Field Officers and your Experiences with them

[Vispain]

I think all the criticisms are valid.

Though I will say I do have a soft spot for the idea in my heart; I want to see them hold up a sword and yell cheesy lines.
I think they're fun in theory, and can be done well, but indeed it's a high cost with a good margin of not paying off, even if they don't die. So it doesn't go that way often.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I love the idea of Field Officers and have even been guilty of playing SO only to try and figure out ways Field SO can work.

What I found both as a Field SO, CDR, and XO was that... often it doesn't pay off.

It can work if the Field SO consistently relays info back to Command, gets coordinates for OBs and organizes pushes with SSGTs, gives Issue Orders but... this relies on the Field SO 1. Not being an unga and 2. Requires the Field SO to be beyond just 'competent at leadership' and more along the lines 'above average in leadership'.

Being a Field SO is sort of like being a SL only the emphasis on 'less shooting and more thinking' should be even more prevelant.
Oh and Field SOs can inadvertently create confusion if they are not careful. Decisive, above average leadership is a necessity.

[Sulaboy]

The only asset a field officer brings onto the field are their orders. Squad leaders are able to do that to a somewhat lesser extent, and can speak on the command channel with their view of the battle. In my opinion the only time you should consider sending someone from the CIC onto the planet would be if you have a Commander, Executive Officer, and 5 Staff Officers. There is no insight you can give being a Field Officer that you couldn't give from an overwatch console, because the overwatch console lets you look through the eyes of every marine in your squad. The way squads are supposed to communicate with command are through their Lieutenants. What I'm trying to say is deploying a lieutenant to the surface breaks an important link in the chain of command.

[Swagile]

The only asset a field officer brings onto the field are their orders. Squad leaders are able to do that to a somewhat lesser extent, and can speak on the command channel with their view of the battle. In my opinion the only time you should consider sending someone from the CIC onto the planet would be if you have a Commander, Executive Officer, and 5 Staff Officers. There is no insight you can give being a Field Officer that you couldn't give from an overwatch console, because the overwatch console lets you look through the eyes of every marine in your squad. The way squads are supposed to communicate with command are through their Lieutenants. What I'm trying to say is deploying a lieutenant to the surface breaks an important link in the chain of command.

that or if most of the squad(s) are wiped out, deploying SO's that don't have much of a use can help bolster the numbers that remain with some field command + Issue Order spam

[David Stormwell]

I only Deploy field SOs when we don't need em at CIC such as when 2 squads are wiped, we got a full CIC, etc.

And I make sure to tell them to report to me as much as possible or give them permission to issue a evacuation or push so that I can Announce it to everyone else.

I also notice that some Commanders love doing it, For example the Great Carson loves doing flanks using SOs and even XOs once in a while. Of course I use commands always to boost our force.

[Vispain]

The only asset a field officer brings onto the field are their orders. Squad leaders are able to do that to a somewhat lesser extent, and can speak on the command channel with their view of the battle. In my opinion the only time you should consider sending someone from the CIC onto the planet would be if you have a Commander, Executive Officer, and 5 Staff Officers. There is no insight you can give being a Field Officer that you couldn't give from an overwatch console, because the overwatch console lets you look through the eyes of every marine in your squad. The way squads are supposed to communicate with command are through their Lieutenants. What I'm trying to say is deploying a lieutenant to the surface breaks an important link in the chain of command.

Yeah, I can agree with that. It doesn't do much and heavily relies on the Issue Orders along with competency. It also does create a disconnect in command at times.

Good idea but doesn't always work.


Also, Field SO used to have more incentive behind it when you had more then 4 SOs but I'm fairly certain only four SOs is the max now.
It's been a long time since I've seen more then 4 SOs... let alone the amazing and, actually a thing, 6 to even 9 SOs...

[Sulaboy]

Yeah, I can agree with that. It doesn't do much and heavily relies on the Issue Orders along with competency. It also does create a disconnect in command at times.

Good idea but doesn't always work.


Also, Field SO used to have more incentive behind it when you had more then 4 SOs but I'm fairly certain only four SOs is the max now.
It's been a long time since I've seen more then 4 SOs... let alone the amazing and, actually a thing, 6 to even 9 SOs...

I'm not 100% certain, but I think you can issue orders as SO through the overwatch cameras. In all honesty you could probably issue orders more efficiently from your overwatch station in the CIC then being deployed on the planet. Also having the tactical map your awareness of the situation on the ground is probably much better than if you were to deploy.

[Vispain]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think you can issue orders as SO through the overwatch cameras. In all honesty you could probably issue orders more efficiently from your overwatch station in the CIC then being deployed on the planet. Also having the tactical map your awareness of the situation on the ground is probably much better than if you were to deploy.

Hmph. If that's the case, that's great. But I'm not sure that's the case... would be great if someone managed to test it or something...


Would be hard to determind if it works though... IC that is...

[z a n e b o t]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think you can issue orders as SO through the overwatch cameras. In all honesty you could probably issue orders more efficiently from your overwatch station in the CIC then being deployed on the planet. Also having the tactical map your awareness of the situation on the ground is probably much better than if you were to deploy.

no

[Swagile]

issue orders works like pheremones

you gotta be near for it to take effect

you can check if an order is working for you by going to Status (just like as xeno for pheremones) and you will see "You are being affected by X Order!"

[Nimiety]

I'm not 100% certain, but I think you can issue orders as SO through the overwatch cameras. In all honesty you could probably issue orders more efficiently from your overwatch station in the CIC then being deployed on the planet. Also having the tactical map your awareness of the situation on the ground is probably much better than if you were to deploy.

Nope, they are the same as pheromones. Based on where the emitter is and a radius of tiles around them.
Range varying all the way from 'most things on screen' for privates with aSL to 'two whole screens away' for XO and CO.

[Drevenshekel]

I think all the criticisms are valid.

Though I will say I do have a soft spot for the idea in my heart; I want to see them hold up a sword and yell cheesy lines.
I think they're fun in theory, and can be done well, but indeed it's a high cost with a good margin of not paying off, even if they don't die. So it doesn't go that way often.

Whenever the CO gives me permission to go groundside, catch me leading the boys with a machete and demanding the men bring me scalps while I dip every ravager going for my helmet-less head