Squad Leader Archive

My original idea for my character was to make him a Master Ranger, then my guild leader convinced me to go Squad Leader for the Base-Busting Team in our guild. I'm happy to say that I enjoy being a Master Squad Leader and wouldn't trade it in for any other profession. Now I want to be an even better leader for my various groups and would therefore like to Master Ranger. I don't see how I will be able to accomplish this without having to sacrifice my medeocre Pistoleer skills. I don't see how one can bea master of environments and a great leader without becoming a combat ineffective participant on the battlefield. Can anyone help me out on this?

Nope. Unless you feel a Marksman level weapon skill is appropriate then you will not be combat effective.

Hmm...thanks for the reply. I'm going to see how far I can advance in Ranger without having to give up anything in Pistoleer, once I reach that mark I'll start examining what Pistoleer skills I'm willing to part with. Pistoleer is no easy profession in my opinion and I do love using my pistol-whip! If anything I'll sacrifice everything except for what I have in my Intermediate Pistol Special Abilities tree (I'm going off the Prima Strat Guide here so I'm sure I'm calling it by the wrong name). Anyone else have any suggestions for me?

Here's a thought - Pour all you stats into MIND and actually become a master RANGER and SQUAD LEADER. Dedicate yourself you directing large groups to very large prey.Have a CRAP load of macros to direct people. Form teams within your groups - like ranged and melee/CH. Don't JUST use the boostmoral command, but USE the rally command and the formup commands frequently as well. Then, get someone to be your body guard. Set up huge CAMPS everytime you stop for more than a minute. I have found that this is difficult to do all at once while keeping a group of 20 or so in line and focused, but the rewards are infinite respect from the players.

And ALWAYS ALWAYS look your best. A Squad Leader's main concern OFF the battlefield should be your clothing! In my inventory I have 40 articles of clothing and NO backpack (they're ugly!). I try to be as unique as possible as I want to stand out - sometimes I wear a formal ROBE. Sure I get some flack for it, but a ROBED Squad Leader is nothing to mess with, let me tell you!

I still haven't decided to drop my swordsman yet, but I am giving it MUCH thought. If I decide to do it, I will post whether I find it good or not.

-Yurii (Ahazi) Squad Leader/Swordsman/Ranger

SL a flamboyant poppinjay? Squad Leaders are dirt-eating grunts. Workhorses getting it done, not flashy fops! I have a maroon and black jumpsuit. Easy to clean and versatile in combat or play. Sheds water and stays clean even after swimming in the rivers of Lok.

Hmmm I tend to agree the Squad Leader should alwayslook his best. For my character I had an outfit modeled on the Imperial General made: white long formal jacket, dark gray dress slacks, black boots and gloves, with a mercenary bandolier to boot.

I see us being more Commanding Officers than common grunts in the field.

Anyhow, looks like this thread has been hijacked

I too agree that any self-respecting Squad Leader is certain to look his best off the field of battle. We're supposed to be awe-inspiring leaders who can take our squads to the bowels of hell and bring everyone back alive. Why not look the part when enjoying a drink in the cantina to shed some battle fatigue. Myself I stick to a two tone color of brown and green. From Formal Dress Jacket to a Desert Command Jacket I've made certain that Adaex Brakken is recognizable as the Commandant of the Foxfire Clan.

I'm a Master Ranger with the rest split up between Squad Leader and Carbineer. I'd love to go Master Squad Leader but I can't face giving up my Carbineer skills and being just a Marskman Carbine user as I don't always have a squad to lead.

I've thought of giving up a few Ranger disciplines so I can explore more of the SL skills but really I think I'll wait until SL has a skill that is sought out as part of a well rounded group.

Shaden

I'd be interested to know just how far you are in Carbineer, I suspect my character template will mirror yours in many ways except that I am a Pistoleer and I will have Squad Leader as my primary prfession. Also just how much of Squad Leader are you able to utilize?

I'm set up the same as seaware, with Master Ranger, Squad Leader at 1-1-1-1, and Carbineer at 1-3-0-1, but I still have a few points spent in Marksman pistols from back when I was undecided on which weapon to specialize in. My gift holo said Master Squad Leader, and in order for me to do that I'm going to have to drop all my pistol skills, one whole line of Ranger (Advanced Trapping, because it's easiest for me to get back), and go to 0-3-0-0 with Carbineer. I know for sure that I want Master Ranger back when I'm done and I'll keep Carbineer at 0-3-0-0 because at level three of the carbine marksmanship line is the /cripplingShot command, which is by far the most useful attack I've used. So I guess there's no way to keep Master Squad Leader. Either I'll have to give up one whole line of Squad Leader or a few skills here and there.

But basically, both Squad Leader and Ranger are very much support professions even though the devs have recently stated that their ideal of Rangers is the 'Ultimate Creature Hunters.' How we canbe that without taking up any advanced combat skills is beyond me, but that's the way it is now. Novice Squad Leader requires ranged weapons 4, and in order to get that you're also forced to take up at least Marksman. So really, there's no way to have both at master and have an elite combat skill.

Ultimate Creature Hunters, not Ultimate Creature Killers. Tricksy are those Devs.

Right now I'm Master Ranger, Squad Leader 4-0-0-0 (Field Commander), and Carbineer 3/3/1/3.

With the recent 'fixes' to the Ranger profession I figure it's a good time to drop the Master title and play around with a bit more SL. [waves goodbye to /conceal and traps].

So with 8 full disciplines to split among the 3 professions I'm currently thinking:
Squad Leader 4-0-4-4
Ranger 0-4-4-0
Carbineer 4-1-4-2 (will be 4-0-4-4 if AoE gets fixed)

I may switch around a few disciplines as the devs hit them with the nerf and fix bats.

In the long term I'd like to return to Master Ranger with Master Squad Leader and a bit of Marksman carbine. But that probably won't be until either Squad Leaders are a productive group member without relying on combat skills or Rangers are effective hunters without relying on combat skills. As it is now I need the Carbine (or any combat skill) to be useful in fights and the Ranger/SL skills are just added fun that help define my character.

Shaden

Play with the templates and points at swg.allakhazam.com - there's a greay little feature on the left menu called 'Character Builder'.. you can go through and allocate/remove points and see what will fit and what won't.