Passive SLs VS Aggressive SLs?

[Marcus Jackson]

Also, haven't seen Xur's post yet. What's some of his suggestions?

[Garrison]

Honestly if you pick SL you shouldn't be allowed to leave the prep room without Binocs, they are practically required to get shit done whether you are a passive SL or not.

Binoculars don't help much when most of the map is covered in complete darkness. However, one time my SL gave me his binoculars when I was a medic, which I used to survey a battle brewing at the river covered in flares. Proving that binoculars do have there niche.

[Xurphorus]

The use of Binoculars are optional to every SL, I my self use mine just to get a grip on what the situation ahead of me is, or to get a good read on where the enemy is going, so I can coordinate an OB drop, depending on if I can trust whoever is doing overwatch to simply wait for my signal and have the right coordinates in. So using Binoculars are not paramount to your progress to becoming a better squad leader by they surely do help when they are needed.

[Marcus Jackson]

Still haven't found Xur's post, but I believe that some items should be enhanced for SL's.

Lights with greater range

Slightly tankier armor

Special Flares that either have different colors or simply last longer

A backpack/belt that can hold more

These are all just basic stuff, but until I find the discussion on what equipment the SL's might theoretically get, I can't say much more.

[Xurphorus]

Still haven't found Xur's post, but I believe that some items should be enhanced for SL's.

Lights with greater range

Slightly tankier armor

Special Flares that either have different colors or simply last longer

A backpack/belt that can hold more

These are all just basic stuff, but until I find the discussion on what equipment the SL's might theoretically get, I can't say much more.

viewtopic.php?f=86&t=12141

[Complete Garbage]

The best SL is one who has a solid understanding of tactics and logistics, is able to follow orders and delegate tasks, and is ready to receive input from their subordinates.

However, if they use the binoculars, they're exempt from the above requirements; binoculars make you a good SL no matter what. Remember that.

[danmax67]

I, for one, think all SLs should be like this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkKkHmFOfKE

[Marcus Jackson]

Well I just read the senior Dev's response... gotta say +1 to Xur out of spite.

I play SL and xeno (Drone or Boiler) and that's it.

As an SL i'm busy talking to not only my squad, but the SL of every other squad along with PO and CO... and he thinks I've got time to go up to RO and ask for stupid attachments or even worse a WHOLE FUCKING WEAPON? I'd laugh if it wasn't so blatantly stupid.

YESSL's are supposed to lead,YESbaldies going Rambo as an SL are an issue, and YESit seems like it will make the marines stronger... but that's not actually gonna change anything, and NONEof these problems are new.

SL's are already meta-targeted and are already the bottom of the barrel in terms of "fun" jobs on the human side, so saying that the SL, a single individual who is carrying mostly beacons, is going to significantly impact the Xeno-win-ratio because they have a SLIGHTLYbetter rifle than standard is insulting to Marine players (by making them sound like they are being lazy out of hand, and that weapons are the only reason they win) and VERYinsulting to Xeno players (by making those who play xeno seem incompetent and weak) just by outright denying it and not even considering the pro's and cons of some flexibility-changes.

Honestly SL is the kind of career people would actually kill themselves in just to escape the idiotic monotony and painfully stupid restrictions of the obvious.

[Marcus Jackson]

I, for one, think all SLs should be like this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkKkHmFOfKE

Also, yeah that dude is a fucking legend. He could yell a Deathclaw to-death at a hundred yards without even breaking a sweat. Probably could make Liberty Prime rust away with a single joke about the robot's mother.

[Sneakyr]

Until there is an option to remove combat logs / silence them from your chat box, a passive SL will not be viable.

No one can read what your saying when its blocked by 20x "MARINE SHOOTS AT XENO" big red text edition.

I play(ed?) SL quite often. Some rounds, I never fired my gun. Most rounds, the only time I did was for suppressing fire. Passive SL is, I imagine, quite hard if you don't have the following skills, as well as the standard ones for a squad leader:
You have to be able to move and type at the same time. Using TAB to switch from hotkey mode to arrow key mode rapidly helps immensely.
You have to be able to type quite quickly.
You have to be willing to type the same things over and over again, verbatim if necessary.
You have to be able to multitask.
It may sound like a slog, but it works and keeps you alive at the same time. If you're fast, it really isn't too bad. Your large, colored text may be easily missed the first time, but if it is missed three times that marine really has no excuse. "Combat haze" happens to me, too, but when some large text displaces everything in the chatlog you probably ought to glance at it.
Really, passive SL is the harder but better way to go in my opinion. Aggressive SL is going to tend you towards injury even if you survive. A squad leader should be just behind the front line, and only leading the team when you need to move somewhere or to perform something such as a flank.

[McRipfist]

The trick is to be both, and know when to act as each.

[nerocavalier]

You have to be able to move and type at the same time. Using TAB to switch from hotkey mode to arrow key mode rapidly helps immensely.

Why don't you just use T to type if you're on hotkey mode?

[solidfury7]

80% of the time, a passive SL is the best SL.

This is simply because

1. Most other SLs will be aggressive and usually end up dying within the hour mark

2. Command is relying on you to organise the men for the full duration of the operation

3. You're essentially the ground commanders, you'll keep them updated, even losing your helmet is a big blow to commands intel.


The plan is to stay alive to communicate with command and organise your men, supply drops and OBs.

It's all well and good leading an assault but is it really worth being dead for 2 hours and letting your squad fall in to disarray because you wanted to kill an ayy or two.

[Sneakyr]

Why don't you just use T to type if you're on hotkey mode?

T brings up a text box that blocks view and forces itself into the selected window. If you wanted to keep moving, you'd have to click on the game screen again in my experience.

[Redikalzip]

Oh god. Only is TACTICAAAAL SL can win!

[Dunril]

I tend to stick behind the fighting lines with my binos If I can see, I make sure my spec has his ammunition, marines have their shit. I make sure my marines are delegated tasks gainfully employed, I'm typing properly and I'm acting as if a USMC NCO would act. Delegation is a big thing for SL, communication as well. Generally caring for the welfare of his marines, strict on orders. I communicate the ground situation with the CO to the best of my ability; (If he's willing to listen to ground input.) advise, as well as make sure my squad is tasked out, and making sure they stick together. You'll have your rambos, and people getting into combat haze, but as the squad leader you're the marine leadership on the ground, the backbone of the operation, the OBs certainly help as well. I don't mind playing SL, I enjoy it some rounds If I'm placed with the right kind of squad. I find myself Roleplaying more often then I do on standard marine, and it's more meaningful. Personally, I'd say it's not a matter of 'passive' and 'aggressive' more then two leadership styles.

-Jonathan 'Smokes' Braddock