Before I start on others posts, let me explain that new tools are coming down the pipe; PGI have already explained that a new command interface is due in by April.
Toadkillerdog, on 24 January 2014 - 11:27 PM, said:
I exclusively drop with my unit now, and I have seen very few games where someone actually commanding helps. In fact, it's usually a single guy that thinks he knows what's going on, and tries to tell everyone to stand in a killzone. Oh, and they always rearrange the lances, even when we protest, to the point that one of my teammates always takes command just to stop this. He doesn't actually do anything, but not being a detriment is more useful than any commander I've seen yet. That does sound about right for officers....
Then you have {Scrap} officers, or you guys need to get a training program moving for command. Let me guess, you're in one of those units that doesn't have a command structure, or everyone's allowed to do their own thing? Pffttt. Finally, if you can't seem to get along with your leadership, why don't you start taking command and directing?
6xero9, on 25 January 2014 - 12:28 AM, said:
On a related note, how effective is a cohesive unit? as I usually run into the ones that just want to charge the entire team into the enemy, or no communication.
It's not a cohesive unit if they're pulling a Tom Osborne or they're not talking. A cohesive unit, and I have experience with this from MWO Closed Beta, is a site to behold, and will almost always ROFLstomp a PUG.
Jason Parker, on 25 January 2014 - 12:42 AM, said:
...and I find myself being a better help to the team if I spend my time leading by example and killing enemy mechs rather than spending it in the map and textchat.
That's what I've found, as well. I can do a lot more good, and get a better result if I type out, in proper English case, something I'm going to do, and then have folks follow me. We had great success when I took company command through the BG one time... but in over 1000 games, now, I've only taken company command once and lance leadership once; I couldn't do anything with the lance leadership... something I need to work on.
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I am saying this since beta: This game needs a non third party integrated voice chat.
Absolutely. What PGI could do with this is get in touch with the guys from C3 and put them on to get chat integrated. Most people, however, prefer TeamSpeak and, I suspect, had PGI used TS3 rather than C3, a LOT more people would use the in-game voice.
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Maybe by giving the minimap more room in the cockpit and letting us issue commands directly there without losing the sight of what's going on directly around our mech.
YES! This. I don't know how it could be done, but it should be.
Wintersdark, on 25 January 2014 - 06:24 AM, said:
Disclaimer: I'm ignoring the game tools entirely - when I talk about taking command, I mean just that. Not clicking a button, but stepping up and talking, having a plan and guiding people to it.
{thumbs up; if I could like this any more than once, I would}
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Taking a leadership position is not easy for everyone. If you just shout at people, or deride them, you won't get good results. You need to guide people to a common goal, and do it in such a way as to encourage people to follow your directions. As such, they need to be brief, clear, simple and polite. However, announcing focus-fire targets, or a map grid to attack/defend (and update it! Don't just spout off a line of text at the start of the battle and then shut up) is a sure way to lead to victory even if you don't fire a shot.
Get out of my head, man, eventually you're going to get bored, hehe. These are almost my exact thoughts.
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Of course, you do need to have non-terrible ideas, but in all honesty it's been my experience that a team with a plan - even a bad plan - will crush a team of people all doing different random stuff almost every single time.
I can't say, honestly, that this has been my experience, but I'll drop that, for now, and go with the opposite angle. If you're in a PUG, and you don't have the balls to take command AND have a plan, good, bad, or ugly, then you should probably read, listen, or watch for Orders Received if someone else has. Try out the plan, think it through for yourself, if you're able to think on a strategic and/or tactical level, because not everyone is, and, if the plan sucks, be respectful and propose an alternate. If you're not willing to listen, read, or watch, and you go wandering off on your own, not only have you condemned yourself to death in the game, you've condemned everyone else, as well. One 'Mech more often than not DOES make the difference and, if you have some supposed ELITE skills, you and the team would be better served with you at the tip of the spear. Have a brain, don't be a richard, and help your team win.
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