Alright, I've seen people complain, moan, groan, and cuss out commanders without realizing a few simple things, which put the commander in the right. So, I decided to make a little checklist of "Things To Make Sure You Did Before You Complain." Here we go:

Did you ask for a weapon and he said no? - Alright, I was a Comm and we were doing well, I was giving out proper requests, and I was busy helping my good marines take a hive. Meanwhile, a new guy was yelling "Give Me Shootgun!" We weren't exactly low on resources, but they were being spent on taking that hive, and I said "We can't afford it right now, go help out at the hive." Well, this guy thought "Hey, the Commander isn't doing what I say, lets boot him!" So he votes for me to be booted, and three other punks vote for it too. I get booted, totally surprised, and the veteran marines are screaming on the mikes "What the *BEEP* are you doing!?" while they are struggling to keep the hive secure. The newbie commander enters the comm station, and buys four shotguns. Meanwhile, we go though two more commanders before a good one gets in, goes to build that factory at the hive that could have been built seven minuets earlier, and lo and behold! We lost it, and three other resource points. Haha, guess what?! We lost the map!

Moral - Do not complain when a commander doesn't give you something you do not need.

Did you ask for heath or ammo, but didn't use the in-game GUI comm system? - Okay, we know you need health, but do you know how many marines we have? Do you know how big the map is? "I need health" just doesn't cut it. I would love, as a commander, so save your life, but, you need to use the in-game GUI system. That way, I can just hit my jump key, and go right to you.

Moral - If there is an in-game way of saying in, use it!

Did you not go to those blue points that kept coming up? - Before you can blame a commander, you have to do everything he says. If your whole team does everything he says to the best of your abilities, and you still lose, you can blame him. But, if your off playing "Rambo" not following orders, don't expect to get health or weapons from him. Not because he doesn't like you, but he is busy trying to get objectives accomplished with less people.

Moral - Go to waypoints, its your job.

My commander was some power hungry freak! Just kept giving orders - Hmmm, whats that title? Commander? Go look it up in a dictionary if you don' know what it means. Now, I'm not saying he should order you guys to do 100 jumping jacks, but when he says something, you need to do it. Remember, your only one player, you don't see what he sees. Do you know how much longer it would take to give out orders if he had to reason with you guys? "I need to you to move here, because there is a resource spot there, and if we take that one, we can take the other one just down the hallway from it, and it prevents the aliens from getting it, and gives us a better defensive position because...." Get my drift? Follow his orders, if he doesn't give out orders, should be complaining about that!

Moral - Listen, marine, and we should win.

He won't build a stupid <instert structure here> when I ask him too! - First of all, you should know the price list of everything. Weapons and Armor range between 20-35 resources, which you might not have, or the future resources already have been spent in the commanders mind for turrets and resource points. There are times when a commander does something stupid, or you got a newb in the chair, but sometimes you got a good one who knows what he is doing.

Moral - Patience, he can't do everything at once.
(Note To Comms: The word "Roger" is sooo critical in your part. If I ask for something, saying "Roger, on my way" or "Roger that, give me a minuet" lets them know you realize their request.)

Did you use the dreaded "H" word? - This word should be banned from Natrual Selection in my opinion, at least when talking to a commander. No, its not hell, its "here." Do you have any idea how useless this word is? "I need ammo here." "Need a resource extractor here." "Need a turret here." A commander sees the whole map, so "here" doesn't do any good. Use your in-game request order button. Be specific about your requests. A "put the turret right infront of these windows" works ten times better and faster then "here."

Have you ever been a Commander? - If you haven't ever been, then shut up. I know you have played StarCraft, but the comm system isn't as easy at those ones. Your Terrans also never yelled back at you with their problems. Players are a breed of people with little patience for error. Calm down, you won't win every game. Every Commander has a first time, I had mine. Believe it or not, your first time as a commander you learn a lot! (One thing being how unforgiving marines can be ;D) Just calm down, breath, and just play.

Moral - Unless you absolutly know you can do better, with experience to back it up, just calm down.

Now, you can complain if your are flawless in those areas. Yes, most players were not ment to command. Sometimes I wonder if I'm a good commander or not. Its hard. Everytime your in a huge battle with some fades, realize there are other battles going on, and that the commander has to focus on all of them.

Other quick tips:

- Just because we didn't hear you die, means you have to emulate it over voice com. "Uhhhh"s "Ahhhh"s "Ah Crap!"s and "Man! Where the heck did he come from?"s. Honestly, when I play, I say that a lot, but I don't hold down my "Voice Com" key.

- When calling in for something, don't be running around like an idiot around it to try and get a Comm's attention. Realize that we could, on accident, drop it on you, and you can get stuck.

