Rexob
10-27-2006, 04:51 PM
This is a guide on how to be an effective Commander along with some other tips. This is for primarily servers of 32-40, but the tips in general can help anyone. To many times do I see unfit Commanders who think "easy points", but fail to realize that the commanders getting high points are those doing their jobs correctly. This guide shows how being a Good Commander is much more than just Orbital Striking and placing UAVs.
First: after being accepted find a place far behind enemy lines, start off base is best, and hide. As Commander your job is to lead, not fight; if dead you are unable to communicate information or do anything else that might help your team.
Second: evaluate your squads. Look at how many members each squad has and determine what each squad will be better at. I break squads into 3 groups basically:
Primary - squads of 4-6 capable of assaulting heavily guarded enemy positions and capturing points. These squads should always be assaulting or defending areas of high priority and always on the frontlines.
Secondary - squads of 2-4 capable of assaulting and defending areas with light enemy forces These squads like Primary should be assaulting or defending areas with moderate to high enemy forces.
Tertiary - squads of 1-2 capable of recapturing areas with 1 or no enemy forces. These squads should remain behind the frontlines typically and play cleanup if any enemy forces slip behind enemy lines. At times they can easily be assigned to the frontlines to provide extra support as well.Typically, depending on the game size there is at least 1 of each type, and usually 3 or more Tertiary squads. Encourage everyone to join a squad even if it is only by themself. At least then, communication is possible through the Squad menu.
Third: Sat-Track is almost always available, having a cool down of 30 seconds I think. Therefore, keep this running at all times. This is important because it allows you to see enemy forces all over the map. Very important to see if enemy forces are getting behind your front lines. Also, "Spot" enemy threats...try to indicate as many as possible - this allows your team to see these points as well. If you are not fast enough to indicate heavy enemy concentrations, type the locations in Team Chat. Players may get annoyed, but it is to their advantage to know where the enemy is at, and going. It is also possible to zoom in at the maximum level and point out individual enemy threats - I only do this when Sat Track and my UAV are on cool down when I know there are heavy enemy forces and my team is approaching or already engaged. Spotting snipers, support, and vehicles helps a lot, allowing your team to flank these positions, or avoid them.
Fourth: Keep your Squad Leaders up-to-date on when UAVs, Oribital Strikes, and Supplies are ready. Not many Commanders do this, but as Commander remember you are not a dictator. The Squad Leaders being on the frontlines typically better know where to place these. Sat-Track is great, but there is nothing like being on the frontlines and being in the action. Typically, I try and save these for when Squad Leaders ask. However, I try to keep Orbital Strikes coming at all possible times. However, placing Orbital Strikes is a bit more than just point and click. Take into account how many of your own members may be hit, and ALWAYS give warning prior to a strike unless a Squad Leader requests - when requested I default the responsibility of the strike to that particular Squad Leader. Another thing to remember, Orbital Strikes have several purposes:
Offensive - bombarding control points when or right before your team is about to arrive is a great help
Defensive - bombarding an area of concentrated enemy forces who are advancing on your team's position
DO NOT USE Orbital Strikes to get your score up with kills, and do not place them for that affect. These are for your team's aid, not your personal glory and score. Many times I see Commanders Orbital Strike areas, and while they may kill several enemy soldiers...they're also hitting a large majority of their own team. Therefore, typically it is best to drop the Orbital Strike slightly behind enemy lines where the enemy is advancing.
Orbital Strikes have a psychological affect aside from their stopping power. Players run away as fast as possible or take cover to avoid death. This alone buys your team precious time to setup and/or respawn.Typically, I try to couple both a UAV with a Orbital Strike. However, this is not always possible.
Fifth: EMP - Not many Commanders use this, at least not in many games I've been in. However, this is a very powerful tool - see an enemy vehicle that's threatening - EMP Strike. For these I like to Zoom in all the way so I can place the strike directly on the vehicle; the icons on the map are much larger than the actual vehicles, and proper placement of EMP to be effective is important. EMP can also be used to disorient enemy forces. Many times if I see no enemy vehicles, during a Orbital Strike I will couple it with EMP. Anything you can do as Commander to give your team an advantage is a good thing.
Sixth: Supplies - just drop them as requested by Squad Leaders or drop them in areas where you know they can help your squads.
Seventh: Give your Squad Leaders commands, and keep them updated. However, keep these realistic. Example, do not send a Tertiary squad to assault an enemy position with 4 or more enemy forces. However, on occasion there are squads who are what I consider Elite squads, capable of doing things typical squads cannot. Identifying these are tricky, but typically these squads do not always comply with your commands, which is okay to an extent. Most of the time these squads are in the same clan which is easy to spot. However, realize just because they may all share the same clan, this does not mean they're Elite.
