Squads

Athanasios · 2012-05-21, 06:31 PM

Do we have any info about the size of the squads? Is it going to be fixed (eg. 4 squad members) or adjustable?

Also, if there are going to be any tools for easy comms between Squad Leaders? Eg. coordinated attackes with attack points/routes visible in the minimap of both squads would be very handy.

Mastachief · 2012-05-21, 06:34 PM

0-10 man squads so far. At the moment i'm not sure if platoons will be back (3 x 10man squads)

Typically people join outfits (clans/guilds) and have comms to co-ordinated but there will also be a mission system for leaders to utilise.

Xyntech · 2012-05-21, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mastachief

At the moment i'm not sure if platoons will be back (3 x 10man squads)

I don't have the source, but I seem to recall them initially saying they were not in, then after some fan outcry they said they would probably add them.

I could be talking out my ass though.

KiddParK · 2012-05-21, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Xyntech

I don't have the source, but I seem to recall them initially saying they were not in, then after some fan outcry they said they would probably add them.

I could be talking out my ass though.

YIKES.. no platoons would be rough. Though it would force people to find a way to use their VOIPS in order to organize more. Lord knows we made it work before platoons, and could again. It's just going to be a ton of work with that many people on the battlefield methinks.

SKYeXile · 2012-05-22, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by Xyntech

I don't have the source, but I seem to recall them initially saying they were not in, then after some fan outcry they said they would probably add them.

I could be talking out my ass though.

as far as im ware there is no platoons. Either way, i think your ass is right.

Marinealver · 2012-05-22, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mastachief

0-10 man squads so far. At the moment i'm not sure if platoons will be back (3 x 10man squads)

Typically people join outfits (clans/guilds) and have comms to co-ordinated but there will also be a mission system for leaders to utilise.

We will need platoons. There definatly needs to be some sort of higher echelon orginization for this game to command. Outfits and Squads only get you so far for your orginization. Mabey an Outfit Alliance or a Contenant Task Force could help with better orginization and planning.

So Far PS 1 only has this.

Squad Base group, 2-10 people with squad leader.

Platoon 2-3 squads. 1st SqdLeader serves as the Platoon Leader.

Outfit, a perminate orginization basicly designed to find friends and like minded players to easliy form squads.

Empire: the faction/team players choose to play for.

What I would like to see.

Alliance: 2 or more outfits that choose to share resources/players in order to form platoons and cordinate tactics for more active players. With the Outfit Leaders acting as the board members. outfit leaders can choose to join or leave at will.

Task Force: A localized orginization of squads and platoons alligned to a certian empire spanning over the area of no more than one contenant in order to cordenate operations of a battlespace. Squad and Platoon Leaders can choose to join or leave at will. Generally a high CR (equivelant of a PS Cr4 or higher) would be in charge of it via petition or nomination or some sort of in game method The Task force would set up missions and or messages for members of the empire that enter the area of operations.

So far Squad would be the base unit.

Platoons and Task Force would be Operational Units (only last for a log in session).

Outfits and Alliances would be administrative units (more perminate units to help orginize events and players just logging in to find the action and get into a role he or she is needed).

And at the Top of the Chain of Command the Empire.

KiddParK · 2012-05-21, 06:39 PM

platoon leaders of decent rank (was it CR2?) could draw on the map and commanders of any rank could place up to four waypoints if i recall. We used to get CRAZY drawing all sorts of strat on the map for the different divisions, different outfits would designate different colors and such. Teamspeak was hopping.

Was there a PL chat where you could chat with everyone else who was running a platoon, or SL chat where you could do likewise? I'm having a tough time remembering but I'm old.

Really · 2012-05-22, 02:25 AM

Originally Posted by KiddParK

platoon leaders of decent rank (was it CR2?) could draw on the map and commanders of any rank could place up to four waypoints if i recall. We used to get CRAZY drawing all sorts of strat on the map for the different divisions, different outfits would designate different colors and such. Teamspeak was hopping.

Was there a PL chat where you could chat with everyone else who was running a platoon, or SL chat where you could do likewise? I'm having a tough time remembering but I'm old.

People actually drew useful stuff with battleplans? I'm pretty sure we just used it for drawing cocks all over the place

Toppopia · 2012-05-22, 02:31 AM

Then you are a useless leader.

I wonder if they will go more detailed, like maybe placing symbols like a tank symbol to show that they want a tank there, would be cool to see your map with plane symbols moving on the map in relation to where commanders wanted them and where they actually were and stuff. Like a real war room. But with holograms.

Athanasios · 2012-05-21, 06:40 PM

Thanks, i wouldn't like PS2 to follow BF downhill (6 > 4 squads).

And yes, obviously clans use TS3 and other voip programs, but we're not going all to be in the same clan; so, coordinating something with another SL with a simple minimap-commands would be very helpful

Mastachief · 2012-05-21, 07:14 PM

Platoons where only really handy for know where the members were.

It is hard really for me to be objective as i'm more of the opinion that you should be in an outfit so outfit squad and outfit comms etc. I think higby mentioned that you would see outfit members on the minimap.

If you have say an average sized outfit online in prime time you probably will have some 80 or 90 player to co-ordinated so platoons could help. Comms would have to be managed with the likes of teamspeak channels and channel commander.

So far as i'm aware the in game voip stuff allows for squads to form a voip channel to help you co-ordinate if you are running with randoms.

capiqu · 2012-05-22, 01:19 AM

Squads will consist of 2 to 10 people. During the height of Planetside many outfits where able to easily make a platoon of 60 people( 3 squads ) since many outfits had 100 to 200 members. Heck some outfits had 300 to 600. However smaller outfits would join a platoon with other outfits.

Furber · 2012-05-22, 01:54 AM

I think I recalling hearing them mention Platoons in an interview not too long ago, though I have no idea which one it was.

Hamma · 2012-05-22, 02:10 AM

Squads are 10 and platoons were part of our Q&A that will be released next week but nothing official on that.. yet

SniperSteve · 2012-05-22, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by Hamma

Squads are 10 and platoons were part of our Q&A that will be released next week but nothing official on that.. yet

When you say released next week are you referring to their internal release cycles or the beta? o.O