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Shyeer Alvarin
Dead Six Initiative
45
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Posted - 2012.09.14 09:17:00 -
[1] - Quote
Hokay. So, after a fantabulous match earlier tonight I thought I'd share some (potentially) little known facts about leading a squad effectively regardless of your situation. Note- this is intended for those that -don't- know these things, and it's helpful even to people that don't lead regularly or at all.
First off, your squadmates are your lifeline. If you're like me, you're barking orders at your battle buddies to get people in gear, well stocked, and prepared for any eventuality. Ways to do this include but are not limited to-
Battle Preparation-
Before launching a game, discuss loadouts with your squad. Make sure the basic needs of the squad are covered such as- Triage, Infantry, Droplinks (Uplinks), munitions deployment, and potential vehicular support if necessary. Keeping people in their comfort zones is good to a point, but as a squad leader don't be afraid to get people in a Logi suit with Nanohives and Drop Uplinks and your Infantry with Nanite Injectors to make your squad effective.
Remember not to go straight up infantry. "Overspecialize and you breed in weakness." If possible, maintain some form of communication, whether it's a voice comms, a keyboard, or both like I do.
In The Field-
For squad leaders the Overhead Map (Down arrow on your D-pads for those that don't know) is your -best- friend. The overhead is the best tactical advantage you have over your enemy. The Overhead Map allows you to do a number of fun things like setting rally points and Squad Objectives. I'll get to objectives later.
If you're just starting a match on Ambush, something that works well for me is having the squad wait to spawn until I find a safe place to cram a Drop Uplink and call it when it's on the ground. This is beneficial because it keeps the squad together and -nothing- sucks more than getting caught in an ambush all on your lonesome.
As a Squad Leader, battlefield awareness is key, so you're gonna be looking at the Radar and Overhead Map a lot because you wanna be the first one on your squad to know when something evil is headed your way. A prime example of this is quick identification of vehicles being dropped in by the enemy. The first key is knowing. Dispatch comes later.
So, you're on the ground, you're squad's in tow. Now you need a good place to go that won't get your buddies killed. Again- Overhead Map. When you have the overhead open, you -can't- move, and of nobody's looking at the guy coming behind you he won't show up on the radar. Make sure butts are covered, and covered well. From the Overhead you can move the cursor around.
-Hover over an enemy vehicle or dropsuit and hold the X button to designate the target as "Attack Target" or "Capture Target."
-Hovering over empty ground and holding X will let you set a Rally Point. This is -by far- more effective than just saying "Go to that hill over there," or "East side!"
-Hovering over a friendly target allows you to set "Defend" objectives.
For those that don't know and have always wondered how people call in orbital strikes- The entire squad gets a notification when an Orbital Strike is available. To -call- this strike, open up your Vehicle Menu (Right on your D-pads) and select the "Warbarge" option.
I bring up Orbital Strikes because having these objectives set and a fast-acting Squad Leader helps the squad accrue more War Points (Y'know. Those point values you get when you kill something?) and call in Orbital Strikes. If a squad member assists or kills a designated target, the Squad Leader earns bonus points because of the coordination involved. If a friendly target is set to be Defending, staying in the area of the Defend objective and racking up your killboard earns bonus WP. Any Squad Drop Uplinks and Nanohives also generate extra points.
Make sure your team is always aware of what's going on around them that isn't directly in front of them. You as a squad leader also need to be open to your squads suggestions on action plans. Situational Awareness keeps everyone's butt alive and their Dropsuits shiny and new.
Anyone with something to add to this is more than welcome. Share your experiences and help your fellow DUSTbunnies grow.
Lokun i Gangi, Mercenaries. Fly Low and Drop Hard. |
Ad ski
IMPSwarm
Negative-Feedback
209
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Posted - 2012.09.14 09:50:00 -
[2] - Quote
You can give out orders without using the map. Press and hold R2 then press R3, that should bring up a set of orders (like the weapon wheel does). Pick the order you want i.e defend, look at the target you want to defend e.g a vehicle and press R1. Some objectives don't let you place defend orders on them when using the map. |
Shyeer Alvarin
Dead Six Initiative
45
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 09:53:00 -
[3] - Quote
Ad ski wrote:You can give out orders without using the map. Press and hold R2 then press R3, that should bring up a set of orders (like the weapon wheel does). Pick the order you want i.e defend, look at the target you want to defend e.g a vehicle and press R1. Some objectives don't let you place defend orders on them when using the map.
I actually forgot about that one. Map Objectives in Skirmish won't let you set targets on the consoles using the overhead. |
SYST3M 0V3RL0AD
Zumari Force Projection
Caldari State
209
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 10:00:00 -
[4] - Quote
Shyeer Alvarin wrote:
For squad leaders the Overhead Map (Down arrow on your D-pads for those that don't know) is your -best- friend. The overhead is the best tactical advantage you have over your enemy.
Hold R2 and click in the right stick (R3). That's your best friend. 
