I love it when people whine about my commanding. 9/10 times I get to bash them with my overwhelmingly superior logic, and if that doesn't do, I just blatantly admit it's my bad, or that I was lazy etc. Seems to have a pretty suppressing effect, too. Then again, I play on EU servers - which seem to be the Magical Pony Land of Friendship when it comes to raging players worldwide.
This thread needs to be stickied. At least a thread showing specifically how it's not <i>only</i> the comm's fault if it is at all.
I see this in every game I play and I always follow ellnic's example to tell people to shut the ###### up.
I'm ready to join a clan too, I'm sick of playing in pubs. I hate hearing people ###### over every little thing, makes me feel I'm playing with 12 year old kids.
<!--quoteo(post=1965775:date=Aug 22 2012, 10:52 AM:name=CobraCommander)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CobraCommander @ Aug 22 2012, 10:52 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965775"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This thread needs to be stickied. At least a thread showing specifically how it's not <i>only</i> the comm's fault if it is at all.
I see this in every game I play and I always follow ellnic's example to tell people to shut the ###### up.
I'm ready to join a clan too, I'm sick of playing in pubs. I hate hearing people ###### over every little thing, makes me feel I'm playing with 12 year old kids.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Just try to be nicer yourself. I'm not sure if it was you, but I think I got you more than once as com and you tend to get a little bit... emotional when things don't go as fast as you like it. People mostly treat other peoples with the respect they get from them.
ScardyBobScardyBobJoin Date: 2009-11-25Member: 69528Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
<!--quoteo(post=1962840:date=Aug 14 2012, 09:58 AM:name=Chris0132)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chris0132 @ Aug 14 2012, 09:58 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1962840"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Unless you're the comm, in which case it's the player's fault.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Chris got it right :)
<!--quoteo(post=1962840:date=Aug 14 2012, 10:58 AM:name=Chris0132)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chris0132 @ Aug 14 2012, 10:58 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1962840"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Unless you're the comm, in which case it's the player's fault.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The moment I nano'ed and medpack spammed a marine fighting a single skulk, only to watch him die... I know the game is lost.
Heh, I think it's funny when you mute the comm coz they are raging and pretty much spoiling ones fun.
They probably keep raging, or twice as much because I'm *really* ignoring them now!
Just to note TimMC, in your example about: a single marine vs skulk etc, then you say you can't carry a bad team ... one player doesn't make up a team, yeah?
You sure it wasn't one of those "one little fight but one really extremely important one that sets the front lines for the rest of the game"? Because I fully know, if I see those early engagements lost as comm, I get on the down-buzz and *my* comm performance slips due to being in a bad mind set.
If a really good comm, with a noobie team, doesn't use their experience in order to help said team, because 'they're just noobs' ... then arn't I, the comm, just as guilty of being a bad team member?
<!--quoteo(post=1965930:date=Aug 22 2012, 02:13 PM:name=OnosFactory)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (OnosFactory @ Aug 22 2012, 02:13 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965930"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Just to note TimMC, in your example about: a single marine vs skulk etc, then you say you can't carry a bad team ... one player doesn't make up a team, yeah?
You sure it wasn't one of those "one little fight but one really extremely important one that sets the front lines for the rest of the game"? Because I fully know, if I see those early engagements lost as comm, I get on the down-buzz and *my* comm performance slips due to being in a bad mind set.
If a really good comm, with a noobie team, doesn't use their experience in order to help said team, because 'they're just noobs' ... then arn't I, the comm, just as guilty of being a bad team member?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That was a bit of an oversimplification, meant for humour. In all honestly the team managed to expand alright for first 2 minutes, but were losing almost every encounter with aliens despite my medpack spammage. I keenly remember nano'ing one guy 3 times, and spamming medpacks only to see him die to a skulk. Funny and sad at the same time lol.
<!--quoteo(post=1965779:date=Aug 22 2012, 12:16 PM:name=_Necro_)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (_Necro_ @ Aug 22 2012, 12:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965779"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Just try to be nicer yourself. I'm not sure if it was you, but I think I got you more than once as com and you tend to get a little bit... emotional when things don't go as fast as you like it. People mostly treat other peoples with the respect they get from them.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think that might have been me. I don't think CobraCommander plays on HBZ/Oldassgamers servers, because as Cobra Commander, I've never seen him. And I do get frustrated when people don't move fast enough - I'm a rusher myself - but I don't tell people to shut the ##### up like the new Cobra lol :D
But yeah - it's really easy to get frustrated nowdays, because of the influx of new players - you're used to people having a clue, and when everything goes utterly fubar, nothing your team or the opponents team do making any sense - it's easy to forget there ARE new players, and not just old ones being asses.
