16 replies to this topic

[Janitor101]

I'm sure I speak for more people then myself when I say I've encountered players who take the commander spot just for the fun of trolling their team and moving people around. Not for putting together a dedicated light lance, but just to annoy pre-made groups.

I think there should be a 'Mutiny' button in the battlegrid, and if say half the team or more (say 6 or 8) all click the button, the current Company Commander is ejected from the position, opening it up for another person, it should also disallow them from retaking it for that match.

In addition, I've seen commanders who declare stupid or downright suicidal tactics, and cause the team to loose because of it, its gotten so bad that I take the commander just to prevent some jackwad from taking it.

Edited by Janitor101, 15 November 2013 - 12:39 PM.

[CeeKay Boques]

I could say something if I was a better follower. But I'll only "Stick to the plan" if I think it makes sense, or will work. Poor commanders who have a good plan, but only half the team is into it, they look bad in the end, but was it really their fault? Hard to have that leadership charisma over text chat in a 15 minute game.

[Appogee]

Janitor101, on 15 November 2013 - 12:38 PM, said:

I think there should be a 'Mutiny' button in the battlegrid...

...and if you click it, your Mech instantly self-destructs.

Armies aint democracies, son.

Edited by Appogee, 15 November 2013 - 12:46 PM.

[Janitor101]

Maybe institute some little EXP bonus if you go to your lance objective, or are within 100m of it, would promote more team play following plans.

This isn't war or an army, this is a game.
And the game is supposed to be fun, it isn't fun when some jackwad moves your pre-made group around to every lance, making coordination with your friends or group exceedingly hard.

Edited by Janitor101, 15 November 2013 - 02:30 PM.

[Escef]

Appogee, on 15 November 2013 - 12:45 PM, said:

...and if you click it, your Mech instantly self-destructs.

Armies aint democracies, son.

Armies also aren't lead by people that appoint themselves commander, either.

[Oppresor]

I agree with Appogee. Don't forget in WW1 you would have been shot by your own commander for not going over the top.

[Escef]

Oppresor, on 15 November 2013 - 03:57 PM, said:

I agree with Appogee. Don't forget in WW1 you would have been shot by your own commander for not going over the top.

Don't forget that in any Army the guy in charge wasn't a private that decided to give himself a promotion on the spur of the moment.

[Firewuff]

Don't take command just to stop others and then dont give orders... That ***** me. Take command and show others how to do it. Its almost as annoying as the premades who grab it to stop people splitting them up hen ignore the rest of the group

[Phoenix Branson]

As a former sergeant in the U.S. Army, I can tell you military effectiveness is built on the foundation of obedience to orders. Recruits are taught to obey, immediately and without question. If a person on the battlefield neglects to follow an order, that person may endanger the lives of everyone else. According to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a person found guilty of mutiny is punishable by death. I've had good and bad company commanders during my tours of duty in Iraq. You follow them both without question!

Edited by Maverick01, 15 November 2013 - 07:50 PM.

[Escef]

Maverick01, on 15 November 2013 - 07:42 PM, said:

As a former sergeant in the U.S. Army, I can tell you military effectiveness is built on the foundation of obedience to orders. Recruits are taught to obey, immediately and without question. If a person on the battlefield neglects to follow an order, that person may endanger the lives of everyone else. According to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a person found guilty of mutiny is punishable by death. I've had good and bad company commanders during my tours of duty in Iraq. You follow them both without question!

As a former Specialist in the U.S. Army, I'd like to point out that everything you just said here does not apply to an online game, because when someone "takes command" in this game it is frequently some random player that has no idea how to command and issues no orders. If one of your Privates suddenly decided he was the company CO, would you follow his orders? Of course not. SO, when some random player decides to put a little star next to his name in MWO, it really doesn't mean anything.

[Fabe]

Escef, on 15 November 2013 - 07:59 PM, said:

As a former Specialist in the U.S. Army, I'd like to point out that everything you just said here does not apply to an online game, because when someone "takes command" in this game it is frequently some random player that has no idea how to command and issues no orders. If one of your Privates suddenly decided he was the company CO, would you follow his orders? Of course not. SO, when some random player decides to put a little star next to his name in MWO, it really doesn't mean anything.

Exactly,if you don;t like how the self appointed 'commander' is doing things just ignore him. It's not like they wield any real power or anything.

[xMintaka]

I agree that commanders shouldn't mess around with lances unless they know for certain there are no premades. Doesn't make too much of a difference, but being able to glance at your map and look for the teal arrows instead of having to constantly keep track of your lance-mates is one less thing to think about.

It's more common courtesy than anything else.


Now, when said commander starts issuing orders... It's simple enough. Bring up your battlegrid quickly, check what the afforementioned order is and if anyone is moving to obey. If it's stupid and no one is moving, you know what to do. If it's stupid and everyone is moving, you've pretty much got to roll with it unless you fancy yourself as a T-1000 (you are not. You will die. You will invariably blame the "stupid pugs". We will laugh).
If it's a good call and no one obeys, then your keyboard has caps lock for a reason. Use it.

In any case, it makes me feel a little less like Frodo on Terra Therma when a halfway competent commander suggests a flanking movement.
Likewise, I can only twiddle my thumbs for so long on Tourmaline while the 'tartfest goes on and I wait for some other people to summon the courage to (shock horror) actually risk getting their pretty mech damaged by taking the fight to the enemy instead of waiting for them to get into any position they want and rush our feeble ridge.

So, all you commanders out there. Don't be discouraged. Take charge, issue orders. Just don't make them the same old bollocks that happens every time the map comes around.

Edited by Lunatech, 15 November 2013 - 08:21 PM.

[Escef]

Honestly, what would help anyone trying to organize a PUG group is having top speed listed next to mechs, and then being able to group lances accordingly. Or having lance structure by default based upon top speed.

[Bhael Fire]

Appogee, on 15 November 2013 - 12:45 PM, said:

Armies aint democracies, son.

Yep. But in the military, leadership is EARNED. In MWO, all you have to do is push a button.

Your point is invalid.

[CaptainDeez]

And while yall are having democracy the other team can finish the mop up.

[SleekHusky]

Well the commander feature in Battlefield games does have the mutiny ability as well as so called self appointing and I find it works well.
However MWO it does piss me off when a moron self appoints, I used pay attention to what they ask and if I deem it as stupid (which usually it really is obviously a bad plan) I will ignore their orders. However since its a PUG people tend to listen to the idiot still and we all lose. Now with PUGS I just follow the herd and if it's a stupid idea I just hope a miracle happens as it usually has a better chance of success.

However I think maybe the commander appointing system should be only allowed if you are piloting a mech with a command module equipped.

Edited by Sleek34, 23 March 2014 - 07:12 AM.

[fandre]

Another thread suggested that you need some archievments to enable commander status as well as the indication of your "success" as commander (visible before match begin).

I guess, this should be implemented and a voting system added. So before the match starts, a possible commander can say, here I like to do it and the rest of the team can vote for or against.

Command module has to be equipped for commanding and following orders should also be rewarded.

I'm against the mutiny button and also against the reasoning in the poll options. I wont follow a commander in MWO, only because he has pushed the button first.

Edited by fandre, 24 March 2014 - 03:53 AM.