46 replies to this topic

[Dragoon20005]

Seems like everywhere I have look for a guide on Commanding Officers 101 guide.

I can't seem to find any guide here

Recently I tried my hand leading the company in 12 v 12 PUG matches and turn out ok in some matches and won them with half of our team alive.

while others are plain downright massacre of the whole team.

Instead of typing the commands on the screen. I am using my Turtlebeach headset and using the in game VOIP to comms to the teammates.

I not sure if I am using the right lingo for gird location (eg: Echo 4 for E4) and also calling targets eg: Bravo Dragon for Target B and it is a Dragon. Correct me on this.

When we got a rough location of the enemy or if I got hit by enemy fire. I will usually say "contact" and then the possible source of the shot that was fired let say Delta 5 for D5.

If I need any help if i am under fire. I will try to comms to the team saying "Taking fire, need assistance Echo 3"

In maps like Viridian Bog, I will ask the team to take your positions at D4 area before we strike on the incoming enemy.

once the enemy arrives I will call upon the targets to focus on


when my teammates spotted the enemy and call upon the location. I will reply "Roger that"



If you think I am missing a few points here.

Do help me along to improve this guide or to include your own guide


Thanks
Regards
Dragoon20005

[mailin]

What you're really talking about here is good communication in game. A CO will say things like lights go to this area, assaults assemble at this location. As far as communication goes it sounds like you're doing it pretty well. There are some things worth noting about in-game comms, however. The first is that there are some team mates who for whatever reason have in-game comms muted. The second is that if you are speaking English not everyone on the planet may fully understand you. This is especially true on the EU and Oceanic servers. The third and probably most important is that in-game VOIP isn't perfect, which is why I tend to repeat the directions given and then say roger after it. If you say, "Contact, Dragon, Target Bravo at Echo 4," I will say, "Dragon Bravo, Echo 4, roger."

The question I have for you is how often would you say that you get people responding to you over comms?

I really would like to see more players using this feature, particularly in Puglandia. It negates the biggest advantage that the groups have, but I generally find its use woefully lacking.

Edited by mailin, 12 August 2015 - 12:44 AM.

[ProfessorD]

Most of what you're doing sounds like solid comms technique. Keep it up.

You shouldn't expect the average pug to be very responsive to communications in-game. They feel approximately zero loyalty to the current team, since they get a new random set of meatshields 10 minutes later. Getting 3 people in a random solo pug match all communicating in a coherent way is an accomplishment.

[Dragoon20005]

mailin, on 12 August 2015 - 12:43 AM, said:

What you're really talking about here is good communication in game. A CO will say things like lights go to this area, assaults
assemble at this location. As far as communication goes it sounds like you're doing it pretty well.

(Thanks )

There are some things worth noting about in-game comms, however. The first is that there are some team mates who for whatever reason have in-game comms muted.

(maybe but so far most of the PUG matches either well well or horribly wrong so the other team may have better comms and teamwork)

The second is that if you are speaking English not everyone on the planet may fully understand you. This is especially true on the EU and Oceanic servers.

(I noticed that for EU, as I am from Asia aka Singapore. Not many may understand me at first but they somehow get the lingo well even for Oceanic and US servers)

The third and probably most important is that in-game VOIP isn't perfect, which is why I tend to repeat the directions given and then say roger after it. If you say, "Contact, Dragon, Target Bravo at Echo 4," I will say, "Dragon Bravo, Echo 4, roger."

The question I have for you is how often would you say that you get people responding to you over comms?

(sadly i am always greeted with silence after my commands and my parents think i am nuts talking to the screen)


I really would like to see more players using this feature, particularly in Puglandia. It negates the biggest advantage that the groups have, but I generally find its use woefully lacking.

look at the comments bubbles

Edited by Dragoon20005, 12 August 2015 - 12:59 AM.

[Dragoon20005]

ProfessorD, on 12 August 2015 - 12:47 AM, said:

Most of what you're doing sounds like solid comms technique. Keep it up.

You shouldn't expect the average pug to be very responsive to communications in-game. They feel approximately zero loyalty to the current team, since they get a new random set of meatshields 10 minutes later. Getting 3 people in a random solo pug match all communicating in a coherent way is an accomplishment.

as far as i know, this skills was picked up quite a while ago when i was in the army attached to HQ Signals and Command

I could have been in the officer cadet course but the medical officer deem me unfit for combat due to my mental illness when i was younger. And now my knees are failing me prematurely, and may soon need a walking stick

[Rushin Roulette]

Those are very solid basics for target calling. Actually using the Nato lettering is not necesarry, as there are a few different systems for naming letters. What is important is to use words which are easy to understand as being that letter

Example C= Charly, Chaplain, Cherry,Car (All these are easy to understand and are clearly fro the letter C) what you should avoid is something like Celery, as it is a word with a C at the start, but sounds like an S when spoken.

Basic naming for a target would include letter designation, mech type and grid location (eg. Charly Atlas in Echo 4).