I was frustrated with someone gorging yesterday, and not putting down any hydras, and thus getting killed. I gave him a snarky remark because of that, and he pensively replied "sorry, first time i ever gorge" and<b> I FELT SO BAD.</b> Like ;________; Really. But I promise I'll try harder. :p
IMO you have to play to your teams abilities as comm. if your guys can't shoot for ###### you need to change up your strat. Go for quick armor 2 instead of weps and save your pres for shotguns because you will probably have few nodes. Also mines are most likely the way to go early and pg to keep them together. As for aliens if youre team is bad or has no map awareness it's gg. Marines Dd much for forgiving.
The activity and versatility of comming is very different in pub / competitive play. While there are several viable strats to win a game, the majority of them require precision execution. This isn't very easy to pull off in pubs unless you luck out and have a group of moderately experienced players who are also willing to listen to you.
In pubs, I feel like the comm just needs to maintain enough res to get upgrades in time to counter higher alien lifeforms. For me, this translates to one or two build orders per patch. v216, I think it's 3-4 rt's, early phase tech for map control, hold if your rines can't shoot, pressure if they can. If you can do that much, you will have weapons 1 or 2, armor 1, shotguns, and jp's by the time fades hit the field. At this point, it's just an issue of getting your marines to go to a hive at the same time.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is there is diversity in comm play, you just don't see it all that often in pubs because they require more skill and coordination to execute.
<!--quoteo(post=1965931:date=Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM:name=Cee Colon Slash)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cee Colon Slash @ Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965931"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Didn't read the whole thread. But long story short, if you're not using a mic, and talking to your team, you're doing it wrong.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1965931:date=Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM:name=Cee Colon Slash)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cee Colon Slash @ Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965931"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Didn't read the whole thread. But long story short, if you're not using a mic, and talking to your team, you're doing it wrong.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1965931:date=Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM:name=Cee Colon Slash)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cee Colon Slash @ Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965931"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->not using a mic, and talking to your team<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1965931:date=Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM:name=Cee Colon Slash)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cee Colon Slash @ Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965931"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->not using a mic<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
^this^^^^^ (not to say it's impossible for a comm to do an OK job without a mic, but it will rely on the players a LOT more)
AurOn2COOKIES! FREEDOM, AND BISCUITS!AustraliaJoin Date: 2012-01-13Member: 140224Members, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Forum staff
i dont use a mic most of the time, but i still try to keep in contact with my foot troops, i always have one person being my rt ######, and one person defending base at all times when i'm orchestrating an attack, i usualy find it's better for my marines to be more 'hold down c every 15 seconds' than rely on me for a status report though. :/ When i do use a mic, im usualy a foot trooper helping out the comm... so... hmm, i need to change that.
<!--quoteo(post=1965937:date=Aug 22 2012, 10:47 PM:name=Mestaritonttu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mestaritonttu @ Aug 22 2012, 10:47 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965937"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I think that might have been me. I don't think CobraCommander plays on HBZ/Oldassgamers servers, because as Cobra Commander, I've never seen him. And I do get frustrated when people don't move fast enough - I'm a rusher myself - but I don't tell people to shut the ##### up like the new Cobra lol :D<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Than there has to be a third Cobra Commander. There is one on EU servers with a very calming, deep and comfortable voice. Giving orders in a tone like your best friend would do, giving you a warm fuzzy feeling of doing everything right. :D And there is this other Cobra Commander with a younger voice, who rages very fast at the team...
Also, a mic is a must as commander. You haven't the time to motivate your troops via chat. Got a noob-com yesterday. As soon as he stated, that he is new another player and I helped him what to build etc. But after a while and very slow RT-dropping I suggested to him, that he may not want to play com before he could get a look on other coms tactics and what they build. I said that polite. He wasn't mad or anything. He just left the CC and I hopped in. We won the game, but it was good work of him that made it possible.
<!--QuoteBegin-Microphone Elitists+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Microphone Elitists)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->If you don't use a microphone as a commander you are noob<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> -1
Whatever. This is i think the most deceptive advice people continually give commanders. A good commander uses the microphone sparingly and that is to allow sound spotting.
