Squad Leader Archive

You're being lead by a squad leader and you approach a nest of nasty critters. Oh man, which one to attack, they're all bunched up and they all have the same name.

Wait, you see a system message. "Your squad leader has designated a target for attack. Hit TAB to target."

You notice that one of the creatures is in red targeting brackets. You hit tab and it goes blue, which means you have it targeted. The squad leader calls out to open fire and everyone starts to fill their designated combat roles on the same target.

This would be really cool...right now I can "mark" a target with traps but it doesn't do much good when there's three different creatures in the same spot. /sys has limitations when you're attacking things with the same name. This should be a skill granted at Novice Squad Leader...no one is forced to do anything, it just complements the role of /sysgroup in keeping the group organized.

I suggested a similar idea a while back. It's good to see someone else with the same train of thought.

And to top it all off........ It is a really good idea.

Though personally, I'd like it if it simply selected the target for my squad. This removes the "tab to select target" and makes things 1 step easier. Then all you gotta do is "/sys OPEN FIRE!" and you're ready to rock.

Mark target is good. Mark for healing (a group member in need of healing) would be useful as well. Make them low skill level skills rather than novice for interest in the skill tree (though novice needs something as well).

I agree its a good idea. Might be better to do a beacon and some targeting key (different than tab.)

No skill we have should ever force another character to change targets or perform anything else. If it does, you'll never be able to use it without listening to alot of complaints.

How about /designatetarget and then people could just use /assist leader to target. Make "leader" a special assist word that paints the designated target?

How bout this...

At Novice Squad Leader, you get /marktarget which shows which target the SL is targeting. Farther up the tree you get /volleyfire which actually forces everyone in your group to target and fire on a target. No worries about abuse because, as has been noted, an SL who abuses it once is going to have trouble finding a group. Besides...in any group people have the ability to cause serious trouble for group members if they fulfill their roles wrong anyway.

I like it...liked it when similar thiings have been mentioned too...good ideas...no to convince the DEVs.

--Ze'ev

I agree 100%.

Making your target glow with a specific squad leader command without forcing anyone to select it would be very interesting. You can use it to have all players in the group target the same thing as you, but also for only for a part of your group. It allows for varied tactics and uses. I really like this suggested area.

There's nothing wrong with a skill that forces a squad to do something. There's a way to use the skill, and a way not to use the skill. People who abuse it will be disliked and won't be able to successfully form working groups. People who use it right will use it effectively, and WILL be able to form successful groups. It'll all work out naturally.

As for the mark target thing, I suggested that since other professions have "Profession-specific Items", Squad Leader should have a Beacon Gun or something that shoots a color-coded beacon at a target which makes them glow that color. Something like that. Might be neat. *shrug*

Novice SL definittly needs somthing besisdes /sysgroup. it seems that was just a lame comprimise because no one could come up with somthing that wasnt too powerfull for a novice SL skill.

The reason I suggested a targeting key...in conjunction with the red targeting brackets around the marked target...was that more often than not the targets are all clumped together in the same spot. It's hard to pick the right one, especially if it's pitch black outside or the targets keep shuffling around.

I got the idea from XvT multiplayer: "Order from Flight Leader: Attack this Target! Hit SPACE to target." Or something like that, I don't remember the exact text. What matters is that it was a very straightforward way for the wingman to attack the other player's target.

Note that you could easily use this in conjunction with /sysgroup...pull this target...warning shot THIS target...trap this target again...etc. Obviously it would be up to the squad leader to find the most efficient way to use it.
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*NEW IDEA ALERT* Since we like the "glowing target" idea...we can have the ability to mark different targets different colors before the fight begins. I would mark the primary target as red, mark secondary targets as yellow, assisters as blue...mark the tanks as green so the medics know who to heal. This would be a "glow" effect different than the targeting brackets...so you could mark any target any color. It has to be very easy to do with toolbars, so you can update the situation on the fly.

wow great ideas guys! Im RP'ing a wook who talking in ARgaruuu and wargrararrs and usesa translator droid for directing squads. not easy but alot of fun.

I love the /marktarget idea. I dont think it should auto change your target but highlight the target in some way (maybe a red arrow pointing down at them from above or soemthing?) and set it so the next time you hit tab it becomes your target. Perfect for a novice skill. makes em more manageable, more desirable and isnt overpowered for a novice.

Also like the idea of colour coded targets. I think this should be further up though maybe 2nd or 3rd tier skill. Imthinking leadership 2 or 3 would be a good spot altohugh mobility could use some specials and it fits as well.

If you have 5 colours to choose from you can choose:

1. Targets which need to be kept at bay (warning shot)

2. Primary Target

3. Melee/Ranged Targets (or group1/group2 if you ned to split your group)

etc. I think for the sake of the game these be UV markers or something similar not just a glow around the char. Then again i have battle dmg numbers off coz of immersion.

Im only a Novice SL atm so i can see how its...lacking when your novice. I mean its really just getitng another type of xp when hunting and being able to send sysgroup messages. But I think its a fantastic idea and will get better.

Arvu'meyyra

I agree 100 %!!!! That is an awesome idea for an ability...and it will prevent "younger SL's" (meanin less experienced) from losing their group to incap or DB when multiple enemies start to pick apart your squad.

I'm bumping this because it's a good idea and it deserves to be on top of all the random flaming in here (which I admit to participating in). I want to know what people think of my second idea about color coded target designations.