The next step up would be to include all relevant details such as vulnerable points and a movement direction (eg. Charly Atlas in Echo 4 moving to Delta 4; Both legs are open). This way you give all the needed information plus players who have no direct line of site know where to expect the target to be in the near future and you also give a focus for the team to aim at which means they dont spread as much damage over the entire mech.

[Dragoon20005]

Rushin Roulette, on 12 August 2015 - 01:25 AM, said:

Those are very solid basics for target calling. Actually using the Nato lettering is not necesarry, as there are a few different systems for naming letters. What is important is to use words which are easy to understand as being that letter

Example C= Charly, Chaplain, Cherry,Car (All these are easy to understand and are clearly fro the letter C) what you should avoid is something like Celery, as it is a word with a C at the start, but sounds like an S when spoken.

Basic naming for a target would include letter designation, mech type and grid location (eg. Charly Atlas in Echo 4).

The next step up would be to include all relevant details such as vulnerable points and a movement direction (eg. Charly Atlas in Echo 4 moving to Delta 4; Both legs are open). This way you give all the needed information plus players who have no direct line of site know where to expect the target to be in the near future and you also give a focus for the team to aim at which means they dont spread as much damage over the entire mech.

Kinda used to the NATO naming scheme like Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf,Hotel, India, Jackie(instead of Juliett),Kilo and Lima( or Lion ).



good idea here

I do give indication of the location of the light mechs and when i see the gummy legs, i just say "Foxtox Arctic Cheetah leg him"

If i spotted enemy I will call upon the mech chassis and the location and the number of hostiles

There were a few instance I saved the whole team except me from getting back stab in Frozen City Conquest and because I was in a Daishi( Dire Wolf ) and i was killed before I could say taking fire need assist.

But we still manage to kick the enemy butt because the enemy didn't expect the whole team to rush back at them for revenge while I still gave commands by borrowing my teammates POV.

Edited by Dragoon20005, 12 August 2015 - 05:38 AM.

[Pocket_Aces]

You're doing good, don't give up, people been asking for in game chat for a very long time, now that we have it hardly anyone uses it. If I hear I will talk back.

All I can say is keep it up.

[Rushin Roulette]

Learning the enemy hitboxes and which Mech has which big weapons were (such as the Hunch on the Hunchback or the Right Torso of the Atlas) is also important for prioritizing targets. If a mech has lost 90% or more of its weapons, then a different mech should be prioritized over the still living mech. Letting a Stalker without any weapons run around will not hurt anyone, however that Arctic Cheetah with all its weapons intact can still take down many of your teammates while they chase after that "safe" kill.

[Kjudoon]

I give you full props for trying to be that guy. It's a hard, thankless job, that will often get you more hate than praise and fragged more than a few times.

For me though, just so you know when you see someone like me out there, I've turned off all chat and VOIP because of the signal to crapfest ratio is abyssmal. If you're not in my teamspeak, I'm really not interested in anything you have to say or using the map. I am sorry if this hurts your feelings, because to be honest, I really wish I didn't have to do this, but you can't control who's with you in Puglandia, and I tape the majority of my matches, and don't need it ruined by bad language or texting. The only thing I miss out on is catching and reporting team traitors.

So, just letting you know if you aren't getting a response from someone when you do this, it's a good chance they've turned off everyone and it's probably nothing personal. Good ideas will be followed usually, but don't count on it.

That's the best armor I can give you when you see it.

[Dragoon20005]

MatesRates, on 12 August 2015 - 05:50 AM, said:

You're doing good, don't give up, people been asking for in game chat for a very long time, now that we have it hardly anyone uses it. If I hear I will talk back.

All I can say is keep it up.

Rushin Roulette, on 12 August 2015 - 05:55 AM, said:

Learning the enemy hitboxes and which Mech has which big weapons were (such as the Hunch on the Hunchback or the Right Torso of the Atlas) is also important for prioritizing targets. If a mech has lost 90% or more of its weapons, then a different mech should be prioritized over the still living mech. Letting a Stalker without any weapons run around will not hurt anyone, however that Arctic Cheetah with all its weapons intact can still take down many of your teammates while they chase after that "safe" kill.

thanks for the info i may look at giving more damage reports of the enemy

just for a test yesterday with 3 or conquest matches

in the first match, I just kept quiet most of the time and pretty much my whole team was wipe out except me still standing and the battle was lost because the enemy collected the most resources.

Then with the rest of the matches I just did the usual and won the matches and one almost at the brink of losing but still won by a hair's width of just few points.

We were like 3 points shy to losing but we manage to pull that win off with a sign of relief and joy at the same time

[Chocowolf Sradac]

I would say people really need to learn the Phonic alphabet and if they are going to use militaristic terms over coms at least use the correct one

"Bingo" is not the correct term if your out of ammo as that refers to out of fuel the term should be "Windchester"

a bit of a petpeeve

I would also suggest as regular drop commander to keep things simple the less you have to say the better not to mention faster and clearer. The Keep it simple strategy for voicing is really the best way to learn

keep unnecessary stuff like "I'm legged" out of comms as much as possible so that people can hear orders that are given.

