarl station, in the northwest section here on esamir.
Soldier1:Esamir? When did we go there?
Me we've been here man
Soldier3:Hey can anyone fly a galaxy?
Soldier1: No way why did I just HART to cyssor then? I thought you said we were going to cyssor
Soldier2:I can drive a harraser
Soldier3: kool pick me up 2
Me: Why the hell are you on cyssor man? we didnt even take the HART we came in witha galaxy
Soldier2:Where are you 3
Soldier3 I'm here at Mani station
Soldier2: hah me too! did you see me kill that vanu?
Soldier1: What? man f*ck that, you said cyssor, Sh*t I'm out of here.
{Soldier1 Has left your squad}
Soldier3: lol was that you? a MAX killed me, they are so lame.
Soldier2:Hahah
Soldier4:Hi there, where is everyone?

Sigh...

This really happened, from that point on I started to be very picky about my recruits.:)

[Harps]

lmao:p

[Gilgamesh]

I did my first command today, had plenty of experience on the battle field, but it was a new char. just wanted to get a feel for commanding, first got a Galaxy Cert, and just started picking people at the sanctuary.

My flying was pretty good, we went to support a base under heavy attack, and i got 2 C, but like "The Great Garbini" said, its hard to keep them together and organized.

When I am "under" someones command, i know what i need to do, and if the commander says we need that tower, i know we need to hack that thing and keep it ours until the base has been hacked and capped. Mines, spitfires, sensors, boomers by the CC, repair turrets, man am i busy. but its necessary, because the squad needs that tower!

If Iam the one snooping into a base to hack, you need those maxes to defend the CC after the whole base come running downstairs (or up).

The thing is people should know whats up. But i decided that i will help noobs when the game is released, hey i might get killed very often, and not climb the point ladder that quick, but we are all noobs at one time or the other, and the quickest way to get rid of noobs is to train them right! and soon they will be guys and gals youll be proud to have fight along side of you.

[Warborn]

Seriously though, unless you're using TS2 or the in-game voice chat (does that work?) you're going to have a hell of a time leading a squad of more than 3 people, including yourself.

[Manitou]

I have had the honor of leading a few squads now through some sweet campaigning. (The other night we had three squads up and running all coordinating through myself.)

One thing I want to say though. Yes, BR is nice and having CR is good and helpful, but that doesn't make anyone a squad leader. I just now made CR2 and have been BR 9 for some time. But that didn't stop us from being quite a lethal force wherever we went. The CR isn't the biggest factor in leading. In my opinion, the biggest factor in successfully leading is communicating your goals to your squads. This involves you as the leader knowing where every soldier in your immediate squad is and where every squad leader you are directing is. This also involves knowing what everyone is doing, what they have accomplished, where they are going now, what the enemy is doing where they are at and a myriad of other bits of information. Through the successful sorting and prioritizing of this info, you as the squad leader can then make decisions based on the fluid course of the battle and allocate your resources successfully. Victory is conditional on how well you react to the infamous "fog of war" as well as how well you have planned for the battle beforehand.

Communication is the cornerstone to all battlefield activity. Get a good sturdy server for your voice comms and select the client/server program that best suits the needs of your Outfit.

Just a few things I have learned... :D

[Cyanide]

Things a good squad leader does:

1) Type in ALL CAPS. This is so that your soldiers don't miss orders cluttered among the rest of their useless garbage chat.

2) Either be the gal/sunderer pilot or have a voice com setup with the gal/sunderer driver. In battle, typing orders for where to go is toooo slllooooowww. Also, being the transport driver gives you complete control of the squads movements, and makes you seem more athoritative in the minds of the squad members.

3) If a squad member is not listening to orders or is undermining your authority, kick them. The worst thing to have in a squad is a rebel. Their rambo mentality will spread to the other members and completely destory your squads integrity and battle effectiveness. 10 organized people assaulting a base is 10 times as powerful as 10 angry mob members assaulting a base.

4) Use waypoints whenever possible. They communicate the direction you want your squad to move much more effectively than and quickly than typing.

5) Be decisive and 100% sure of every decision you make. A decisive leader who, at the very least, gives the perception of confidence in themselves is much better than a lead who is democratic about where the squad goes. A squad is a dictatorship, not a democracy. If you want to be combat effective you must think as one person, and therefore one person should do the thinking. Good players know this and will follow orders because that is what leads to success. If your players do not follow orders they are not the squad members you want.


Things NOT to do as a squad leader:

1) DO NOT ask where people want to go. This is like asking what kind of pizza toppings they want. If you do this, then right from the start you are the head squad member instead of the squad leader. There is DEFINATELY a difference.

2) Do not get somebody you don't know to be the transport pilot. The transport driver is the most important job in the squad, so do it yourself or get somebody you trust to do it.

3) Do not use the HART if at all possible. The hart separates your squad and therefore makes it ineffective. If you must use the HART, drop at a TOWER that is not under attack, regroup their, and then move out.

4) DO NOT be a commander if you don't know the game. If you don't know the game, be a squad member for a little while. Learn the rules of the game, get your certs for Gal and/or sunderer, THEN start leading. There's nothing worse than a squad leader who doesn't know how the game works.

5) DO NOT immediately kick newbs. Newbs can become your best soldiers because they are blank slates. They don't know how to play the game yet, so you can teach them to play in a style that fits your leadership. Then they will become your most effective and loyal soldiers. The more newbs you train the more loyal squad members you have access to at any time. The person who teaches a newb to play well is always respected by said newb.

[DarkDragon00]

I usually waypoint the fron the back and side entrences.

I love my outfit members we capped half of Ishundar for the TR one time!

[Airlift]

There is only one lesson that you really need to push and keep pushing:

Move as a team, never move alone.

[SweetTater]

5) DO NOT immediately kick newbs. Newbs can become your best soldiers because they are blank slates. I think this is one of the best ideas put out there. It's similar to when you are trying to get a job and the employer wants someone with experience. Well, how are you going to get experience if you can't get a job? Sure some newbs are totally clueless but a lot are just trying to learn the game and how they are going to fit in. Find out what they can do and give them simple tasks based on that.
"Go with the hacker and watch his back."
"Run air support for the ANT driver."
"Sneak over to that base to scout while we take this tower."
"Set up on the hill to the south to spot incoming enemies and snipe stragglers."
Lead a newb well and give a little friendly advice when needed and you'll have an ally who will follow you anytime.

[Chanfan]

True on the noobs. Kicking folks may be necessary, if they are disruptive - but not if they are new and willing to learn.

I've not been a squad leader, really, but know what I like in one.

I like good communication - even hearing them confirm reports and instructions with other squad members is reassuring to me.

I think keeping the team focused on the same goal - which often, but not always, means everyone together - is a big plus. It's easy to get distracted, and I don't mind when they remind me I should actually be helping out the squad, rather than chasing down that harasser I ran into on the way back.

I think a good squad leader spends more time directing than actually fighting himself.

But, just communicating, and making sure everyone knows what their job is at all times.