Question about Commanding

[imported_Zach]

Getting bored with the game again, I'm thinking about exploring the one area of BF2 I have yet to touch: commanding.

I've played Commander offline in SP quite a bit over the past year off and on, so I'm familar with the interface and all, but the Accept/Decline requests feature is not implemented in SP, so I have a question about that.

Reading the guide in the tips section of the forum, I gather that when a SL makes a request, the commander can accept or decline the request by right-clicking on the map (anywhere??) and choose Accept or Decline.

First, is that the end of it, or is that just an acknowledgement where I'll still need to find the SL on the map and manually do whatever he requested?

Second, assuming Accepting the request also carries it out (makes sense), based on your experience, should I assume the SL knows how it works and is marking the correct location on the map and not worry about double-checking his request? (Some SL's I have run around with simply hit the 'T' key and spam, not caring where their crosshairs are located, especially when requesting supply drops.)

[WarGimp]

Re: Question about Commanding

To accept a request, you have to right click close to the yellow circle that it the request creates.

By NO MEANS assume that the SL knows WTF he's doing unless he's proven that he does. I've seen SLs call down arty on themselves, ask for UAVs in the most stupid places, and request supply drops exactly on their position (then fail to move).

One little tip: If someone calls for a UAV when you can't give it to them (or decide not to because you need it someplace else) try using the spot command to see if there are any badguys around his location. You're likely to get thank yous.

[imported_Boots]

Re: Question about Commanding

Cartillery is your friend

[imported_Zach]

Re: Question about Commanding

Okay, I didn't know about the yellow circle (wasn't mentioned in the guide), so I guess that makes it easy to verify the SL's request. Is there a time limit? I think I remember reading eons ago (like, last summer) about commanders complaining here in the forums that they didn't have time to find the actual request (on the map) before it disappeared. Is that still the case?

About cartillery, I don't know. I might have some fun with it my first night out, but after that, I'll refrain since I consider that 1.) an unintended exploit, and 2.) a little cheesy. :p

Last question. I realize that I'll seldom, if ever, actually get the position since I'm only a Master Sergeant, but assuming I do get it, could I ever be usurped later in the round by someone of higher rank? Or is it that once the commander is choosen, it's his until he either resigns, is mutinied (never works, I know), or, of course, the round ends?

[WarGimp]

Re: Question about Commanding

Nope. Yer it until yer done or the boys oust ya with a vote.

The request circle hangs out for a long time... arguably too long sometimes.

[imported_Zach]

Re: Question about Commanding

Great. Thanks!

[WarGimp]

Re: Question about Commanding

Couple bonus tips: It really is best if you act as a passive commander. Find someplace safe(ish) to hide so you can focus on commanding. If you're using the position to it's max, it's a full time gig.

Keep running scans, spotting badguys for your teammates, and tossing out as much support as possible. Oh, and when you do a scan, remember that if you use the spot function while the enemies are still glowing, it will do nothing (other than likely annoy your team). Wait for the glow to fade before spottin.

Once you feel more comfortable in the role, you can see about doing some defence while commanding. Playing as a sniper or engineer and hiding near a CP allows you to place mines/claymores and help to hold the flag.

Diving into battle personally is mostly a waste of the position. You simply cannot be fully effective as a grunt and a commander.
Not only that, but you will hurt your own score. To get points as a commander, you want your grunts to get as many points as possible. Preferably, you want it to be a fairly even spread since this will most likely get you gold medals if you win the round.

Happy commandin. It can actually be an entertaining role once you start to figure out the ins and outs.

[imported_Zach]

Re: Question about Commanding

Yeah, roaming commanders, especially those who take valuable armor, annoy me. :p No, my goal is to get away from the ground-pounding--that's what I'm getting bored with--and instead hide off in some secluded corner of the map somewhere and stare at the Commander's screen all round long.


About spotting after a scan, that's definitely a bonus tip because I didn't even know you could do that. I always just figured the commanders were in x3 zoom when they did that.


Oh, that reminds me. When zoomed in, is there really no way to scroll the map other than clicking, i.e., I know clicking will center the map to where you clicked, but did DICE not implement any kind of scrolling feature? Just curious. (I have yet to figure out how to do it in SP anyway.)