Edited by Chocowolf, 12 August 2015 - 04:39 PM.

[MechWarrior3671771]

Bit of advice - avoid being a Chatty Cathy. Its a common mistake group leaders make. Comms should be crisp and clean, with only the relevant information. If you are talking "too much" (even if its legit) people tend to tune you out and ignore you.

[MechWarrior3671771]

"What is important is to use words which are easy to understand as being that letter. Example C= Charly, Chaplain, Cherry,Car (All these are easy to understand and are clearly fro the letter C) what you should avoid is something like Celery, as it is a word with a C at the start, but sounds like an S when spoken."

Sorry, but I strongly disagree with this. Use Charlie for C, Delta for D, etc. There are a few common doubles like Epsi (epsilon) and Echo, but you want to avoid making up news ones. It will just add confusion to already chaotic comms.

If someone starts saying Dog, Dingo, Doll, etc I stop and go "huh what? your dog is hurt? Go to the vet!".

Edited by Fenrisulvyn, 13 August 2015 - 04:48 PM.

[Dragoon20005]

Chocowolf, on 12 August 2015 - 04:33 PM, said:

I would say people really need to learn the Phonic alphabet and if they are going to use militaristic terms over coms at least use the correct one

"Bingo" is not the correct term if your out of ammo as that refers to out of fuel the term should be "Windchester"

a bit of a petpeeve

I would also suggest as regular drop commander to keep things simple the less you have to say the better not to mention faster and clearer. The Keep it simple strategy for voicing is really the best way to learn

keep unnecessary stuff like "I'm legged" out of comms as much as possible so that people can hear orders that are given.

Fenrisulvyn, on 12 August 2015 - 04:48 PM, said:

Bit of advice - avoid being a Chatty Cathy. Its a common mistake group leaders make. Comms should be crisp and clean, with only the relevant information. If you are talking "too much" (even if its legit) people tend to tune you out and ignore you.

my UAC2 are the first to run out of ammo but i just carry on with my LBX10

note that i am using a stock Dire Wolf Daishi B chassis

but yea

I am still trying to keep things simple

[Koniving]

This tutorial runs kinda long and it's also a bit indirect which is why I've never released an actual tutorial series.

Even so, it'd help here. The first part (eventually) gets into all the Commands available, how to read the Battlegrid, etc.

The second part (after 6:50 ) shows a Company Commander in action, giving orders to the allies while leading the charge.

[Kjudoon]

I would also recommend wa4ltching video of team drops with good dropcallers. It is majical to have a good one who isnt screaming junk at peolle. I would recommend the Seraphim. Rising Storm and Trinity companies for some good examples.

Others may be very instructive but the language may be a bit raw.

[Rushin Roulette]

Fenrisulvyn, on 12 August 2015 - 04:55 PM, said:

"What is important is to use words which are easy to understand as being that letter. Example C= Charly, Chaplain, Cherry,Car (All these are easy to understand and are clearly fro the letter C) what you should avoid is something like Celery, as it is a word with a C at the start, but sounds like an S when spoken."

Sorry, but I strongly disagree with this. Use Charlie for C, Delta for D, etc. There are a few common doubles like Epsi (espsilon) and Echo, but you want to avoid making up news ones. It will just add confusion to already chaotic comms.

If someone starts saying Dog, Dingo, Doll, etc I stop and go "huh what? your dog is hurt? Go to the vet!".

Dog was actually completely correct for D throughout most of recent history.

[Dragoon20005]

Rushin Roulette, on 12 August 2015 - 09:02 PM, said:

Dog was actually completely correct for D throughout most of recent history.

ohhh

interesting

the IS names of the Clan mechs are easier to call upon

like Mad Cat(Timberwolf) , Vulture(Mad Dog), Loki ( Hellbringer ) and Thor (Summoner)

Daishi( Dire Wolf ) , Ryoken (Storm Crow), Masakari ( Warhawk )

but some of my team mates was like huh? what mech is that?

We do need to give some advice on the alt names of the above mentioned mechs

@Koniving

While I use the map to give an overview of the team location

I feel its faster to just say straight away the grid point to move to and attack the closest target they see.

[Rogue Jedi]

Dragoon20005, on 12 August 2015 - 09:55 PM, said:

the IS names of the Clan mechs are easier to call upon

like Mad Cat(Timberwolf) , Vulture(Mad Dog), Loki ( Hellbringer ) and Thor (Summoner)

Daishi( Dire Wolf ) , Ryoken (Storm Crow), Masakari ( Warhawk )

but some of my team mates was like huh? what mech is that?

the problem is not everyone knows the alternate names, and it would be difficult to make the the whole player base memorize those names, as the Clan names are displayed it is much easier to just use the Clan names