If people want an order i'll give them an order. If they don't, i'm not going to be that annoying bossy voice spamming the audio channels 24/7 with useless information and captain obvious orders so my team can't hear anything else.
You want to 'motivate' your marines, you give them compliments sparingly and medpacks aplenty. Sure there is a psychological component to commanding but it is not always satisfied through microphone usage. I see motivational speeches as nothing more than role playing and not in any way related to the core function. You are supposed to enable your marines to win, and if this includes uplifting speeches about the toils of life then there's something wrong with the game or the marine.
If I have new players, I'm going to waypoint them first and let them learn the game in their own way instead of constantly harassing them around to some location they've never heard of before (besides teaching them the relationship between beacon and phasing). As commander, you already have enough tools to dictate the flow of the game without heavy microphone usage. Learn to play around your team as some other posters have said, not fight it. Commanding without using a microphone is a good way to do so. Learn the limitations of your functional role, what information is important to communicate, and what is not.
TL;DR The microphone is only as good as the commander using it.
Whatever. This is i think the most deceptive advice people continually give commanders. A good commander uses the microphone sparingly and that is to allow sound spotting.
If people want an order i'll give them an order. If they don't, i'm not going to be that annoying bossy voice spamming the audio channels 24/7 with useless information and captain obvious orders so my team can't hear anything else.
You want to 'motivate' your marines, you give them compliments sparingly and medpacks aplenty. Sure there is a psychological component to commanding but it is not always satisfied through microphone usage. I see motivational speeches as nothing more than role playing and not in any way related to the core function. You are supposed to enable your marines to win, and if this includes uplifting speeches about the toils of life then there's something wrong with the game or the marine.
If I have new players, I'm going to waypoint them first and let them learn the game in their own way instead of constantly harassing them around to some location they've never heard of before (besides teaching them the relationship between beacon and phasing). As commander, you already have enough tools to dictate the flow of the game without heavy microphone usage. Learn to play around your team as some other posters have said, not fight it. Commanding without using a microphone is a good way to do so. Learn the limitations of your functional role, what information is important to communicate, and what is not.
TL;DR The microphone is only as good as the commander using it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
+1 Elodea knows what he's talking about. There are plenty ways of letting marines know what your intentions are. Especially with the introduction of that bleeping exclamation mark thingy.
I agree, that an overuse of the mic can have a negative effect by disabling marines to hear incoming aliens but... <!--quoteo(post=1966038:date=Aug 23 2012, 10:01 AM:name=elodea)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (elodea @ Aug 23 2012, 10:01 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1966038"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You are supposed to enable your marines to win, and if this includes uplifting speeches about the toils of life then there's something wrong with the game or the marine.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> ... is simply a subjective opinion and a generalization that is most times wrong. Could we first agree at each other, that a game is about fun? And can we now agree to each other, that human interaction can be fun?
Therefore increasing the fun of a multiplayer game by adding a meta mechanic that includes human communication is in no way "wrong". Maybe you are afraid of using your mic and search for reasons that support your concept of playing? Maybe you mostly play comp games and doesn't even know how much fun it can be to have sympathetic com, that increases your fun while playing, only by speaking to the team? Maybe you even have forgotten how much fun the game can be if you wouldn't focus solely on effectively winning. (A problem most elitist comp-players have, no matter what game or sport. They forget that this game should about fun. They only focus on winning and don't have any fun at all, playing the game.)
Or maybe it is me, that have the subjective opinion, that a talking com is much more desirable than one that restricts himself only to the fundamental (and quickly boring) mechanics of way points and alert-icons. Or that I should generate my fun solely based on winning games instead of just having fun doing so.
Anyway. Not only do I have experienced that motivating your team with a mic helps winning, it is also way more fun for me than having a mute com or one that writes only.
<!--quoteo(post=1966049:date=Aug 23 2012, 07:25 PM:name=_Necro_)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (_Necro_ @ Aug 23 2012, 07:25 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1966049"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Anyway. Not only do I have experienced that motivating your team with a mic helps winning, it is also way more fun for me than having a mute com or one that writes only.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And thats fine it really is :). I have nothing against having fun, infact i'm all for it. It just grates me that we still have this sometimes almost abusive notion of "get a microphone or get out of the command chair" or "microphone or noob".
