Dont you just hate it when: "Marines never listen to anything!"

[ThatCrazyBridgeOfficer]

Currently there is a huge problem with marines not following their SLs, getting lost, or just generally not following orders, which leads to "Two Men Competent" squads, we need to find a way to fix this.

Also first contact, i almost ALWAYS see at least two marines just charge out into the darkness and chase that one, first time contact, who isn't even being hostile, every single round, and get themselves killed.
(It's specifically stated not to do this in the rules, people are doing it anyway and it ALWAYS leads to broken squads)

Hell, i've even told my squads to "Safeties on" so they dont just run around and kill everything until we find out whether or not the wildlife are hostile.
Never listen, at all, ever.

There needs to be a simpler IC punishment for this behavior thats easier to invoke.
Such as a brigging, however MPs these days are either incompetent in their ability to arrest marines, or simply cant find them.


An idea that comes to mind:
Give marine armor or helmets cameras/speakers so that the BOs can yell at and find marines who are still on the ship/running off alone/being incompetent.

The speaker will allow BOs to nag and constantly yell at the incompetent marine privately for him to regroup or follow orders without disturbing the entire squad through their coms.
The camera will allow BOs and the MPs to find and arrest the incompetent marines if they continue to refuse their duties.


Discuss
There are probably many more fixes to this.
Seriously, brainstorm this.

[Sarah_U.]

I personally chase xenos off a bit if I see a partner to pair with. Problem is, I don't do it far and those that do such a thing sometimes don't go with a partner.
Funny enough, I see a lot of marines being abducted 1-screen away from FOBs at times, even when they're not even chasing a xeno and/or in a quad.

[Renomaki]

As a fella who went SL a few times myself, I agree that this is very disheartening when you try your best to be a good leader, and all the marines wanna do is fuck right off the moment they see a tango.

There are many reasons for this, all of them rather meta. For one, it is a young alien, meaning it is easy to kill, and marines love easy kills. Reason 2 is that the more aliens you kill, the easier the endgame is, so some marines go out of their way to ensure the alien threat is weakened by any means, even if it means being a moron and attempting to rambo. There could also be the possible 3rd reason where they are doing it out of spite because they wanted to be an alien but got marine instead, so they fuck over their squad on purpose because "I wanna be a xeno" and end up helping the enemy rather than helping their squad.. Although I think that would count as grief and admins would punish it if they caught it.

And then of course, a reason both IC and OOC is the SL themselves. Marines show more respect for famous people than nobodies. Just ask big names like Xur, whose men have been known to go on strike the moment he lands in jail for starting a fight with an MP. People like being close to the minor celebrities, it makes them feel cool, while having a bald-headed person makes them want to go AWOL the moment they discover you are such due to the bad reputation a lot of bald headed people get. My main is bald, and his nickname is Weenie (because reasons), and I while I try my best to be a good leader and keep my squad together, very often it is hard to get people to listen to you when you don't have a reputation and what I believe to be a bad first impression based on what they assume rather than how I behaved.

[After all, you could have a guy who looks cool and does a terrible job as an SL, while a fella who looks like a total noob could be the leader your squad needs. Some people here are quite judgmental I noticed..]

[EMT_321]

If you communicate clearly and effectively, you will find your squad listens more. If you spend your time insulting them and RP'ing an asshole who wouldnt be an NCO in the first place, or dont communicate clearly, then they will ignore you.

I find capitalizing key points and directions helps with coordination. Example: We are rallying EAST of LZ1 and moving NE to FOYER where we will SECURE SUPPLIES and move them to ENGINEERING.

We are moving NW to CAVES to ASSAULT the hive. Use your UNDERBARREL GRENADES by ACTIVATING ATTACHMENTS on your rifle. Pfc JOE and PFC SCHMOE will LEAD while CPL MedicMcHealy stays at REAR.

I've never had issues with my squads following directions when they are relayed as above.

[Iatots]

As a fella who went SL a few times myself, I agree that this is very disheartening when you try your best to be a good leader, and all the marines wanna do is fuck right off the moment they see a tango.

There are many reasons for this, all of them rather meta. For one, it is a young alien, meaning it is easy to kill, and marines love easy kills. Reason 2 is that the more aliens you kill, the easier the endgame is, so some marines go out of their way to ensure the alien threat is weakened by any means, even if it means being a moron and attempting to rambo. There could also be the possible 3rd reason where they are doing it out of spite because they wanted to be an alien but got marine instead, so they fuck over their squad on purpose because "I wanna be a xeno" and end up helping the enemy rather than helping their squad.. Although I think that would count as grief and admins would punish it if they caught it.

Or maybe they are just shitters who joined the servers for the easy gun access and have no desire to RP?

[Desolane900]

I rarely play SL but when I did I just screamed and threatened people all the time. Hell, I even got the CO and XO to authorize me capping someone in the foot with AP if they didn't listen. Either it worked or I had competent marines because my squad cohesion was about 90%, with only the engineers and a stray standard not being in the group. I suggest screaming alot and threatening people. Berating your men helps too.

[Kreydis]

I rarely play SL but when I did I just screamed and threatened people all the time. Hell, I even got the CO and XO to authorize me capping someone in the foot with AP if they didn't listen. Either it worked or I had competent marines because my squad cohesion was about 90%, with only the engineers and a stray standard not being in the group. I suggest screaming alot and threatening people. Berating your men helps too.

I personally just don't trust anyone who is playing standard. They /always/ kill me.

[Renomaki]

I personally just don't trust anyone who is playing standard. They /always/ kill me.

You don't need to be an SL to get killed. Standard on Standard action happens a lot.

[Kreydis]

You don't need to be an SL to get killed. Standard on Standard action happens a lot.

I was just saying as a general rule of thumb, I don't trust standards. Also most engineers seem to be on the shit side this past month.