Squad Leader Archive

I've looked over some of the SWGX stuff in the past. You guys have some great ideas - I particularly like the scientist profession and its successors. I think the skill and profession trees that SWGX are putting together are far superior to SOE's, representing both a more logical and balanced progression.

However, the changes you suggest are far too radical to ever make it into SWG at this point. There's no way that SOE is going to completely rebuild every profession in the game along these lines, which aren't backward compatible with exisiting professions, and thus require every player to essentially start over. This might make a good foundation for SWG2.

I don't have the time or energy to devote to far-fetched theoretical designs when there is an actual system that needs attention right in front of me.

Tychus here are the professiones that would directed by our dynamic GCW proposal:

Squad Leader and Commando.

Since you've brought up the profession expansions proposal, I'll list the professions that would be affected by that as well.

Artisan.

That's 3. Now I know Artisan works right now, but unless I've been out of the loop for awhile Squad Leader and Commando are two professions, that either don't do enough, or don't even do what they are meant to do all that well. This is the system that is in front of you right now. These proposals are meant o be included with the SE. The other gamesystems should be de-bugged and fixed by then. (if not i wont be renewing my annual subscription).

So with all that being said, this is a way that we feel the devs can simultaneously fix Squad Leader, make for a more immersive and dynamic GCW experience, and improve general immersiveness overall.

I may be totally off the mark with all of my above assumptions, but all we can have is an open mind right? I hope you can see the merit in what we are trying to do, and as the game will be changing so much on an on-going basis anyways, maybe you can see the very real possibilty of these systems for SWG 1, not 2.

What are your thoughts >?

Repost from: http://swgxpansions.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=176

The plan is to have the Squad Leader profession positioned within this military profession advancement.

Here is what we've got so far:


• Exclusive ability to use NPC troops in Squads.
  
• Integration within the new C&C structure being discussed here.
  
• Some new commands and abilities relating to squad formations and tactics.
  
• Integrated within Military Ranks.
  
• Soldier Starting Profession as Pre-req.
  
• Advances to Officer, Commander

What new designs would we like to see in Squad Leader? Let's kill as many birds in one stone as possible here. (Let your imagination fly)

Most of these ideas have merit. I too am concerned about coming up with changes that are 'small' enough for SOE to be willing to implement. However, since we're thinking outside the box...

Exclusive ability to use NPC troops: I would suggest either limiting the power of NPC troopsfornon SLsor limiting the number of NPC troops for non SLs.

Integration with military ranks: Excellent idea. I would love to be able to get larger and larger numbers of troops as I go up in rank... also make them a bit cheaper too perhaps. Also increasingly powerful troops the higher up you go.

Soldier Starting Profession: how is this different than marksman? Just curious. What about a 'cadet' starting profession? Sounds pretty weeny and it would be. Would have to double up on other combat professions to keep from getting killed. Or call it squad leader and rename the current squad leader officer. Dunno.

Officer, Commander: I like the idea. Especially with a command and control infrastructure.

My ideas on the subject:

Missions for aspiring squad leaders that involve being 'loaned' one or two men in a squad to take out a specific target. XP would be funky but you could get some small boost toward becoming a squad leader... just not sure how yet.

Mission terminals IN player run installations for their faction. Besides standard destroy and deliver missions, throw in squad leader missions that give out BIG targets based upon the size of the squad.

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Lagamiso wrote:
I don't like our profession becoming a PvP-centric one. Then again, I don't think any professions should become PvP-centric or PvP-specific, but you know my thoughts on this Ender.

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Damo! That is exactly the type of feedback i was looking for. You know I'm totally open to re-arranging the order of the first two professions.

The only problem is that the above ranks and units were attached to one another based on information gleemed from theforce.net. It's all 100% accurate with the movies and EU. With that in mind what would you suggest?

So I didn't need as much time to think as I thought. Thispost is divided up into two parts:

PART ONE - If we were to actually get SOE to do a new soldier profession, revised squad leader, an advanced-advanced profession called officer and an advanced-advanced-advanced profession called commander...

I like your progression (as long as you don't have to master four skill trees for EACH level!!! gak!). I would change the name of 'squad leader' in your progressionto 'non com','non-commissioned officer'or 'sergeant' or something to that effect. This is what I would do for the first two levels...

Soldier - recruit, specialist, private 2, private, lance corporal, corporal

Sergeant - sergeant, staff sergeant, sergeant major, warrant officer2 (or officer candidate 2), warrant officer 1 (or officer candidate 1)

Soldier-squad leader-officer-commandercould be adouble branch tree instead fo quad. The first branch would include who or what we could lead and the second would be special skills. Make the cost a combination of faction points AND skill points (?). Not sure on that one yet.

PART TWO - If SOE nerfs this idea based upon the concept of advanced-advanced professions...

In that case, wouldn't it be nice to have a soldier basic profession akin to what squad leader is now that advances you up to officer candidate. Have four trees to master. Instead ofmarksmanskills (thats what marksman is for...) throw in useful maneuver, defense and attack skills in addition to the squad leading. How about... oh, i don't know... grenade skills? Are you guys inDelta Forcethe only ones who use frag grenades in the US Army? Make us some weaker versions for noob use and create bigger ones (explosives satchels!) for the commandos.

The soldier would have very little ability to form and lead squads until he was at least a sergeant and then he would only get one or two low level guys. But at least he could have those guys... allowing him to take more advanced PvE missions and participate in PvP. Give the group volleyskill at a lower level but weaken it greatly (penalty to damage perhaps).

Meanwhile the current squad leader track can be disassociated from scout and renamed 'officer'. Give them even more advanced squad leader skills, group attack and defense bonuses. A soldier may be able to group volley but only an officer would be able to reap the full effectiveness of the attack. Plus the officer would be able to command increasingly powerful (and an increasing quantity) of troops and big things like atst.

One more thing... there needs to be more group attack commands than group volley. I would suggest 'Target weakest target', 'target strongest target', 'target closest target' and 'target someone at most appropriate range for your weapon', 'target furthest target'. All of these would become available when you get group volley. Another, more advanced skill (say at novice officer level) would be the ability to assign each member of your squad (using a nice GUI, not verbal commands!!!) different attack, defense and formation priorities.

This is a bit disassociated and jumbled... i'm working, talking to my bossand posting simultaneously. My apologies.

Forgot master sergeant there between sergeant major and warrant officer 2....

And one more thing. This is all moot until there is a fix for your NPC followers getting stuck when following you.

Ok, done hogging the board.