Squad Leader Archive
Thread: Squad Leader as a personal challenge
/salute
Let's start with a quick introduction, as this is my first post on these boards since beta. I play a Novice Squad Leader/Carbineer, Korren Faihon, on the Tarquinas server. I played a similar character in UO back in the day (I spelled it "Corran" back then), and it was my experiences with the old Corran that led me to adopt Squad Leader as my profession in Galaxies. Though Corran was much more combat-focused than Korren (being a Lumberjack/Healer), it wasn't combat itself I enjoyed; it washunting with and leading groups of other players. Thus, upon examining the SWG skill list during beta, I looked for a skill that would maximize my effectiveness in groups. I decided onbecoming a Squad Leader.
When I led my first squad a week ago, I noticed an interesting dichotomy between how I wanted to play Korren's character versus my character in real life. Korren is a leader, charismatic and decisive, eager to organize and command squadmates in the heat of battle. But I am reserved and supportive in real life, always willing toput others ahead of myself, rarely seeking the spotlight but available to help those who do. So when I defaulted to asking my first squad where they wanted to hunt, what strategies we should use, what mob to target first, etc, I knew something was wrong. I wasn't playing a Squad Leader, I was playing myself.
Since then, playing Korren has become a personal challenge to overcome my natural shyness and be a firm, confident leader. Instructing and leading other players without being asked isn't easy for me, but for some reason I feel a desire to do so. I like leading my comrades into battle. I like receiving random salutes and bows from strangers, based solely on my title. I like logging out of a Galaxies session knowing that, at least for a few hours, I was able to interact with others in a way I usually can't.
As such, broken/worthless specials, low player population, being "the bottom of the barrel in profession choices" (a great quote, Cap'n)... these things don't bother me too much. Sure, it sucks thatwedon't have anyreason for players to respect us (aside from cool titles). In fact, it's almost laughable that SOE horribly botched what could be an INCREDIBLY fantastic profession.But all the crappiness that is the Squad Leader skill tree only pushes me harder, for now I must perform to such a degree as a leader that other players have a reason to invite me into their group instead of Bounty Hunter #439581892. And if I can do it in SWG, well, maybe I can do it in real life too. I'm not about to put "Roleplayed a Squad Leader in Star Wars Galaxies" on my resumé, but I'm certain that tricks and ideas I pick up in-game will be applicable to real life.
In short, because of the Squad Leader, Galaxies has become more than just another MMORPG. The game has become a forum for bettering myself. I can't remember the last game I played that I could say the same about. And yes, everything I've described could be accomplished/felt without an actual Squad Leader class... I don't mean to excuse the horrible state of our profession just because I feel some sentimentality towards the title of "Squad Leader." But it's that title that makes me feel the way I do. If I were just a Carbineer who leads his friends on missions, I wouldn't feel the same way... the urge to lead wouldn't be there for some reason.
Thanks for listening to my little story. For some reason I had an immense urge to write about this, so I apologize if it was a boring waste of your time. If no one replies, oh well, at least I was able to get this off my chest. And in a transparentattempt to get something constructive out of your presence, here are a few questions to discuss:
What ways have you found to lead and control squads you group with in-game? Why do other players respect your command (assuming they do)? Is it because you make effective use of whatever SL skills do work, or do you have other ways of increasing group effectiveness (by being a tactical genius, perhaps)? I've set up a number of macros for identifying targets, alerting members to changes in tactics, etc, but I'm really looking to take my command to the next level.
I could never have written it as well as you did - but it is always like that: Particularly good posts are those where you say "this ought to be composed by *me*!" because it has so much of your thoughts in it but you haven't been able to express them like that of course...I award you five stars for that!
CU
Mille (proud Squad-Leader by choice, *not* by Holocron!)
I don't align with your perspective, but I'll respond to your topics. (if you went to work but didn't get paid would you work just for the glory of your title? If so, I have a couple offers for you....:tongue
Some techniques I use as a SL:
Color code your sysgroup messages, there is a good post on how to do it somewhere...
Be the voice of reason. Know how long to let the idle chat go on, and when to cut in and start barking orders before the group decays into chaos.
Adjust on the fly: some people will be offended by detailed instructions, others desperately need them. I try to make imperatives as seldom as possible, some people are easily rankled by authority figures, even imaginary pixellated ones.
Don't pick favorites. Sounds obvious, but try to let everyone feel like they have a moment in the sun. Acknowlege people who are team players if you can do it without being patronizing.
Develop a technique and adhere to it. I designate someone to pull, someone to tap the nest, someone to handle warning shots etc., depending on what level of organizational complexity the group is capable of handling. Make the rules of engagement clear early on and call people out when they break them. They don't all have to be your own rules as long as everyone is clear on what they are, what their role is, and what to do in case of crisis. (Our retreat path is east in case of trouble.)
Be on point. People will hold you to a higher standard for your title. Live up to their expectations. If you are SL'ing a group try not to zone out or be inattentive.
Use rally andor some other flashy skills once or twice every other fighteven if they don't do jack. It gives the illusion that you are contributing and people will buy it because they don't know any better. (So sad.)
