Commando Archive
Thread: What is a Commando? and what does that mean to you?
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garvin
Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:41 pm
#1
Since there is much discussion about the Concept Forum Post, I thought I would start a new thread with a slightly different approach that might help us focus...
In 4 words or less, if you had to come up with a different name for a Commando, what would you call them? And the second part...what does that mean to you?
For me, I still gravitate to the term "Tank Killer" or "Grizzeled Old Vetern"
To me both of those terms speak of an individual who can take more punishment thent he average solider as well as dish out more....They carry the biggest weapons and if there is a fire fight around, they have the confidence to walk right into the middle and blast away...whether they face big or small competition...It also brings up visuals of an fighter who get's tougher (more Hardend) with each battle...the more they face, the harder it is to kill them next time (i.e. better defenses as they progress up the trees)...
So what Term would you assign to Commandos if you renamed them? And what does that term mean to you?
garvin
Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:53 pm
#3
King of the battlefield
Now...what do you see the "King of the battlefield" consisting off? What are the strengths and weaknesses? Is the king high on defenses and low on attacks? Low on Defenses, but high on Attacks? High on both when it comes to Melee but weak Ranged? etc...how do does that title translate...it can mean many things...
Raptor2k1
Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:01 pm
#4
Hmm, I've got a few ideas myself:
"Best of the Best"
"Elite Soldier"
"Special Operations"
To me, this means that we need to be the most powerful and most versatile of all the combat professions (taking each profession independently of other skills.) This means we need to be fairly capable with a broad variety of weaponry, including heavy weapons to a certain extent, and demolition/sabotage skills. The commando is the type of trooper that is ideal for a surgical strike, moving quickly and effectively to strike a given target. One on one, a commando should be able to defeat any other elite combat profession (given that a commando should be trained in the methodology of countering your standard troopers.) The only exceptions to this should be if he get's jumped by a rifleman, bounty hunter, or just caught off guard.
The commando should be higly resistant to certain state-changes and be fully capable of using cover to his/her advantage and avoiding ranged attackers. Theyshould have some defense against melee as well with a few special attacks that would let them hold their own, or at least knock the enemy down long enough for them to escape. Offesnsively aligned, I see commandos as being able to equip a broad spectrum of firearms, perhaps manifesting in a unique weapon line of rapid-firing guns (I'm sorry, having two weapons that are unique to commando just doesn't cut it. Other elite professions have at least a dozen weapons to choose from usually), think the Star Wars equivalent of an M60 or MP5, depending on the situation that arises. Since there is currently no heavy weapons profession (as I personally think should be a seperate job from commando, as the two do have distinct differences) they need to be fairly profficient in heavy weaponry as well, as would be used to take down armored targets. I'd also like to see skills added at some point that would let skilled commandos plant explosive charges on structures/turrets/large vehciles that would be cappable of causing a great deal of havoc. Grenades should serve a secondary role as weapons used situationally to flush out enemy infantry, destroy a vehicle, or clustered groups of soldiers. In addition, I'd like to see a flash-bang grenade equivalent at some point that does no damage, but stuns/dizzies and blinds the target.
In a nutshell, Commando = Elite Special Operations trooper that should be feared and respected
Kachada
Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:13 pm
#5
Whoa. Let's not get carried away here.
Commandos should NOT be the end-all be-all comabt class. There should be NO ultimate class that can kill every other.
What makes a Commando unique then? Heavy Armor-Piercing attacks. Explosions. AoE attacks. The commando should be at his full potential when charging a sea of enemies; lobbing area damage attacks with gernades and flame cones, then switching to rockets to take down enemy armor.
Commandos should have no particualr advantage when dueling one on one, his talents and specialties should be in fighting against an army.
That's how I see it.
Commandos should NOT be the end-all be-all comabt class. There should be NO ultimate class that can kill every other.
What makes a Commando unique then? Heavy Armor-Piercing attacks. Explosions. AoE attacks. The commando should be at his full potential when charging a sea of enemies; lobbing area damage attacks with gernades and flame cones, then switching to rockets to take down enemy armor.
Commandos should have no particualr advantage when dueling one on one, his talents and specialties should be in fighting against an army.
That's how I see it.
umsmoke
Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:06 pm
#6
Yes its hard to focus on the topic. I switch back and forth between what kind of character
I want to have and what a commando should be and what should I be able to do as a commando.
My theme for this profession might be “Green Beret”
When I think Commando, I think of the Arnold movie “Commando”.