Tips:
Be a Commander not a Dictator - it's your job to communicate enemy locations and advancements to your team, DO NOT use Orbital Strikes for your own personal glory; being a Commander is not about easy points. If squads ask for Supplies, Orbital Strikes, or UAVs comply, or let them know when these will be available.
Keep Sat-Track running at all times, with a low cool down there is no reason you should not be spamming this at all times and relaying the information.
Be careful with EMP and Orbital Strikes not to hit your own team. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but typically it is. Most commanders just don't take the time to look or think about where a strike will hit.
Maximize UAV placement. Many times I see UAVs fly over enemy locations, but are only showing half the enemy forces. Realize that a UAV shows a radius AROUND where ever you place the UAV at. Therefore, typically I try to place the UAV to cover the most effective area possible. Example - Fall of Berlin, do not place the UAV centered over the Capture Area, instead center the UAV between the Flag area and the steep bank to show all enemy forces (if PAC).
Keep your Squad Leaders updated with information on when UAVs, Supplies, and Orbital Strikes are ready. If Squad Leaders are not requesting these...do your best when deploying these, and get maximum effect. DO NOT drop an Orbital Bombardment if all you see are 3-4 enemy soldiers.
Always say in Team Chat when you are about to deploy a UAV or Orbital Strike if the Squad Leaders are not requesting them.
NEVER drop an Orbital Strike blind - meaning always have a UAV or Sat-Track running to indicate where enemy forces are at. The only time it is okay to do this is when a Squad Leader asks.
Hopefully, players find this useful. I've commanded quite a few rounds now, and when squads are communicating and staying on task I rarely fail to finish in the top 3...as of yet I've never finished lower than 2nd. Follow the tips and guidelines, and the most important thing is Communication. Players may get annoyed with the constant spotting, commands, and chat from the Commander, but in the end...it is for their benefit. Players who object to good communication from the Commander are playing for themselves, and not the team. Team players realize the importance of good information on enemy movement and locations.
Look at every major war fought and how technology has advanced. The best example in my mind is Pearl Harbor...had the United States been fully aware of the Japanese fleet, it would have been a different story (let's keep conspiracy theory aside). This best illustrates how vital enemy information is to your team, and why using Sat-Track all the time is important.
Good Luck
First: after being accepted find a place far behind enemy lines, start off base is best, and hide. As Commander your job is to lead, not fight; if dead you are unable to communicate information or do anything else that might help your team.
Second: evaluate your squads. Look at how many members each squad has and determine what each squad will be better at. I break squads into 3 groups basically:
Primary - squads of 4-6 capable of assaulting heavily guarded enemy positions and capturing points. These squads should always be assaulting or defending areas of high priority and always on the frontlines.
Secondary - squads of 2-4 capable of assaulting and defending areas with light enemy forces These squads like Primary should be assaulting or defending areas with moderate to high enemy forces.
Tertiary - squads of 1-2 capable of recapturing areas with 1 or no enemy forces. These squads should remain behind the frontlines typically and play cleanup if any enemy forces slip behind enemy lines. At times they can easily be assigned to the frontlines to provide extra support as well.Typically, depending on the game size there is at least 1 of each type, and usually 3 or more Tertiary squads. Encourage everyone to join a squad even if it is only by themself. At least then, communication is possible through the Squad menu.
Third: Sat-Track is almost always available, having a cool down of 30 seconds I think. Therefore, keep this running at all times. This is important because it allows you to see enemy forces all over the map. Very important to see if enemy forces are getting behind your front lines. Also, "Spot" enemy threats...try to indicate as many as possible - this allows your team to see these points as well. If you are not fast enough to indicate heavy enemy concentrations, type the locations in Team Chat. Players may get annoyed, but it is to their advantage to know where the enemy is at, and going. It is also possible to zoom in at the maximum level and point out individual enemy threats - I only do this when Sat Track and my UAV are on cool down when I know there are heavy enemy forces and my team is approaching or already engaged. Spotting snipers, support, and vehicles helps a lot, allowing your team to flank these positions, or avoid them.