Personally as an experienced player (not necessarily skilled), if i need my commander to tell me something on voice, then i'm already not being as situationally aware and useful as i should be. The fault is mine and not the commanders. Again, i'm not saying microphone usage is bad - its a useful tool, but one that is often overemphasized to the level that it was in this thread.
<!--quoteo(post=1966055:date=Aug 23 2012, 11:42 AM:name=MuckyMcFly)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MuckyMcFly @ Aug 23 2012, 11:42 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1966055"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Commander is only as good as his team, Ive had some truly awful games commanding.
"You two hold server room, wait for phase tech please"... two players move out in different directions.. we lose server to a single skulk... PRO!
Same goes for aliens.. "Im dropping Crossroads hive, please defend" only for the whole team to goto Sub. Heehee.
Love it, love the game and love the players :)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Last time I was comm I kept building bases and PGs and dropping support at computer lab, flight control and crevice, and spent most of the time giving people waypoints for those places.
Almost all the whole team massed a continuous attack through ventilation, data core and reactor core all the way to atrium, just running from sub. It was weird.
It is commanders fault, but also players fault. Balance is a problem too. A commander work way better, if he use a mic. But i notice many people don't use all elements of the commander, i don't remember all, but the most are drifters, i see a alot alien commanders don't use them, but there important. And many other stuff. Since new players, some newbie coms are there, but they learn good (some). But its understandable, i mean you play just simple games like counterstrike, cod or battlefied and then you play this deep game. I notice many alien commanders don't know how exactly cysts work also the powersystem with marines. Hopefully UWE learn a lot from Gamescom feedback :-)
<!--quoteo(post=1965931:date=Aug 22 2012, 04:16 PM:name=Cee Colon Slash)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cee Colon Slash @ Aug 22 2012, 04:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965931"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Didn't read the whole thread. But long story short, if you're not using a mic, and talking to your team, you're doing it wrong.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gah, after being quoted and +1'd, I realize that I meant to say if you're not using a mic, and <b>not</b> talking to your team... I have had good games where the comm was a typer and it worked.
Point I was trying to make is that it's about communication.
Comments
I see this in every game I play and I always follow ellnic's example to tell people to shut the ###### up.
I'm ready to join a clan too, I'm sick of playing in pubs. I hate hearing people ###### over every little thing, makes me feel I'm playing with 12 year old kids.
I see this in every game I play and I always follow ellnic's example to tell people to shut the ###### up.
I'm ready to join a clan too, I'm sick of playing in pubs. I hate hearing people ###### over every little thing, makes me feel I'm playing with 12 year old kids.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Just try to be nicer yourself. I'm not sure if it was you, but I think I got you more than once as com and you tend to get a little bit... emotional when things don't go as fast as you like it. People mostly treat other peoples with the respect they get from them.
Its not like it was different 10years ago ^^
Keep in mind, your also an entertainer while sitting there.
Good reson to learn singing for them.
Exit chair/hive.
~
j1 / j2 (join the other team)
shoot/bite the people talking crap.
WIN!
~
RR
Hold Alt "insert trash talk here"
Chris got it right :)
The moment I nano'ed and medpack spammed a marine fighting a single skulk, only to watch him die... I know the game is lost.
There is only so far I can carry a terrible team.
asked for a pg so we could defend our half of the map..
If your a new commander please ask for help ..
Talking about loosing,, I wish more marines could aim towards team mate to help etch other
when going 2 and 2
They probably keep raging, or twice as much because I'm *really* ignoring them now!
Just to note TimMC, in your example about: a single marine vs skulk etc, then you say you can't carry a bad team ... one player doesn't make up a team, yeah?
You sure it wasn't one of those "one little fight but one really extremely important one that sets the front lines for the rest of the game"? Because I fully know, if I see those early engagements lost as comm, I get on the down-buzz and *my* comm performance slips due to being in a bad mind set.
If a really good comm, with a noobie team, doesn't use their experience in order to help said team, because 'they're just noobs' ... then arn't I, the comm, just as guilty of being a bad team member?
You sure it wasn't one of those "one little fight but one really extremely important one that sets the front lines for the rest of the game"? Because I fully know, if I see those early engagements lost as comm, I get on the down-buzz and *my* comm performance slips due to being in a bad mind set.
