To: Commander #94

Torgamous · November 2002

<div class="IPBDescription">From: Grunt #64524</div> Dear Commander,

As a random nameless <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'> , having been cloned numerous times, I observed the many topics about how to command, how to be a good marine. Now, I decided to make one for how to make your marines happy enough to work.

1: Motion sensors, please. Your grunts are weak fragile things, which can easily be forgotten in that big comfy command chair with heated padded seating, and heavy, heavy armor plating. The ability to see WHERE the hell the uglies are is an incredible value. Even if the <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> have cloak, we can see when they move into position. Also, when cleaning out hives, we can see the <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'> to make sure the Hive stays gone. And even if we're losing, the ability to see the big blue circle means we can dodge the big mean <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='tiny.gif'> .

2: In general, if someone asks for a welder, they probably know how to use it. (Newbies, Rambos, and other less knowledgeable people hav no idea what to do with them) Yes, it's 10 resources, but if it's used to weld a vent, they just saved probably 200 resources worth of marine weapon, armor, and base equipment. I have been one one map where the Marines were ALMOST able to take the last hive, but then 9 <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='skulk.gif'> burst out of a vent at main base, took out the <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'> factory, and the commander chair. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='confused.gif'> This was rather annoying, given that throught the WHOLE time, I had kept asking for a welder to seal the very vent they burst out of.

3: Please, please, please learn proper factory placement. I've walked in with my welder, only to find the factory gone, and a hive up, because the commander put ALL 16 <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'> on ONE side of the factory. Put them AROUND the factory, as well as behind the resource collector, command chair, etc etc etc.

4: On that note, You have SPACE at spawn... there is no need to put all 20 buildings NEXT to each other. You can't jump too well in Heavy Armor, and it's hard to pickup anything that falls in the narrow gap between the lab and armory, or what have you.

5: Siege Turrets <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='siege.gif'> . Use them. We secured those rooms for you for a reason. The fewer of us that die, and the more aliens that get blasted by <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='siege.gif'> , the happier we get, and the more unhappy the uglies get. Not to mention nothing like getting a <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='pudgy.gif'> to explode because he built a structure too damn close to the <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='siege.gif'> . Also, it's cheaper than giving a squad of <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'> HA, a GL or HMG, and watching them die.

6: We know there's a resource shortage since 1.1. That's not the problem. The problem is when we see there's more than 100 resources in stockpile. Isn't there a turret you can put up, or some health or armor, or a gun you can drop?

7: We <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'> are a simple, stupid lot who get lost easily. Please, please oh omnipresent Commander, give us a waypoint, and update them. Nothing like heading to a waypoint that is a base with 50 <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'> , 5 <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='siege.gif'> , 4 spawn points, a backup CC, and ammo, labs, and such. Or wander blindly into a hive with 24 OTs shooting at us.

8: The commander has options to have hotkeys bound to make the dropping of buildings and items easier. Use them, please. Having 6 half dead marines watching a pack of heath drop one every 30 secs is agonizing esp if you hear the roar of an Onos.

This is all, commander, and may you not be the victim of "accidental" friendly fire as we are evacuated from yet another fallen base.

MutantMFM · November 2002

Amazing post great job on it! <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

CrazedMonkOnaMission · November 2002

[QUOTE]5: 6: We know there's a resource shortage since 1.1. That's not the problem. The problem is when we see there's more than 100 resources in stockpile. Isn't there a turret you can put up, or some health or armor, or a gun you can drop?QUOTE]

Actually, I sometimes pile up resources then equip all the marines at once, cause that seems to be the only way to get some of em to stay at the spawn and to move out as a group. Or they just spawn, grab gear, run out, die, repeat.

FlatlineUTD · November 2002

Good post! Fortunately, I've been doing all those things since I started commanding. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

Maybe that's why my troops do what I ask of them!

Forlorn · November 2002

LOL

Nice

MeltedSnowman · November 2002

Would've been much better if you used words instead of smilies for everything, but it was still very good. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wink.gif'>

Kiz · November 2002

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MeltedSnowman @ Nov 13 2002, 08:30 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Would've been much better if you used words instead of smilies for everything, but it was still very good. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='wink.gif'></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
He's a jarhead, you expect big words? <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

Necro · November 2002

i'd appriciate motion sensors more if i could see the enemies not only the hives <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='mad.gif'>

Skippy · November 2002

To [name ommited], CO of second assualt

Sir i request to inform you that while your research into heavier armor and inproved defensive capabilities is extremely impressive, we marines often enter combat with outdated versions of personal body armor. This it is this soldiers request that you equip personell with a welder so as to bring our gear up to the highest in operating standards.

I would also like to note, with your permission sir, that your tactic of equiping my squad with both personal Jetpacks and marine custom Grenade Launchers. This has allowed my squad to survive numerous hive clearing missions and sustain casualties well within TSA operational standards. I apluad your decisions.

Petty Oofficer
Kris "Skippy" Thompson

Bog · November 2002

Torg,

I'll <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='asrifle.gif'> with you anytime, pard.

