A Discussion of ERTs: Why bother?

[Swagile]

I think another whitelist wouldn't be a good idea, even if it's really lame when the ert leader ends up being a baldie, but I like the whitelist for commanders. It gives them a lot more credibility, and I know I always listen to a commander's orders without hesitation JUST because I know they aren't some random boot, but someone who has been playing the game for way longer than i have. The whitelist just makes the position of commander something to be instantly respected.

The only Commanders I instantly respect are those who constantly play the Commander role with a static name and have proven results.

Examples like William 'Jester' Crimson, Jack Knight, and sometimes Bill Carson when there isn't a mutiny going on (or when im Bridge Staff under him).

[driecg36]

The only Commanders I instantly respect are those who constantly play the Commander role with a static name and have proven results.

Examples like William 'Jester' Crimson, Jack Knight, and sometimes Bill Carson when there isn't a mutiny going on (or when im Bridge Staff under him).

I mean, i've personally never seen a downright terrible commander. They always do rather well. Some of the names i know are balto crunk dreg, xur, etc. and all those I've seen all of those guys in action, and I know they are robust and know the game pretty well.

[Simo94]

ERTs are supposed to be a Commander's decision, a decision he has to make and live with the consequences, the problem here is most of the times its out of his hand as it is admin summoned, constant IBs and XRTs are okay to me as long as my CO made that decision and not someone else

also you dare touch my pizza ERT and i'll touch your family, bitch.

[4thsurviver]

I don't want ERTs removed until I see a successful Pizza ERT. I want them to deliver the Pizza, get paid with tip, and then leave the ship unharmed.

[TheMaskedMan2]

That is the point, I am NOT eager to implement more white-lists, it serves to promote elitism, special club mentality, among other things, but I wasn't sure what other manner I could influence that the ERT in charge can at least know what they are doing.

[driecg36]

That is the point, I am NOT eager to implement more white-lists, it serves to promote elitism, special club mentality, among other things, but I wasn't sure what other manner I could influence that the ERT in charge can at least know what they are doing.

As a certified RP professional, how did you feel about the IB rp? I tried very hard to be russian bad guy. Like how I pretended I was gonna shoot a doctor who wasn't cleaning, but the gun wasn't loaded so it just made a click, and then I laughed in russian with the other bears.

Again, that's why I like ert so much. It adds third party to the game, something unique that changes the flow of the game. For the very same reason, I hate xrt.

[Renomaki]

When an ERT is given a chance to properly RP, it really does leave a memorable effect on people. For instance, this was probably the first time the Russians ever successfully taken the Sulico in all my time here, let alone mass their numbers to such a degree that the aliens had considerable resistance upon crashing into the newly acquired Russian ship. It helped answer the question "What if IBs replaced marines for a round?", to which we found out that not a whole lot really changes, heh.

I only hope that more stuff like this happens, hopefully with other ERTs like Dutch and Mercs. It would be interest to see how hired mercs would behave on the ground instead of the PMC commandos that normally get sent.

[Nubs]

Lemme hash out my half baked idea..

i think perhaps erts could be reworked into 'minor' and 'major' erts. A minor ert could be called before things get too dire, and would consist of the usual number of respondents. It might also include more medical personnel or engineering personnel, or similar, so it could be called if medbay is swamped, the sm is on the blink, etc. They might have less powerful weapons or less ammo. Minor erts would not include the xrt, but would include bears and the pizza guy.

Major erts could be called when shit is really going down. There would be 10 of them, and includes the xrt. No pizza guy in this one. They would have full equipment, more supplies, and more ammo.

[Crab_Spider]

Lemme hash out my half baked idea..

i think perhaps erts could be reworked into 'minor' and 'major' erts. A minor ert could be called before things get too dire, and would consist of the usual number of respondents. It might also include more medical personnel or engineering personnel, or similar, so it could be called if medbay is swamped, the sm is on the blink, etc. They might have less powerful weapons or less ammo. Minor erts would not include the xrt, but would include bears and the pizza guy.

Major erts could be called when shit is really going down. There would be 10 of them, and includes the xrt. No pizza guy in this one. They would have full equipment, more supplies, and more ammo.

Shouldn't the XRT have young T3s or fully upgraded T2s so the Marines can lose hope?

[TheMaskedMan2]

Lemme hash out my half baked idea..

i think perhaps erts could be reworked into 'minor' and 'major' erts. A minor ert could be called before things get too dire, and would consist of the usual number of respondents. It might also include more medical personnel or engineering personnel, or similar, so it could be called if medbay is swamped, the sm is on the blink, etc. They might have less powerful weapons or less ammo. Minor erts would not include the xrt, but would include bears and the pizza guy.

Major erts could be called when shit is really going down. There would be 10 of them, and includes the xrt. No pizza guy in this one. They would have full equipment, more supplies, and more ammo.

Sounds like it may require a map rework but it'd be nice if a more proper ERT ship could "dock" with the Sulaco with a whole team. How could this be balanced though? Even the current ERT's of just a few can heavily tip the scales to one side of the other, having even more just amplifies it.

[Imperator_Titan]

Lemme hash out my half baked idea..

i think perhaps erts could be reworked into 'minor' and 'major' erts. A minor ert could be called before things get too dire, and would consist of the usual number of respondents. It might also include more medical personnel or engineering personnel, or similar, so it could be called if medbay is swamped, the sm is on the blink, etc. They might have less powerful weapons or less ammo. Minor erts would not include the xrt, but would include bears and the pizza guy.

Major erts could be called when shit is really going down. There would be 10 of them, and includes the xrt. No pizza guy in this one. They would have full equipment, more supplies, and more ammo.

Problem with the major ERT is that PMCs are supposed to have the best equipment in CM but not many people to balance it out, having 10 people with the best equipment would just be obnoxious.

[Swagile]

Problem with the major ERT is that PMCs are supposed to have the best equipment in CM but not many people to balance it out, having 10 people with the best equipment would just be obnoxious.

Nah, FF equalizes all good things marines get.

The more PMC's spawn, the better chance of a baldie who died getting lucky then FFing everyone with the AP SMG or AT Sniper Rifle.

[Garrison]

Perhaps, perhaps, problem being most ERT's are filled with random people mediocre at the game, but nonetheless I still think overall ERT's would be more interesting for the round if deployed mid game instead. Yeah usually you will probably get the typical "immediately do stupid things without rp" but it would at least cause some variation. Plus, you can always get another ERT during the sulaco defense later, as opposed to them just being a silly thing you throw in at the end.

I agree with this, most of the time ERT's that get called in arrive far too late to make any real sort of impact. Even then, it feels like much of the randomness of ERT's has been taken out for the sole purpose of ensuring the response team is a hostile force. I have seen more iron bears in the past few weeks then I ever have since from the entirety I have spent on colonial when I first started playing on LV-624 around a year ago.

[Shockpoint]

I agree with some of these points. Back before Commander was whitelisted, I used to play it quite a bit on a different character (didn't do too bad except almost had a mutiny once). I think in total, when asking for an ERT, we had one pizza guy, an XRT or two, and the rest (like 3) were all PMCs coming to get that blasted liaison off the ship.

Another note is that the PMCs DON'T HAVE TO help, only they listen to the Liaison and must ensure his survival at all costs. Which, if the marines are having their shit pushed in, is a real knuckle dragger, and drops their morale (in reality, this makes sense, you just got fucked over). Although, I would like to see XRT forced if Xenos are overwhelmed, and not "just because admin was bored and wanted to have some fun on the ship"