Seperate skin for squad leaders and commanders...

Artnez · Post by **Artnez** » 2005-09-11 03:50

Speaking of high priority targets...

In battlefield 2 at the moment, Squad Leaders and Commanders really are high priority targets.

If you kill a squad leader, his squad cannot spawn on him anymore. It's like killing the queen ant.

If you kill a commander, no more UAV/Radar/Artillery for the enemy until he spawns again.

Therefore, wouldn't it make more sense to give these guys more distinctive skins for the sake of gameplay? This will add a new tactical level to the game because you will now pick your targets (if you're smart) when you're aiming at a group of individuals.

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-09-11 03:58

i hope that for PR you wont see the commander running around going rambo with his arty strikes in support of himself. really i think that as commander, you have your own class, maybe a service pistol and a knife. and to call in arty (which i hope is alot harder for him to do) you need to be in some sort of a command building.

as far as SLs go, im fairly sure their uniforms dont differ greatly from that of their squadmates does it? i could be wrong.

Eddie Baker · Post by **Eddie Baker** » 2005-09-11 04:54

This has been discussed before.

The most noticable (at least close-up) combat uniform distinctions a squad leader or platoon leader/commander would have these days are rank insignia, which are subdued (nonreflective black plastic) so as not to stand out, and maybe a sidearm. What visually distinguishes a unit leader on the battlefield is his behavior, such as hand-and arm command signals. Being next to an RTO is also usually a sign.

CobraPhantom · Post by **CobraPhantom** » 2005-09-11 05:31

Its a good idea, Id love to see it implemented. I dont know that snipers should have a "special indicator" just a visual skin change should be all thats needed, perhaps just a different rank insignia on the higher ranks (SL/commander), somewhere on the clothing

Artnez · Post by **Artnez** » 2005-09-11 19:00

Thats the same thing I was thinking.

From a realism standpoint, yes, it's unrealistic to have the squad leaders be distinguishable.

On the other hand, there all sorts of realistic things about squad leaders that cannot be implemented in the first place.

So i guess the argument boils down to... should the gameplay be realistic.. or should the graphics be more realistic?

I say gameplay. It would give people an additional objective when fighting.

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-09-11 21:33

if were talking overall commander, he shouldnt be at the front, he needs to be behind the lines only in danger if the enemy puts him in danger.

toffa_h · Post by **toffa_h** » 2005-09-12 09:19

Maybe the squad leaders can have a very small insignia on their clothing which only snipers will be able to spot with the magnification that scopes provide. They won't be able to just glance at the group and immediately see a star above the leader, they should have to calmly watch the entire group, striking anybody that isn't the leader until they finally find him. Then bam!

GABBA · Post by **GABBA** » 2005-09-12 13:00

I do like that idea. forget the commander but i think that the squad leader should have a different uniform, make it purple or something

JoeB · Post by **JoeB** » 2005-09-12 16:18

perhaps you could give the commander/squad leader a very faint glow when looking at him through a scope, however, the glow should only start after looking at him for a second or two, as if he needs to indentify it.

Eddie Baker · Post by **Eddie Baker** » 2005-09-12 19:39

Fishw0rk wrote:ooommmgggggg "The Glow"

Anybody seen the movie "The Last Dragon?"

"When I say 'Master' . . . you say 'Sho-nuff!'"

Scribble · Post by **Scribble** » 2005-09-12 20:00

I really like the idea of snipers being able to see rank.

TerribleOne · Post by **TerribleOne** » 2005-09-12 21:26

I dont. I dont like the idea of being able to see any enemy tags. Should be solid players with no illuminated red name.

Figisaacnewton · Post by **Figisaacnewton** » 2005-09-14 22:35

name tags = no.

Maybe, just maybe, if it is possible to code skin (or model probably) additions or changes to being a squad leader, you should just make a subdued sergeant rank on the shoulder, so a sniper would actually have to see that and think about it.

commander should look totally different, like the commander in BHD. In a safe house somewhere, no where near battle.

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-09-15 02:00

definitely agree with that last part of being in a safehouse or something similar, we cant have the commander running around.

Scribble · Post by **Scribble** » 2005-09-16 21:39

Another option would be a variation of the name tag where you just get to see a rank indicator floating above the targets head after a set duration. (now you have to rest your crosshairs on the target to see their tag for about 3 seconds, make it 5 or moreinstead)

So when Resting the crosshairs above the target for several seconds a tag apears indicating either SL or Commander.

Post by **BrokenArrow** » 2005-09-17 01:21

eh, i dunno about that. i think giving him different headgear or a slightly different uniform is all thats needed.

Lev_Astov · Post by **Lev_Astov** » 2005-09-17 05:05

I actually like the idea suggested by people such as scribble that the sniper should "see" who is the squad leader after a set duration. Since it is not reasonable for the actual model of the SL to make hand signals and such actions that would give him away (and the idea in the army is for him to NOT have a distinguishable appearance) I feel that the people hunting him should get some kind of aid from the game. i.e. a star appearing over his head after a while, or the "red glow." Otherwise, I think the skin should remain just about the same.

Now, it would be really interesting if they could code it so the SL actually makes hand signals when giving orders to his squad. Like when he issues the command to attack a position either via the Sec. Radio or the command interface he makes the appropriate hand signal. Now that would be awsome.

Artnez · Post by **Artnez** » 2005-09-17 05:39

Lev_Astov wrote:I actually like the idea suggested by people such as scribble that the sniper should "see" who is the squad leader after a set duration. Since it is not reasonable for the actual model of the SL to make hand signals and such actions that would give him away (and the idea in the army is for him to NOT have a distinguishable appearance) I feel that the people hunting him should get some kind of aid from the game. i.e. a star appearing over his head after a while, or the "red glow." Otherwise, I think the skin should remain just about the same.

You guys have taken the idea way out of proportion.

A glow?
A star hovering over his head?

Just think about that for a second. People will be downloading a realism mod and there will be stars over squad leaders' heads. That's a step back from BF2

I've been thinking about it and the way you distinguish the squad leader from the rest of the squad should take skill/time/patience to notice.

If it was up to me, the entire sniper class would be recreated so that it would be more effective, but at the same time, would take time & patience to get the hang of.

This is why BF2 is where it is today as far as realism-like gameplay.. because they were trying to make things easy for people.