Taking crap jobs out of obligation

[Renomaki]

We all here have a job/jobs that we really like doing, either because we have fun with them or we are really good at them (or both). But there comes a time where one had to take one for the team and do a job they don't like, if only to be fair to others...

Being an MP stinks, Being a BO is a chore, working as an MT can be a bore, and of course roles like SL and CO are incredibly stressful roles that make being a medic seem casual, and that role is already quite a burden to play when shit hits the fan.

Some people outright refuse to play these roles, thinking more of their own enjoyment over being a team player or trying new things. However, some folks out there (such as myself) tend to play these roles not because we enjoy them, but because at some point, we gotta play them sooner or later.

Everyone has to take their turn to shovel shit I say, and I doubt I'm the only one who tries to dabble in roles I don't normally prefer for the sake of other players. Who else here sometimes takes up sucky jobs in the name of duty and fairness?

[NoahKirchner]

I play CL because someone has to be the pussy who gets bullied by the marines and cries to HC when someone pushes him.

Also because muh papperwork

[Karmac]

I go CE because all I have to do is setup the engine and then I can either Moderate or be super pissed at that one MT that won't stop dropping cleaning grenades next to me.

[Azmodan412]

I play CL because someone has to be the pussy who gets bullied by the marines and cries to HC when someone pushes him.

Also because muh papperwork

Get the fireax, get anesthetic, lure the bullies into your office, inject them and make them pay!

[Renomaki]

I go CE because all I have to do is setup the engine and then I can either Moderate or be super pissed at that one MT that won't stop dropping cleaning grenades next to me.

I guess when you think about it, jobs like MP and MT are the best jobs for Mods, simply due to the fact that they are very slow-paced jobs that don't require quick thinking most of the time, allowing you to aghost at will and easily help people.

[Swagile]

MT, sure.

MP? Sometimes, you get CO's / XO's (Bill Carson, myself depending on whats going on) using MP's actively via Rasp to either guard it, or to keep people from pussying out via Rasp / arresting criminals.

[elantzb]

I too will set up the SM on low-pop from time to time.

EDIT: That's when I got a lot of good info for my guide.

[Snypehunter007]

MT, CE, and occasionally a MP.

Typically too busy moderating or suggestion sorting though...

[TheMaskedMan2]

Then here I am trying moderate while a Spec or Medic. Well, depends how many other mods are on. It's easier to moderate while a Xeno.

Anyways I have to disagree that these jobs are "sucky". They really fill little relaxing roles when you occasionally are in the mood for it. No, they aren't the typical "fun" role, yet MP is fun, BO can be fun.

[nerocavalier]

I remember I used to always go Doctor during greytide since there weren't any doctors during the times I've played. It was a fun time, would go through a huge mob of injured marines with only medics for support.

Wouldn't trade it for anything else.

[4thsurviver]

MP and BO are two of my preferred roles if I don't feel like losing my limbs on the planet. I like being BO as long as I have a higher ranking officer present. And sometimes a MP round can so interesting you don't even realize the marines lost the planet until you see a xeno walking around in the hallways. It helps that I'm not the most robust combatant so I don't miss much by picking a ship role.

[caleeb101]

There was a brief period when I regularly played BO as Frank Jensen but I just thought I was too bad at it. I didn't get any hate at all save for the casual IC: 'command you suck'. The reason I stopped playing BO is because I lost nearly every round I played as BO and felt like I was letting everyone down, even when I was on top of my game and communicating with my squad non-stop.

Then again, most of my losses came from Ice Colony on the elevator attack where xenos just camped it out.

[Casgair]

All these responses and not one person mentions the one monkey who's job is literally to drag items from Point A to Point B? CT can be one of the least exciting jobs to play simply because when you're doing it right it's almost nothing but slogging through crates for two hours with sparse human interaction (especially compared to BO/CL).

