Official Team/Squad Discussion

[TheGrandmaster]

In recent staff discussion, we've been talking a bit about this topic - it's something that could really help players to co-ordinate efforts better.
If an official squad system could be implemented, what would it be like? How would it work?

Would you have a menu of groups to choose, then request to join a group? Would you have group leaders, or would you keep everyone having the same abilities? What else could tie into a squad system - Airstrikes? How would the group attain these? What about being able to revive your fallen team-members? Waypoints? Commands? Enemy spotting?

We'd like your opinions on this, since it's something that's to be implemented at some point.

[Squeal]

Something that I had posted in the suggestions forum was that squads could co-ordinate themselves through markers, making basic communication easier and faster than typing. It would also break the language barrier.

I made a quick mock-up from someone else's image, a player could only place one of these markers at a time, and they would be visible to his squad.

[TheGeekZeke101]

If squads were implemented I would want:

-Spotting
-Revival
-Medkits
-Player Invites
-Callouts
-Ect

Spotting would be a cool feature. The idea you could see someone through your map using team mates would be a neat idea. Would make the maps more useful.

Personally, I would love to implement reviving. I made a post on Danhezee's thread as how I think it should work.

Medkits would be really awesome. Just think, you could place them, as in Battlefield, and use them as healing station.

Call outs would have to be the most important. To have a successful squad you need to communicate. You would have call outs like "Blue-Right" or "Green-Tunnel".

Player invites would HAVE to be mandatory for this. I remember the times I did end up making a pretty successful squad. It usually ended up with a Deuce joining and ruining the squad all together. Invites would be something a team leader accepted to from someone in-game.

All together this makes me interested in implementing this in a Leader-boards type thing. Having a squad section and given ranks for squads alone would be nice.

Something that I had posted in the suggestions forum was that squads could co-ordinate themselves through markers, making basic communication easier and faster than typing. It would also break the language barrier.

I made a quick mock-up from someone else's image, a player could only place one of these markers at a time, and they would be visible to his squad.

Looks great.

[HermanCain]

I like the idea of reviving but if your not revived by one of your squad then you don't spawn with them.

[CraftDinur]

I AM THE ONE WHO CAME UP WITH SPOTTING.

i don't liek it when people steal my ideas...
http://ace-spades.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=1853

[Th3blur22]

We need a real interface or menu to select or create squads, and it needs to appear when you enter a server. Also, would squad leaders be a good idea? Or is that too organized?

[IrishElf]

Zeke pretty much hit the nail on the head imo.

[Fluttershy]

Id just like the chime in the one thing I DONT want to see, which is respawning on the group leader/with the group. I feel like I shouldnt have to say why itd be a disaster when its already showing to be one.

[Squeal]

I AM THE ONE WHO CAME UP WITH SPOTTING.

i don't liek it when people steal my ideas...
http://ace-spades.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=1853

Unfortunately, those ideas are nothing new. Changing weapons in the tent, spotting, selecting airstrikes on the map have all been heavily suggested before. To be honest it is very rare to something new and worthwhile in the suggestions forum.

Back on topic, Zeke mentioned medkits being needed. I'd have to disagree, medkits that magically heal you when you step over them simply doesn't fit the slower tactical game-play of AoS.

Instead, I have been thinking about some form of stockpiles. They would work similar to tents, and have the appearance of ammo-boxes and medical supplies, their size determined by how many resources it holds. These piles will be decrease when used, to the point of removal when they run out of resources. Their would also need to be a method to resupply the stockpiles, although I have not thought that through.

As for revival, I'm not too sure about that either. I believe it also to be unfitting in the setting and game-play of Ace of Spades.

[Tigershield]

You ever played Battlefield 2,it has a great squad system.

We need battlefield 2 commo-rose

It's was the Q button if I remember correct, and call outs appeared, in a circle and in the middle of the circle there was the SPOT comand, you had loads of options like, MEDIC/AMMO/enemy on location X.

