Kick and Close that squad!

[WhiskeySix]

Just wanted to post a note to squad leaders.

When, for whatever reason, you need to leave the game, please close out your squad! Just leaving the game without doing this first can leave a mess behind you, as the rest of your guys are forced to play squad-leader roulette. This often creates a scenario that hurts the server:

Your old squad ends up with a SL without VOIP, that doesn't know what TG-style teamwork is all about, or that doesn't even know he's SL! People then join this dysfunctional squad only to find out there's no VOIP at all happening and an SL not giving orders. (Once this happens, it needs to be reported, but following this protocol can eliminate the problem before it starts!). Plus, it's disappointing to see a squad named "12th" or "lucky" or "33rd" or "teamwork" with room in it, only to find out there isn't a single TG'er in there and little to no teamwork happening.


Anyway, here's how you should do it:

1. Tell the squad you're leaving, and that someone should start a new squad.
   
2. Hit <CAPSLOCK> to bring up the squad screen
3. Lock the squad by clicking on the pad-lock icon
4. Select the "Manage" button at the bottom
   
5. In the right pane, scroll to the top, select all squad members, and hit the "APPLY" button. (This kicks everyone from the squad)
   
6. In the left pane, click the "Leave Squad" button
   
7. Disconnect from server/Close BF2.

[cptCuervo]

I will try to be more diligent and spread the word.

However, what usually happens (with the 5th) is that someone crashes to desktop... this can leave an unresponsive SL in the squad. We are then forced to start a new squad...

Barring this scenario, this is sound advice.

[WhiskeySix]

yeah - CTD's are definitely the #1 reason squads loose leaders - happens to me all the time. (In fact, on about 1 out of 3 maps I'll CTD with exactly 90 seconds left in the round?!)

[Lorian]

Kind of related annoyance, today I had formed a gunship squad at the beginning of the round and it just instantly filled with pubbies, I had to kick basically a full squad and lock it and invite my gunner in. The majority of pubbies just join any squad so they don't get kicked and don't care about any sort of teamwork.

[WhiskeySix]

heh - that brings up another pet peeve of mine: seeing a specialty squad with six guys on a map that doesn't have that specialty (i.e. "AttackHelo" on Carpathian, or "Arty" on Spies Like Us.)

[Wimpinator]

Actually I have never thought about this and you bring up good points. I will try to remember to close my squads from now on. Thanks Whiskey!

[Iamthefallen]

Remember to lock it before you start kicking though.

[icky]

Good idea. I would add
1.5. Lock the squad

This will prevent someone from popping into the squad just as you are clicking Leave.

Sometimes it is a good thing when someone gets forced into the SL position, but it is often a bad thing, so I'm not sure I back this in ALL circumstances.

[icky]

Originally Posted by Iamthefallen

Remember to lock it before you start kicking though.

Spent too much time typing my response.

[WhiskeySix]

Originally Posted by icky

Good idea. I would add
1.5. Lock the squad

This will prevent someone from popping into the squad just as you are clicking Leave.

Sometimes it is a good thing when someone gets forced into the SL position, but it is often a bad thing, so I'm not sure I back this in ALL circumstances.

The time between kicking (pressing "apply") and leaving (pressing "leave squad") is at most 1 second, so I've never had a problem with people rejoining... but I threw that step in there anyway

Yeah Icky, this definitely isn't a one-size fit's-all, use all the time RULE... just something to keep in mind.

[ANGELofDEATH]

The frequent CTDs are the main reason for getting stuck with a pub SL.. nothing worse than following the SL, who then stops and disappears.. :/ Then I say "CHIN, you are now SL" to no response :/ as he runs off to the mill by himself for an instant death. lol

Although I do like the idea of kicking all the SM when leaving the server, or switching sides for the Spies map.. uh hum

Im new here, but have been playing on your server for months.. maybe instead of creating a squad of nothing but the 12th(5th,7th or Irr), getting a bravo(second) squad of the same IHS going to become the frontline or right flanking squad... Which will get more pubbers into the TG mindset.. It should be easier to run two squads amongst two SL in the same TS channel...

for example, "5thAlpha" and the "5thBravo" then there would be 12 soldiers all on the same page, instead of 6 on the same page and 6 pubbers running around in circles. Trust me, I know, I would rather be in a squad of nothing but TG, Yet, then we have one flag is under control, while the rest are going back and forth.. Because we all know the pubbers wont defend without good reason even with good reason lol

[icky]

Originally Posted by WhiskeySix

The time between kicking (pressing "apply") and leaving (pressing "leave squad") is at most 1 second, so I've never had a problem with people rejoining... but I threw that step in there anyway

I have slow reflexes.

Sometimes there are people waiting for a spot in a squad, and it often takes them only a fraction of a second to claim a spot. Better safe than annoyed.

[liminal]

That's a really great idea. I'll be sure to pass this along to the other TOC guys. I remember a long time ago having a TOC squad on the server that had no TOC members in it. Some of the guys were being chumps and I hated to see crap being done in our name. This would solve that.

[Iamthefallen]

Originally Posted by icky

Spent too much time typing my response.

*notes difference in time*

*counts words in icky's post*

Hey, 6 words per minute isn't that bad

[Axis of Eeevil]

Originally Posted by ANGELofDEATH

.. maybe instead of creating a squad of nothing but the 12th(5th,7th or Irr), getting a bravo(second) squad of the same IHS going to become the frontline or right flanking squad... Which will get more pubbers into the TG mindset.. It should be easier to run two squads amongst two SL in the same TS channel...

for example, "5thAlpha" and the "5thBravo" then there would be 12 soldiers all on the same page, instead of 6 on the same page and 6 pubbers running around in circles.

I REALLY like this idea, and hope the in-0house guys give this particular idea some real consideration.

I know this is what the Irregulars are for; and I like the idea probably because I'm an IRR and that's what we do...we actually like having a mix of TGs and pubsters in a squad, most of the time.

Just tonight had a squad of all pubbers and they were GREAT. They were right on it, and I gave a minimum of boneheaded orders before I...you guessed it, lost connection and had to rejoin!

Again, really like the idea of two similar squads working together and having a mix of TG and non-TG players.
Nothing like having 3 in-house guys working well together and being a welcome cog in their machine.

It's what made me stay after just one afternoon of playing with NorCal, and is what we need for recruitment. You think like an Irregular, Angel!