[Swagile]

All these responses and not one person mentions the one monkey who's job is literally to drag items from Point A to Point B? CT can be one of the least exciting jobs to play simply because when you're doing it right it's almost nothing but slogging through crates for two hours with sparse human interaction (especially compared to BO/CL).

True.

The one bad part about CT is when you realize none of your supplies are being used.

[Casany]

I basically main SL. I find it quite enjoyable contrary to what you say here. Of course, we're all different

My input is that any role is what you make it. MO can be quite fun if you can find a way to make it so. I play BO sometimes, MP some others and when I'm not a marine I usually try and roll CL. It ain't the job, it's what you make outa it.

[Renomaki]

I basically main SL. I find it quite enjoyable contrary to what you say here. Of course, we're all different

My input is that any role is what you make it. MO can be quite fun if you can find a way to make it so. I play BO sometimes, MP some others and when I'm not a marine I usually try and roll CL. It ain't the job, it's what you make outa it.

Indeed, I normally keep this mindset for the majority of the jobs I take. Roles like CT and MT, I normally am always trying to find something to do, and as MP, when the shift is slow, I normally patrol around trying to find things to do to help people (escorting wounded to medbay, sorting the armory, or in uncommon cases taking control of the dropship).

However, sometimes it is all in the round. You might have a productive time as a BO one round, the next you barely get much done at all. Same for pretty much any other job, such as the aforementioned SL: You either get squads that was a pleasure to lead and simple jobs that move along steadily, or a gang of ramboing idiots who treat you like crap and an objective that quickly turns to shit... Provided you are able to make any progress towards it at all.

You never know what to expect each round, it is always a gamble. You can only hope for the best the moment RNGesus begins to assign jobs.

[Casany]

Indeed, I normally keep this mindset for the majority of the jobs I take. Roles like CT and MT, I normally am always trying to find something to do, and as MP, when the shift is slow, I normally patrol around trying to find things to do to help people (escorting wounded to medbay, sorting the armory, or in uncommon cases taking control of the dropship).

However, sometimes it is all in the round. You might have a productive time as a BO one round, the next you barely get much done at all. Same for pretty much any other job, such as the aforementioned SL: You either get squads that was a pleasure to lead and simple jobs that move along steadily, or a gang of ramboing idiots who treat you like crap and an objective that quickly turns to shit... Provided you are able to make any progress towards it at all.

You never know what to expect each round, it is always a gamble. You can only hope for the best the moment RNGesus begins to assign jobs.

I think the main reason I'm able to entertain myself in those roles is because unlike a lotta players I ain't here to win. Even if I get a shit squad as an SL, my motivation to play this isn't to win. It's much less satisfying to win, in my honest opinion. If I getta bad squad well, I deal with it and enjoy the RP I can gain from it. I always like a good last stand better then hunting down lone runners

I personally never really get bored in a roll. command roles (BO, XO) are the only roles I get bored in, and the only time I get uninterested in these roles is sometimes rounds can last for 3-4 hours.

Like, when I play MP for example I like to go around and write reports on crimes done and complaints about staff. I know most of the aren't read but it makes it enjoyable to me, especially on rounds where we have a competent CL. Sometimes as CT I'll have long conversations with Sulaco staff or the other cargo officers, and usually manage the budget. It all depends on your attitude towards the game. If you go in wanting nothing but a win under your bet, it isn't going to be as enjoyable as if you were to go in wanting fun RP and a memorable experience, win or lose

[Shyguychizzy]

I usually tend to go SL or spc, mostly SL at times. Sometimes CO if I am in the mood either good or bad, not that tough for now its mentoring. Sorta can stop for a second to answer a question then get back in I suppose or on the spot which I tend to do, at times it can cost meh my life in game of course but eh. Yelling at grunts, telling grunts or newbies to follow me then see them wander alone or hearing from the LT or marines "Alright private "So and so" have died" quite something. Changing it up time to time, tactics wew, newbies or regulars quite something and I'll continue to do so, SL sorta is stressful yes but I frankly love that stress as SL and sometimes as CO.

