Tophatter94

They do to a degree. Things like "stacking-up" around the console doorways (in the titan) and breaching the hallway in a controlled manner. Also, keeping a good spread when crossing open terrain is good. Little things like that help out ALOT. A good spread will keep grenades and rockets from wiping out the whole squad, meaning if you are attacked and killed, there is greater chance of you being revived by a surviving teammate.

But, in my own opinion, exact formations aren't as important as dividing squads into "fire-teams," or co-operating with other squads to form fire-teams. Like Squad A gives supportive fire while Squad B moves up, sets up a base-of-fire and allows Squad A to move up with them.

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"Life is meaningless and absent of thorough enjoyment unless there is a scale by which to measure its worth. To some people death is the lowest mark on this scale and every thing else is priceless."
-Joe Satrapa

By the way; my name is pronounced "Top-hat-er" not "top-hater."

RogueTheory

Agreed, and this is probably what Crux meant - not exact formations, but rather being able to adapt intelligently to the physical environment, structure, and situation. Good post though OP, very interesting read.

-rT

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WhiskeySix

It's more like hockey than American-football. Each players Area of Responsibility depends on the situation/formation you find yourself in. So, for example, if you find yourself on the far left of the squad, watch the left flank. If, a minute later, you're moving forward and find yourself on the right flank, watch the right... etc..

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Razcsak

This is not the most effective formation, even if it is the most common. Typically, it happens because the SL is the most skilled person on the squad and assumes a pointman position, in addition to being the one who always knows which way the squad is heading. Trailing behind the SL doesn't improve your response time and does make you more vulnerable to grenades and rockets. Most people are far better at getting their throws on a line with the SL's approach when compared to the SL's distance. Coming in perpendicular to the defense, you're likely to catch grenades, rockets, and gunfire aimed at the pointman completely accidentally.

Spread out next to your SL, not behind!

pred011586

I wouldn't say it's because the SL is the most skilled, as much as it's because the SL has the fastest reaction time to his own orders. You are right, however. Most "effective" was a poor choice in words on my part, I should've said common as you pointed out, thanks. =)

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