Looking for tips for being a better XO/SO

[LittleBlast]

Hi, I play mostly Command Roles (XO/SO) and I was looking for some advice on how to improve in these roles. I also know that there are many people who are intimidated by these roles who could use some advice.

Both general advice or advice spesific to things you have seen about me would be appreciated. (IGN: Kennard 'Lifebloom' Davis)

[solidfury7]

Keep talking with your squad, always. Fill them in on what other squads are doing.

Speak with cargo regarding supplies you'll need before they are needed critically. Aka pre order stuff 5 mins before you should need to drop em.

Remember to keep switching cameras, don't you stick with the SL.

Point out anyone who isnt synergising well with the squad and Mark em for insub. Praise the people who follow orders.

They are mostly for So but imo XO is a completely different role and id have to write more and I'm on my phone.

[LittleBlast]

Point out anyone who isnt synergising well with the squad and Mark em for insub. Praise the people who follow orders.

Any time I do this the entire squad turns on me and ignores every order I give. I had one round where a certain player who I always have problems with threw away their helmet and headset just to be able to ignore me better because I told them they were supposed to drop LZ2 and meanwhile they were in TComms for no good reason. I told them politely to get on the Alamo and redeploy to LZ2, but they just got the squad to ignore me then took off their helmet and headset and fucked around the rest of the OP.

[ThesoldierLLJK]

Shameless plug: viewtopic.php?f=94&t=17828

[solidfury7]

Any time I do this the entire squad turns on me and ignores every order I give. I had one round where a certain player who I always have problems with threw away their helmet and headset just to be able to ignore me better because I told them they were supposed to drop LZ2 and meanwhile they were in TComms for no good reason. I told them politely to get on the Alamo and redeploy to LZ2, but they just got the squad to ignore me then took off their helmet and headset and fucked around the rest of the OP.

It's all about phrasing. Highlight how a certain someone's actions effect the squad.

Such as someone running off alone is going to put the medics and wounded in danger, or how they're going against the SLs and squads shining example.

[Dolth]

Hi, I play mostly Command Roles (XO/SO) and I was looking for some advice on how to improve in these roles. I also know that there are many people who are intimidated by these roles who could use some advice.

Both general advice or advice spesific to things you have seen about me would be appreciated. (IGN: Kennard 'Lifebloom' Davis)

Make sure you shoot an OB when the SL or aSL or whoever used the OB last says "FIRE!" and not just "Okay I planted it."

Also first value is X, -1 means 1 tile WEST, +1 means 1 tile EAST.
The second value is Y, -1 means 1 tile SOUTH, +1 means 1 tile NORTH.

Don't fuck up your OBs.


Anyway, talking a lot is NOT gonna help if people are NOT receptive, make sure your SL/aSL actually understand/hear what you say.

Then ultimately make sure they deploy a SB before going anyway, unless they're going to be static. Then ensure the RO prepare their shit /!/ YOU ARE THE ONE SENDING IT /!/ not the RO.

And for any advanced SO moves, it's a tad difficult as you don't have sound but; While using cameras try to understand when people are being pushed and YELL AT THEIR ASS TO PULL BACK.
We're loosing too many times to alien steamrolling/tidewaving our asses because baldo-marino stays and pewpew with their rifle on THREE CRUSHERS AND ONE RAVAGERS CHARGING, DUH. While a medic is healing 5 tiles away.
If you notice that bullshit, spam them to get back, litterally, spam them. That might work.

EDIT: Ignore what William said, clearly. You cannot control rambo such as myself and other baldies, if someone run off by his own you are clearly not able to control him.

[FGRSentinel]

Listen to your squad's comms. Relay anything they say or see that could be of use over the Command channel. Not listening is death.

COMMUNICATE! If people start angrily demanding to know if you're even there or claim you've left, you're not talking enough. If marines are requesting help or supplies and you don't relay this, you're not talking enough. Not communicating is death.

Cycle helmets and monitor stragglers. If you hear someone scream for help and your only response is "where?" you're doing it wrong. Not reporting their location gets them captured or killed and causes the squad to lose faith in you.

If possible, do an inventory of what kind of gear everyone has and keep note of this. If the squad's got a lot of shotgunners, figure out the preferred ammo type before the drop and try to gauge how quickly the squad's burning through that ammo. If the squad's on FOB duty, do a quick inventory of how much metal and plasteel it should take to fortify that area. Have the medics report when they're running low on certain medications and let Medical know when that needs to be added to the supply drop.

[Szunti]

Sorry for long text, I hope there is something useful in it. I wouldn't call myself pro, but these work for me:

How I do SO:

I. You are mostly an observer, who can influence the round. Don't stress. You have two main jobs, rest is optional. If marines and rest of the command help you can do much more, but to be honest it's rare. Even COs are terrible nowadays. If you get a squad where SL constantly argues and everyone run off, you can't expect much. I think bravo is generally obedient but it changes every round. Sometimes alpha or charlie shines. Even deltards can behave occasionally.

Your jobs:
1) Most important: you have to report to other members of command and the other squads what's happening. Marines usually won't talk or they are busy, you should relay everything.
- report where is your squad, when they reach a new building, have to stop (other squads will know which sides are safe, if they are not keeping up etc)
- when they meet hostiles with the position
- sent supplies with the position (often there are limited supplies and dumb SLs who can't even set up an SB but other squads need ammo too, so share it)
- finished an order, formed up, ready to move. (helps XO/CO and if you tell them all the useful info, your squad often get a central role)
- wounded specs, losing important equipment (useful for cargo and tactics)
- defenses falling, before they fall if possible to tell beforehand, experience helps a lot (CO/XO can announce retreat in time)
- anything else you could think that could be useful for someone else. Better report it than stay silent.
2) Pushing buttons, part of it is begging for crates.
- Your SL doesn't need to plant an SB until the crate is ready to send. So often they plant it and by the time the crate is ready the area is lost or they left it and noone wants to go back.
- When you order something from req, demand a response. Usually they won't talk at all and you have no idea if they heard it or not. Sometimes they won't even respond when they refuse or can't afford it and minutes later you realize your squad waited for nothing. Never trust req staff.

II. There are a couple general types of marines:
1) Hopeless - never talks, never listens, leave them in their bubble (or mark them, who cares)
2) Rude - they talk mostly when they want something immediately, questions every orders, generally insubordinate. They know what they want to do, you can't do much to change their mind. If veterans, you can basicly ignore them until they need your help, not much pain, but don't try to punish them, everyone will turn against you. If general assholes you can ignore them or turn the squad against them, probably others hate them too.
3) Normal - won't talk much but do listen and follow orders after (sometimes multiple) calls or calling them by name.
4) Communicative - they will greet you, generally talk with others and you, share info you may not see, discuss plans with you. They are the ones making the round fun for you. Some SLs being here and most less praised vets. Some new players, but they are generally busy with learning the game.

If marines talk to you, you should be generally responsive else you risk losing even the good marines. Again it's a totally different round if you have a good SL and nice squad. You should play until you see those squads, then you will realize why there are players who likes to play command. Best sign is if they talk before briefing. If SL and marines don't talk, stay away from that squad.

Keeping the marines together is not really your job. More the SL's, but they can't do anything either with the stragglers. You can't force marines to follow orders, work with what you have. You have a cold-headed responsive spec who can fall back? You can safely send him around. SL talking to pilots? Don't stop him, send him to call CAS. Are these players even robust? They may win the round for you. Large part of command is adaptation. Look at who is doing his job well and build on those forget the ones who are against you.