Listening to Squad Members

[reozm]

I'm not sure if this goes in here or if this goes in Tales from the Front (if it goes there, could the mods please move it? Thanks), but it's something I've had a recent experience with.

So the other day I was playing Project Reality. It was a match on a forested map (I think Iron Ridge) with Germans vs. Russians. I was a Russian AR gunner. I want to talk specifically about two teamkills I made that game.

The first was when my squadmate was "being fired from the bushes." I happened to have my AR deployed and saw movement in the bushes, so I sent gunfire that direction and got a teamkill. The guy had probably mistook my squadie for an enemy and fired shots at him, but realized his mistake and moved on, only to be mowed down by a PKM.

The second was when another squadmate saw an enemy in a building near us. He launched grenades at them as a grenadier, but couldn't land any through the window. When I saw an "enemy" through the window, I naturally shot him, only to get another teamkill. Turns out the guy was a Russian that picked up a German kit.

In both these situations, neither of these squadmates were my squad leader. My question is: should I listen to squadmates' reports (remember that the squadmates in these situations were two different squadmates) or should I only listen to my squad leader?

[BloodyDeed]

I recommend to try to watch your map. If you do that regularly you will know if the spot is friendly or enemy.
And if you're not sure, don't shoot, check the map, shoot then

As for intel, I usually listen to both SM and SL, just keep the stuff in mind I mentioned above.
The Squadleader has the final word though and you should definitely listen to him if he wants you to cease fire/ give suppressing fire.

[PoisonBill]

You should always check your map, but really accidents happen, usually the lonewolfs get teamkilled but otherwise you should try to help the squad, which member you have "wounded".

An other idea is to play with other players if you are uncomfortable with them. When it comes to the "ENEMY!" thing, I also have this tic. I so often shout enemy (instead of, spotted soldier), sometimes I trick myself and score a teamkill.

But if you are feeling pissed off by yourself or others playing PR, you probably need a brake, PR can get on someones nerves.

[Mikemonster]

It's hard but you just have to exercise restraint.

[Gammlgandalf13]

I recommend to try to watch your map. If you do that regularly you will know if the spot is friendly or enemy.
And if you're not sure, don't shoot, check the map, shoot then

As for intel, I usually listen to both SM and SL, just keep the stuff in mind I mentioned above.
The Squadleader has the final word though and you should definitely listen to him if he wants you to cease fire/ give suppressing fire.

Agree with that, but it depends on how reliable the information from the SM is, if i get intel from you (bloody) or Amok@ndy for example I know it is true and i can blindly trust you.

If i get information from a random SM I don't know and who i didn't ever play with, i check my map to locate possible friendly contacts in the reports direction.

Cheers Gamml

[Brainlaag]

Self-awareness is key. OFC it's stupid to ignore any kind of information, be it your SL, SM, our outside source (such as teamchat) but as we are all humans, even SLs can make mistakes, so make sure you double check everything.

[PricelineNegotiator]

Ah, I was your squad leader. This was a seeding round on TG, map Silent Eagle. We were holding the second to last flag while the rest of the team moved up to attack the last one. I remember the first one, that was kind of your fault and he was our medic lol. If you can't identify don't shoot. Especially in bushes. The map is your friend.

The second one was nobody's fault. You shot a guy who had picked up an enemy kit. I probably would have done the same since enemies were coming from that area. I also believe that a squadmate called out that person being an enemy after then you fired.

Anyways, we were defending inside of two story buildings and I hadn't said much as to the rules of engagement, but it was pretty much open season so the only thing you could improve on was using your map more often.

Other than that "one" incident, you were a good mg, keep it up!

[Pvt.LHeureux]

Yeah use your map, I think I play more with the map than anything else, when you know in general where friendlies are you know where the enemies will be and that in this or this direction it will be enemy.

[Ca6e]

yeah shit happens, but anyway listening your SQ mates is a must, like to check your target if they are frendly or foe. Often check map, to be avare of situation on the ground, report contacts, couse u can see him just for a moment, and u cant decide is it friendly or foe, ask your sQ mate, maybe he can identifie contact from difrent perspctive angle.

[Rudd]

The trick is to establish a standard manner of communicating within the squad imo.

e.g. I tell my SM's to tell me the distance and bearing of the enemy from their location with a landmark if possible "Enemy, 100m 170 South from me by the short wall" if I know they are close together it should indicate to the squad that a TK situation is possible, and extra care should be taken.

But also you shouldn't be afraid to seek confirmation

so in response to the above I might say "Copy, mark the target with tracer" or ask for more information or for him to perform another action to mark the enemy or his own location, if I see him standing up and spraying tracer at a short wall, I know where the enemy is and where my friends are

[Mikemonster]

Self-awareness is key. OFC it's stupid to ignore any kind of information, be it your SL, SM, our outside source (such as teamchat) but as we are all humans, even SLs can make mistakes, so make sure you double check everything.

No, Brain, YOU WILL OBEYYY!

[Arnoldio]

Wait before engaging (if you can), check your map if not sure. Thats all that is to it.

I as SL or SM have said "WATCH OUT CONTACT AT 30! No, sorry, its not an enemy, HOLD FIRE!" 976583765834758 times, and i will probably continue. Nobody has auch reflexes to engage instantly, but it hets the squad more focused and ready to fire. Also the can confirm if enemy. My first order is never "SHOOT", unless im 100% sure.

[Brainlaag]

No, Brain, YOU WILL OBEYYY!

AAEEESSS, why all them lies Mike?

[=]H[= MisterCole]

As a squad leader I'll usually spend a lot of time with my map open, designating free fire zones (IE "No friendlies North"). There's still the odd unavoidable blue on blue accidents of course, but this seems to help a quite a bit.

[Mikemonster]

Same as you Cole, I like to tell my guys 'everyone north is enemy, have fun' etc.

Although as SL i'm generally looking more at the map than the terrain, to my detriment sometimes.

[PFunk]

I've definitely learned the habit of constantly checking my map to see where everybody in my squad and my team is. Its really a critical tool in order to make proper decisions, especially when it comes to firing on something. The best byproduct of this method is that when you are constantly refreshing your situational awareness this way it allows you to have a faster gut feeling about visuals and therefore really minimizes friendly fire.

I honestly TK so little its hard to even remember the last one I had. I owe that to my constant map checking I'm sure of it.

[Mikemonster]

Mm, same here to be honest. My squad comes close sometimes, haven't actually done it yet though.

With regards to situational awareness, I find that the map degrades it to a certain degree. Similar to a poor fighter pilot having his eyes on the radar system and not using his eyes to check what's really going on outside the canopy.

I.e. the map doesn't give much allusion to dead ground, or much detail as to where is defensible. Sometimes it's too easy to put a marker in the best place and then realise it's not accessible in a straight line.

Need to work on that, hmmm.