SO Improvement/Critique/Suggestion thread

[ThesoldierLLJK]

Been playing SO a bit lately, and we have a SL critique thread, or who is the best SO thread. I think some of us who are regularly playing SO could use a place to theory craft.

What do you regular combat marines think we can improve on, what you need help with, etc...

I've been trying to do the following:
-Rally fresh marine spawns by giving them orders out the gate to gear up and deploy and link up with current forces planetside
-Listen for and arrange supply requests with req
-Yelling at the marines who go off astray from the SL/FT leaders so they don't get ganked by the cucarachas.
-Offering words of encouragement, and yelling at people in spanglish when they screw up
-Refresh the squad lists so I can tell the squad leader who died
-Keep a record of marines getting medivac and when they return to the planetside
-Observing different camera views and giving real time updates to the squad
-Yelling at people for doing dumb things. Mostly in RP Spanglish
-Keeping objectives up to date and squad messages with important information.

[Pogo92]

Oh my god I wish you were my SO every game.

[Park]

The only critique I have for SO's is don't try to micromanage the squad like you're playing an RTS.

[Retrokinesis]

I feel like the most important thing to remember is that you're not the Squad Leader. In chaos of a firefight or a retreat gone poorly, if you say go left and the SL says go right, most of the squad is going to go right because they'll trust the SL more than you, assume he has a better handle on the immediate situation than you, or both. You can help him by avoiding being seen as undermining his authority or otherwise degrading his ability to lead the squad; use direct messaging or at very least command chat when you feel the need to chew your SL out.

Your primary job is to be the translator between strategy and tactics: take the CO or XO's orders, package them into a actionable list of objectives, and keep the squad updated and on-task. Leave it to the SL to determine the best way to fulfill each objective rather than trying to steer the squad directly yourself.

[Pilawa]

I've been rollin pretty much nothing but SO for the last month or so, so I'm all done for some theory craftin.

How I run my squad:
-Generally if I know the SL is competent I tend to, at least I think I do, let them have full control over the squad. I'll give orders here and then over squad comms, if anything I give more recommendations rather than orders.
-For Bald SLs I tend to be more hands, giving directions and tellin them what to do and when.
-If a Bald SL is mute or just totally clueless, I'll switch squad control over to the Spec ASAP.
-It's my opinion that callin marines by their last names is the best way to get their attention. I could be wrong, but it seems to work the best for me.
-I find it counter productive to yell at marines if "screw up", it just makes the meme of "You're up there in CIC with a comfy chair and not down here on the ground".
-I've had problems with other SOs not using Command Comms and the CO or XO are to distracted to attend to the OP.
-I like to give gift to my boys before the briefing and in supply drops, don't know if it helps, but I think it helps with them takin a liken to you as an SO.
-I've been told by some SLs that they don't want to have up to date list of KIA marines. I feel that give them the list helps bolster the fighting spirit of the marines.
-I've come to the conclusion that Marines that run off are not likely to listen to you as an SO, so it's now my policy to warn them once and then just leave them alone.
-My new favorite policy as SO is to threaten the marines with transferring them to Delta if they act stupid or can't follow a simple order like use DS 1. This seems to have a good effect.

[SlavishCircle]

I've played an SO a few times, and there is one stinging issue I have, which is the procedure to use the OB. Am I just clear to fire it when the SL asks for it, providing the necessary annoucement over Command? Should I get permission from the CO/XO before doing so? Is this entire process entirely dependent on the CO/XO giving a procedure for how they would like it deployed?

Fun fact: Spent my first round as an SO most of the time in the brig because of a bad firing of the OB, so I may be overthinking the entire process.

[Brotemis]

I've played an SO a few times, and there is one stinging issue I have, which is the procedure to use the OB. Am I just clear to fire it when the SL asks for it, providing the necessary annoucement over Command? Should I get permission from the CO/XO before doing so? Is this entire process entirely dependent on the CO/XO giving a procedure for how they would like it deployed?

Fun fact: Spent my first round as an SO most of the time in the brig because of a bad firing of the OB, so I may be overthinking the entire process.

The rule of thumb is only fire your squads OB when your squad SL requests it. If they give offsets, use them. If they don't give offsets, just fire. Sometimes SL's give offsets without the order to fire, you can punch in these beforehand without firing and be ok. As a rule of thumb, don't fire another squads OB without confirmation from their squad SL first and even then only if they don't have an SO or if their SO is unresponsive.

Had this happen before as Delta SL where an SO fired my OB without an offset or fire order from me on big red. Ended up killing 12 marines and destroying the mini fob.

