Squad Leader Archive
Thread: New Squad Leader State Of The Profession
I'm starting this thread in response to the recent dev inquirey into our state of the profession. I'm including Irot's response to the DEV because it was excelent.
Let my sum up my feelings first.
Squad Leader as it is now is a noob profession masquerading as an elite profession. The skill set we have right now would actually make a difference if we grouped with bunch of novice marksmen, medics, brawlers and crafters. But as an elite profession grouping with elite professions, fighting other elites in the GCW, or high level content, the skill sets are pathetic. The benifits are just not there, especially not with the rate we fail and the high cost of our abilities. We do not live up to the promise of being a squad leader.
(Plagerized from Irot's post) As the description of Master Squad Leader states: The Master Squad Leader can command other fighter's attention and respect. They can move a team quickly and direct a strike efficiently. A team with a Master Squad Leader at its head strikes fast and hard.
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IROT'S REPLY:
The problem Runesaber... is not that our skills are broken (most of them work as intended). It is just that they make little or no difference. We have no distinction from any other class that is "group leader". For example, a Combat medic that is group leader could use groupchat to keep the group in order and provide area heals and mind heals. Those skills are so much more effective in battle than anything we have.
I will break each branch down into what it currently has and how effective or ineffective it is.
Mobility - Contains two group skill mods. Group terrain negotiation is almost worthless with the introduction of mounts and speeders. Is still somewhat useful when leading newbies.
Group Burst Run Efficiency is good but most people don't even notice it... same with Group terrain negotiation (since quite a few have scouting skills).
Strategy - Gains two actual skills that the Squad Leader can use. Steady Aim is one of the skills that really works. It only works for one shot directly after the SL uses it. I personaly am unsure on whether the +10 bonus in the second box provides a more effective aim or just increases the chance of the SL not failing. This information would be useful.
The second skill is Volley Fire. This skill is the closest thing to control over the other people in the group. It is a one time skill that forces one "volley" of fire from the whole group on whichever target the SL has targeted. It fails quite often and provides no added damage. And a good leader would have everyone attacking the same target anyway. Again on the +10 bonus, unsure on how this effects the skill.
Leadership - This has, I think, the most useful skill in the SL toolbox. Formup gets rid of almost all status effects throughout the group (excluding pets). This is a great asset.
There are two boxes that give group melee defense mods which are always a good thing to have, yet many are unsure that they work since the skill mods only show up in the SLs skill mod box. The group has no way to tell.
The last box has Boostmorale which does not work as the definition says it does. It is defined as a skill the redistributes damage throughout the group. It currently redistributes wounds throughout the group. With a medic and some TKAs to meditate the wounds away... you can get rid of them. And with the introduction of Combat medics being able to heal mind while being wounded in their mind, this helps out a little. But it just seems like too many steps to get rid of these wounds. Plus many groupmembers become upset in gaining wounds they didnt have. This is something I would look at in the upcomeing HAM changes and see if there is a better way to implement it.
Tactics - Contains the rally skill. This skill is one of the more confusing ones. Many are unsure as to what added benefit this gives the group. It fails often and the biggest drawback is that it prevents scouts from harvesting and doctors from rezzing.
Again there are some group defense mods thrown in, this time ranged. Again no way to tell if you are getting any effect.
Retreat works, yet its almost never used in actual retreating. Most players just use it for gaining a quick boost of speed. The only situation I have ever used it to its definition was while defending a factional base and became overwhelmed. I used the skill and had the group make a run back to the saftey of the bases interior. But this still didn't save the group as many were picked off as they ran back. If this gave some sort of added ranged defense boost or dodge/counterattack/block boost during the temporary retreat, then it might help it be used for what it is supposed to be.
Novice/Master - Novice gains one of the most useful/most worthless skills in the game. Sysgroup is a great way to communicate to your group. Its really useful when you change the color of the message as white doesnt always show up too well. The downside of this.. is well whats the point. You can use groupchat to talk to your group just as easy. It is great for those who use it but some SLs just don't know how to use it.
Master Squad Leader gains just a few more of the group skill mods. No added skill no bonuses to the other skills, just the skill mods that not everyone is sure makes a difference.
So really the state of our profession is that we have no identifiable benefit to leading a group. We have a lack of skills and the skills we do have are sub par as they don't always work or provide just a quick fix. We are supposed to be able to create an effective fighting group but really we are just a headpiece while the rest of the group does all the work.
As the description of Master Squad Leader states: The Master Squad Leader can command other fighter's attention and respect. They can move a team quickly and direct a strike efficiently. A team with a Master Squad Leader at its head strikes fast and hard.
We are unable to even meet that description. Many of us here in the SL forums have banded together and formed quite a few ideas and proposals that would help this profession. A basic list can be found Here. I don't agree with all of them but they are just ideas and everyone should have their voice.
Our correspondant is kinda busy with work at the moment so hopfully I got all the issues out there that he would want to bring up. Anything that I missed please add to this.
LOL you crack me up DiLune.
Stupid board.
Oh, btw did I mention that squad leaders are way to powerful and need to be nurfed?!!!!!