I love playing Commander, I really do

[Dude388]

But at times it just gets so darn frustrating. A prime example was Operation Archer yesterday. When I joined the server the Canadians had roughly 200 tickets and I had found out the team had destroyed 3 caches and two intel markers were in play. I decided I give the commander role a go and see if I could get an eye in the sky to locate the caches.

After a quick UAV flight over the town I had confirmed one cache location (the hill bunker East of the Castle) and had a good idea where the other was. I contacted the closest sq to the cache and informed him that a cache had been located and was lightly defended and I marked the objective on the map for everyone. He confirmed my request and said he'd need transport to an area just outside the cache area. I was able to ask the CHINOOK sq if they could provide transport for the infantry squad. The politely informed me they had taken heavy fire and needed a couple of minutes to repair their craft and rearm their crates.

I used this time to ask the APC sq to assist the cache assualt by providing cover for the Infantry squad. They two requested to delay the assualt to fully rearm and repair. This was fine and the orders were changed for the Infantry squad to be picked up RTB for resupply and then they wouldd all attack together from different angles.

This is where this went downhill for the Commander experience.

I thought it would be a good idea to divide the Insurgents forces by assualting the town cache with another squad or two. So I contacted two squads in the castle and asked one of them to provide supression/covering fire for the squad assualting the Hill Bunker cache while the other preped his squad for evac and insertion at the east VCP to establish an FO and assualt the town cache. After 2 minutes of radio silence I simply recieve a decline respond. I ask the squads if they were under attack and unable to move. Again no answer. I gave the squad a minute to reply and decided to ask another infantry squad by the airfield if they could collect their squad and move to assualt the town from the west. I recieve a reply of "Negative, were gonna hold this location". I simply asked if they were being attack and needed help. The reply was "Don't be so bossy commander". So I basically said I wasn't being bossy, just asking for assitance for the team. I recieved no contact from them the rest of the round.

Soon after I finally get a request from the squads in the castle....but not for transport but for an artillery strike ON THE SQUAS ASSUALTING THE HILL CACHE. I tell them I can't do that because their were friendlies in the area. The reply was an artillery request ON THE CASTLE. I asked if they were having problem with the placing theit request....but still no reply. In the mean time the squads actually attacking caches are being obliterated because the Insurgent only have to worry about 1 squad attacking one area, the choppers were shot down attempting a third assualt attempt and the APCs could get a solid location to attack due to the many RPGs and Gary's. I was able to give as much intel as I could (UAV overflights to inform the active squads of enemy movement and enemy Outposts) and even an artillery requesy after the fifth failed assualt. The round ended about 5 minutes after the artillery.

As you can see, the round had it's good and it's bad, but sadly the bad overpowered the good. I'm not saying Commanders should bark out orders and be followed without question...but at least repect them enough to give their plans a chance.

[drkstr]

Operating under a single unified vision really does give an enormous tactical advantage. Unfortunately, there are so many bad commanders out there that squads have a tendency to ignore all of them.

I find most of the time, a calm explanation of your reasoning will solve the problem. The key is to give tactical direction, and not micromanage. Choosing where the battle should be fought is certainly under the Commanders realm of duties. In fact, this is probably their most important role. And sometimes , SLs just need to be shot in the head for insubordination.

[snooggums]

Commander is a commander and should be barking out commands if they feel that is the right plan of action.

[charliegrs]

This is why I almost never go commander and why I think you hardly ever see commanders. Too many morons on the public servers. The fact that even 1 or 2 squads listened to you is amazing to me. I think that the commander position should only be available on LAN and clan games, where people are more likely to listen. Everything that a commander can do now, like the UAV, artillery, JDAMS, etc should be given to the squad leader on public games. It annoys me to think how many times an artillery strike would have been great before an assault but couldnt happen because theres no commander.

[Rudd]

thats why I love playing on TG, you have the admins to back you up as commander, and you have full control over the team, which is great when you have half a dozen chopper crews but a tank that needs a gunner - you can distribute your team more effectively.

if peeps don't like a commander they can press the mutiny button.

[Dude388]

thats why I love playing on TG, you have the admins to back you up as commander, and you have full control over the team, which is great when you have half a dozen chopper crews but a tank that needs a gunner - you can distribute your team more effectively.

if peeps don't like a commander they can press the mutiny button.

I'm actually kinda glad you brought up TG Rudd, as I've been having problems with joining the server ever since .8

Everytime I attempt to join (even if there are more than 4 slots available) i get a message basically saying

You have been kicked from the server due to excessive teamkilling, vote, etc.

Now I don't remeber doing any of the listed things or remember being kicked. I was under the impression if you were banned it would say Banned.

Should I contact TG? Or is something wrong on my end? I'm really confused an would like to play on that server again.

[DevilDog812]

I'm actually kinda glad you brought up TG Rudd, as I've been having problems with joining the server ever since .8

Everytime I attempt to join (even if there are more than 4 slots available) i get a message basically saying



Now I don't remeber doing any of the listed things or remember being kicked. I was under the impression if you were banned it would say Banned.

Should I contact TG? Or is something wrong on my end? I'm really confused an would like to play on that server again.

that doesnt necessarily mean you were kicked for that reason. it usually means that they have to make room for VIP members

[lucky14]

That message normally comes up if you attempt to take a reserve slot, but since there were less people in it, perhaps, well IDK.

I've been wanting to go as Commander on maps I know (such as Muttrah) and get an easy win for my team. Problem is, VIRGINIA has been hovering at 20 people total.

[snooggums]

Should I contact TG?

Yes. Post here with your hash which can be found using the directions here. It wouldn't hurt to also post your player ID which you can find here.

The message is the same whether you are being auto kicked for reserved slots or actually on the banlist, so we will need that information to see what your situation is.

[Giac]

I agree with everything you said, being commander is similar to being on top of your mom.

Fun, but sometimes frustrating.

[PLODDITHANLEY]

I like it, if I'm a bit tired and not up to full on infantry action!

Plus I really enjoy being insurgent CO to pass intel., it makes a huge difference to the guys on the ground.

[Sgt. Mahi]

I agree with everything you said, being commander is similar to being on top of your mom.

Fun, but sometimes frustrating.

Wait!? WHAT!?

[sprint113]

Started commanding this week. The UAV and the dispatcher/communications officer role is fun. Dealing with squads that don't respond or ignores orders, resulting in a spectacular death (and usually the loss of some asset), sucks.

It definitely works better on servers with people you are familiar with since you can rely on those squads to follow orders and give intel. Also, smaller city maps work better since you have more landmarks to use when flying over with an UAV. I've gotten lost in Archer before.

There have been some intense moments where I'm trying to keep 2 conversations going between 5-6 squads. It's a good round when you're hoarse afterward. Just remember to go easy on the V key and use B as much as possible (I have heard about this but never realized it works since DICE decided not to give any audio or visual feedback when you press B).

[Wicca]

Commanding is fun, more fun with the Mumble, but still enjoyable, atleast for me. There is something about having a star above my head, that just makes me smile