If a really good comm, with a noobie team, doesn't use their experience in order to help said team, because 'they're just noobs' ... then arn't I, the comm, just as guilty of being a bad team member?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That was a bit of an oversimplification, meant for humour. In all honestly the team managed to expand alright for first 2 minutes, but were losing almost every encounter with aliens despite my medpack spammage. I keenly remember nano'ing one guy 3 times, and spamming medpacks only to see him die to a skulk. Funny and sad at the same time lol.
I think that might have been me. I don't think CobraCommander plays on HBZ/Oldassgamers servers, because as Cobra Commander, I've never seen him. And I do get frustrated when people don't move fast enough - I'm a rusher myself - but I don't tell people to shut the ##### up like the new Cobra lol :D
But yeah - it's really easy to get frustrated nowdays, because of the influx of new players - you're used to people having a clue, and when everything goes utterly fubar, nothing your team or the opponents team do making any sense - it's easy to forget there ARE new players, and not just old ones being asses.
I was frustrated with someone gorging yesterday, and not putting down any hydras, and thus getting killed. I gave him a snarky remark because of that, and he pensively replied "sorry, first time i ever gorge" and<b> I FELT SO BAD.</b> Like ;________; Really. But I promise I'll try harder. :p
In pubs, I feel like the comm just needs to maintain enough res to get upgrades in time to counter higher alien lifeforms. For me, this translates to one or two build orders per patch. v216, I think it's 3-4 rt's, early phase tech for map control, hold if your rines can't shoot, pressure if they can. If you can do that much, you will have weapons 1 or 2, armor 1, shotguns, and jp's by the time fades hit the field. At this point, it's just an issue of getting your marines to go to a hive at the same time.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is there is diversity in comm play, you just don't see it all that often in pubs because they require more skill and coordination to execute.
+1
<!--quoteo(post=1965931:date=Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM:name=Cee Colon Slash)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cee Colon Slash @ Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965931"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->not using a mic, and talking to your team<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1965931:date=Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM:name=Cee Colon Slash)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cee Colon Slash @ Aug 22 2012, 03:16 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965931"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->not using a mic<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
^this^^^^^
(not to say it's impossible for a comm to do an OK job without a mic, but it will rely on the players a LOT more)
When i do use a mic, im usualy a foot trooper helping out the comm... so... hmm, i need to change that.
Than there has to be a third Cobra Commander. There is one on EU servers with a very calming, deep and comfortable voice. Giving orders in a tone like your best friend would do, giving you a warm fuzzy feeling of doing everything right. :D And there is this other Cobra Commander with a younger voice, who rages very fast at the team...
Also, a mic is a must as commander. You haven't the time to motivate your troops via chat.
Got a noob-com yesterday. As soon as he stated, that he is new another player and I helped him what to build etc. But after a while and very slow RT-dropping I suggested to him, that he may not want to play com before he could get a look on other coms tactics and what they build. I said that polite. He wasn't mad or anything. He just left the CC and I hopped in. We won the game, but it was good work of him that made it possible.
-1
Whatever. This is i think the most deceptive advice people continually give commanders. A good commander uses the microphone sparingly and that is to allow sound spotting.
If people want an order i'll give them an order. If they don't, i'm not going to be that annoying bossy voice spamming the audio channels 24/7 with useless information and captain obvious orders so my team can't hear anything else.
You want to 'motivate' your marines, you give them compliments sparingly and medpacks aplenty. Sure there is a psychological component to commanding but it is not always satisfied through microphone usage. I see motivational speeches as nothing more than role playing and not in any way related to the core function. You are supposed to enable your marines to win, and if this includes uplifting speeches about the toils of life then there's something wrong with the game or the marine.
If I have new players, I'm going to waypoint them first and let them learn the game in their own way instead of constantly harassing them around to some location they've never heard of before (besides teaching them the relationship between beacon and phasing). As commander, you already have enough tools to dictate the flow of the game without heavy microphone usage. Learn to play around your team as some other posters have said, not fight it. Commanding without using a microphone is a good way to do so. Learn the limitations of your functional role, what information is important to communicate, and what is not.
TL;DR
The microphone is only as good as the commander using it.
Whatever. This is i think the most deceptive advice people continually give commanders. A good commander uses the microphone sparingly and that is to allow sound spotting.
If people want an order i'll give them an order. If they don't, i'm not going to be that annoying bossy voice spamming the audio channels 24/7 with useless information and captain obvious orders so my team can't hear anything else.