[Kavrick]

I wouldn't say CO or SL is easier than medic, from what i've played it's pretty easy, well "easy", it depends on how good your marines are, but not more stressful than medic

[MrJJJ]

I often play medic, doctor or CT simply because marines either had shit ones past rounds, or there is none, which makes me feel kind of bad, since there should be some, but there isin't, so they suffer greatly.

[ZDashe]

If I join at round start, I usually choose whatever I feel like going.

If I latejoin however, I will always check the crew manifest before selecting a role which is less popular. For command roles, I usually only pick them when it's absolutely necessary (no command staff on low pop, i'll go XO), or when the command team is one which I can work with. Otherwise I usually go combat roles like medic/engineer as my favorite obligations because I always get triggered by baldies who choose and lock up these crucial roles. If I want a low intensity job i'll probably go MP/CE and even doctor when the need calls for it.

Most of the time you'll see me roll standard though, because mod duty calls, and I kinda stopped playing important roles like command roles/spec/medic/engi/doc which require 100% of my attention most of the time.

[spicemoron]

I guess when you think about it, jobs like MP and MT are the best jobs for Mods, simply due to the fact that they are very slow-paced jobs that don't require quick thinking most of the time, allowing you to aghost at will and easily help people.

The best job for modding/adminning is actually:

► Show Spoiler

ghost

you know, the job all the decent (and many not so decent) servers encourage/require admins to play when their flags are on

[Simo94]

Standard and xeno side, not even spec, PFC only, what can I say? I am a scrub.

Unless you wanna consider xenos a crap job.

[Ms.Degrasse]

Sometimes I notice the round is already going on for a while, and lacks MTs and the CE - so I join as a CE just for the sake of setting-up the supermatter.

- But I play those roles when I want to focus more on role-play, sandboxing and/or when I want to ensure a never ending supply of metal to the marines.
Otherwise I only do it when I am multitasking and I can't actually give full attention to the game, hence the reason my most non-combat savvy and "engineeresque" character - Erin 'Tin Can' Cyric - is described as someone "prone to day dreaming".

Also, sometimes I notice the round is lacking command crew - specially in low-pop - then I join as a CO, XO or BO just for starting the round.

- Normally I only go for those roles when I am really willing to endure the pressure and responsibility. Specially in high-pop rounds. (Fun fact? 'Tylor Harkonnen' is a character I actually created with the intention of providing some comic relief in leading roles.)

But... The crappiest role on this server? On my opinion?

Is "survivor"!

It's a poorly designed role, with horrible mechanics (spawned items and ID) and nonsensical or too vague rules, where it doesn't honor the Alien/AVP series or games in any imaginable way - where survivors are given a lot of importance.

- I only risk playing as a survivor IF I am going to leave the game in short time OR I am in the mood of pulling some very differentiated role-play. (Otherwise, if I am interested in playing I avoid it.)

As a non-combat engineer, you can build things or help your team.
As part of the command staff, you are very important to the round.
As a medbay doctor? you are VITAL to the mission.
As an MP? You have a myriad of good things to do.
As a predator, you can be very meaningful to the round in various ways.
And even being a liaison is a very flexible role, with many role-play and game-play possibilities (you can help bridge staff, go to the planet at will, you can pay attention to cameras and report important stuff, ...)

...But as a survivor?

You are literally an useless, too restricted character once you got rescued and shares your information.
Or a "hostile terrorist" that gets quickly dispatched by the marines.
Or just a free kill for the xenomorphs or predators. (Rarely predators indulge in positive role-play regarding the survivors. I quite felt I was an exception when playing as H'Chak.)
Or casually the target for an evil antagonistic liaison when the admins decided to assign this task to him.

If you ever do anything interesting in Sulaco - other than chatting non-stop or playing the arcade - you usually risk getting arrested, killed by marines or boinked by admins.