Fourth: Keep your Squad Leaders up-to-date on when UAVs, Oribital Strikes, and Supplies are ready. Not many Commanders do this, but as Commander remember you are not a dictator. The Squad Leaders being on the frontlines typically better know where to place these. Sat-Track is great, but there is nothing like being on the frontlines and being in the action. Typically, I try and save these for when Squad Leaders ask. However, I try to keep Orbital Strikes coming at all possible times. However, placing Orbital Strikes is a bit more than just point and click. Take into account how many of your own members may be hit, and ALWAYS give warning prior to a strike unless a Squad Leader requests - when requested I default the responsibility of the strike to that particular Squad Leader. Another thing to remember, Orbital Strikes have several purposes:
Offensive - bombarding control points when or right before your team is about to arrive is a great help
Defensive - bombarding an area of concentrated enemy forces who are advancing on your team's position
DO NOT USE Orbital Strikes to get your score up with kills, and do not place them for that affect. These are for your team's aid, not your personal glory and score. Many times I see Commanders Orbital Strike areas, and while they may kill several enemy soldiers...they're also hitting a large majority of their own team. Therefore, typically it is best to drop the Orbital Strike slightly behind enemy lines where the enemy is advancing.
Orbital Strikes have a psychological affect aside from their stopping power. Players run away as fast as possible or take cover to avoid death. This alone buys your team precious time to setup and/or respawn.Typically, I try to couple both a UAV with a Orbital Strike. However, this is not always possible.
Fifth: EMP - Not many Commanders use this, at least not in many games I've been in. However, this is a very powerful tool - see an enemy vehicle that's threatening - EMP Strike. For these I like to Zoom in all the way so I can place the strike directly on the vehicle; the icons on the map are much larger than the actual vehicles, and proper placement of EMP to be effective is important. EMP can also be used to disorient enemy forces. Many times if I see no enemy vehicles, during a Orbital Strike I will couple it with EMP. Anything you can do as Commander to give your team an advantage is a good thing.
Sixth: Supplies - just drop them as requested by Squad Leaders or drop them in areas where you know they can help your squads.
Seventh: Give your Squad Leaders commands, and keep them updated. However, keep these realistic. Example, do not send a Tertiary squad to assault an enemy position with 4 or more enemy forces. However, on occasion there are squads who are what I consider Elite squads, capable of doing things typical squads cannot. Identifying these are tricky, but typically these squads do not always comply with your commands, which is okay to an extent. Most of the time these squads are in the same clan which is easy to spot. However, realize just because they may all share the same clan, this does not mean they're Elite.
Tips:
Be a Commander not a Dictator - it's your job to communicate enemy locations and advancements to your team, DO NOT use Orbital Strikes for your own personal glory; being a Commander is not about easy points. If squads ask for Supplies, Orbital Strikes, or UAVs comply, or let them know when these will be available.
Keep Sat-Track running at all times, with a low cool down there is no reason you should not be spamming this at all times and relaying the information.
Be careful with EMP and Orbital Strikes not to hit your own team. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but typically it is. Most commanders just don't take the time to look or think about where a strike will hit.
Maximize UAV placement. Many times I see UAVs fly over enemy locations, but are only showing half the enemy forces. Realize that a UAV shows a radius AROUND where ever you place the UAV at. Therefore, typically I try to place the UAV to cover the most effective area possible. Example - Fall of Berlin, do not place the UAV centered over the Capture Area, instead center the UAV between the Flag area and the steep bank to show all enemy forces (if PAC).
Keep your Squad Leaders updated with information on when UAVs, Supplies, and Orbital Strikes are ready. If Squad Leaders are not requesting these...do your best when deploying these, and get maximum effect. DO NOT drop an Orbital Bombardment if all you see are 3-4 enemy soldiers.
Always say in Team Chat when you are about to deploy a UAV or Orbital Strike if the Squad Leaders are not requesting them.
NEVER drop an Orbital Strike blind - meaning always have a UAV or Sat-Track running to indicate where enemy forces are at. The only time it is okay to do this is when a Squad Leader asks.
Hopefully, players find this useful. I've commanded quite a few rounds now, and when squads are communicating and staying on task I rarely fail to finish in the top 3...as of yet I've never finished lower than 2nd. Follow the tips and guidelines, and the most important thing is Communication. Players may get annoyed with the constant spotting, commands, and chat from the Commander, but in the end...it is for their benefit. Players who object to good communication from the Commander are playing for themselves, and not the team. Team players realize the importance of good information on enemy movement and locations.
Look at every major war fought and how technology has advanced. The best example in my mind is Pearl Harbor...had the United States been fully aware of the Japanese fleet, it would have been a different story (let's keep conspiracy theory aside). This best illustrates how vital enemy information is to your team, and why using Sat-Track all the time is important.
Good Luck