Squad Leader Archive
Thread: Brigham Basilone, Novice Squad Leader
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TireeG2
Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:15 am
#1
I've been a big fan of SL for a long time now, and have read a fair amount from this forum. I've never really bothered to postmuch, but now especially with the changes coming, I would like to get involved in the community a little more. I'm sure when the publish hits we're going to have a lot to talk about.
To the point though, I'm posting this to be just a semi-formal introduction. (In case you regulars have noticed any of my recent posts and wondered who this noob that just popped is:smileytongue
. I guess then, maybe a little bit about myself and my experiences: --after writing all of what's below, I realize it's kinda long, if you wanna get to the point just skip to the bottom--
. I guess then, maybe a little bit about myself and my experiences: --after writing all of what's below, I realize it's kinda long, if you wanna get to the point just skip to the bottom--I've played SWG since launch, and have enjoyed it through all the ups and downs. I've now played almost every profession (notas muchcrafting or entertaining though). Also by play I mean play, not grinded to master just to drop it the next day or anything.I played a little SL on Gorath pre cu, enough to get a taste for it and appreciate it, but it wasn't really my thing at the time.
My real big encounter with SL came directly after cu hit though, in the force village during phase 4. I has been with a couple groups that lacked any real leadership, and there were many deaths because of it. With groups falling apart and people coming and going, I decided that as a senior player I needed to step up. So I started running my own group as village defense guarding the south gate. Aftera couple waves I was hooked. I was a Mcommando Mcarbine, but I respeced to Mcarbine, MSL. (yes, I am kind of ashamed that I did not earn MSL, but the nature of the situation required quick action)
I spent the next week leading groups defending the village and got quite proficient at it, learning the value of abilities like sys, volleyfire, and rally. I also managed to build up a fairly loyal following. Even though a lot of people cycled through my group, the new members would watch the vets. I found it amazing how well a group could perform if they all listened and acted together. We became proficient at being mobile, reacting to different amounts of pressure, and most importantly keeping everyone alive. Anyways, to sum it up, that first week as SL after cuwas some of the most fun I've ever had playing galaxies.
I've kept SL for several months, until a couple weeks ago, when I unlocked jedi (boooo jedi). Much to my dismay I had to give up SL. I had planned to make my alt a crafter for money, but recently I realized I couldn't leave SL behind, so I'm now starting fresh as Brigham Basilone. Brigham, is going to be one crappy temp, but he'll be fun. (it's looking like some medic+BE+BH+CH+MSL). The idea being I can handle 2 of the base busting jobs, and still do some of the other things I enjoy. If i'm not mistaken it'll put me at around level 65, but I think I can make do.
I just got novice SL the other night and have been getting back to my good old self. Now I've been busy trying to convince low level mining outpost grindersthat you don't need level 80s to get xp, and getting them to join with me. You'd be surprised how wicked a group of level 20s can be I think
That's me in a nutshell, but before I hit submit I have a request. I feel a little awkward doing this and am not sure if it could happen, BUT: I hear all the vets here talking about how important knowledge, good leadership, and teamwork can be for group pvp. This unfortunately is where I have some of the least experience. What I am wondering is if maybe there are any active pvp SLs here that would let me apprentice under them. Preferably I would like to stay on Eclipse if anyone is there, but most of the other chars in my sig are capable fighters so I could play on those servers too. If anyone would be up for something like this let me know.
Thanks, and I'll see you around the boards,
-Brigham Basilone
Loki_Ashaman
Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:35 am
#2
Welcome aboard, and I'm sure one of the Eclipse SLs would be willing to enlist you as an apprentice. 
TireeG2
Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:22 am
#3
Well, thanks for the response Loki. I'm still looking for a group combat tutor, I think I'll start pursuing some in game contacts since there hasn't been much response here, unfortunately.
Another possibilty though: To be the best possible leader I can, I'd like to learn the strategies and tricks of as many people as I can. I may have missed something, but have there been any large discussions on tactics here? The tips about macros, the faq,and such in the stickies are great but I feel like I have the basics, I'd like to see some advanced topics now.Are there any links, or maybe personal SL websites, that someonecould refer me to where I could get more information like what I'm looking for? If there's not, that might be a nice discussion to start here...
Message Edited by TireeG2 on 09-19-2005 11:24 AM
Sylow
Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:43 am
#4
Welcome aboard.
And on the topic of training... i don't know, i never got some, i never really gave some. And, honestly, i wouldn't even know what to teach you what is not yet on the forums.
Be nice to the people when things go fine, give them a bit of heat when they do really bad, but then absolutely remember to also congratulate them when theydo better again.