[WarGimp]

Re: Question about Commanding

You can move quickly around the map while zoomed by clicking on the overall map in the top right corner. It doesn't zoom... it jumps. Handy for checking out other locations in a realy hurry. You can also use the WASD keys to scroll... but it's really slow.

Another little tip that doesn't often get mentioned is that you can use your mousewheel to zoom in and out quickly. That's my main way of navigating the map. Click, zoom in, do what needs doing, zoom out, click, zoom in. Repeat.

[KingJungle]

Re: Question about Commanding

*noting tips*...

Thanks Wargimp for the bonus tips too...all surely are useful to know...I too am getting a little bored, and have just started to play the Commander roll...I do find it fun when the Squads request what is needed or do what is suggested. Still makes me laugh when you do not agree to a request (usually because the UAV or something else is already running) and then they try and pull the Mutiny vote on you...LOL...

"3 votes, 18 needed"...LOL

[Heavy552 AWG]

Re: Question about Commanding

scan often.

The actions of the enemy (Example Karkand) like driving to the left hand side road halfway to Suburb is a pretty powerful clue that they want to get to Suburb, expecially if there is a group of 6 soldiers going that way.

You can warn your team of the developing battle at suburb and if they are any decent players they will actually move and deploy at suburb ready to intercept (Infantry? Humvee? APC? tank? etc) with the right weapons. If done right and fast enough, the opponets will find your team already at suburb in force and waiting for the kill.

The team that intercepts the enemy while they are actually "On the march" to a suspected target is the team that will win.

Scan often.

I know I said this once before. That one swimmer crossing the river to get into your back bases while a glorious battle rages at the front lines. As a commander you need to SEE EVERYTHING.

That raging forest fire consuming both sides is not the problem. It's the one sneaky spec ops basterd swimming quietly unnoticed to get into your "Stuff" and take a base you feel that you cannot lose and suddenly you have a horde of enemies spawning 50 feet from you. As if the gates of hell and the Dogs of War has cried havoc and cut loose to blow you your assets, assainate you, steal all of your armor and otherwise infect all of your bases.

While your team continues to sit gunning down targets happy to keep them there at the now irrevelant front line.

A real commander is thinking what will happen 5 minutes ahead of your team. A good team will sometimes act as if they were reading your mind because they are in a position to read the fight and understand what is happening and how to stop bad things leading to defeat.

Those are the players that I call brothers because there are so few of them.

A noob commander is a slow means of suicide and worse than torture. No team wants one so there is a weight on your shoulders.

Serve your troops. Feed them supplies when they want it and feed them UAV when they want it. Cultivate friendships with selected squad leaders and soon you have a squad of trained pets at your beck and call.

They salviate when you type orders to go to a point somewhere to destroy the enemy that is on the way to that point.

The worst thing you will experience as a commander is total and complete defeat as ROME burns in 10 minutes completely killing all of your bases, all your team mowed down and while your last base burns you type:

"FFS! WTF? Cannot anyone DO anything I ask??"

"STFU Commander"

That is the time to swallow your defeat and immediately change sides and cook em in a stew or leave the server for the day because you are wasting your time.

I personally prefer to switch to the other side, start a new map as commander and totally dedicate the artillery to the one individual who told you last game to "STFU" That is such a satisfying almost relaxing in a way.

[BirdKiller]

Re: Question about Commanding

Okay, I didn't know about the yellow circle (wasn't mentioned in the guide), so I guess that makes it easy to verify the SL's request.

I'll add that in the next update of the guide :)

About cartillery, I don't know. I might have some fun with it my first night out, but after that, I'll refrain since I consider that 1.) an unintended exploit, and 2.) a little cheesy. :p

It certainly provides you amusement as you're in a hectic and fustrating round.

Last question. I realize that I'll seldom, if ever, actually get the position since I'm only a Master Sergeant, but assuming I do get it, could I ever be usurped later in the round by someone of higher rank? Or is it that once the commander is choosen, it's his until he either resigns, is mutinied (never works, I know), or, of course, the round ends?

I'll add in the aftermath of the mutiny in my guide too. If Wargimp hasn't explained it: If you get mutined, the commander position will be vacant (You will not be able to reapply) allowing players who are willing to become candidates for the commander position. The election works the same way as how the game selects which player should be the commander; No one can automatically replace you.

I always just figured the commanders were in x3 zoom when they did that.