EDIT: Ad ski snuck in there while i was typing, haha. Kitten you Ad ski! |
SYST3M 0V3RL0AD
Zumari Force Projection
Caldari State
209
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 10:14:00 -
[5] - Quote
Minor tip:
It's also good practice to make sure your squad leader is actually aware that he is squad leader. If you haven't prearranged squads with friends before battle, when launched into battle the game may randomly make you a squad leader and you'll have no idea unless you check the squad list. Also, if a squad leader leaves the battle due to bugs and glitches the next person on the squad list becomes leader.
I'll admit there have been a number of times I forgot or simply didn't realize I was leader. Don't be shy, a friendly reminder never hurts! |
q00t
Seituoda Taskforce Command
Caldari State
5
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 10:26:00 -
[6] - Quote
Ad ski wrote:You can give out orders without using the map. Press and hold R2 then press R3, that should bring up a set of orders (like the weapon wheel does). Pick the order you want i.e defend, look at the target you want to defend e.g a vehicle and press R1. Some objectives don't let you place defend orders on them when using the map.
Any idea what the keyboard equivalent is? Holding caps and pressing e doesn't seem to have the same effect for me. |
Shyeer Alvarin
Dead Six Initiative
45
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 10:35:00 -
[7] - Quote
q00t wrote:Ad ski wrote:You can give out orders without using the map. Press and hold R2 then press R3, that should bring up a set of orders (like the weapon wheel does). Pick the order you want i.e defend, look at the target you want to defend e.g a vehicle and press R1. Some objectives don't let you place defend orders on them when using the map. Any idea what the keyboard equivalent is? Holding caps and pressing e doesn't seem to have the same effect for me.
I'll have to play around with the keyboard controls and customization to get you an answer on that one. With KB/M it might be a matter of using the mouse, but since I don't use a mouse I can't test that. IF someone beats me to it before I play with it tomorrow, post it and keep this thread going. |
Gauder Berwyck
Deadly Blue Dots
RISE of LEGION
217
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Posted - 2012.09.14 10:39:00 -
[8] - Quote
I find that the map is easiest to set frago points where you do not have line of sight or is far away from it (the R2-R3 method requires precision!!!). However, when you are close to places, then R2-R3 (sounds like a SW droid...) is the way to go, definitely! |
SYST3M 0V3RL0AD
Zumari Force Projection
Caldari State
209
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 11:16:00 -
[9] - Quote
Gauder Berwyck wrote:I find that the map is easiest to set frago points where you do not have line of sight or is far away from it (the R2-R3 method requires precision!!!). However, when you are close to places, then R2-R3 (sounds like a SW droid...) is the way to go, definitely!
I'm sure that was the intention of the devs, however my overhead map rarely let's me do what i need to do. It's very temperamental. Additionally, there's been a few times i've opened the map and gotten stuck on the screen unable to close it, or my character falls through the map when i open it. For me neither are worth the risk. I just get line-of-sight and use the quick access menu. YMMV
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D'Finn Rhedlyne
Planetary Response Organisation
Test Friends Please Ignore
266
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 11:23:00 -
[10] - Quote
I encountered a worrying thing earlier today. A rally point had been set and, dutifully, I set off to rendezvous at the assigned point. However, en-route I encountered a large angry mob of red clones and was duly dispatched to the great clone vat in the sky.
After I bled out and returned to the respawn map and looked at the rally point, there were 3 enemies and a dropship all in the exact same place waiting to ambush any squad members about to arrive.
Be warned... betrayal and collusion by squad leaders could result in your death.
Know your enemies and their cohorts. |
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SYST3M 0V3RL0AD
Zumari Force Projection
Caldari State
209
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 11:50:00 -
[11] - Quote
D'Finn Rhedlyne wrote:I encountered a worrying thing earlier today. A rally point had been set and, dutifully, I set off to rendezvous at the assigned point. However, en-route I encountered a large angry mob of red clones and was duly dispatched to the great clone vat in the sky.
After I bled out and returned to the respawn map and looked at the rally point, there were 3 enemies and a dropship all in the exact same place waiting to ambush any squad members about to arrive.
Be warned... betrayal and collusion by squad leaders could result in your death.
Know your enemies and their cohorts.
Yep, this happens on rare occasion. Sometimes it's malicious, a friend on one team passing info to their friends on the other over UVT to help boost points. Most often it happens when friends in a private channel try to get multiple squads on the same team and they end up on opposite sides. Members of both sides stay in the private UVT channel to continue chatting with each other and tend to forget when they call out orders their "enemies" can hear them. Always check your channel before you call out tactics.
Friendly: "I'm placing a rally point to the north side of A.
Enemy: "OK, we'll be right there!"
whoops. |
Shyeer Alvarin
Dead Six Initiative
45
|
Posted - 2012.09.14 23:41:00 -
[12] - Quote
I don't particularly advise opening the overhead in a vehicle because the current build will cause it to clip through the ground. I forgot about that. I haven't had it happen while I was on foot though. |
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