Role of the Squad Leader (BF3)

**Allane** · 03-18-12, 10:44 AM

I know we've talked about how the Squad Leader is supposed to lead his or her squad in other threads, but I don't think we've had one dedicated just to discussing Squad Leader tactics. I think this would be a good place to share and discuss strategies and roles of squad leaders.

I think the squad leader should be at the head of his or her squad's charge (I'll just use "he" from now on). If the leader doesn't show that he can do the job he expects of his squad, then his squad won't feel inspired to do any work. The squad leader needs to lead by example, and show the squad that he knows what he's doing. Once the leader has the full support of his squad, he can start dialing back his aggressiveness, and starting working as a reliable spawn point for the rest of the squad.

I also think that squad members should have a decent say in how the squad is run. A squad leader often has so many things running through his head, he may not consider certain tactics such as a simple flank, or moving to a point that's less well-defended. The squad leader should be open to the input of his fellow squad members.

We also discussed kit choice in another thread. Something about Recon being the best choice for the squad leader, since he stays back and can feed intel to the squad while they move up, and provides a safe, reliable spawn point for his squad, and can drop a spawn beacon when he needs to move in and get his hands dirty. I would probably go the traditional BF2/2142 route, where the squad leader plays Assault with the defibrillator. The squad leader can pick up his buddies whenever needed, and his buddies can pick up his kit and revive him if he should go down. The only flaw with the traditional tactic is that the squad leader can spawn on anyone in the squad now, instead of only on regular spawn points.

Queue discussion.

**SpecOpsScott** · 03-18-12, 12:17 PM

My tactics are fluid. I might roll with a run and gun tactic for a while, then switch up to a slower more conservative approach. Which way i will go depends on two things: How is the team/squad im playing against attacking/defending? And who are the people in my squad?

The answers to those questions will set the pace for my squad. We may end up focusing on one or two flags, or we may end up Playing Round Robin and being that annoying squad that rapidly moves from flag to flag as the sneaky attacker or backup for another squad.

**damnbulance.dan** · 03-18-12, 01:32 PM

I definitely agree with the fluid approach. There's a lot of variables that come into play. The biggest thing for me is give a direction to go in. Set up a basic strategy for the squad to follow, and stick together. Let your squad fill in the rest. Some squads take a little more direction than others, but everyone needs to be on the same page as to what the goal is. Attack, defend, round robin etc.

Sent from my iPhone o_O

**FragRaptor** · 03-19-12, 07:13 AM

The squad leading standard was assault in BF2/2142? I always went recon with my lambert carbine... But I guess that is just me :P

**maximusboomus** · 03-19-12, 05:49 PM

Squad leader much power has he... Power is fear and fear much more power than fear. Therefore the powerful leader is much feat is he.

Seriously squad leaders must be diverse, always have a plan and don't compromise on the expectations, when I lead you'll hear me say "let's get my flag back" I take a flag as my own and won't stop until I own it again. Good squad leaders keep Morale up, and tactical info constant. I personally dislike quiet squad leaders, I love directing my squad asking members by name to fulfill certain roles... Merritt cover me, Noobie run point, Dex cover the flank... Now it's onto operation rear penetration...

Sent from my pocket.

**SpecOpsScott** · 03-19-12, 07:01 PM

.... thats all i got man.

**RagunCajun** · 03-20-12, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by maximusboomus

Squad leader much power has he... Power is fear and fear much more power than fear. Therefore the powerful leader is much feat is he.

Seriously squad leaders must be diverse, always have a plan and don't compromise on the expectations, when I lead you'll hear me say "let's get my flag back" I take a flag as my own and won't stop until I own it again. Good squad leaders keep Morale up, and tactical info constant. I personally dislike quiet squad leaders, I love directing my squad asking members by name to fulfill certain roles... Merritt cover me, Noobie run point, Dex cover the flank... Now it's onto operation rear penetration...

Sent from my pocket.

You forgot "Ragun don't shoot me in the back of the head when I spawn on you"... just sayin'

**chray00** · 03-20-12, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by FragRaptor

The squad leading standard was assault in BF2/2142? I always went recon with my lambert carbine... But I guess that is just me :P

Well yes, it was the standard in BF2... Well maybe with the exception of GMG who would jump around with a pump action shotty since he always seemed to have at least 4 medics covering his ass

**WickedSoN** · 03-20-12, 11:14 AM

If you are in a good squad, then the squad leader should mainly be a reliable spawn point and marking current obj's. The rest is all dynamic and dependent on the rest of the squad. Everyone (in the squad) should be calling out threats, hotspots, and any openings that arise. The entire squad should be communicating this and the entire squad should be in tune enough to respond to it, not just the squad leader. BF3 does not rely on an SL to run things like BF2 did. All squad members need to be mindful of being last man alive and calling out death reports so the rest of your squad knows your down and where it came from. When you are the last man in the squad (sl or not) you need to hold position till the team can spawn bomb. This is the most important (and hardest) tactic in this game. If you can get in a squad that stays close together and can manage this tactic well, chances are you get ace squad and win the round.

**Oozish** · 03-20-12, 08:08 PM

wow! thanks to all who posted here, i hadn't ever considered being a squad leader, I will always rejoin to eliminate myself, because I didn't understand how it worked. But tonight it was fun to try, even though I wasn't on voice, and ended up top score. Now I see how those guys get so many points! Was very fun to select points and roll across the landscape with my squad.

BTW, I would think a squad leader should be a medic.