Squad-level chain of command and competency.

[Sneakyr]

As a squad leader, you're likely to be wounded or killed. In these cases, it is best to have a second in command. For most leaders, this is the specialist by rank.
But what if the chain of command is incompetent until you get to the bottom rungs? What if leaving command of your squad with the spec would spell certain doom, but leaving them with the LCPL would likely allow them to remain effective?
What I'm asking is what the community thinks of a squad leader bypassing the chain of command and electing a lower rank to lead higher ranks based on competency rather than the CoC.

[Casany]

As a squad leader, you're likely to be wounded or killed. In these cases, it is best to have a second in command. For most leaders, this is the specialist by rank.
But what if the chain of command is incompetent until you get to the bottom rungs? What if leaving command of your squad with the spec would spell certain doom, but leaving them with the LCPL would likely allow them to remain effective?
What I'm asking is what the community thinks of a squad leader bypassing the chain of command and electing a lower rank to lead higher ranks based on competency rather than the CoC.

Well, OOC wise it makes sense to give it to competent players but IC wise it really doesn't.

I think it's up to the SL personally

[completelynewguy]

Well, from personal experience, most Specs are just the Heavy Demolitionist or the Sniper (either variant), meaning they're too busy about leading. Plus the fact that xenos can recognize what weapon they're using. From what I've seen, it would be best to make the Smartgunner the field SL due to the fact that the Smartgun has IFF with 300 rounds loaded at the start. Theoretically meaning they can afford to take a potshot while screaming orders on the radio.

[Skimmy2]

Making a SL lead based on role is pretty meta.

You might as well give Command to a PFC, because you cant fire your weapon and lead at the same time.

Likewise telling your Squads Smartgunner that he CANT fire his Smartgun as fast as possible because he is babysitting the radio is pretty horrible for the Squad.

[Nick123q23]

If your spec is so incompetent that he can't take over for you if you turn into a casualty, then you have bigger problems to worry about than if you can pass it on to the lance corporal

[4thsurviver]

In terms of rank it goes SL, then Spec, then Engineers or Medics, then Smartgunner, and then whatever Grunts are still alive. As a SO whenever both the SL and the Spec die, getting someone to take over the squad usually becomes a pain as no one wants the job. I'll try to give squad command to a medic if no one volunteers. Sometimes I can't even get the squad to take their SL's helmet even if they've already recovered the body.

The way I see it the Spec is someone that has put their time in the corps and learned all its weapons and equipment it offers and earned their sergeant stripes and should be perfectly capable to take command from a RP perspective. The Smartgunner is just a grunt with a cool gun. They are the new heavy weapons guy.

[Skimmy2]

I personally put a Corporal in charge of 1 of my fire teams to encourage leadership, unless if the 4 corporals are dead/cannot decide who becomes the new SL, there really shouldnt be any confusion.

[MrJJJ]

>When your SL is a baldie and you get promoted to one while specing

reeeeee

[Supermichael777]

Sl
Spec
engineer
medic
smartgunner
standard with the most remaining limbs