Lack of Commanders in games

[Serbiak]

I would do it, if I knew that people would actually listen to what I say.

No offence but no everyone that applies for commander is knowing what he is doing. Meaning not every commander is a useful one.

That´s why people help themselfs sometimes and manage everything between the squadleaders. Which definately is a point one can argue about.

[Redamare]

yea command is quite boring i think it should be phased out because of the new squad leader radio .... i dont know its sumtimes hard to command when half the team doesnt speak english first off

[snooggums]

Commander is not fun if there is no enforced chain of command, only a few servers enforce the chain of command.
Listening to people gripe about who got what asset is like babysitting 4 year olds.
Being commander for part of a game sucks barring a few end of game rescues. The idea is to have an overall plan and see how the whole thing works, and not everyone has that much time.
Many SLs are non-responsive or against taking orders because every thinks they know how to play. People playing insurgents are the worst offenders.
There isn't that much to do as commander.

I will only command if I know I have admin support to do what I want to do. I am not even that strict, and most of the time squads are already on the objectives I would be putting them on, so I really just scout with the UAV, drop artillery and coordinate support. But when something needs done I need a virtual court martial system

I'm guessing a lot of others have the same view.

[dtacs]

yea command is quite boring i think it should be phased out because of the new squad leader radio .... i dont know its sumtimes hard to command when half the team doesnt speak english first off

But then UAVs would be useless, and since they are something that CAN be coded into PR and ARE used by militaries all around the world they should definitely stay.

The UAV is invaluable in insurgency, cache finding rates go up what, 50% when having a UAV? Its where your troops aren't, plus no insurgents hide when its around because they have no idea its there.

I'd like to see a deplorable UAV used by a requestable kit. Essentially has the same placement system as the firebases or grapples, places a small laptop/PDA or whatever which can be entered by pressing E, and left click launches the UAV. This would obviously have to be done from a safe location. The UAV could act on the same way the current one does, clicking to move around, but different views + zoom could be added. Invaluable on insurgency as the current UAV has already shown.

EG the USMC's RQ-11 Raven:


Its in use by a basket-load of countries and is incredibly effective, and I'm sure it could be coded into PR somehow.

Of course it would be quite overpowered but if it could be shot down, then its a fair playing field really.

[Sgt. Mahi]

v0.9

Could you please tell us what changes for the commander in 0.9 (or direct to a post)?? I can't find any post that tells about the tweaks for the commander role...

[Truism]

i cant understand why we still tie the platoon commanders to that bloody command trailer, he should be right up with his platoon, coordinating and seeing things up close, not in a trailer so far back.

This.

Real shame you can't lead from the front anymore.

[wuschel]

The commander position is not boring, there are just too few people who have mastered the job.

True, too bad that there are not many servers with admin ennforced chain of command.

On the other hand, one can successfully influence Your team in a standard pub server as well. You might only get, say, 3 squads to comminicate with You, but still this might be enough to prevent that Your team is going to be steam-rolled.

I remember if the team was only half decent, commanding could be a very stressful position, one could say allmost as stressful as air traffic controller: Keep an eye on the overall situation and development of the battle, the squad location and objectives, ticket loss, use the UAV to gather intel, devise an attack or defense plan in advance so You actually have a chance to implement it, check asset usage and reorganize Your team.

How easy would that be if You would run around and beeing shot at?

But I admit, I do wish for a better UAV angle and the possibility to set markers. It would really improve the commanders position and possibility to visualize situations.

[Herbiie]

I would do it, if I knew that people would actually listen to what I say.

This.

I've gone commander quite alot - if squads listen then it can be quite fun. It's a very different experience to being your front line soldier, it's much much more slower paced, much more relaxed, and sometimes you don't have much to do.

If Squad Leader's don't listen, it's boring.

@ Anglo... it's NOT a platoon commander

PR works much better if you think of Squads as Platoons, and the entire thing as a Battalion or Division. Yes there may only be 6 people there, but, that's over a fifth of the fighting force, and trust me - a platoon would not have so much support, they'd have 2 or 3 Helis Max, maybe one Jet that they have to call in from base, if they are mechanised an APC per Section, otherwise a Land Rover or Humvee.

@ Serbaik: You should still listen to your commander. You should still do what he asks - if you disagree with something ask him if he's sure, and suggest an alternative plan, unless the CO has something specific planned for a mini-op then he'll usually say yes, unless he thinks it's a bad idea, or doesn't fit with his overall plan. Platoons can't just do what ever they like in real life, so they shouldn't in PR either.

