Originally Posted by Boulderdash

More often than not I take up the support role in 2142 and often tote around the Ganz. (I didn't like it either when I first started using it, but after getting used to it it's very effective.) After playing several rounds at CG a few nights ago I was left feeling a little left out. My squad (EU) consisted of a few assaults, a sniper and me and was on a roof by harbor shelling the gate. I kept the squad supplied and while the battle raged below me I discovered I was a little bit bored.

I honestly had nothing to shoot at and my sentry gun barely made a peep. Since then I've had one question going through my head: what is the best role for someone using support with the Ganz? I don't mind being there for supplies, it's my job. But in some situations the support load out isn't effective. I can't just go off on my own, and even if I wanted to I'd get killed in shot order. So what is the most effective way to use the support kit in a squad besides ammo?

I see a lot of people just plopping the sentry gun in the middle of no where and it getting taken out within seconds. It's much more effective to lay down covering fire for an embedded squad or watch the back was to the squads position. A poor knifer learned that the hard way last night. I had the sentry around the corner and I heard the knife unsheathe and then the sentry go at it.

The other role I find myself playing quite often is EMP grenader. It can buy a whole squad enough time to book in the other direction or lay down mines/c4. The one thing that support lacks the the ability to push into a tight area. Your much better being the initial member into an open area (i.e. toll station), lay fire, rest of squad rush and provide covering fire.

What are everyone else's thoughts on how to be more effective in this role? I see a ton of ideas about the assault kit, but the poor support role is left in the dust.

Boulderdash, you might remember me from a few nights back, when we played a few good maps together in the TG squad. I think Sc1ence was there. I'm primarily a support player myself, and I load up with the Ganz, EMP grenades and the sentry gun so I know what you're describing here.

One of my disappointments is that most squad leaders (not all) treat support personnel as glorified ammunition mules. As someone lugging around a very powerful LMG, I'd expect to get instructions from the SL to 'lay covering fire' or 'keep their heads down while we advance' with my very awesome and destructive Ganz LMG.

I know that when I hear the distinctive sound of a Ganz as it rattles off and the ground starts popping around my feet as he/she ranges in, I start looking for some serious cover. I wish SL's were a little more aware of his fact and utilized their support personnel in that fashion. Even if they're not hitting me, yet, I'm not willing to stand around and let them zero in.

A parting comment on the sentry gun placement: One of my favorite places is to put it in the midst of some bushes. Especially inside the courtyard of the Church control point (the name of the map escapes me). I was on the other end of the map, and racked up a dozen kills (including a few TGers that should have known better) before it was taken out.