INTRODUCTION
So you want to know what it takes to be a good leader like Gunnery Sergeant Apone? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to boot camp deluxe. I am a certified trainer (I’m a certified moron who hasn’t seen grass in 5 years with 24 notes to my name)
“All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? It’s another glorious day in the Corps. A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm: Every meal’s a banquet. Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation’s a parade! I love the Corps!” - Gunnery Sergeant Apone, Aliens
Tools
First things first, you’re equipment. It is absolutely VITAL and god do I kid you not, BRING A LASER DESIGNATOR. This thing is what keeps xeno’s from folding the marines. You see Xeno’s starting to gain ground? " HEY CAS, WE’VE GOT SOME ROUNDY RASCALS, FIRE ON D-01 ".
This single object is a round changer, it decides if you get folded or if you advance. Take for example LV, xeno’s managed to build of T-fort and are actively defending it like their life depends. To tackle this you call in an OB from Overwatch. This will clear out a path for marines to push and take ground after which xeno’s begin to lose their comfort and start retreating into more cover which you can now combo with CAS (The guy who is either really good or really bad). Your laser designator is incredibly useful just for spotting. Use it to watch the line- get an idea of the enemy’s backline or even your flanks. Call that out to your squad. The designator can help you get an idea of how healthy the front is. A guide that goes further in to detail : Calling in the Big Guns - JTAC/FTL Guide
COMMUNICATION
Second thing, communication. This is really important, especially when command is actually competent. They expect you to talk to them and relay information, ask them questions on your next move, “Are we pushing north? Where’s hive? What OB is loaded? Is it possible to flank?” Any question like that will prove to command they can trust you. Keep them informed else they won’t know if you are getting flanked or already got flanked. There’s a big difference between a competent SL and a trash SL. The trash SL chooses the role because they think they’re built different (Maurico schofield I’m looking at you) A competent SL will keep the squad in check, while a trash SL will allow the squad to wander off. Ofcourse, not every marine wishes to follow you, however, what matters is your large text when you speak. This single thing is what makes every marine know when to retreat or advance. The more ground marines gain with your help, the more they will trust you, and trust is absolutely needed. You can single handedly become the play maker by standing in the middle of the deathball and telling marines when’s the time to advance or when’s the time to back up. You have comm’s, use them.
ENGINEERS + THE 3 SPECIALISTS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE
Each squad is assigned an engineer, this guy is the person who’ll decide if you lose the chokepoint or if you can hold it. Always, and god do I kid you not, keep them near you. This guy is a life saver, in the case a push starts slowing down to the point its a stalemate. CADE there’s a high possibility the xeno’s are awaiting the queen to break the stalemate or looking for a flank to break you into pieces. Once you cade, communicate with command and locate a place to flank the xeno’s. Do not give them time to think,* Time is not your friend*. Your specialist, pray his a Pyro, GL or Demo. These 3 are one of the factors marines have a good headstart at the beginning of the round. Each one of them can assist you in pushing especially GL. This guy can destroy xeno structures in 5 seconds. However, do not blame them for mistakes unless they are making too many of them, because without them you would of never got there in the same pace.
TACTICS
Third, knowing when to retreat is vital to everyone. The second you start being in close proximity of T3’s and weeds, you need to pull the horses out (Your goons). Or when you believe the queen has recharged her screech and your squad is about to be folded. Take for example, the marines. They’re pushing quite well, However you notice the xeno’s attacks has slowed down, the queen is off ovi. O OH!!! FALL BACK A BIT, QUEEN OFF OVI. Those should the first words to come out of your mouth.
Alert the marines of the threat, and prepare to tackle that threat. “LAY DOWN CADES!! GL, BLOW UP THAT WALL” Once you believe you can push, go for it. Remember, everyone’s here to have fun. Don’t hold them back for too long.
YOU ARE STILL A SOLDIER
Four, orders. You should always stick to your orders, this is a roleplay game. Don’t stray off your tasks without a solid reason. You can be reported to the admins and get job banned. Further more this will create a headache for the person who’s actually created this plan. Be it your position to flank, however because you thought that going to the meta spot being hydro on LV is better, you’ve pretty much ruined someone’s day, and potentially lost a good position on the xenomorphs. Remember, Overwatch is your ally not a douchebag (most of the time). There are times where they will be new, and when that happens. Start giving suggestions to them, make the game enjoyable.
SOME TIPS AND TRICKS
Find a “bit” to wake up with. A small joke, or even just a comment to some of your squadmates. Being engaged and communicative builds trust. Your entire role lives or dies by whether your squad trusts you.
Take a medhud. Knowing when to callout wounded is important.
Play staff officer get a few hours to know what your SO can do, they’re a godsend when comms go down.
Carrying a backpack is highly encouraged and is actually highly useful when comms go down.
Consider c4 or engineering supplies, being able to influence how the front flows is way more useful IMO than having a big fancy gun.
YOUR IMPORTANCE
Remember, your role is to make sure everyone survives and everyone listens to the orders. Take things into your own hands if you believe orders are too much and are mostly a suicide. Like charging a choke with the queen right behind the doors. Call marines back and prepare for a mutiny in the near future if orders like this continues. I see so many times SL’s who are quiet, your supposed to use the large text bubble above your head to direct marines.
**You are the navigator**.
( If I missed anything out let me know in the comments )
Sincerely,
Alexei 'Ramius' Trofimov
Screaming Badgers platoon
The greatest SL of the universe.