Squad Developments + VOIP
For me, the biggest change since 1942, is the squad and commander play in battlefield 2, and don't get me wrong its brilliant, and for me what has pushed battlefield 2 into new leagues as an FPS, however whilst its a great idea, it still in its infancy... I'd like to see some changes like this.. (in the vain hope someone who could make the difference, may stumble across this thread).
Custom Squads
Instead of just being a name, how about the squad leader forming the squad could set up a fixed class roster for the squad, or perhaps selected from a range of predefined templates, example Assault Squad ; 4 Assault, 1 Anti Tank, 1 Medic.
Not only would this help the squad function with the right player types as the squad leader intends them to function, but also if done right, when a player is looking for a squad to join he/she could the squads that they would be required for as their class, of course it could happen that no specific slots require that persons class, however there would still be regular Alpha/Bravo unfixed squads, and of course the option to start your own squad.
The squad would then take its name for its function, Assault, Spec Ops, Logistics, etc etc, enabling the commander to have a much easier time of allocating the right squad for the right job. (Yes I do beleive the commander should issue plenty of orders to squads).
This could also lead to smaller squad creation, say a 2 man recon squad of a Sniper and Support, again meaning the commander would have lots of options to send small squads off on special missions, rather than the usual blugeon until flag is taken.
Squad templates need not stop there, why not have a Pilot squad template of two men, any class. So pilots can play as squads and actively find a gunner, without p!ssing others off by being nowhere near the rest of the squad.
Squad Aids
I'd like to see some other more generic improvements to several squad based things ;-
A Green Halo around the spawn point the squad leader plans to re-spawn at, often I tend to be in a squad, the leader gets killed, as do I shortly after, as we're both dead, I can't spawn on my squad leader, but I'd like to know where he intends to respawn in order rebuild the squad.
I'd like to see a squad "combat area" shown on the map, as a wide corridor between squad leader (/squad leaders spawn) and their objective, so as squad mates can easily see when they are deviating from squad orders (more harsh people may say for leaving the squad combat area could cause damage like leaving the map area, this maybe hard core, but it'd certainly help squads function properly. Without the damage, it would again be another guide. Perhaps this option could be set up on the squad if the leader wished, and would be visible to those wishing to join, that this would be the way the squad was functioning, eg those that want to play in tight formation, at the cost of a little time can join, those that wish a more free role can find a squad without.
Squad leader, wishing to drop members from squad, should be given the option of creating a squad based vote to drop the member, eg someone who isnt following orders at all etc.
(Edit) Squad Points
People as motivated by points, clearly, the simplest answer I guess to to award squad members with carrying out orders correctly, and maybe even th motivate the squad leader, perhaps points could be given when your squad completes orders sucessfully, (the squad leader must have at least one member helping to complete the objective, in order to get points) e.g
Attack would mean each squad member who goes to the area, and clears it of enemies (perhaps attack command would have a radius), would gain a an objective point to be added to their teamplay score. If less than 3 enemies were all that needed to be cleared, no points would be issues (this would stop a squad leader issuing orders to empty spaces to get points).
Defend would mean hold the area for 1 minute, each squad member could even get a counter to say defend, if the position is held by fending off more than 2 enmies, points would be awarded to those squad members in the area (including those who didnt actually gain kills for the attackers). Again stopping squad leaders defending empty spaces to get points.
Add Recon, command, spotting of over 5 enemies on the map, would give a point - hell this could be added just if people spot 5 different enemies, even if they are not in a squad...
etc, etc.
Squad selection
I'd like this menu to be a fair bit more comprehensive, it should show a breakdown of your full team, which members are in which squads, which class each person is, and what score they are on to allow the squad leader to say find a decent engineer for his squad.
VOIP!
I've not yet figured out why the overall recording volume is lower in Battlefield 2, than regular windows applications, meaning those who use both teamspeak and battlefield end up deafening teamspeak players, if there volume is loud enough for the ingame VOIP, or right for teamspeak, and wrong for BF2, this and the ropey threshold selection (that makes it even quieter!) means few players have a working set up and barely uses it, now its on a slippery slope of being disabled on many servers. No questions, just FIX IT! forget the threshold rubbish, and make the wizard adjust the windows volume to get it out putting at the right peak, (this would do many teamspeak users a favour who can't set up their mic for the life of them ;-)
Add 'shouting' VOIP key, to allow players to to speak locally (5m) to anything or anyone nearby, e.g DUCK! or maybe even to say the odd brief word ("DIEEE!") to the nearby enemy player, this would also be helpful in vechicles when the pilot isnt in your squad, e.g get me over to this flag so I can bail :)
Balance
As a medic, I know alot of players think they have the easiest time of grabbing points, mainly down to reviving, there is also the issue of people exploiting paddles to get heaps of score. There is a simple answer, simply change the paddles to have 'ammo', each time someone is revived / killed, the medic loses one paddle ammo, (not each time they are clicked, as at best this seems to miss the half dead player for no apparent reason despite aiming directly at the player's chest, lying on em!). Maybe 5 ammo, restockable with a supply crate, or supply ammo drop.
The other option to this problem, is to allow players only to be revived once, the only snag with this one, as it would damage the ability of a squad to stay together somewhat (e.g squad leader dies twice, squad can no longer reform in that area), though perhap there could be a cooling off period, to be revived again, say 30 seconds, it still of course doesnt help if your squad leader dies twice quickly, but would allow multiple revives through out the course of a spawn 'life'.