- Be productful at ALL times. Think about what you are doing. Is it helping the team? Or are you a waste of a slot? Just because the Commander hasn't given you an order you have the right to run around or just sit at base. Go out and claim a resource point and relay your position, along with making a request through the GUI In-Game system. Your goal is to win, the commander helps guide you through it, but if you see a weakness, take it, don't wait for the commander to realize it too. Everyone on the team should be thinking, and productful comments only help a commander.

Anyways, just my two cents worth.

Few more tips I forgot to add:

- If you need a few men to follow you when your going into some heated areas, don't hesitate to say at base. "Hey! Need some guys to help me take a resource point!" Believe it or not, most players will help out with the team, just need some leaders. Like in another post somewhere on these forums, they calked about Sergents, or Co-Commanders. Those are just as valuable as a good commander. A lot of commanders are great builders and good assets, just don't order everyone around like others, so leaders among the ranks of the marines are great. Don't say "You, idiot, over there, come over here before I bonk ye on the head!" That doesn't work, but using kind words, you can get things done.

- Be supportive with the commander! I've seen people start to flame a commander at the very very get go. Usually its one person, and everyone thinking "Hey, most commanders are newbs" go along. Unless they place the Infantry Portals in horrible spots, it doesn't reflect that much on the commander. Being negative makes negative teamwork. Calling the commander a "Pompus Idiot" doesn't make him any better or help him find you any more, but distracts him from his duties to defend himself against your verbal attacks. I almost think verbal bullets from within the marines will destroy your chances of winning as much as a third hive.

Excellent This is something that everyone should read I think I speak for commanders everywhere when i say THANK YOU!!!! This is the best thing for any solder to read it explains a lot and tells how to improve

I honestly believe yelling at someone, soldier or commander, does no good. Telling them what is wrong, why, and how to improve is much better. Unfortunatly, you can't do that "in-game" at all. "Excuse me, mr Rabmo, but I really need you to defend this position. Running off is a bad idea by yourself, because Skulks, Fades, or a number of other slimy alien can have you for a pre-seige snack. Now, listening to the commander..." Thats why I would hope they all read the forums to learn how to do things. Seriously, I've learned a lot from these forums (Like Welders for Weapons?! Those things work wonders! ), and I hope other people can too, and I hope my few ideas help those people.

About the "H" word: Even if you're a good boy and use the menu commands, don't expect a response. In almost every game I've commanded, I get this "Needs ammo Sentry Gun Base under Health". I press space to find out WTF is going on, only to be jumped to an empty hallway. Those voice commands are great an all, but only help if the commander isn't getting flooded with 6 other commands at the same time. And it doesn't help to simply spam the order over and over again, chances are everyone else will be doing that too.

Which brings me to Inexorable's #1 rule of commanding: If you are not where I want you, you are not my problem. I have a limited amount of attention. This is usually divided between the main base, our forward base/staging area, and the front lines of the battle for a hive. If you are not in one of these three areas, I cannot be bothered to build you a resource node, drop health, or whatever other inane things you want. You, for all intents and purposes, do not exist. Get to one of those three locations and I will shower you with health, welders, HMGs, jetpacks and turrets. Wander off by yourself and I'll laugh to myself when I see "HungrySkulk chomped LoneMarine".

Actually it depends on the person but i suggest defending the area you are at if you are without orders...of course that depends on how many other marines are there doing the same. Just let the commander know so that he knows what he has in reserves and dont go crazy with it just a little voice com "commander im without orders so proceeding to defend base" will do. This is especially effective because the commander has someone defending base and if needed can drop him ha/hmg and send him through the portal in a hurry or even build his structures or help upgrade them. you know you can do that right? just hold use on an upgrading building becareful though too many people doing so damages the structure.

Man, you said it. I think you and I need to combine posts somehow and make the worlds largest list of little things the marines can do to make a big difference.

Don't know if you sawMy Post not too long ago, but I think it complements yours very nicely.

Amen paladin. I dont like commanding but that guide should be lived by. With a few changes

Ive posted those changes before so I wont bother now but, Im all for it.
Lost a few matches due to new players kicking good commanders because of no upgrade or no weapon when they want it.

Paladin knows how it be

*Applauds*

Now, we just to get every single marine that plays NS in here to read this and Prhreak's thread.

You get the thumbs up from Da Sarge, paladin. Next time I hear some n00b yelling "JJJOOOOOOOOOOO N00000000BBBBBBBB COMMANDUR!!!11111!! I WUNT MEH MHG NOW!!!" I will redirect him to your post. Well done.

