Squad Leader Archive

I've read quickly quickly thru the changes...
Maybe a little too fast but it came to me today.

I'm a novice SL now.
And it seems that we are taking the path of a Group CONTROLER class instead of a group support class. Which I think is SL, a Group Support class.

I think instead of all the commands that Anyone with a good group of friends can avoid using.

SL should be getting more Group defense and also some MIND Regen which NO other class has I think (instead of chefs maybe). I think that is what SL really needs a MIND Regen +++ to the group.

what do you think?

Yriah

Well lets examine something. The name, perhaps?

Squad Leader. Squad Leader. Squad Leader.

Do you need me to say it again?

If you want to support a squad, go CM or commando or something. This profession is not for you.

I don't think we will ever see a class have good passive buffs for their group.

I think that squad leader is intended for large groups and not small, active control used correctly then can make for great results.

ob194...

Lets examine the abilities that are required to become a Squad Leader. Explore, Survival, and Ranged Support. Leading a group does not mean you have to be on the front line fighting. In fact, on the front line fighting is your last priority as a Squad Leader. You first priority is maintain battle awareness whichcan beseverely impeded when you have some TKA beating on you. Maintaining this awareness allows you to keep party members healed, the group informed (what to attack, where to go), and to plug any holes that may form in your lines. The next time you see a general lead by being the person at the forefront of the offensive let me know. Even squad leaders IRL don't take the point man position because then they couldn't support or lead their squad in an ambush. Support and leading are not mutually exclusive, but literally leading severely impacts the Squad Leaders ability to support, which is their main function.

In terms of ingame mechanics. We would not get bonuses that benefit the whole group unless were supporting them. If those bonuses were enough to make the character's profession unimportant than you could make the claim that we do not support.

Thats why I am a rifleman. Through my secondary profession, provide ranged support, but through my primary (squad leader) I command.

You are correct. Leading doesn't mean that you are in the front line going hand to hand against a rancor. It means that you direct the squad. You assign people to pull, you tell people what to attack and when. As a result the squad becomes a cohesive fighting force, instead of a rag-tag bunch of ruffians looking for some action.

Reality and Enjoyment are different things, ob194.

You are correct in saying that in the real world, squad leaders simply tell people what to do. Which, in reality,doesn't require any prerequisites last time I checked... you eitherlead well, or don't.

Which means you're unknowingly arguing for the dissolution of our profession, or making it a base profession instead of a hybrid.

However, it is alot more fun if I can make the group better instead of myself, right? Which is why most of us took the class, because we enjoy teaming, and playing socially. Etc. Etc. Etc...

Anyway, not a flame or anything, I'm just tired of reading that "this is what we're supposed to do" when the entire argument behind that discussion would best be made for giving all these new commands to a GROUP leader, rather than a profession called SQUAD LEADER. Especially if there's no inherent GAIN in the effects (ie, +25% offense for -25% defense... why'd we invest our character points for no mathematical advantage again?)

I always thought of myself as a competent leader, I can give smart orders quickly and I would assume people would do as I say, being that I'm not a moron.

So I went for SL so I could do more than just support, but control and command the squad at times it is needed. It is true that the squad should use it's own judgement to listen to the leader, but they should still be able to make their own descision most of the time.

A squad leader isn't god,however, an SL should be the player that gives the group the advantage overall.

well, i think you may have capped the wrong word. i think of myself as a SQUAD leader. which means small unit, no more than a platoon. so i went for pistoleer. have you ever watched the old ww2 movies. the lieutenant was always standing tall firing a pistol. i think they should have 2 leadership proffesions, one for small groups, and one for bigger groups, maybe even allowing bonuses like +5 grouping to make brigades.