I've had the good fortune of being squad leader of some real class-acts lately. It really inspires me when players each take a role and don't flinch or run but rather play it through like it was the real deal. When you have a team that good, you wanna take care of them. Here are a few things I do to look after my team. Feel free to add more to the list.
1) Rally the troops. Seek out your squad if they're spread all over the map. Grab a jeep even, if it's all you can find. This shows your interest in keeping unit integrity and inspires your members to either spawn on you or do their best to stick with you. Those who don't should be kicked as they aren't thinking of the team. Likewise, if you drive off in a vehicle and members of your team behind, you have no business being a Squad Leader.
2) Report THEN shoot. I know this sounds suicidal, but it's something I'm so used to doing it only recently occured to me others might not. If you spot an enemy, even a single infantry soldier, use the Main Radio's 'spotting' feature to report him to your team. You may have to duck for cover, reposition, then reacquire the target but your team may have killed him by then. Yes, BF2 has voice commo (and you can even use teamspeak to call enemy locations if you get killed) but NOTHING is quicker or more effective than a big red dot suddenly appearing on your entire team's mini-map. If you have your radio short-cut close to your main controls, this takes no extra effort but the result is dramatic. You may die, but you let your team know where ALL the threats are. It lets a medic know what directions to seek cover from when reviving you if you die, and if not it instantly gets every team member reforming their positions to deal with the dynamic threats.
3) REPORT THEN SHOOT. It's worth saying again. Try it, encourage your teammates to do the same. Doing this a single squad, on foot, can confront even an armored column or aircraft. You will likely be accused of cheating too. The best compliment of all.
4) If there are no medics in your team choose that kit, mostly to keep yourself alive as a spawn point. If you're not a medic, be sure to find cover when teammembers die. Don't force them to respawn into a firefight, disoriented, only to be mowed down repeatedly for your thoughtlessness. Use cover to re-form your team and then charge (Surprise) no longer as a single soldier. If you have a medic, select a kit that fits the objectives you need to achieve. If you're Copter Capping, be an engineer (as a passenger) or support (if you pilot). If you're on Karkland, go Spec-Ops to blow bridges and enemy armor. Your kit defines the purpose of your team.
5) Remember your specialty, and the specialty for which your team's equipment is suited. Unless you're willing to get your entire team killed repeatedly so they can select new kits, stick to tasks for which your team is properly equipped. Sure you may not be able to heroically charge enemy armor camping around a flag, but you might be able to blow a bridge to keep fresh armor from ariving when another squad (or artillery) blows them up. Maybe your snipers and support crew can raise hell at a nearby location, drawing enemy armor away from a flag so others can capture it. Then, pop smoke and slip away.
There are more, but I'm exhausted, so that's a start.
Again, most important, USE THAT "SPOTTED" FEATURE. Instant, 360 degree situational awareness helps your team work out fields of fire without a word being spoken. Your squad will appreciate it.
1) Rally the troops. Seek out your squad if they're spread all over the map. Grab a jeep even, if it's all you can find. This shows your interest in keeping unit integrity and inspires your members to either spawn on you or do their best to stick with you. Those who don't should be kicked as they aren't thinking of the team. Likewise, if you drive off in a vehicle and members of your team behind, you have no business being a Squad Leader.
2) Report THEN shoot. I know this sounds suicidal, but it's something I'm so used to doing it only recently occured to me others might not. If you spot an enemy, even a single infantry soldier, use the Main Radio's 'spotting' feature to report him to your team. You may have to duck for cover, reposition, then reacquire the target but your team may have killed him by then. Yes, BF2 has voice commo (and you can even use teamspeak to call enemy locations if you get killed) but NOTHING is quicker or more effective than a big red dot suddenly appearing on your entire team's mini-map. If you have your radio short-cut close to your main controls, this takes no extra effort but the result is dramatic. You may die, but you let your team know where ALL the threats are. It lets a medic know what directions to seek cover from when reviving you if you die, and if not it instantly gets every team member reforming their positions to deal with the dynamic threats.
3) REPORT THEN SHOOT. It's worth saying again. Try it, encourage your teammates to do the same. Doing this a single squad, on foot, can confront even an armored column or aircraft. You will likely be accused of cheating too. The best compliment of all.
4) If there are no medics in your team choose that kit, mostly to keep yourself alive as a spawn point. If you're not a medic, be sure to find cover when teammembers die. Don't force them to respawn into a firefight, disoriented, only to be mowed down repeatedly for your thoughtlessness. Use cover to re-form your team and then charge (Surprise) no longer as a single soldier. If you have a medic, select a kit that fits the objectives you need to achieve. If you're Copter Capping, be an engineer (as a passenger) or support (if you pilot). If you're on Karkland, go Spec-Ops to blow bridges and enemy armor. Your kit defines the purpose of your team.
5) Remember your specialty, and the specialty for which your team's equipment is suited. Unless you're willing to get your entire team killed repeatedly so they can select new kits, stick to tasks for which your team is properly equipped. Sure you may not be able to heroically charge enemy armor camping around a flag, but you might be able to blow a bridge to keep fresh armor from ariving when another squad (or artillery) blows them up. Maybe your snipers and support crew can raise hell at a nearby location, drawing enemy armor away from a flag so others can capture it. Then, pop smoke and slip away.
There are more, but I'm exhausted, so that's a start.
Again, most important, USE THAT "SPOTTED" FEATURE. Instant, 360 degree situational awareness helps your team work out fields of fire without a word being spoken. Your squad will appreciate it.
Comment