No, those HMGs are NOT needed more than heavy armor.
Marines havve the tendancy to die. Really really fast. Why/how? 2 hit kills by skulks, and getting owned by fades. No way in hell you are getting out of the base with an expensive HMG, and then lose it two seconds later. HA>HMG when you have the funds.

No, we do NOT need HMGs when they only have one hive!
There is practically no difference between HMGs and LMGs when fighting skulks. It is FACT you dont need HMGs for fighting skulks, so stop whining.

No, I am not giving you an expensive jetpack+shotgun/GL
Like normal armor, you are fade/skulk fodder, but a little bit less skulk fodder. Still to much of a risky investment.

QUOTE

No, I am not giving you an expensive jetpack+shotgun/GL Like normal armor, you are fade/skulk fodder, but a little bit less skulk fodder. Still to much of a risky investment.

I agree with the GL part of that but man the jetpack + Hmg is a most excellent combanation. Most poeple say "no we need HA to go at em" and they get it, and they go at em, and they die from chambers and fades.

Me i say "i need hmg and jetpack" usualy get the jetpacks are dumb response but the few that do give me get to watch as i go vent hoping until im right behind said fades and chambers and watch HMG go owning.


Yes everyone with a pack is useless but you need some versitle poeple who can get around the map fast to where u need em, HA are just to dam slow.

Yeah, I find myself in that situation quite often myself... The problem is that I cant trust just anyone who wants one with one. :/ Ninja styling the vents CAN help, but only if you are a skilled player that can set up offensive turret farms quickly and easily.

I agree with paladdin, if only my soldiers would listen, stop complaining, knew how it is as a commander, use the menus, etc, my life would be so much easier. At the moment, I hate my soldiers and every game I consider selling all the structures and leaving just to spite them. It's been so long since I've played a good game as marines that I wonder if I'll ever have one again. I really like the concept of playing as marines with all their goodies but maybe I should just give it up and play aliens, just so I can win.

I'm personally a fan of the patented team Disco Inferno/ team Crouching marine, hidden GL.

A short summary:

Team Disco inferno storms accross the mpa, shooting up everything they can see and generally making more noise than the guests on Jerry Springer. The aliens all panic when they see the HA/HMG doom squad heading for them and throw everything they have at them. Meanwhile Team Crouching Marine, Hidden Gl senaks in through the vents and proceeds to volly some explosive justive into the nearest hive. By the time the aliens usually realise that they're under attack from the rear (usually when they can't go onos/fade anymore) it's too late and team Crouching is already setting up turrets and telepods.

More fun to set up turret farms in the middle of enemy hives... Plus you get to keep the captured hive once you waste everything in it. To keep it quiet, make all the turrets 99% done, and then get em all active almost all at once. The aliens simply cannot react that fast...

Haha, I love that stratagy, because they will be on you as soon as that first bullet hits the hive, so it needs to go out quick with a base already to go.

Outstanding work paladin. of all the things that needed to be posted. As is I can't agree with you more. Marines, for the love of god...I'm doing 5 things at once ALL the time. Having you tell me...I need health or ammo or something here. That just annoys me. Fortunatly I have a mic so I can at least then respond with...ok, you need health...you have to tell me where lad? I have almost every map memorized so all I need is a point of refence and you can have whatever you want.

As said before, the ability to jump to the GUI requests is very helpful...unless I am getting 3 or 4 of them at the same time over and over and over. Any time ANYTHING happens in game...we commanders hear about it from the computer...usually repeatitly over and over again. Ask a commander how fun it is to have a resource node get attacked by a lone skulk for a full minute. Every ten seconds you get that annoying whiny computer voice telling you it's under attack...at times I just want to kill it myself. Remember...we may not be watching over you when you need something...it could take us a moment or two to find you on the map, or finish something we were doing right that second. Please don't go nuts because your request was not answered in 1.5 seconds.

For me, if my Marines request weapons or gear I have no problem dropping it to them if we have the RP's. You want a GL and a jet pack, ok, here...go nuts. I am assuming that if your asking for it, you are already proficent in it and it won't be a waste or RP's that could have gone to help the hive we are assualting. Don't be angry if you ask for HA and a HMG...walk around alone and die from something 45 seconds later and then a commander won't give you that again. Take your lumps and move on.

Good tips. As a marine I always try to follow orders. Last night I played a game where I spent the entire game in the base room defending against any marauding skulks that made it past the turret farms (as a skulk I know how easy - and fun -it is to sprint into an empty marine base and start chomping the commander) because the comm asked me to. We won as well, although I didn't see any of the main action.

There are still plenty of commanders out there who give *no* waypoints at all, or any other sort of orders. They still build resource towers, turrets etc. but it is all too often up to us poor grunts to try to work out what the hell the boss is up to.

Ancient chinese proverb: