Need Advice on Dealing with Single member Squads

**TheJeep1** · 09-12-07, 05:27 PM

I command frequently and I think it really doesn't bother me as long as I also have 3-4 good size squads. I try to find stuff for them to do. First I take a look at what I need done, then what kit they have and try to make it a mission for them. Most single players respond well to it.

I find one man squads are great for getting that pesky sniper, or spec ops strikes. Also I love it when I see a plane or helo manned by a small squad then I can put them onto targets directly when needed.

One man squads are also great for killing those attacking squads who enter uncaps. The one man squad never has to worry about loosing his spawn point, can rack up kills, and better yet you don't need to take a full squad off the battlefield to help with a uncap flag.

Now I do not want to sound like I am defending the idea of a team full of 1-3 man squads because we all know that does not work.

But also take this into the thought process. Is it better to have 4-5 full squads with 30+ players having access to those 4-5 squad leader spawn points. OR Is it better to have 9 3-4 man squads with those same 30+ players have access to 9 spawn points.

Example:

If a defending position is defending against 2 squads each with their own spawn point they only need to find and kill 2 squad leaders. However if they had to defend against 4 squad leaders each spawning 2-3 people it suddenly makes it much more difficult.

However, I doubt I will ever see the player list with those ideal conditions. There will always be 2-3 six man squads.

**iravedic** · 09-12-07, 05:41 PM

Elk, I agree, but all to often the single member squad is just a lone wolf in sheep's clothing. Not wanting to get kicked he joins a squad of his own making rather than one of the other 5 single man squads. Look sometimes you have no choice, many times at the start of a night I'll spawn in and all i see are full squads. In that case I'll start a squad and see if there are any other unassigned and offer invites. By the way when I spawn in and see all full squads it actually makes me very happy as I know I'm in for a night of teamplay, the reason we are all here in the first place!

The guys that really tick me off though are the single member locked squads, its very clear they don't want to play with others and make it worse by not following orders while expecting their every request to be granted.

I agree it is situational but I will always look at single member squads with some disdain. There are some instances where it worked, but on the whole they don't appear to be "team players".

Jeep, I whole heartily agree. I would love to see 6-7 squads with at least 3 members each, makes commanding more fun, more chess pieces to move and direct. Also makes it more challenging allocating resources (supplies and vehicles don't grow on trees). Four to five in each squad seems like a better minimum number to me though, more critical mass to throw at a flag. Ideally on our server 4 squads of 6 and one of five (with all your air power in the squad of 5) makes the most sense. On most maps if you have 4 functioning ground pounding squads you'll give the enemy all they can take. However consider that in most instances even full squads are at full strength on the ground as the SL may have sent someone on a cleanup task or they have one or more members in the air. In this case the full squad is now only 4-5.

**sjt17** · 09-12-07, 06:49 PM

I'm with Elk - that's the best case scenario...and what I try to use them for.

If they're unresponsive & locked - then get the admin involved - and get them off the server -

The other night I had some really good luck with small squads...I used them for quick grabs, and asset destruction, with a pretty nice effect.

**elkhartadam** · 09-12-07, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by sjt17

If they're unresponsive & locked - then get the admin involved - and get them off the server -

Damn straight!

It may be hard to get away from the game when your commander. Remember when you're looking to get rid of someone from your team, who is not a teamplayer, the admins can and will assist with that. They've always been able to help me.

The server is typically full. That one non-teamplayer could be holding up one hell of a squad leader from joining. One or two solid squad leaders will make the difference in a game.

elkhartadam

**MotoZ** · 09-12-07, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by capnemo314

I usually just ask if we can consolidate the squads . . .

That often works for me. And I am nice about it.

**w4jchosen** · 09-12-07, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by sjt17

If they're unresponsive & locked - then get the admin involved - and get them off the server -

Elk this was the point I was trying to make in my post. I just didn't do it as well as stj. <------------Yea what he said.

**Amador +JP2+** · 09-12-07, 11:48 PM

ira I hear ya, but I am with elk on this one. Unfortunately I have been a one man squad too often (usually with folks I don't recognize on the server). However, I do whatever the comm orders and thankfully don't often have too much difficulty getting a cap ... now defending one is much harder.

:4

**MaBell37** · 09-14-07, 02:40 PM

While I don't think it's the best definition of teamplay, I gotta admit, sometimes it's very useful having them (one-man squads) because sometimes, they have the best position and you can easily leave your squad, join theirs, spawn on them, leave their squad, restart your own squad and have the rest of your "actual" squad spawn on you there. Consider it a foot in the door.

Besides, it's better to have that one-man squad than to have another unassigned asshole.

**JCLFJanet** · 06-09-09, 01:18 AM

I was trying to get the unbreakable achievement when stupid Zoey ruined my life! It was the no mercy achievement, on the LAST hallway before the ladder to the roof when she shot at the wtich in the middle of a horde attack. Of course, since there was a horde, I accidentally shot the witch while she was charging at Zoey, making the witch turn her rage towards me and the witch n00b slapped me like no one's business.

Needless to say I was reduced to 20 health and was healed by another bot when I was revived. I promptly got up and murdered Zoey for being such a failure.

God, trying to get any achiement with Bots is a waste of time. Why do I bother

So, cheer me up, people! Tell me YOUR bot horror story!

:cc:

**jojo_iso** · 06-10-09, 11:47 PM

I got a bunch of them... But i saved the best one for ya =)

Tank attack. I love always go hardcore, so the first thing i do, is shooting it xD I was kind of in front of the bots, so i begin going backwards, while still shooting the tank. Did you think the bots would bother shoot? Nope, they let me go trough the whole group, and not ONE bullet was shot from them xD I died, of course, cause i had to reload my weapon one time or another xD