Leading the Way
A strong Commander can make all the difference in a closely contested game, particularly in a 64 player match. To become the Commander, go to the Squad Screen. If no one has the position yet, you may apply for it. At the start of the game, if many people apply to be Commander, the person with the highest rank will be awarded the position. The control of Commander is not set in stone. If you don't like the way your Commander is operating, you can initiate a Mutiny at the Squad Screen. A vote will be initiated, and if successful, the Commander will be removed from power. Remember, if you're not doing a good job, this can happen to you! The great advantage to being a Commander is that you get a 2x multiplier bonus at the end of the round if your team is victorious.
What a Commander Should Do
A Commander has two main functions: give orders and provide support. Commanders shouldn't be on the frontlines, if he dies, the
team is left without direction or backup.
Providing Support
Scan
Using your team's radar to scan the field will provide all of your troops with enemy aircraft locations. This information
can be important, especially when trying to defend key locations from incoming aerial attacks. If the opponent looks like they enjoy attacking from above,
use the Scan repeatedly as soon as it recharges.
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UAV
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) provides all of your troops with an enhanced radar view of the field. This means that all enemy activity within
the UAV's range will show up on your team's mini maps. This provides absolutely vital information to everyone on your team. If
you give an order to attack or defend a position, be sure to back your team up with a UAV to give them a way of tracking enemy
movements. Use the UAV as often as it recharges to give your team the most information on enemy activity as possible.
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Fran Says: Elect a commander to provide constant UAV support. UAVs can be called for by Squad leaders as well. |
Artillery
As the Commander, you can call down artillery strikes on enemy locations. If you start seeing the ground explode
around you unexpectedly, that is the opposing Commander launching artillery on you! Sending an artillery strike
on enemy controlled Capture Points just prior issuing an attack command can give your team the upper hand. While your
opponents are ducking for cover and trying to heal wounded soldiers, your attack Squad can mop up in the confusion. You can
also use artillery strikes in conjunction with the UAV. If your UAV reveals a host of vehicles moving on one of your
Capture Points, use the artillery to break them up before they reach you. Be careful though, your artillery strikes can hit
your own troops causing team kills, damage, and team vehicle damage. This may end up resulting in a big point hit if you
rain down artillery on your own team. Use this with caution, but as often as it recharges.
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Supplies
If your team is doing well, they are going to run low on supplies. Everyone is going to run low on health, ammunition, and explosives. Luckily, as Commander you can order supplies to be dropped wherever you choose on the
field. It is important to drop your Supplies into locations where your team can use them. If they don't, enemies have free access
to use them. Supply crates can be destroyed, so watch out for enemies doing this to you and try to do it to the enemy as often as
possible. As a troop, just walk close to a supply crate to begin refilling.
Giving Orders
By pressing the Caps Lock Key, the Commander can bring up a screen that shows the entire battlefield. To give an order
to a Squad Leader, find the one on the map that you want and Left Click on it. Then, Right Click where you want the order to
be directed. A list of orders will then come up for you to choose from. The Squad Leader can then choose to accept the orders
and relay them to his troops or to reject them. When giving orders, think about which Capture Points are vital to your
advancing troops. Tell your Squads to attack key locations and defend the ones you control so that vital respawn points
remain in your hands.
What You Should do Against a Commander
Cut Off Their Commands
A Commander's UAV, Scan, and Artillery commands are dependent upon structures (UAV trailer, radar, and artillery guns, respectively) inside the main base. They show up on
mini maps and can be destroyed, thereby cutting off the enemy's power to use them. A great way to do this is to parachute in
with a Spec Ops team and use C4 to destroy the structures. If the enemy does this to you, quickly have an engineer repair them
to restore access to the commands.
Next in Command - Squad Leaders
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Mark Ryan Says: Squad Leaders should choose their actions carefully. Their ability to give and relay orders and act as a respawn point makes them extremely important on the battlefield. If you're a Squad Leader, don't rush into battle before your team. |
You can choose to create your own Squad at any time, or join one that someone else created. Squads are limited to 6 people, so as a leader it is a good idea to invite a somewhat varied group of players into your squad. A squad of 6 medics is not going to be very effective - balance is the key. Remember to make a squad of players that have the same objective in mind. Sniper kits don't tend to mesh very well with Assault kits.
Squad Leaders are the only players who can directly communicate with the Commander and the troops. Any requests by normal troops must go through a Squad Leader before they can get to the Commander. It is even more important to remember to give orders to your squad. You can do this by pressing the T Key and then selecting your order.
The Rest of Us
If you're not a Squad Leader or a Commander, your job is to do all of their dirty work. Be sure to actually join a squad and communicate with
the other members. Follow the orders given to you. They may not be exactly what you want to do, but an organized squad in Battlefield 2
is the one that will be most effective. The lone soldier running around shooting will be the first one to die and the last on the leaderboard.