While we wait for CBT: Squad Composition

Noctis · 2012-07-31, 07:41 AM

So, everything in this topic, as every other one is just pure supposition, subject to changes, and to kill the time instead of making "I want to play" threads.

Stated this:

In order to achieve the most captures;

How would you organize a single squad or a single platoon of Infantry? Which classes? Any particular equipment? Tactics? Known certs to be used?

How would you organize a single squad or platoon of Ground Vehicles? Which vehicles? Tactics and such?

Same applies to Aircrafts, but Air support needs ground one to be useful in my opinion, but same questions for this department too!

Of course the game will be rounded around hundreds of players, and not single squads, I'll be myself in one of the many SGers ones, but let's say you are planning to lead a single squad or a platon, what would your setup be?

Fenrod · 2012-07-31, 07:47 AM

As for me, a squad should be built like this :

1 Heavy Assault
2 Light Assault
1 Medic
1 Engineer
1 Infiltrator, specialized in sniping

As for vehicle squads :

3 Flash
2 Prowler ( TR all the way

)
2 Lightning at the front, along with the 3 Flash
1 Sunderer, protected by 2 Prowlers

IgloGlass · 2012-07-31, 08:46 AM

My 10 man squad, if I were to choose, would probably consist of the following (Not including MAX since we still don't know if it will be treated as a class or more like a vehicle. Heavy Assault could otherwise be swapped with MAX in certain scenarios):

Frontal Assault:

2 Heavy Assault
3 Light Assault
2 Medic
2 Engineer
1 Infiltrator (Could possible be swapped out for any of the other classes)

Base Capture:

3 Heavy Assault
2 Engineer
1 Light Assault
2 Medic
2 Infiltrator (They would scout and snipe/knife a few easy targets to clear the area for the main group beforehand)

Base Hold:

3 Engineer
3 Heavy Assault
3 Medic
1 Light Assault
Yeah I skipped the Infiltrator, don't feel like one would do much good in close-quarter indoors base fighting.

Ground Vehicle Squad (All purpose 10 vehicles):

2-3 Flash (Escort)
2-3 Lightning (Front cover)
2 Sunderer
Fill up the rest with Prowler/Vanguard/Magrider for POWAH.

In a straight line/convoy formation the order could be something along the lines of:

Prowler Flash Lightning
Sunderer Sunderer Prowler Flash
Prowler Flash Lightning

If that makes any sense at all

Aerial Squad (10 vehicles):

I don't think fitting together like 3 Liberators, 2 Galaxy dropship/gunships and 5 Mosquitos would work that well, they probably function best on their own/with ground support. Or with maybe 3 Liberators and 7 Mosquitos.

However I do intend to grab all of my friends and perform 1: A blitz with like 10 Liberators and 2: An arrow formation of nothing but Mosquitos with AV/AI weaponry that sweeps down and destroys everything!

Solidblock · 2012-07-31, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by IgloGlass

My 10 man squad, if I were to choose, would probably consist of the following (Not including MAX since we still don't know if it will be treated as a class or more like a vehicle. Heavy Assault could otherwise be swapped with MAX in certain scenarios):
:

Too long of a quote, but I agree. Of course it's all the commanders personal preferences and I did get that convoy system, it was quite nice and well thought out. A thing I would change however is that I think infiltrators COULD be incredibly useful in every single one of the roles you described. For basehold they could sit on a tower or at a vantage point that could cover one of the entrances to base providing recon and if needed, firepower. I hope that once I'm in this game I can do this role!

Noctis · 2012-07-31, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Fenrod

As for me, a squad should be built like this :

1 Heavy Assault
2 Light Assault
1 Medic
1 Engineer
1 Infiltrator, specialized in sniping

As for vehicle squads :

3 Flash
2 Prowler ( TR all the way

)
2 Lightning at the front, along with the 3 Flash
1 Sunderer, protected by 2 Prowlers

For capture:

About infantry squads I'd always want 2 medics, one engineer to hold position with deployable turrets and a full rack of light asssaults with one infiltrator scouting or sniping. LA instead of HA for mobility, if your goal is capturing I want LA players to hop around hiding spots and lay ambushes on people trying to get CP back, while medics revive eachother, and heal people inside the capture room, which is going to get spammed by granades.

bpostal · 2012-07-31, 08:54 AM

If I had to guess I'd start at one medic per fire team, two engies and two maxes per squad. Adjust as needed

Ruffdog · 2012-07-31, 08:58 AM

I was gonna say: where's the MAX love?

Noctis · 2012-07-31, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by bpostal

If I had to guess I'd start at one medic per fire team, two engies and two maxes per squad. Adjust as needed

I wouldn't consider MAXes, mostly because they have cooldowns, MAXes are best used with mass Pod Deployment once the are is clear, plus they are treated like vehicles maybe

Of course a 7 Max 3 Engi squad would be nice, but kinda hard to be moved around

Solidblock · 2012-07-31, 09:04 AM

I think at least one MAX would be useful in a squad. Yes it'll be quite slow, yes it'll have a cooldown as opposed to other classes. At the end of the day, this is speculation but I feel that if correctly used the MAX could outlive it's cooldown and provide an infantry squad with some well needed heavy firepower.