You want to 'motivate' your marines, you give them compliments sparingly and medpacks aplenty. Sure there is a psychological component to commanding but it is not always satisfied through microphone usage. I see motivational speeches as nothing more than role playing and not in any way related to the core function. You are supposed to enable your marines to win, and if this includes uplifting speeches about the toils of life then there's something wrong with the game or the marine.
If I have new players, I'm going to waypoint them first and let them learn the game in their own way instead of constantly harassing them around to some location they've never heard of before (besides teaching them the relationship between beacon and phasing). As commander, you already have enough tools to dictate the flow of the game without heavy microphone usage. Learn to play around your team as some other posters have said, not fight it. Commanding without using a microphone is a good way to do so. Learn the limitations of your functional role, what information is important to communicate, and what is not.
TL;DR
The microphone is only as good as the commander using it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
+1
Elodea knows what he's talking about. There are plenty ways of letting marines know what your intentions are. Especially with the introduction of that bleeping exclamation mark thingy.
<!--quoteo(post=1966038:date=Aug 23 2012, 10:01 AM:name=elodea)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (elodea @ Aug 23 2012, 10:01 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1966038"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You are supposed to enable your marines to win, and if this includes uplifting speeches about the toils of life then there's something wrong with the game or the marine.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
... is simply a subjective opinion and a generalization that is most times wrong.
Could we first agree at each other, that a game is about fun?
And can we now agree to each other, that human interaction can be fun?
Therefore increasing the fun of a multiplayer game by adding a meta mechanic that includes human communication is in no way "wrong". Maybe you are afraid of using your mic and search for reasons that support your concept of playing? Maybe you mostly play comp games and doesn't even know how much fun it can be to have sympathetic com, that increases your fun while playing, only by speaking to the team? Maybe you even have forgotten how much fun the game can be if you wouldn't focus solely on effectively winning. (A problem most elitist comp-players have, no matter what game or sport. They forget that this game should about fun. They only focus on winning and don't have any fun at all, playing the game.)
Or maybe it is me, that have the subjective opinion, that a talking com is much more desirable than one that restricts himself only to the fundamental (and quickly boring) mechanics of way points and alert-icons. Or that I should generate my fun solely based on winning games instead of just having fun doing so.
Anyway. Not only do I have experienced that motivating your team with a mic helps winning, it is also way more fun for me than having a mute com or one that writes only.
"You two hold server room, wait for phase tech please"... two players move out in different directions.. we lose server to a single skulk... PRO!
Same goes for aliens.. "Im dropping Crossroads hive, please defend" only for the whole team to goto Sub. Heehee.
Love it, love the game and love the players :)
And thats fine it really is :). I have nothing against having fun, infact i'm all for it. It just grates me that we still have this sometimes almost abusive notion of "get a microphone or get out of the command chair" or "microphone or noob".
Personally as an experienced player (not necessarily skilled), if i need my commander to tell me something on voice, then i'm already not being as situationally aware and useful as i should be. The fault is mine and not the commanders. Again, i'm not saying microphone usage is bad - its a useful tool, but one that is often overemphasized to the level that it was in this thread.
"You two hold server room, wait for phase tech please"... two players move out in different directions.. we lose server to a single skulk... PRO!
Same goes for aliens.. "Im dropping Crossroads hive, please defend" only for the whole team to goto Sub. Heehee.
Love it, love the game and love the players :)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Last time I was comm I kept building bases and PGs and dropping support at computer lab, flight control and crevice, and spent most of the time giving people waypoints for those places.
Almost all the whole team massed a continuous attack through ventilation, data core and reactor core all the way to atrium, just running from sub. It was weird.
Balance is a problem too.
A commander work way better, if he use a mic.
But i notice many people don't use all elements of the commander, i don't remember all, but the most are drifters, i see a alot alien commanders don't use them, but there important.
And many other stuff.
Since new players, some newbie coms are there, but they learn good (some).
But its understandable, i mean you play just simple games like counterstrike, cod or battlefied and then you play this deep game.
I notice many alien commanders don't know how exactly cysts work also the powersystem with marines.
Hopefully UWE learn a lot from Gamescom feedback :-)
Gah, after being quoted and +1'd, I realize that I meant to say if you're not using a mic, and <b>not</b> talking to your team... I have had good games where the comm was a typer and it worked.
Point I was trying to make is that it's about communication.