[Snazz]

I'd like to see a deplorable UAV used by a requestable kit. Essentially has the same placement system as the firebases or grapples, places a small laptop/PDA or whatever which can be entered by pressing E, and left click launches the UAV.

Sounds technically feasible.

v0.9

'Sif advance the mod. PR should be more like Counter-Strike.

We should all still be playing Karkand and in 1.0 introduce a riot shield. Then in PR2 only update the graphics and nothing else, oh and also remove the shield.

[rushn]

comanders should have more things more to do because in real life they dont just sit there talking to the squad the whole time waiting for a jdam strike

[sniperrocks]

The reason why I don't command is because I'm afraid I'm going to let the team down
Also, UAV is not very effective unless you only know the map well in my opinion. I got myself lost using the UAV -.-

[Firepower01]

Sounds technically feasible.


'Sif advance the mod. PR should be more like Counter-Strike.

We should all still be playing Karkand and in 1.0 introduce a riot shield. Then in PR2 only update the graphics and nothing else, oh and also remove the shield.

Yes.. a riot shield that can stop RPG... (lol COD)


Though I wouldn't say I'm a skilled commander I think I would be so much more useful if the squad leaders actually talked to me. I try my best to communicate and coordinate CAS, supply/ammo drops, and trans but it's a bit hard if no one talks to me.


And Sniper, don't be afraid to command a new/bad commander is always better then no commander. After all how are you supposed to hurt your team? Unless you go around spamming your mic to all the SLs (which I don't think you'd do).

[alberto_di_gio]

Being CO is not preferred because only few squads listening and taking orders from them.

I think solution is to make it preferable to take orders from CO. Giving points to accomplished CO orders can make it better I guess!

[Jedimushroom]

It is my firmly held belief that the Devs are too worried about artillery spam, and as such they severely limit - cripple- the commander position by reducing the frequency of fire support to useless levels. This is why no-one wants to play Commander, because at the end of the day there is nothing fun and useful to do. Spotting with the UAV is all very well, but it is very hard to effectively relay information to the guys on the ground, even if aforementioned guys are competent, which is rare.

Considering the efficacy of modern artillery and fire support weaponry, the fact that it is so feebly represented in PR is a tad ludicrous. I am sure that giving the commander say one mortar strike every five minutes and one arty per 10 or JDAM per 15 would encourage commanders and would not harm gameplay at all.

Unfortunately, whilst the fire support seems to have been improved in 0.9, the frequency has not. One hit per hour? Please, that means it will never be used.

Anyway, just my opinion, take it or leave it.

[Tim270]

Commander is pretty much pointless unless in a clan match/battle. Also info can be passed through team chat, pubbie squads do what they want etc. Makes for a boring game.

[Biggaayal]

My first post in ... must be over a year on this forum. I wanted to speak up about the CO though.

On the last 4 or so versions of PR, the CO role has been made more and more redundant, and increasingly boring. Now I know how to do it, and I play on tg where I get insubordinate SL's kicked. So far so good.

All the commander features in current PR also work quite well. The limitations on mapmarkings are unfortunate, but that is EA's fault.

Now for the problem...

It is horribly boring

Anyone that enjoys the kind of 2D no-graphics gameplay the CO role is, is actually playing a 10 year old rts somewhere. And it is a lot better at it.

If I can organise 31 people, to cooperate nicely, to mount an awesome assault on an objective e.g. I want to be able to see it. I feel what we urgently need is for the CO to be able to see his own forces in action in 3D. It doesn't matter how much arty, or quirky irritatingly clumsy uav's the CO gets, when the only result he can see of the awesome action and teamwork he provides, is blue circles barely moving at all.

Plz free the CO from his 2D box, and many more commanders will be available on the long maps.

[Aquiller]

Ahh, commanding. I've sat in the trailer for nearly a year in PRT. That was real fun, communicating with people I know and I can rely on. But its horrible on pubs, where every hot-shot squad leader knows better.

And the most disgusting thing one can do is to disable his voip. I've been in situations where SLs did so even when I havent spoke to them.

[LyfTaker]

Maybe a "disable squad-leader" option for the commander, balanced with a 'Mutiny' option for the squad leaders?

[sniperrocks]

Maybe a "disable squad-leader" option for the commander, balanced with a 'Mutiny' option for the squad leaders?

The problem is, what if the commander some guy who's trying to ruin the game for the whole team? To give the commander too much power presents a problem as well :/

[Wicca]

Im a commander, where are you?