All members spawn on the squad leader (it will help agianst spawnkilling)

First = In the game 'Company of heroes', you could gian points by killing enemy units and taking control points. after a while you gained enough points to make a decision.you had the choise to specialise in ''command tree'' the ''Allies'' had Armor/Airborne/Infantry, doctrines.


Company of heroes doctrines
......................................
Infantry doctrine = is more focus on defense.
Armor doctrine = you get better armored vehicles (was slow to build up)but was important in the endgame.
Airborne doctrine = was good at distrupting control points and so fort

Offcourse the 'Axis' had there command trees to, called doctrines.


Now for the actual AOS squad system.

The player that creates a squad requires to name his squad.Let's say I open a squad called,Engineering.I focus on building fortications. So when your squad gains points (support points). The squad leader chooses a doctrine, like the above,for example AOS doctrine version.


AOS doctrine (they are not yet balanced,its just a brief idea.)
................

Engineering = gives the squad better building options,for example concrete blocks/mines.ect
Support = is the resuply squad. Can place ammo/medic tents/heavy stationary machineguns/mortar emplacements
ect..


If 2 squad work together they can support each other.whit there diferent doctrine.

The squad leader.can pres M and the big map show up he can place ''marker'' to where his squad needs to go(something like battlefield 2 comander options)

I hope you kinda understand the idea.

[TheGeekZeke101]

Back on topic, Zeke mentioned medkits being needed. I'd have to disagree, medkits that magically heal you when you step over them simply doesn't fit the slower tactical game-play of AoS.

Instead, I have been thinking about some form of stockpiles. They would work similar to tents, and have the appearance of ammo-boxes and medical supplies, their size determined by how many resources it holds. These piles will be decrease when used, to the point of removal when they run out of resources. Their would also need to be a method to resupply the stockpiles, although I have not thought that through.

I was looking more into a time consuming feature for medkits, but I prefer your idea.

I would probably estimate _____ for the ammo refills:

-25% Rifle Ammo

-30% Smg Ammo

-20% Shotgun Ammo

As for health refills I would estimate:

-25% 51/100

-35% 1-35/100

That, for me, sounds reasonable enough. Not enough to be OP and not so little to be weak. Though I am not sure how stockpiles would work. Would they be at a designated location? Could a squad member move them? I think it would be cool for a member to type in a coordinate for the location. You, Squeal?

[harmless]

So much yes.

An official squad menu that is easy to use like Battlefield would be the greatest thing ever. Battlefield is such a great game and has so many great features that I would love to see some day in AoS.

Spotting would be another great addition if done right.

Reviving and Ammo/Health packs would be freaking sweet.

I would not be upset one bit if this became a Battlefield clone lol

[Priok]

I don't think spotting would really fit in this game, it seems pretty easy to tell where people are already. but yeah, it might work if it's done correctly.

but yeah, for the squads, it should be more like in battlefield, where you can choose to spawn on the squad member or just spawn randomly/at your default spawn. medic kits would be fine, this game is getting more interesting with more weapons, before it was not as common to get hit by a bullet and survive, since it was mostly just headshots. I don't really like the squads, but if they're going to be in the game, there should be an option to spawn away from your squad without leaving it.

maybe a callout system would be nice, like V+# or something, that lets people know if there is an enemy nearby/or help needed in the feed, it doesn't have to be spoken

[Tai]

Something that I had posted in the suggestions forum was that squads could co-ordinate themselves through markers, making basic communication easier and faster than typing. It would also break the language barrier.

I made a quick mock-up from someone else's image, a player could only place one of these markers at a time, and they would be visible to his squad.

Like this idea for sure.

EDIT: On the other hand, I do NOT like all the ideas of making the game more like battlefield. If I wanted to play battlefield, I'd go play battlefield. Just make an officially supported version of the Pyspades squads, add Squeal's tool as an option, and be done with it.

[Tek2]

If squads were implemented I would want:

-Spotting

Spotting would be a cool feature. The idea you could see someone through your map using team mates would be a neat idea. Would make the maps more useful.

How would you make it so that it couldn't be abused to find hidden enemies?