LLJKVerloc · November 2002

I'd just like to add my own little addendum:

-Some of us grunts do have a little more experience and firing neurons than others. If you have a few regulars in your squad, it'd be a very good idea to designate them as "squad leaders". Though most of us are simple folk that can't count past 10 without removing our boots, some of us have some fairly good ideas about what resource points to cap first, and ideas about turret placement and micro-management that you may find helpful. Plus, being able to give orders to one marine and have the entire fireteam carry out your wishes makes your life easier. (That and you don't have a dozen wiseguys on comms joking about getting a few cases of beer spawned in the feedwater hive while you're trying to keep a critical waypoint from falling somewhere else.)

-If possible, give us a little glimpse into that big brain of yours. Us grunts get a nice warm fuzzy feeling knowing that we need to advance to and assault a point for a reason, and not just because you think the skulks are looking underfed. If we have a little information on what the 'big picture' is, we can usually help fill out our little part of it that much better.

-Sometimes, you have to give us what we need, and not what we want. If one of my squaddies asks to be set up Master P style with HA,HMG, and a welder, but you just don't have the scratch for it, don't let 5 guys get their faces chewed off for lack of support because one grunt got greedy. Lay down the law if you have to. Sure, that grunt may not like you very much, but him and his squaddies will be <i>in one piece</i> and not liking you very much.

Oh, and sir, your pizza just got here.
No sir, no anchovies, just like you said.
Yes sir, I'll just slide it through the slot in the side of the comm chair.

[LLJK]Verloc, out.

Mindmeldme · November 2002

Very good read all around. My problem is that at times...I am good to my marines...and they are still rather unattentive. Though my recent fun in Dungeon Keeper 2 slapping around my imps makes up for not being able to slap around an uunruly Marine. Remember marines, we're doing our best, follow your orders and do your jobs and we'll all get through this in one piece. However...Right now I've promoted Srg. Savage to command position, he's it until he's dead, or I find someone better. So remember, if someone better does join your ranks in your server...move out that dead piece of wood and get him commanding.

FlatlineUTD · November 2002

Do you run your own server Mindmeld?

Mindmeldme · November 2002

No, i should but I don't yet. I probably could, I am using a 1.3 duron but it only has about 256 ram and a 128 G3. I figured I would get a faster comp...say around 2g or more with at least half a gig of ram, though what I have is DDR. Before I run a server off it.

Edit...I posted that as kind of a reminder to marines in servers. If you have a poor commander and someone better comes along don't feel bad about voting him out. I command when I can i servers but it's mostly up to other marines in there and the commander. I've had a few commanders more then happy to jump out and let me do it but...besides that, a lot of times I see Bad commanders not voted out because no one wants to do it.

FlatlineUTD · November 2002

Ah, I thought you had one - in your other post you mentioned always making one person the commander.

I guess you just play on 1 or 2 servers or something.

Shadowics · November 2002

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Necro- @ Nov 14 2002, 12:10 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>i'd appriciate motion sensors more if i could see the enemies not only the hives <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='mad.gif'></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Motion sensors does just what it sounds like, display anything that is moving. Hives all the time. Aliens if the are moving or attacking, not when they're cloaked.

TheGunslinger · November 2002

Very amusing. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='smile.gif'>

I hate commanding and am terrible at it, but I know much that the average commander does not. Weapons and armour upgrades, motion sensors, factory placement, welders... all things much neglected.

Torgamous · November 2002

To be honest, it's mostly the first 3 that bother me the most.

It doesn't matter if you have Heavy Armor and HMGs, if the enemy can see you before you can see them, you've lost half the battle. Knowing is power, and knowing there's SOMETHING out there with big sharp teeth and long nasty claws tends to make us hurt in the bad way will at least get us the chance to go into cover and get ready to spray lead and grenades.

Welders are some of the best things to have on hand. Often, I'd be a heavy with like 5 armor, but with 90 Health. And health doesn't have damage reduction. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='confused.gif'> All the times I have seen Marines win, the commander was quite liberal in dispensing the welders, and the Marines would weld EVERYTHING thst should be, and quite a few things that normally wouldn't consider weldable (The Aliens. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='biggrin.gif'> )

The turret placement is absolutly mind boggling. Turrets aren't the be all end all defensive objects, but they certainly have the ability to stall an attack for a decent ammount of time if well thought out. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' valign='absmiddle' alt='turret.gif'> 1 at all 4 compass points for light defense, 2 for medium, 3 for heavy, is a LOT better than 25 all on one side of the damn turret factory.

I think what might help would be to make a NS Commander Training Course to replace the base Half-Life Training Course. Basic things, like how to jump to marines, turret placement, upgrades, and what they do, and ideas of how to drop, and waypoint making.

Mr_Bean · November 2002

Dear (Name Omited)
While I know everyone has a sense of Humor Sir, I can't feel but be somewhat taken aback at your constant little jokes, Sure at first the Spawn portals overlaping each other was amusing you rouge you! But it got tendios when you joking of course I'm amusming decided to build only two and ended up with half the Marines Suffering a Fatal Operation oppon being porter in.
And spawning those turret factorys on us so we had no CHOICE but to build and defend them? A stroke of genius if I may but not so helpful after you had just outfited our entire squad with Heavy Armor and HMGs and through some mix-up forgot said Weilders

Best Regards
~Sergant Bean
PS: The Portal Pads overlooking the bottomless pits? BRILLANT except for the occasional aciddental porting into said pits

To: Commander #94

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