Enemy Leadership Tags

Baneblade · 2012-06-28, 08:40 AM

It occurred to me that with SL based command abilities it would make sense to be able to pick put who is leading a squad with a visual tag.

What the tag should be... well that is a discussion all on its own.

I personally think SLs and PLs should be tagged with a visual cue such as a star by their name, or just (SLP) or (PL) by their ingame name. Well assuming enemy names float like in PS1.

Or maybe it could be less obvious, like a uniform modification with some sort of insiginia.

This would give some purpose to assassinations as well.

Dart · 2012-06-28, 08:44 AM

I often wondered about priority targets in PS1... Give the snipers and assassins someone to target. For instance the Commander who is leading the Continent for your enemy would have a special denotation.

It was mostly just idle musing however and I'm not sure how or even if it would translate to the game.

ringring · 2012-06-28, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Dart

I often wondered about priority targets in PS1... Give the snipers and assassins someone to target. For instance the Commander who is leading the Continent for your enemy would have a special denotation.

It was mostly just idle musing however and I'm not sure how or even if it would translate to the game.

I don't see how it could, often the most influential person is not the one who has the SL position.

Dart · 2012-06-28, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by ringring

I don't see how it could, often the most influential person is not the one who has the SL position.

Yeah, that's why it shouldn't be the SL position and there would have to be some advantage to the person who was 'flagged'. Otherwise, in my clan for instance, we'd just swap the tag around between everyone who WASN'T the leader. I was thinking more like Empire commanders.

Solidblock · 2012-06-28, 09:10 AM

I quite like the idea, the idea of the a tag next to their name seems a little primitive, I'd like to see something on their armour to give the impression, but this is completely open to scrutiny.

Dart · 2012-06-28, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Solidblock

I quite like the idea, the idea of the a tag next to their name seems a little primitive, I'd like to see something on their armour to give the impression, but this is completely open to scrutiny.

For just a flashing skull and cross-bones above their head. It should be something that the enemy can see and there should be a practical reason for them to be targeted with a positive bonus for individual in question to accept the 'title'. As I said, I'm not sure it'd practically work but the idea of assassinating enemy commanders is always a cool one.

MCYRook · 2012-06-28, 09:18 AM

Ummh, guys... this isn't real life. If you kill an enemy commander here, he's actually NOT really dead! He'll just "re-spawn" momentarily. And even while he's doing so, he can still communicate, give orders, and do his leadership bizniz.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

Solidblock · 2012-06-28, 09:19 AM

I don't like the idea of artificial means to identify commanders if you know what I mean. I want something pragmatic for it to happen. Perhaps only an infiltrator, when correctly certed in '???' spec should be able to use their spot function on a trooper and if he/she happens to be a commander, squad leader or platoon leader (Any command position), crossbones could appear. I think that will be a good way to go about this.

Enzo · 2012-06-28, 09:50 AM

Unlike real life, specifically targeting leaders won't really make much of a difference considering they can still lead over VOIP while dead.

Special uniform customization would be cool though.

Otleaz · 2012-06-28, 09:59 AM

I would imagine killing the guy who allows 5 other guys to drop in on top of your head from space would be worth it.

I say give squad leaders special clothes, like give a TR squad leader a trenchcoat look. HUD markers are gimmicky and should be avoided at all costs.

Canaris · 2012-06-28, 10:02 AM

Do you know why modern officers in combat don't wear easily identifiable uniforms and insignia anymore?

exactly for this reason, now the VS & NC officers can wear what they like but the TR being the most professional army on Auraxis shouldn't even consider it, I know what your all saying that this is just a video game but in PS1 I usually aim at the bastard with the command rank uniform cos I know he's most likely to set off an OS or EMP.

TAA · 2012-06-28, 10:11 AM

Easy. Just make it so that any player who gives an order makes a quick gesture with their hands. Eg. they point to where they allocated an objective order.

Any careful observer will be able to pick out who is giving the orders.

fvdham · 2012-06-28, 10:22 AM

Officer class: a flag strapped to the back and a sword.

Or a cape.

ringring · 2012-06-28, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by MCYRook

Ummh, guys... this isn't real life. If you kill an enemy commander here, he's actually NOT really dead! He'll just "re-spawn" momentarily. And even while he's doing so, he can still communicate, give orders, and do his leadership bizniz.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

Doh!

Baneblade · 2012-06-28, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by MCYRook

Ummh, guys... this isn't real life. If you kill an enemy commander here, he's actually NOT really dead! He'll just "re-spawn" momentarily. And even while he's doing so, he can still communicate, give orders, and do his leadership bizniz.

Just thought I'd clear that up.

Yeah, because killing him won't affect his ability to squad spawn, emp, or OS something.

There should be a cooldown on promoting within a squad to help offset people trying to use a faux leader and then only taking actual command to use the abilities.

As for the real life thing... this isn't real life. This is a science fiction wargame and in the science fiction genre, it is customary to set the leader apart.

An outfit (or faction generic) standard on the back would be a good way to do this. Not over large, but visible. Or the previously mentioned armor mods.

When players first started hitting CR5pam in PS1, the armor pieces did make you more of a target. So even in planetside it isn't unprecedented.