Re: Need Some Advice on SLing

**johnflenaly** · 07-25-2007, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by simpson2142

I was gonna make a separate topic on this but found that it fitted nicely here.

what do you think is the best "personality" to squadlead is, I've come across strict no nonsense leaders, but also more calm and laid back aswell. I was wondering which is the best to lead a good squad, the carrot or stick method.

It depends on people really SLs have personalities that fit well themselves so that works for them. The catch is finding a group of squadies that goes with the SLs style.

**johnflenaly** · 07-25-2007, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Concr3te

I can get very angry, as some of you might've experienced. Sometimes it's even good to get angry once in a while, it keeps your squad awake

So try to stay calm, but being angry sometimes isn't a crime either imo.

I guess that might work me personally the point were I find myself getting angry in the game is the point were I quit for the night. Angry = not fun

**Superfast** · 07-25-2007, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by simpson2142

I was gonna make a separate topic on this but found that it fitted nicely here.

what do you think is the best "personality" to squadlead is, I've come across strict no nonsense leaders, but also more calm and laid back aswell. I was wondering which is the best to lead a good squad, the carrot or stick method.

Good question this!

In my opinion this depends on the squad members.

For example if you're in a organised scrim against another team the SL may be strict and the SM's should be experienced enough to handle it if so. Or else they shouldn't be there.

But if you are with unexperienced SM's on a random game on the server, laid back is best. They won't get what you get strict about anyways.

And again like i said earlier up, if you get too hard on people the game won't be any fun! You can only be strict with people you know and expect better from!

**machowner** · 07-25-2007, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by johnflenaly

I guess that might work me personally the point were I find myself getting angry in the game is the point were I quit for the night. Angry = not fun

AMEN, I have played a few rounds with SLs that I have no idea how they even enjoy this GAME. Unless they enjoy gripping and whining about things. I don't know, but I believe like you, when this isn't fun, I will quite.

With that said though, I don't mind kicking players who are not following orders. I would rather play with 4 guys following orders than have a full squad where a couple are off on their own missions. Guys sometimes drift but a quick hey get back with us works most of the time on TG servers.

**Arf** · 07-25-2007, 07:26 PM

In my opinion:

The big thing is squad cohesion. In a low populated area you'll want to give your squad more room. Say you're at a farm house in Verdun in a squad vs squad fight, let your guys work more on their own initiative to a common goal. When it's 6 vs 6 the fights don't last long, someone who is out of revive range but sneaks in behind the enemy and kills 2-3 of them is a risk worth taking. On a map like Gibralter you aren't going to have as many opportunities to apply that strategy. On those maps the focus is less on the individual squad and more on how the squads work together.

Friendly squads are your biggest assets. Flanking doesn't work unless the enemy is already engaged, you'll get the element of surprise but the enemy squad is going to immediately turn towards you and you wont be flanking anymore. Whenever you see a friendly squad fighting an enemy squad try to attack the enemy from another angle, it'll be more effective to help the friendly squad then to just go for the flag; then when you do go for the flag they'll be able to return the favor.

The last thing is to be pragmatic about the flags. Even if you're bleeding rushing a flag you can't take is going to make your problems bleed + 6 tickets every time you get beaten. If you can't take a flag remember that you aren't the only one playing. Find a good place where you can apply pressure on it and wait for another squad to come help you or for the CO to soften them up with artillery/EMP strikes.

moxmax · 07-25-2007, 07:30 PM

Process of Illimation and Error is what I have used.

It also important to ask the commander what is going on, but if you have a commander who is not responsive try to see what the other squads are doing and follow suit, or pick another direction where it could be clear to go.

My Secret is to not have a set strategy, for the situation can always change

**2 Para** · 07-25-2007, 08:06 PM

Either that OR a range of strategies for different scenarious.

**MDFubar** · 07-26-2007, 11:11 AM

I tend to do as others, Assess the situation and try and determine where the weakest poinbt is either for us or the enemy. If I see that our weakest point is in need of back-up and the CO hasn't given me any other orders, we will go assist. If the CO or I see a hole in the enemy's defense, then I will try to capitalize on it.
As for the personality of the SL. I consider myself to be laid back and find that the game is more enjoyable that way.

The best thing is trail and error. In my ecperience here, no one will call you stupid, dumb, nor criticize you. The worst you will get is a friendly pat on the back and someone to say, "have you thought of trying this".

A great community to be part of, everyone is always offering to help you advance your skills.

**Uranium - 235** · 07-26-2007, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Hydride

The last couple weeks I have been trying my hand at squad leading and I am enjoying it. I feel like I am not as strong as some SL's and would like to try to improve my abilities at it.

I need some advice from experienced squad leaders concering mid to late game tactical planning. I find I am pretty strong and focused at the very beginning of the game, but towards the mid to late game me (and my squad) start to lose our edge. Generally I make my decisions based on tactical advantages (ie, to secure a walker, give a forward spawn point, flank the front line ect) but I find myself sometimes looking at the map and not really knowing where to go with my squad.

What do other squad leaders do in this situation?

Do it like the military does - find someone with a higher pay grade to make difficult decisions for you and therefore completely accept the blame and responsibility if **** goes completely FUBAR.

**2 Para** · 07-26-2007, 08:22 PM

Thats why you should always be a squad member, leave it for some SL to take the blame hehe!

**Tsuoz250rdrK** · 07-27-2007, 04:12 AM

I'm not what you would call an excellent squad leader, but one thing that helps me out while I am SL'ing is my patience. You always have to have a clear head and be willing to take on any task on the battlefield. Whether it's recapping a flag far from your position, or defending a flag that seems like enemies will never attack. It's often times like these that you play a vital roll to your teams success, because there will always be that pesky enemy SL that will think "hmm that flag is far from the fight and will probably be undefended". And in a game where players respawn often like 2142, that single squad that caps that rear flag could mean the entire enemy team spawning in behind you. In short, my opinion is the SL that has the most patience and keeps the most open mind, will be the successful one.

**Aruncado** · 07-27-2007, 05:56 PM

I have always enjoyed being squad leader. Everyone has made great points in this thread.

I agree with the idea of hanging back as a squad leader so that your guys can spawn on you if need be. By this I don't mean on the other side of a building or crouched behind cover. I just mean not in the very front and possibly providing cover fire from a safer position. Even if you have a beacon I would still suggest not being the first guy around the corner. If you beacon goes down and you're dead then it's back to the original spawn point.

Checking your map often is also very important. I pull up the mini map (I use the one on the squad screen brought up by "caps lock") every time I die at the very least. I will often bring it up just to look at the current battlefield situation every time we stop to regroup or regen stamina. This greatly increases your situational awareness (I will talk more about this in a moment).

There are a few things worth mentioning that I didn't see brought up in this thread yet.

As a squad leader you have access to three different squad leader items. The beacon (if you plan on being SL often buy the upgrades to get to the improved beacon. Less spawn time for all your troops is more helpful than you would think), the Otus Drone, and the gun drone. I will carry a beacon on me all the time and once I get it placed and we plan on staying in that location for a while I'll switch to the Otus drone. I haven't had any positive experiences with the gun drone... it seems to never hit when you need it to and takes forever to ID a target and begin to shoot. I've heard that if you are support kit while SL you can place an IDS on the gun drone and it helps with the target acquisition and firing. I haven't tried it yet, but that is what I've heard.

I find that when I'm SL situational awareness is key. If I'm not playing support then I will ask my support guy to carry IDS (and possibly the hand scanner as well). I will deploy the Otus and have and IDS on flag (or on the Otus) and have the pulse scanner going. Knowing enemy positions will allow you to better coordinate your assault of defense. An IDS on flag will also help you to know when you need to go back and cover the flag. Those few seconds that you can start running back before the flag goes neutral could mean the difference between it staying neutral or them capping it and gaining a spawn point.

Also try and keep a squad objective out all the time for your current goal. It means more points for you and your squad members and a sense of direction without actually having to constantly remind them. Don't just use the defense and assault flag orders either. Remember that you can issue an order to move to a position. This is helpful when trying to defend a specific choke point or establishing a point to regroup. Also issue these orders verbally; don't be afraid to use VOIP. Talk to your squad often and by name if possible. The better your rapport with them the more cohesion your squad will have. If you enjoyed having certain people in your squad then establish the squad locked and invite them in for the next round. Playing with the same group of people over the course of multiple games will help to build cohesion as well.

The only other thing is practice. The more you squad lead the better feel you will get for decision making in the field. You'll find the best places to place your beacons and the best places to assault and/or defend.

Hope some of my rambling was enlightening.

-Aruncado

**johnflenaly** · 07-27-2007, 06:01 PM

Oh I forgot the most important rule for an SL.... Don't die its bad for, bad for the squad, no one wins.

**Hydride** · 07-27-2007, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Aruncado

I have always enjoyed being squad leader.
if you plan on being SL often buy the upgrades to get to the improved beacon. Less spawn time for all your troops is more helpful than you would think,

-Aruncado

I have mixed feelings about the upgrade. I took it when NS first came out, so its a mute point for me but others might want to think twice. It reduces your respawn time, but that also means it reduces your time to get a revive.

I think if I had to do it over I wouldn't get it just because prevention of ticket lose is very important and it does hinder your chances of recieving one.

Cheers,

**shafter_r2n** · 07-30-2007, 03:45 PM

I'm still relatively new to 2142 & tried my hand at SL on the weekend. I had used an unlock for the beacon, but haven't figured out how to acquire & deploy it. I know you need at least one other squad member (which isn't always easy on some servers), but when I did, the beacon wasn't there. I had equipped it prior to starting, but should I have waited until after there were squad members?

Also, do you advise changing the squad name, maybe to reflect being new or to show that I'm TG-Irr? I don't want to mislead people when I'm very new to this.

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