When people get totally out of control cut them off. Dismiss them from the group. Let them back in once or twice, maybe a warning shot is all it will take. Don't let one jag off drag down a decent group though. The other members will thank you for cutting off the deadwood.
Teamspeak rox if you know (and like) your group members and don't mind giving up your anonymity. It's free and it beats the hell out of /sys for all around communication and ease of use.
Basicly, have a game plan, live by a higher standard, and maintain the team focus. A good team requires very little effort on your part. A bad team will require patience and clear non-judgemental instructions.
Fantastic Post!!!
I play Squad Leader in a similar fashion, tending to prefer the behind-the-scenes action to the spotlight, but the Squad Leader title gives me a chance to flex my leadership ability.
One thing that has been very helpful for me in the respect department is simply being a resource when it comes to information gathering. Every Squad Leader should make a trip into their options menu and mapa hotkey to use the paste command (there isn't one by default) and if your computer is stable enough,and get comfywith swg.allakhazam.com or swg.stratics.com or whatever your personal favorite Galaxies resource page may be....Knowing your way around www.starwarsgalaxies.com is a good idea too. In this way, I am able to quickly look up pertinent information whenever needed. My otherwise nearly useless Prima guide is a decent resource to quickly look up trainer locations, etc. I've been invited to groups trying to take down player HQ's just as an extra gun, when I asked to be made Squad Leader just to gather xp...I make a conscious effort to defer leadership to the original leader, but often find myself elevated to the leader position just based on my game knowledge and ability to cut-and-paste the HQ destroy instructions from the website to explain to newbies and refresh us old salts.
In a nutshell, our fearless leader Captain Vemnox was absolutely right when he labled Squad Leader "the bottom of the barrel" when it comes to profession choices. However, there are still a few of us who choose Squad Leader not because it enhances their play style, but rather because it describes it...and I think those are the few, the very proud, the "elite", and "the cream of the crop". I am VERY proud of my Squad Leader title...even though the title is the only thing really worth having in this profession.
One more plea to the developers: Consider the Squad Leader title and create a profession that fits the description. I'm probably beating a dead horse, but Squad Leaders DESERVE to be among the very best (if not the MOST powerful) professions in the game!! I asked a friend who plays occassionally, but not enough to know anything about which of the Elite professions are better than which and he acknowledge that based on the descriptions he would expect Commandos, Bounty Hunters, Smugglers and Squad Leaders to be THE powerful combat professions. Each one obviously different in it's function, but all around these Hybrid professions should only surpass one another when it comes to the specifics in the gameplay. (ie. Commandos are designed for heavy weapons combat, Bounty Hunters are the "solo" elite, Smugglers are the sneaky elite, and Squad Leaders are the group elite) ...This is nearly true in all cases except for Squad Leaders who are outperformed by CHEFs... Truth that is stranger than fiction here.
Thanks for the kind replies. It's good to see there are others out there who share my sentiments.
Thanks for the tip on the paste command, Thulium. I didn't realize you had to map the command to a keystroke!
And Indicant, maybe I would "work" at something for free as long as I a) enjoyed it; and b) did so as a hobby. I'm glad to say that SWG fits both those requirements nicely .
You and I park our cars in the same garage. I've long been a proponent of roleplaying your Squad Leader and being a good leader despite the difficulties some aspects of our profession present. I think it is what you make of it, and I'm a firm believer in living up to a title, even if it seems pyrrhic to some.
Lots of people like to ask me why I waste my skill points for nothing, but I don't feel like they've been wasted at all.
Thulium wrote:
I've been invited to groups trying to take down player HQ's just as an extra gun, when I asked to be made Squad Leader just to gather xp...I make a conscious effort to defer leadership to the original leader, but often find myself elevated to the leader position just based on my game knowledge
One of my favorite game memories was of the time I decided to swing my my training grounds, Fort Tusken (I make reference to that being sort of the "college" of SL. Lots of n00bs to keep in line, lots of mobs to kill...). I jumped in with a group of strangers, and asked for the pink name, just for the xp. I used /sysgroup once, just once, to save a dude's life (/yy Everyone, to the front left building, NOW. SomeDumbN00b has aggro) and they instantly put me in command. We rocked that fort all night.
Ilike to think that I won one for all SLs. 
Thulium wrote:
there are still a few of us who choose Squad Leader not because it enhances their play style, but rather because it describes it
That is a beautiful quote. I've not had a sig since the boards were revamped for opening, butI think I will start one with that, if you'll let me.
ob194 wrote:
That is a beautiful quote. I've not had a sig since the boards were revamped for opening, butI think I will start one with that, if you'll let me.
*blush* I'd be honored!
Regarding the cut+paste command, yes...I don't know why it isn't mapped to any key by default but I noticed it when I was mapping my mouse scroll button to toggle mouselook (also VERY VERY handy, by the way). Unfortunately, the paste command ONLY works in chat. I wonder if the devs realize how much player driven content would improve if we could cut and paste into other windows like emails and vendor descriptions