He was part of an elite unit that infiltrated enemy encampments and eliminated specific targets or bases. They specialized in heavy weapons,(grenade launchers, rocket launchers,bazookas), machine guns and mines/bombs. They were masters(or well versed) in the ways unarmed combat.
In SWG that means a variety of anti-armor/tank weapons. These would be armor piercing. Grenades would have AOE and cause status(blind, stun, dizzy) changes.
Some type of base-infiltration skill(camoflauge?)and some unique unarmed skills(throws, knockdowns and unarmed defense bonuses) to round it off.
I dont think the Commando is meant to duel one on one(although it shouldnt be impossible), as Commando attacks are slower and more destructive on a WIDER range.
A Green Beret should be able to resist knockdowns, be well trained enough to actually hit a target with a rocket launcher, or a moving target with a grenade launcher(due to AOE).
His Uzi(okay launcher pistol, but I can dream) should be fast and deadly.
I want to have and what a commando should be and what should I be able to do as a commando.
My theme for this profession might be “Green Beret”
When I think Commando, I think of the Arnold movie “Commando”.
He was part of an elite unit that infiltrated enemy encampments and eliminated specific targets or bases. They specialized in heavy weapons,(grenade launchers, rocket launchers,bazookas), machine guns and mines/bombs. They were masters(or well versed) in the ways unarmed combat.
In SWG that means a variety of anti-armor/tank weapons. These would be armor piercing. Grenades would have AOE and cause status(blind, stun, dizzy) changes.
Some type of base-infiltration skill(camoflauge?)and some unique unarmed skills(throws, knockdowns and unarmed defense bonuses) to round it off.
I dont think the Commando is meant to duel one on one(although it shouldnt be impossible), as Commando attacks are slower and more destructive on a WIDER range.
A Green Beret should be able to resist knockdowns, be well trained enough to actually hit a target with a rocket launcher, or a moving target with a grenade launcher(due to AOE).
His Uzi(okay launcher pistol, but I can dream) should be fast and deadly.
tacwraith
Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:11 pm
#7
Kachada said it best in the Concept Forums:
"What makes a Commando unique? Heavy Armor-Piercing attacks. Explosions. AoE attacks.
The commando should be at his full potential when charging a sea of enemies; lobbing area damage attacks with gernades and flame cones, then switching to rockets to take down enemy armor.
Commandos should have no particualr advantage when dueling one on one, his talents and specialties should be in fighting against an army."
Raptor2k1
Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:44 pm
#9
"Commandos should NOT be the end-all be-all comabt class. There should be NO ultimate class that can kill every other."
The reason I say commando should be so powerful is because of skill points. A master rifleman, carbineer, or pistoleer has alot more options when it comes to complementary skills, and can in effect, do a whole lot more - even though we pay a higher price for our skills. A commando is all about combat mastery, wheras other combat professions are more 'standard combat skills. For a profession that builds off of the entire marksman line, we certainly suck when it comes to true ranged combat, and this really needs to be adressed.
We should be 75% ranged and 25% melee if you look at what skill novice commando requires - not the other way around like it currently is (where we have to be in melee range to do any attack of worth... I'm not counting consumables because they are expensive and highly situational.)
I'm not saying we should beat other elites at their own game (ie. out-sniping a master rifleman) but what I am saying is that amaster commando should be about even when engaging a master of any of the standard combat professions, unlike it is right now where we can be kited by almost all of them with ease.
I stress again, versatility is what is key here, not the ability to usebig Boom Booms. If you guys want commandos to be all about explosives, and nothing else, I would recomend petitioning for the dropping of the master marksman pre-requisite (change it to ranged support IV) and changing the current commando into the Heavy Weapons Specialist profession, so we can add a true commando profession in later.
Nerfherders
Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:47 pm
#10
I think it depends what point of view we look at commandos from. There's the real-world analogy, in which commandos developed in Great Britain, and were first line troops able to sneak behind enemy lines and create havoc with sabotage. They were great at infiltration. This is NOT what a SWG Commando is.
Commandos are not Green Berets either. Green Berets are tasked with assisting indigenous populations with fighting in troubled areas. While they are highly trained, they do more teaching than fighting.
