What's your commander style?

[polar bear 10]

I have been playing for a few months now, seems like it would be interesting to compare and see if I play differently than others.

When I command the AI, I usually play in an overwatch role. I take a good defensive point where I can scan the field and I order the units here and there, and I will try to lay down suppressive fire if I can if they come under attack while moving. I generally avoid taking the point or putting myself up at the front of the action.

About the only time I come forward and attack a specific target is when it's something the AI is not very good at. So, if there's a tank, I will get a launcher and go try and take it out myself, because I find the AI's are not very good about doing that.

Even then though I tend to prepare that by sending my AI left and right so that I don't get flanked.

I tend to divide up my team into two, red and green, and keep red somewhere to my right, and green somewhere to my left. That's so I can quickly remember "red right" to make it easier to remember which is which. I tend to hold the medic back out of any team, if there is one, and if there is a vehicle crew that would be team blue.

Obviously I'm willing to vary that for special situations but that's my overall style.

Wondering what sort of style others adopt?

Edited September 21, 2010 by Polar Bear

[Muahaha 10]

My style of play is to lead the AIs into the battle and in the midst of it. Since that is when it really feels like in a real battlefield with slight confusions around and in need to act fast and precise.

I also grouped the AIs into groupings, normally in a fireteam of 4 if possible. 1 team assault/suppress while the other 1 team flanks/advance. Since I use mods, the AI are much better at taking out armors with they have anti-armor weapons with them.

I tries to use synchronize move as much as possible, by laying 2 waypoints for AIs, send them to the 1st waypoint, positioned my team before issue out the order for the AI to move to the 2nd waypoint. By that, it's way more easier to overwhelm the enemy. (works with AI only, not real players :) )

For CQB, I use AI to storm into buildings rather than I pieing the corner.

All in all, I tends to fight with the AI/players than watch from afar. Unless I got Arty or air support, then I will give the enemy hell before sending the team in.

I play only in veteran mode, without any map/indicator to have the most immerse exp.

[JojoTheSlayer 35]

I tend to use a expendable, not expendable view of my AI.

Dont really use infantry that much, but in general I use a light AI vehicle front, me in the middle in whatever and heavy at the back behind cover and out of sight. The cheap front vehicle flush out the enemy and once that is done it ether engage soft targets or pull back while the heavy goes in on heavy targets.

[nkenny 1057]

When leading an AI squad there are a few basic rules I try to follow.

#1 Keep important troopers at the closer buttons F2, F3, F4 etc

-- Speeds up selection

-- Protects troopers near center of formation

-- Keeps them close to me; higher chance of what I see they see.

#2 Avoid having too many AI soldiers

-- Mucks up the interface

-- Stealth and Speed considerations

#3 AI wastes time with with special weapons. Avoid giving AT, GL, Pistols, Binocs and such to troopers that need to react speedily.

-- AI tends to get stuck doing the weapon-switch-jig

#4 AI has a low spotting distance, but is fairly effective at engaging point targets.

-- Recognize that time spent with a binocular painting targets is often more effective.

Typical Squad

A typical CDF squad that I've been having a lot of fun with recently consists of six to eight men organized as such:

F1: Myself. AK74 + binocs

F2: Machinegunner. PKM

F3: AT specialist. AK74+RPG7

F4: Medic (if available)

F5-F8: Riflemen.

1. Move towards AO in Staggered Column formation. If a enemy is spotted, or contact is made adopt a LINE formation. If possible attempt to achieve surprise. Place machinegunner at a dominating location. Use binoculars to scout out targets for the machinegun; make sure to assign any vehicles (soft skinned or not) targets to my RPG gunner.

2. Once initial exchange of fire is over, assess the situation. Strength of enemy? Reinforcements? Mission considerations.

a) If the enemy seems subdued; move forward. Often in an aggressive Wedge or Vee formation.

b) If uncertain or viseversa. Immediately adopt 8-8 (close column) and attempt to withdraw to a safer location. Close column will keep the AI moving quickly. Take care to move at least 100-200 meters. Make a decision to either form a new hasty fighting position (ambushing any followers), attempt to loose the enemy by withdrawing, or Flank to attempt to regain the initiative.

3. After a series of firefight consolidate forces at a secure location. Assess ammunition levels, heal wounded soldiers, and redistribute mission essential equipment. If possible always keep MG within squad. Rinse and repeat.

-k

Edited September 22, 2010 by NkEnNy

[CameronMcDonald 146]

My commanding style can be summarised as follows:

Less horses.

[maddogx 13]

When moving toward enemy positions, I usually take point, leaving at least one AI behind on overwatch (a machine gunner in an elevated position, if possible). Important guys like medics are kept close to me, while the other guys flank right and left.

[Laqueesha 474]

The style where I don't die.

[Tonci87 163]

when encountering the enemy, or approaching a enemy position, I order my men to hold fire and go prone. After that we sneak up to the enmy until we are 100-200 Meters away from him. I prefer the line formation for that. After trhat I wait until all men men report that they have eyes on a target. Now I order them to open fire and all hell breaks loose. There is a good chance that most of the enmys will be moved down within two seconds and that the other won´t last much longer.

[dmarkwick 261]

My "commanding" style is a little chaotic :) I play mostly just little sandbox scenarios, and one of the things I do is randomise the AI squad. I place a mix of squad units, sometimes more than one of each type, but then I set their probability of presence to some level, say 50% or slighly higher if I think I might have more need of one particular type.

Then, ingame, I have to "work with what I got", in that I never really know the makeup of my squad. Sometimes I'll get a large squad and have many options, sometimes I'll get a squad with zero AT and that will force me to use different approaches and tactics, sometimes I'll get a VERY small squad, maybe even just one guy occasionally which means my role is reduced to scout or something.

And, I'll do the same for the opposition, either manually or via DAC. It means that, although I can still make scenarios that more or less always sets a similar scene, I never really know what I'll get or when. Or how much of it. It makes for a great gameplay each time if I only have very vague ideas about strength & numbers, even as mission designer.

As for my commander style - I more or less let the AI support me as I move in personally to the fight. Occasionally I'll make specific orders, but mostly I use them as friendly bots and spotters :D

Edited September 22, 2010 by DMarkwick

[Psycho78 10]

I tries to use synchronize move as much as possible, by laying 2 waypoints for AIs, send them to the 1st waypoint, positioned my team before issue out the order for the AI to move to the 2nd waypoint. By that, it's way more easier to overwhelm the enemy. (works with AI only, not real players :) )

When you say waypoints, are you just talking about successive "Move to" commands? Or are you actually determining a multiple-point path for them to follow? If so, how do you do that?

[CW001 10]

Erm... I'll say "reckless" and leave it at that.

Proud examples involve getting my entire (important) squad wiped out in a small engagement, leading to an entire offensive to crumble. Thank God that wasn't in multiplayer :p

Also, in the 3rd mission of BAF, my squad in the FOB was pretty much annihilated, then I decided to high tail it with another guy, whereupon a mortar shell swiftly landed on me. Not exactly my finest hour...

[stilton 0]

Also, in the 3rd mission of BAF, my squad in the FOB was pretty much annihilated, then I decided to high tail it with another guy, whereupon a mortar shell swiftly landed on me. Not exactly my finest hour...

..Just say you were running off to get reinforcements, or something.. Nobody will call you on it.

Those mortars on that mission are epic, i ordered half my section into one of the jackels and a mortar hit it and took them all out lol.

Regarding commander style. Advance in column formation with an expendable pointman upfront

- I'm the leader, i dont take the first bullet. :j: