Squad Leader Archive

Ok. Currently, as I can see, the problem with the Squad Leader XP is that it depends on the Squad Leader hogging damage to gain XP. The alternate system, where it is calculated based on the group XP, allows inefficient Squad Leaders to gain XP without providing any XP to the group. I think, instead we should consider running the Squad Leader XP as a straightforward tax. As in, the Squad Leader gets X% of the group experience, from each player. I think this should also appear as a system message upon XP gain. Example:

"You gain 2000 Rifle XP, but lose 200 XP as a tax to your Squad Leader."

I think the advantage to this is as follows: It promotes Squad Leaders using their abilities instead of hogging combat damage (unlike the current system) while penalizing the GROUP for inefficient Squad Leaders. This has the effect of forcing the Squad Leader to earn his keep, as an inefficient Squad Leader will act as an unwelcome drain on his group and will soon cease to have one. An efficient one who is perceived as being "worth the cost", however, will continue to gain XP.

Just a thought.

That seems to draw undue attention to the negatives. As it is now... you're suggesting that current combat experience should read:

You recieved 90 rifle and 20 combat experience, but the 3 rancors took 900 experience away from you.

Or:

You have been credited 300 credits for completing your mission, but those other guys took 1200.

Creating an adversarial role is a bad plan. Regardless of gain, SL's will end up solo under this plan. Moreso since they do NOT provide any group benefit as is.

The way I see it, the choice is to calculate by personal damage or calculate by group damage. Personal damage leads to SL hogging and not using specials, group damage leads to squad leaders acting as sort of hangers-on who get XP without earning it. The only reason for a bad squad leader to be tolerated would be because people don't mind his presence. This way, they would.

Bump. I'm curious as to what more people think.

If all people see is "you lose xp to your SL" nobody will want an SL to lead them. Don't do this. If anything, people should gain xp for having an SL in charge. "You gain 100 rifle xp for having Ze'ev be such a great leader" is much more what I'd like to see.

--Ze'ev

With our broken and megar abilities as they stand now its hard enough to get a group that wants you to lead them. Why add insult to injury?

(Thank God I have a good PA and some good friends! Not that it matters anymore anyhow )