Ok so thats my thoughts for now... answers on a postcard.
The.Doover
Custom Squads
Instead of just being a name, how about the squad leader forming the squad could set up a fixed class roster for the squad, or perhaps selected from a range of predefined templates, example Assault Squad ; 4 Assault, 1 Anti Tank, 1 Medic.
Not only would this help the squad function with the right player types as the squad leader intends them to function, but also if done right, when a player is looking for a squad to join he/she could the squads that they would be required for as their class, of course it could happen that no specific slots require that persons class, however there would still be regular Alpha/Bravo unfixed squads, and of course the option to start your own squad.
The squad would then take its name for its function, Assault, Spec Ops, Logistics, etc etc, enabling the commander to have a much easier time of allocating the right squad for the right job. (Yes I do beleive the commander should issue plenty of orders to squads).
This could also lead to smaller squad creation, say a 2 man recon squad of a Sniper and Support, again meaning the commander would have lots of options to send small squads off on special missions, rather than the usual blugeon until flag is taken.
Squad templates need not stop there, why not have a Pilot squad template of two men, any class. So pilots can play as squads and actively find a gunner, without p!ssing others off by being nowhere near the rest of the squad.
Squad Aids
I'd like to see some other more generic improvements to several squad based things ;-
A Green Halo around the spawn point the squad leader plans to re-spawn at, often I tend to be in a squad, the leader gets killed, as do I shortly after, as we're both dead, I can't spawn on my squad leader, but I'd like to know where he intends to respawn in order rebuild the squad.
I'd like to see a squad "combat area" shown on the map, as a wide corridor between squad leader (/squad leaders spawn) and their objective, so as squad mates can easily see when they are deviating from squad orders (more harsh people may say for leaving the squad combat area could cause damage like leaving the map area, this maybe hard core, but it'd certainly help squads function properly. Without the damage, it would again be another guide. Perhaps this option could be set up on the squad if the leader wished, and would be visible to those wishing to join, that this would be the way the squad was functioning, eg those that want to play in tight formation, at the cost of a little time can join, those that wish a more free role can find a squad without.
Squad leader, wishing to drop members from squad, should be given the option of creating a squad based vote to drop the member, eg someone who isnt following orders at all etc.
(Edit) Squad Points
People as motivated by points, clearly, the simplest answer I guess to to award squad members with carrying out orders correctly, and maybe even th motivate the squad leader, perhaps points could be given when your squad completes orders sucessfully, (the squad leader must have at least one member helping to complete the objective, in order to get points) e.g
Attack would mean each squad member who goes to the area, and clears it of enemies (perhaps attack command would have a radius), would gain a an objective point to be added to their teamplay score. If less than 3 enemies were all that needed to be cleared, no points would be issues (this would stop a squad leader issuing orders to empty spaces to get points).
Defend would mean hold the area for 1 minute, each squad member could even get a counter to say defend, if the position is held by fending off more than 2 enmies, points would be awarded to those squad members in the area (including those who didnt actually gain kills for the attackers). Again stopping squad leaders defending empty spaces to get points.
Add Recon, command, spotting of over 5 enemies on the map, would give a point - hell this could be added just if people spot 5 different enemies, even if they are not in a squad...
etc, etc.
Squad selection
I'd like this menu to be a fair bit more comprehensive, it should show a breakdown of your full team, which members are in which squads, which class each person is, and what score they are on to allow the squad leader to say find a decent engineer for his squad.
VOIP!
I've not yet figured out why the overall recording volume is lower in Battlefield 2, than regular windows applications, meaning those who use both teamspeak and battlefield end up deafening teamspeak players, if there volume is loud enough for the ingame VOIP, or right for teamspeak, and wrong for BF2, this and the ropey threshold selection (that makes it even quieter!) means few players have a working set up and barely uses it, now its on a slippery slope of being disabled on many servers. No questions, just FIX IT! forget the threshold rubbish, and make the wizard adjust the windows volume to get it out putting at the right peak, (this would do many teamspeak users a favour who can't set up their mic for the life of them ;-)
Add 'shouting' VOIP key, to allow players to to speak locally (5m) to anything or anyone nearby, e.g DUCK! or maybe even to say the odd brief word ("DIEEE!") to the nearby enemy player, this would also be helpful in vechicles when the pilot isnt in your squad, e.g get me over to this flag so I can bail :)
Balance
As a medic, I know alot of players think they have the easiest time of grabbing points, mainly down to reviving, there is also the issue of people exploiting paddles to get heaps of score. There is a simple answer, simply change the paddles to have 'ammo', each time someone is revived / killed, the medic loses one paddle ammo, (not each time they are clicked, as at best this seems to miss the half dead player for no apparent reason despite aiming directly at the player's chest, lying on em!). Maybe 5 ammo, restockable with a supply crate, or supply ammo drop.
The other option to this problem, is to allow players only to be revived once, the only snag with this one, as it would damage the ability of a squad to stay together somewhat (e.g squad leader dies twice, squad can no longer reform in that area), though perhap there could be a cooling off period, to be revived again, say 30 seconds, it still of course doesnt help if your squad leader dies twice quickly, but would allow multiple revives through out the course of a spawn 'life'.
Ok so thats my thoughts for now... answers on a postcard.
The.Doover
Comment