Don't complain that it is still not perfect, play as if it was, even if you saw ways to improve still... remember, you want and probably will team up with them again, unless speaking of a random pickup group for grinding, so there will be plenty of time to still improve, no need to get perfect at first try.
Otherwhise... observe what people are doing... some people in my team i tend to give more orders, as they otherwhise start to rush off for their own interests. (Make them feel important. Telling somebody not to be stupid to run after an enemy is the negative way. Telling the same person that you need his firepower here to cover your rear end is the very same, but sounds more positively.) Others get little orders as i know, they work fine by themselves and my orders would decrease their efficiency.
Know your people, learn who to speak to and who to let run loose. But never put the strings too tight, unless it's a dire PvP situation. People want to have fun, if you direct them strictly, they will hate it. (On the other hand, if you give strict orders in PvP, most people appreciate it... especially if they realize that only by sticking to your orders, they are the ones still blowing air through their teeth after the battle...)
Anyways, this all is on how to treat people... and, i assume this is more or less all i do, my personal tactics are very limited.
Keep the team [several groups] together (i tried to split them up a few times... always got me a bloody nose that way...), organize a chat channel for everybody involved in a bigger activity (like basebusting) since communication from groupleader to groupleader and those give the info to their team is too slow and keeps too many people busy in repeating stuff which was just said on the higher level channel, try to focus fire on single targets. (Ignore the thread where people complain about it, the issue there are AFK-bots... it's a challenge to make real players stay on target while they are under attack from another direction. You have to have an experienced team to do that.)
Otherwhise... when i see need, i "wake up" our medics by a /sys Heal [name], if we have losses i call the docs on who i want to have ressed first, stuff like that... no big deal.
I assume that there are several people here who are better in tactics, but alas, i found no teacher yet, either... and got the feeling that the way i run things usually turn out well enough. (I'm still proud on the battle, were 9 of us managed to cut down 7 of at least 25 hostiles and still were not defeated by the enemy players but by a traitor combatantwho dragged several lv. 85+ NPCs into our group... )
Still, in case that a skilled tacticianever plans to do some serious teaching, i also would like to sign up.
Message Edited by Sylow on 09-20-2005 01:50 PM
TireeG2
Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:26 am
#5
Thanks for the great reply Sylow. There's a lot of good information there. I suppose there's not much of a substitute for just plain experience though, some things that seem basic to you may be new to me.
Today, I think I may begin to try and form a semi-formal squad. All mygrinding with Brigham has been done leading groups of low level guys. (I hate being a tag along in a level 80 group, I feel much better about a group where everyone contributes) Also, it's a lot of fun, you meet some great guys and I think I've been able to build up some trust and respect in many of them. Get a lot of regulars coming back when they see the kinda xp we get too
.
I'd highly reccomend doing that to any rising SLs, you really feel like you earn that MSL title (I kinda wish they would bring back SL xp). I've got aspirations of creating the lowest ever level aoe grind group tonight too, maybe a group of level 45s will do it, we'll see...
Phew, 3 more hours at workthen I get to go try it out...
_scout_
Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:14 am
#6
Sylow wrote:
...
Copy pasted here: How To Lead
and welcome aboard Brigham/TireeG2 !
Message Edited by _scout_ on 09-20-2005 12:15 PM
Sylow
Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:50 am
#7
Thanks for the credit. I took the freedom of rooting out some typo and a wrongly chosen word in both versions, so don't wonder about the editing. Anyways, interesting where you did a small cut in the version for the wiki... *smile*
Copy pasted here: How To Lead
_scout_
Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:57 am
#8
Sylow wrote:Thanks for the credit. I took the freedom of rooting out some typo and a wrongly chosen word in both versions, so don't wonder about the editing. Anyways, interesting where you did a small cut in the version for the wiki... *smile*
Copy pasted here: How To Lead
Complains, Issues, AFKing and Discussions dont belong into the Wiki Guide to the SL page.
They would be out of context there anyway.
Sylow
Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:06 am
#9
Complains, Issues, AFKing and Discussions dont belong into the Wiki Guide to the SL page.
They would be out of context there anyway.
Don't worry... i got the idea pretty well why you removed the part, so really no issue here. Though, as i just was there, i again started browsing through the Wiki. It's scary, but i feel that this passage here probably is one of the very few things written there which can stay after the revamp.
Which once again proves, some general rambling survives the longest... *grin*
Edit: A bit back towards the topic... i gave a bit of personal leader talk, any skilled tactician here also ready to give more insights?
Message Edited by Sylow on 09-20-2005 02:27 PM
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