And I'll also add in this disclaimer; I figured new commanders would learn that in the process.

When zoomed in, is there really no way to scroll the map other than clicking, i.e., I know clicking will center the map to where you clicked, but did DICE not implement any kind of scrolling feature? Just curious.

Although I was aware that arrow keys let you move the real-time image of the battlefield smoothly, I believed it was virtually useless since it was tediously slow.

[imported_Zach]

Re: Question about Commanding

Good advice there, Heavy. :)

Of course, my main concern is that in the beginning (on my road to commanderhood), I may spend too much time paying attention to the stragglers and not enough time taking care of my own guys. :) But I'm sure I'll find balance eventually.

The other concern of mine is the same concern that has kept me away from the commander role: Squadleaders who ignore orders. I can just imagine how frustrating that must be for the commander, and I've never really wanted to put myself in situation. I'm a big fan of VOIP, though, so maybe if I personally tell them why I'm asking them to do something, they be more inclined to do it. That's my hope anyway.

Although I was aware that arrow keys let you move the real-time image of the battlefield smoothly, I believed it was virtually useless since it was tediously slow.

My problem, I assume, was that I don't have the arrow keys mapped to movement, or anything for that matter. I tried all logical keys--arrow keys, numpad, even pgup/pgdn--but it never occurred to me to use WASD. Go figure. :p

I don't know, perhaps server lag and such plays a role which I'm not seeing, but in SP, WASD scroll fast enough, at least for me. I was just really talking about in x3 zoom mode and scrolling a little to the left/right/etc. while following a player for instance, not scrolling the whole map or anything. :)

[Gav]

Re: Question about Commanding

Some SL's I have run around with simply hit the 'T' key and spam, not caring where their crosshairs are located, especially when requesting supply drops.

Just a quick follow-up... Although it was said earlier (and rightly so) that you shouldn't just assume that the SL is competent (many aren't), I prefer not to second-guess them, and approve their requests wherever they asked for it. Firstly, if it was a mistake, they'll learn from it, whereas if you correct it for them, they may not even realise they did anything wrong.

Secondly, and more importantly, you can only check where the SL is... but he might not have been requesting for himself. When I've been a SL, I've heard armour drivers in my squad call for repairs, so I've requested a supply drop on their position for them (since commanders listen to requests from SLs but seldom from grunts). Had the commander checked my position as you suggest, he would've assumed I was an idiot and would have dropped the crate for me, rather than for my squad's tank, thereby wasting the crate (because I didn't need it) and getting our team's armour killed as well.

Also, as another tip, I like to let my squads know when various toys are available, assuming I haven't already got a use immediately lined up. If I have a supply crate, and my toys are fine and our team's armour is fine, rather than sit with the crate waiting, I invite squads to request it by telling them "squad leader - resupply available on your request" (right-click on the squad and choose the message you want to send them). You can do it for artillery, UAV etc too, although I generally already have an idea where I want to send those.

I also "approve" requests even if I don't have the asset available at the time. If you decline, that's all the SL gets back - he doesn't know why (unless you tell him, and he might not notice you do so). If you approve it even though it's not available though, the SL gets a message (automatically) explaining that his request is denied because the asset is unavailable - it keeps him more in the loop than just having you say "no". If this situation arises, I tend to let that SL know that the asset is now ready when it becomes available again - he may still want it, so if you tell him it's available again he may repeat his request.

Don't waste UAVs on empty areas. If a SL asks for one at a flag you know is clear (eg from a scan) decline his request and then tell him on comms or on text chat that the area is clear. I then like to stay zoomed in on his position looking for enemies spawning or approaching in vehicles to "spot" them for him. This allows you to send the UAV to a different area that's more of a "hot-zone", where the UAV will actually show something useful.

[imported_Zach]

Re: Question about Commanding

Just a quick follow-up... Although it was said earlier (and rightly so) that you shouldn't just assume that the SL is competent (many aren't), I prefer not to second-guess them, and approve their requests wherever they asked for it. Firstly, if it was a mistake, they'll learn from it, whereas if you correct it for them, they may not even realise they did anything wrong.

My concern was mainly a SL requesting a supply drop and receiving out in the middle of the ocean, and then blame me for it. :p

Secondly, and more importantly, you can only check where the SL is... but he might not have been requesting for himself.

That's a good point.