Noctis · 2012-07-31, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Solidblock

I think at least one MAX would be useful in a squad. Yes it'll be quite slow, yes it'll have a cooldown as opposed to other classes. At the end of the day, this is speculation but I feel that if correctly used the MAX could outlive it's cooldown and provide an infantry squad with some well needed heavy firepower.

One? I think one Max can get easly overwhelmed, especially while assaulting when you don't have the defensive-advanteges. As far as we know if a LA / HA manages to have a 4-5 seconds hit-streak at mid range the MAX is gone, especially at short range with headshots.

If I had to plan MAXes on the field, once inside the capture points I'd just drop all the MAXes using pods of course.

IgloGlass · 2012-07-31, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Solidblock

Too long of a quote, but I agree. Of course it's all the commanders personal preferences and I did get that convoy system, it was quite nice and well thought out. A thing I would change however is that I think infiltrators COULD be incredibly useful in every single one of the roles you described. For basehold they could sit on a tower or at a vantage point that could cover one of the entrances to base providing recon and if needed, firepower. I hope that once I'm in this game I can do this role!

That is true, didn't think of that! Kind of limited the "base hold" to the room itself where you hack. Placing 2 Infiltrators or more to cover the entrances could indeed prove to be very useful! I would definetely want a sniper lowering the health of that MAX that is just about to enter and start shooting at me!

feuerdog · 2012-07-31, 09:14 AM

I'd look at it two ways....

A. A multi-purpose/all-purpose squad/platoon that is structured for as many possible generic eventualities as possible.

B. A mission specific squad/platoon that is assembled with completing a focused objective.

Which would I use? Both. Depending on the situation, and leaderships best judgement of chance of success.

For generic organization, look at the compostions possible in US Navy SEAL teams, or Ranger SFODA teams.
They are designed to be flexible multi-mission capable customized teams.

In Planetside i'd look primarily for specific minimum requirements to be multi-mission capable.
Assuming the typical 3 squads to a platoon; each squad would....

1. Be self/bulk(sunderer/galaxy) transportable by either land or air, or both.
2. Have at least one HA or Max unit focused on anti-infantry.
3. Have at least one improved cert Medic with group healing/revive.
4. Have at least one improved cert Engineer with repair/construction.
5. Have at least one improved cert Infiltrator with hacking/stealth.
6. Have at least one improved cert LA, with squad spawn/waypoints.
7. Have at least one anti-ground vehicle weapon.
8. Have at least one guided anti-air vehicle weapon.

To further improve on this composition, each player would need:
1. Cross-certification into at least one other improved primary role.
2. Have some level of self-heal/self repair functionality.

The tricky part, aside from not knowing what PS2 has in store for us, is to what level of cert specialization will be considered improved enough to be adequate.

As for vehicles, I don't see them as a core of organization, but more of a supporting role.
Since anyone can essentially spawn anything, agin it becomes a matter of bringing the right tool for the job.
To further improve the squad compositon again, each squad would have:
1. One improved Bomber/Fighter/Transport air cert.
1. One improved Tank/Buggy/Transport ground cert.

Further specialization of a non-generic nature would be hard to define, but I wouldn't rule out squads of:
1. Infiltrators for guerilla warfare.
2. Armor only players.
3. Air only players.
4. MAX only.
5. Light Assault only.
6. Etc
It would depend on the need of the mission at hand.

One thing is for sure though, the braod possibilities that PS2 presents us with means that almost any custom composition is possible as long as the resources are there to support it.

Solidblock · 2012-07-31, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Noctis

One? I think one Max can get easly overwhelmed, especially while assaulting when you don't have the defensive-advanteges. As far as we know if a LA / HA manages to have a 4-5 seconds hit-streak at mid range the MAX is gone, especially at short range with headshots.

If I had to plan MAXes on the field, once inside the capture points I'd just drop all the MAXes using pods of course.

What do you mean 'one?' haha? I meant in cohesion with a normal squad consisting of medics, engineers and combinations of assault troops. If you have a MAX in your squad and they don't. You're at a complete advantage. You're also wording it, and I'm sure I'm mistaken, that the MAX is squishier than the other classes. I'll admit it might get focused more, but with good engineers and a squad around the MAX unit, this won't be a problem.

Noctis · 2012-07-31, 09:36 AM

Yea for sure, flamethrowers are kinda deadly, and suit best for point capture point rooms defense. Anyway I see maxes like vehicles, most effective in groups, I'd like to get in the facility, and drop 7 maxes and 3 engineers on the field at once. Max surely gives advantages, but they aren't bulletproof robots anymore

IgloGlass · 2012-07-31, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Noctis

Yea for sure, flamethrowers are kinda deadly, and suit best for point capture point rooms defense. Anyway I see maxes like vehicles, most effective in groups, I'd like to get in the facility, and drop 7 maxes and 3 engineers on the field at once. Max surely gives advantages, but they aren't bulletproof robots anymore

Though I believe flamethrowers will be quite difficult weapons to handle. Especially if you put a twelve year old inside that suit. Griefing will most likely happen I guess. But a MAX standing next to a doorframe with non-stop fire is probably going to be quite deadly.