Snake Eyes: How to play as USMC

[BaneII]

From the results and comments from players about Snake Eyes last night, I can see this being the new Spies Like Us. So I'm gonna get a jump start and layout the tactics for this map before the complaints come. The main problem is not with the map, but with the lack of understanding on the players' part of the appropriate strategies and tactics to use.

I'll start off showing a video from last night of my 33rd squad on USMC landing and assaulting up the beach:

Download link


Please note that this was the very first time we played this map. Pulling a successful assault off has nothing to do with familiarity of the map. That's because the strategy for an amphibious assault is the same whether it's Omaha Beach, Crimea, or Snake Eyes.




The Outpost should be the main objective for the USMC. It's not just because it's the closet flag, it's because armor will spawn at this flag when captured; greatly increasing the team's firepower. This is one of the few times on a map where concentrating your team is necessary. USMC must make a spearhead and break through the defenders' line. To help assist the attackers, the destroyer has artillery. The artillery needs to concentrate on eliminating defenders from the immediate front. Hitting targets anywhere else on the map contributes little to your team's efforts unless it's enemy arty or armor. Upon capture of the Outpost, great effort should be expended to keep it due to the armor spawns. Also remember to continue to bring the armor in from the destroyer. Too many times upon landfall, a team will ditch all their armor behind them as if it doesn't have anymore use. People complain about maps turning into a sniper fest and the usual reason is because players don't use the armor. Here's a hint people: snipers can't kill armor.

I won't go into the rest of the round after capture of the Outpost because that can proceed as necessary. I took my squad straight to the back to keep pushing the defenders back, capture rear flags, and cut the supply of enemy armor. It's doesn't take the whole team to capture one flag, so if your teammates are capturing the Outpost, do something else!

Squad Strategy:
Assault means assault. That means TAKING the ground away from the defenders. Too many times people dig in upon landfall and take pot shots at the enemy. If you're wondering why that's not successful it's because that's not assaulting; that's trench warfare. Assaulting is moving forward, killing the enemy, and then moving into previously owned territory. Rinse and repeat.

In the video my squad is constantly moving forward after clearing the area of defenders. You see the defenders slowly being pushed back to their next spawn point as we eliminate them. It's kill and move, no one is stopping and digging in. Since we overrun the defenders, there are no guys we just killed popping back in after 15 seconds. That's because everyone, including the medics and squad leaders, have been eliminated. Sitting back just gives the advantage to the defenders. Even when the enemy has numerical superiority at the Hotel flag, they are still surpassed. Also note the constant use of smoke while advancing. Why people constantly run out into the open and get mowed down with a full complement of smoke grenades unused I still don't understand. Here's another hint: it's hard to shoot you if they can't see you.

Tactics

• Use smoke to conceal yourselves while advancing
• Shoot, kill, and move
• Maneuver and don't bunch up
• Keep pressure on the defenders
• At least one medic to help maintain the push
• Spot as much as possible, especially armor

Armor Strategy
It's no different than on any other map. Armor should be moving with the infantry to protect them by eliminating enemy armor, snipers, and high concentrations of infantry. If you're by yourself, then you are doing something wrong. Eliminate targets by priority, there's no reason to be trying to kill a lone enemy medic when there is an enemy tank nearby. Be ready to take the point to break through enemy defenders or give cover while friendly infantry come in behind you.

Tactics

• Move with the infantry
• Eliminate priority targets first (ex. armor)
• Use smoke to conceal others around you
• Take the brunt of attacks when necessary
• Always keep in play; never leave armor unattended & unused

Artillery Strategy
This map calls for close arty support. That means dropping it near your frontlines just in front of the attackers. While waiting to reload, open the map to see where your teammates are and note where they are headed; that area is what should be targeted. Enemy armor is the highest priority, if armor is spotted, then that automatically becomes the next target. Flags are good targets, especially when they are close to being captured. Flags that just turned white should be ranked as second highest priority. Ignoring the needs of your teammates and randomly firing is doing a great disservice to the team.

Tactics

• Concentrate firing near your team's frontlines
• Prioritize eliminating enemy armor
• Bombard flags that the enemy is in the process of capturing (ex. just turned white with no friendlies nearby)

[khaerus]

Excellent post, Bane.

It was nice to see a squad actually able to break through on that map and secure a foothold on the beach. The map will rightly continue to be examined for playability, though. To wit: it took half a round for the US to get a foothold, which can be seen as one issue. The second issue, of course, is that once the US did indeed get that foothold, the US still lost the round soundly.

In the round you are discussing, I think most of the complaints from the US side were from some guys who had actually played the 32p version earlier in the night as the Ukraine side, and they had seen that we as the US could not secure any landing on the beach. (The 32p version lacks the assets that the US has on the 64p version, and we were massacred.)

I personally think the map has great potential, and obviously tactics will evolve. It's good to see the discussion started...

[WhiskeySix]

GREAT post Bane... especially the bit about not getting entrenched and staying on the move.



note: We'll be skipping the 32p map, since there's a bug for the DDX , where the artillery guns dont work. Without that artillery support, it's near impossible to get a foothold. (This, and some other minor tweaks will likely be coming shortly in a hotfix)

[[tR]Greasy_mullet]

Awesome post man.

[Bommando]

Wow, excellent post Bane.

You've made me seriously consider reinstalling BF2 / PoE2.

[seriousturtle]

loads of great info. lets hope team/squad cohesion will prevail.

BaneII FTW!!!

~the turtle

[kilevvri1]

Great, now I guess I need to implement all of this intel, so as not to get trounced my first time there.

[draeh]

Originally Posted by kilevvri1

Great, now I guess I need to implement all of this intel, so as not to get trounced my first time there.

Too late for me. Except that I got trounced on the UKR side...

[thundeer]

Originally Posted by Bommando

Wow, excellent post Bane.

You've made me seriously consider reinstalling BF2 / PoE2.

you totally should and then the entire 7th would follow and we'd have EPIC TACTICAL GAMES cause who doesn't want to see bom in a tank or making medics cry!

[DaV]

Great post & vid. Wish i would have played that round...seen to many loob sided Ukr wins...teamwork prevails yet again...

[WhiskeySix]

I think the most important thing is getting as many boots as possible on the sand as fast as possible. If UKR is allowed to drive all it's armor forward to the beach before US get's a foothold it will be a short round.

[Sawviper]

It also did not hurt that round that every Ukrainian peice of armor except for the artillery was sitting in the rear base unused for the first 5 minutes. The one good thing I can say is this map definetely shows what good tactics can do against a unorganized team.

[thedogwarrior]

Excellent post! Friday night, my first time in 2.1, on this map ever, my squad was defending Outpost, and through repeated and continual attacks the USMC managed to capture Outpost, then made it back to capture Weapons Bunker and Night Club, which I believe they held the rest of the round. We recap'd Outpost, and managed to hold on to everything else for the win though.

I've yet to play this map on the USMC side, should be interesting if a coordinated southerly attack through Outpost - and a northern attack as well - could be attempted.

[BigBill]

I was in Bane's squad for this round and it was fun as hell..

I'm the one in the video throwing a crapload of smoke, shocking my team mates back to life and dying about every 25 meters or so LOL

Great tactics and SL-ing by Bane on this round

Bill

[Magonushi]

Originally Posted by WhiskeySix

I think the most important thing is getting as many boots as possible on the sand as fast as possible.

...the main problem being the layout of that damn destroyer. You practically have to either free fall or swim your way to the boats, and if you spawn inside that labyrinth of a vessel, good luck getting out in a timely manner.