Fire Control Squad Leader

[Trotskygrad]

I'm curious if this is viable tactic or not.

I've tried this on a couple maps. A fire control squad leader simply takes spotting for artillery as his primary responsibility, spotting from a high position behind enemy lines (such as the top of corner ruins), so spots can be called in with precision (commander asks for E6 center? I can get it for him in less than 3 seconds) and harassing enemy forces with rifle fire, as well as spotting infantry and tanks.

Am I wasting the SL slot, or is this a tactic that deserves more attention?

[Proud_God]

Originally Posted by Trotskygrad

I'm curious if this is viable tactic or not.

I've tried this on a couple maps. A fire control squad leader simply takes spotting for artillery as his primary responsibility, spotting from a high position behind enemy lines (such as the top of corner ruins), so spots can be called in with precision (commander asks for E6 center? I can get it for him in less than 3 seconds) and harassing enemy forces with rifle fire, as well as spotting infantry and tanks.

Am I wasting the SL slot, or is this a tactic that deserves more attention?

Sorry for the slight OT, but I say, allow the commander and SLs to select an artillery point by clicking on the map. Having to visually spot an artillery point is an unnecessary limitation, imo (but can still exist next to clicking on the map)

[Trotskygrad]

Originally Posted by Proud_God

Sorry for the slight OT, but I say, allow the commander and SLs to select an artillery point by clicking on the map. Having to visually spot an artillery point is an unnecessary limitation, imo (but can still exist next to clicking on the map)

that would make good arty a snap

recon plane

click

boom.

[Proud_God]

Originally Posted by Trotskygrad

that would make good arty a snap

recon plane

click

boom.

Yes, but there are still the delays in recon and arty.

Also, arty might have to be limited in other ways, like limited number available in a match.

Also, visual contact during the arty fire might give an accuracy boost as it would represent giving corrections to the men firing the arty.

Just some thoughts.

[Trotskygrad]

Originally Posted by Proud_God

Yes, but there are still the delays in recon and arty.

Also, arty might have to be limited in other ways, like limited number available in a match.

Also, visual contact during the arty fire might give an accuracy boost as it would represent giving corrections to the men firing the arty.

Just some thoughts.

actually, I'm all for the idea of doing manual corrections

arty fires, spotting while firing will adjust in the artillery adjusting fire



not some automatic correction stuff

thing is radios won't be near someone doing fire correction though, it's a bit hard to explain.

A radioman class like in DH would be the best solution, but, that's not in game.

[Rabid Penguin]

Back to the OP's idea, the main problem I can think of is that the kind of position you're describing is going to get you sniped, consistently.

[BigGaayAl]

I think you should be careful about which squadleader position you use for the op's plan.

Don't use an important squad like first or 2nd.

Use the anti-tank squad for example.

[Trotskygrad]

Originally Posted by Rabid Penguin

Back to the OP's idea, the main problem I can think of is that the kind of position you're describing is going to get you sniped, consistently.

I've gotten sniped like 2 times doing this

and yes, I pick a squad in which there aren't a lot of members. The AT squad is actually quite hilarious to do this with, as AT rifles can get awesome angles to hit tanks from from that sort of position.

[r5cya]

i really like this idea. i also like the radioman idea and the medic, though i really don't see that one working out at all.
it would be very interesting if you come up with a good way to make those ideas work and twi carried it out.

[Trotskygrad]

Originally Posted by r5cya

i really like this idea. i also like the radioman idea and the medic, though i really don't see that one working out at all.
it would be very interesting if you come up with a good way to make those ideas work and twi carried it out.

radioman would be easy, just have the radioman be within a certain proximity of the spotter, and your fire will be adjusted. Radioman gets assists on any artillery kills and gets points for protecting the SL (and the SL gets points for protecting the radioman).

The only thing is that

#1: might not be historically accurate
#2: you'd need to make a radioman model and class
#3: new players might have problems with it.