You don't need permission from the XO or CO unless they have specifically said not to fire them. If they're saying you have to ask the XO or CO for permission to do it, it's not really their call since it is specifically YOUR duty to fire them.

This would be akin to asking the chief engineer if you can set up the engine as MT or if you can perform surgery as a doctor asking the CMO. It's your job.

[DriedMilk]

git gud at OBs pls, also dont shitpost the MPs when they arrest someone in your squad.

ty

[Build_R_]

A bit of an issue that I find occurs with some SOs is that they don't keep the XO up to date with what's going on. The XO is usually the one coordinating all of the squads but it only works if they get the right info from every SO. Also, try not to exaggerate what's going on. If there's a small group of benos attacking the LZ don't say over comms that it's a massive assault and you need every marine dragged back there by their shoelaces.

[ThesoldierLLJK]

New issue, no one is playing Command roles as much.

Past 3 days on prime time hours with 150+ players I've spawned on with only 1 other SO during the round with an XO, or as XO with no CO and No SO's.
Does no one want to SO anymore?

[Retrokinesis]

It's not that no one wants to play command roles, it's that they kind of can't due to job slots (especially SO, in this particular case) being scaled to player population now. Latejoin SO is rather hard to get and there are fewer SOs who now have to sign up expecting they will be required to overwatch multiple squads for the entire round with no relief, so people who don't want that may simply not be rolling SO anymore. I know I haven't touched it since the update because I hate not being able to give a squad my undivided attention and because I know there are better regular SOs than me whose slots I don't want to take. Like any new change, it's going to require a bit of tweaking and correcting to get the balance exactly right. I'm confident it'll be fine soon.

As for CO... honestly, I think a lot of CO regulars stopped playing command during the reign of defenders and warriors giving xenos a 95% or so winrate and are just starting to trickle back in now? I feel like this will get better on its own as people start playing command again, especially since I've noticed a lot of newer people trying command roles and more people going for the CO whitelist as of late.

[Kesserline]

Let's say you have a decent SL and decent command, here is how you can shine :

You're OVERWATCH, you're not DESIGNATED LEADER of said squad.

You're here to provide useful information, insight and tactical knowledge to your cannon fodder.

Set objectives to your SL, but if he is decent/good, let him decide how to accomplish their objectives, unless he really needs help.

Help the SL by answering the squaddies question ("Where is the squad ?", "Where is the SL ?" "Where is the FOB ?", "I saw a Charlie, can I shoot him ?")

Advise the SL with USEFUL intel. If you feel that your SL can be flanked : TELL HIM. If you have some other squads reporting any contacts in the vicinity, report it to your SL to be sure he got the intel.

Don't overfocus on PFCs that don't give a shit about you/the squad/the SL. If you overfocus, you'll sound like a whinyweinerwhinywinnybitch. Just mark them for insubordination and ignore them. You have willing/useful/good marines to focus your attention on.

Plant claymores.

[DefinitelyAlone0309]

1. You should not be be bossy to your squad. SLs are the one leading them, you're just there to give him/her info and supervise the thing.

2. Try to rush RO/CT on your squad's request if it's really really necessary (like metal+sandbags+plasteel for FOB or AP ammo before a push)

3. Confirm with the SL before everything. Are you ready for supplies ? Ready for OB ? Ready to set SB down ? Ready to push ?

4. NEVER, EVER, insult your marines. It's the thing that will break your authority into pieces and is the reason why people don't like some Command players.

5. Use the "MSG" option more, since it can broadcast without tcomms, so it's the best way to tell the plan to people.

[Zartam]

If you're not too busy with your squad, leave the CIC occasionally to make command staff more visible around the ship.
Help drag the wounded out of the dropships, visit the brig, harass or help the CL.

[Szunti]

One of my problem as SO that it often feels like I am at the top of the hierarchy. The XO stops talking, doesn't share his plans and marines are waiting for orders. I could try to make my own plan, but then XO will be angry probably.

[Kool-AD]

I main SO and Medic, but I've been playing the fuck out of SO more recently.

One huge thing I always try to do is follow the chain of command. I never order the squad around directly, rather tell the Squad Leader what he needs to have himself and his Marines do. ex;
"Alright Bravo, once you're planetside, secure communications." - WRONG
"Alright Staff Sergeant, have your Marines move to communications and our comm back online." - RIGHT

-I will also try and always make sure their orders don't sit and stagnate. If command isn't saying what they want my squad to do, I'll assess the situation myself and just take it from there. If you are acting with the commander's intent, you can do no wrong.
-Constantly remind them not to wander off on their own, and to move as one. This rarely works, however.
-Never micromanage the squad. Your job is to relay orders to the squad leader and make sure he knows what he needs to do with his Marines.