A Commando in Star Wars Galaxies needs to be looked at from a Star Wars point of view. What in the Star Wars universe are they most analagous to? I look at the skill trees and see 'Heavy Weapons.' Heavy Weapons to me are not merelyflamethrowers and rocket launchers. Im thinking of E-Web cannons and light artillery. Where infantry might need 2 or 3 men to operate an E-Web, a commando can do it by himself. I mean, really.. do we ever see flamethrowers or rockets in the original trilogy? No. They are made ineffective by heavy armor, or at least should be, in my eyes. We are meant to break armored lines, but with weapons heavier than what we are given presently, at least by definition.
Kachada
Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:59 pm
#11
Raptor2k1 wrote:I'm not saying we should beat other elites at their own game (ie. out-sniping a master rifleman) but what I am saying is that amaster commando should be about even when engaging a master of any of the standard combat professions, unlike it is right now where we can be kited by almost all of them with ease.
Couldn't Agree more. Master Commando vs. Master Rifleman should be a fun, close fight.
But if we're just about the same why did we drop al those skillpoints? what bonus do they confer?
AoE Damage. Basically fighting in base battles, fighting 4-5 NPC/Creatures at once.
Blast Damage. Rare damage type that is needed to take down Bots, Turrets, Imperial ATST's.
StarNick
Wed Jan 21, 2004 5:25 pm
#12
Elite Covert Operations Specialist
Elite meaning, we can take punishment..can dish it out
Covert meaning, we do surgical strikes
Operations meaning, we are not main line combat
Specialist meaning, we are hybrid..we are elite..we are specialists..We Are Commando
essentially..this is an abbreviated of my extremely long post on the I-C discussion 
BravenIrish
Wed Jan 21, 2004 5:30 pm
#13
Sounds good!
Ok rename SWG Commando? Hmmm...let me first approch this in what I viewed a Commando to be, in both real terms and what I expected in SWG (Through descriptions by Devs, Manuals, previews, reviews, and even in game discriptions)...
I felt and expected a commando to be a member or ex-memberof a small military unit—roughly equivalent to an infantry battalion—consisting of men especially trained to employ guerrilla-like shock tactics ranging from hand-to-hand combat to hit-and-run raids. Further descriptions would sway me to also believe that Commandos are specialized in HEAVY WEAPONS...weapons that deal high damage, especially to vehicles and fortifications. More reciently, Commandos are maybe considered "Support" for more elite...errmm...maybe more competant roles in the GCW.
An new name? OK...lemme see...
Currently, I'd say a Commando is a Flame Thrower Troop. You know the guy...you've seen him in many movies. The poor soul who carries a highly explosive backpack. The poor soul who is the main target of the enemy. The poor soul who must have done something wrong to be cursed so. You know him...he's the ball of flame running around in many war movies. He's the guy we all feel sorry for...or say "**edit**...who would ever do that? THAT takes BALLS!". That's us currently. WE are the main target, WE get hit easy, WE die easy...so currently, WE are FLAME THROWER TROOPERS.
Now, when the fire extiguishers come into play...depending on thier implement...I'd say we are Suicide Bombers. Yep...ever play warcraft? The goblin sappers? Or those 3 Dwarves who blow themselves up? How about Petards from the Age of Empire Genra. Diablo fan? OK. Suicide Minions...all the same except for one thing. OUR high damage is put out before it takes effect...hell I'd rather blow up and die while taking a few with me...but, if the stupid little craftables are used by anyone...we blow up and do NOTHING. So, if the Fire extingushers are implemented in the wrong way, behind our back, and useable by anyone...then WE are INEFFECTIVE SUICIDE COURT JESTERS.
OK, now the fun part...Combat Specialist.
WE should be able to access an arsenal of skills and weapons to GREATLY inhance a group of combatants. WE should be able to have enough Brawler skills to beat a novice elite, but lose to a master. WE should have enough Marksman skills to beat a novice elite, but lose to a master. WE should be able to damage vehicles and fortifications more then anyone. Then WE should use our extra skills to "specialize" in either a Brawler, Marksman, or novice skill of choice.
WE should be great and versitile in all combat...support any combat class. WE should have an advantage vs HEAVY vehicles and HEAVY fortification. WE should be able to SPECIALIZE in a tree of OUR choice to make us better.
If a Commando add's TKA...then a rifleman should be nervouse...but have the ability to win. If a Commado add's Rifleman...then a TKA should be nervouse...but have the ability to win. If a Commando goes TKA and meets a TKA...then the Commando should be nervouse.
WE should be the "Specialists". Good at many things...but only great at one thing. NOT good at one thing and have to bastardise our profession by spending our few remaining skills to support one effective tree.
What I want? Title?
COMBAT SPECIALIST
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