All in all I'd be 100% behind a radioman class (as a mud and blood whore) and I really do hope they are going to be added into the game (or possibly rising storm)

[darkfireslide]

Amen to that.. A medic would basically be you having to carry a downed guy into a clear area (It would have to be a combat medic, of course) where he could do medic stuff and get the guy back on his feet. Only problem with this mechanic is that the player might have to wait even longer to spawn, which... Yeah. Plus the historical accuracy issues. Just a thought. Radioman sounds cooler, makes more sense than a commander in my opinion. I'm also hoping they actually make the "tank classes" actually levelable at some point.

[evil lemon325]

Yeah, gonna have to burst your bubble, but portable radios like the walkie talkie and backpacks we've seen so many times in War movies only really hit the battlefield in numbers with the invasion of sicily summer 1943...

And it was really the Americans who used them. It's a pretty clear flat out no from the history department.

[Cpt-Praxius]

Originally Posted by Trotskygrad

I'm curious if this is viable tactic or not.

I've tried this on a couple maps. A fire control squad leader simply takes spotting for artillery as his primary responsibility, spotting from a high position behind enemy lines (such as the top of corner ruins), so spots can be called in with precision (commander asks for E6 center? I can get it for him in less than 3 seconds) and harassing enemy forces with rifle fire, as well as spotting infantry and tanks.

Am I wasting the SL slot, or is this a tactic that deserves more attention?

Bouncing back to the topic... In my opinion, it is a bit of a waste of the role's abilities where you as the SL should be getting to the objectives with your additional capping power, popping smoke for your fellow soldiers to advance and to occasionally be the mobile spawn (and marking arty for the Commander of course)

It could be a good tactic to be behind the lines as a mobile spawn point so your team can attack from behind.... but I don't see the benefit of being behind the lines to mark arty that can be marked at any distance, at any angle.... (so long as your view is not obstructed)

But the other problem with that tactic of being behind enemy lines as a mobile spawn point, is that you can easily (& quickly) end up in a protected area if an objective is taken by the enemy, which most likely will not give you and your squad any time to escape certain gibbish death.

Since we're on the topic of arty, there's something I have been wondering for months now:

If I'm the Commander and I mark arty coordinates on one section of the map and I have one or more Squad Leaders mark arty coordinates in other locations of the map..... when I call arty in for a strike..... does the arty land on my spot, the last spot marked.... or do all marked areas have arty drop on them??

If you have arty land on each marked coordinate at the same time, that would be cool and you can get the Commander & SL's to mark a wide spread of coordinates to set a wall of arty to block the enemy... or to smack out multiple spots where the enemy is entrenched at once.

[AtheistIII]

If I'm the Commander and I mark arty coordinates on one section of the map and I have one or more Squad Leaders mark arty coordinates in other locations of the map..... when I call arty in for a strike..... does the arty land on my spot, the last spot marked.... or do all marked areas have arty drop on them??

You choose one position on the map, there it goes down.

[Cpt-Praxius]

Originally Posted by AtheistIII

You choose one position on the map, there it goes down.

But as Commander, I've seen multiple marks (Yellow mushroom cloud in sector C6, and a Red one in D3.... sometimes a green one in another sector, etc.)

Which mark gets the arty??

Or has something changed since the last couple of patches?

[Holy.Death]

Yellow markers are possible artillery targets.

Green marker is the one chosen by the battalion commander from all marks.

Red marker is where the artillery is going down now.

[Cpt-Praxius]

Originally Posted by Holy.Death

Yellow markers are possible artillery targets.

Green marker is the one chosen by the battalion commander from all marks.

Red marker is where the artillery is going down now.

Ah, thanks for that info..... how do you pick which one you use? Just by clicking on the map while at radio??

[Holy.Death]

Yes, simply click on artillery marker you want to use and it will change color from yellow to green.

[Cpt-Praxius]

Originally Posted by Holy.Death

Yes, simply click on artillery marker you want to use and it will change color from yellow to green.

Groovy, thanks for that... you learn something everyday.

[darkfireslide]

That helps me a bunch too, been working on playing as an SL now that the spawning actually works I'm sure many a platoon commander will be pleased