Squad tactics and tips 101

Mr. Redundant

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My observations for being a good squad member:

I decided it was high time I created a thread with some basic tips for those looking to work as a squad (been on my mind the last couple days). Tips garnered from time on the field with some really awesome Hl2.net people (you all know who you are)
This game is played and won by TEAMS, individuals are mere cannon fodder to an effective squad.

**disclaimer** I am no authority on the subject, I like to lead a squad and be a member of a squad, and these are merely some things to keep in mind when out on the field.**disclaimer**


Squad leaders:


*Communicate with your commander via the commander voip channel (default key binding is "V"), tell him your squad number before you relay an order or request (as it will make it easier to know what squad you command, commander only sees your name, not what squad you are in, when you talk), and let him know what your squad is doing.

*Always keep things focused, press caps-lock to bring up your squad menu, and place orders as to what you want your squad to do, that way they have a visual cue as to what they need to accomplish.

*take the initiative. if you see that other squads have flags secured, but say the hotel is weak, order your squad to move in and defend.

*Keep in mind NOT to use vehicles that do not have enough seats for your squad to spawn in on, there is NOTHING more irritating than having a squad leader you cannot spawn on, because they are having a good old time in a 1 seater jet.
on the flip side of that coin, grab APCs and BLackhawks whenever you get the chance, as these have 6 seats and your squad can spawn directly into some armor.(that is unless you cannot fly/drive effectively)

*Keep an eye on your squad's kits, make sure you have the right classes for an effective squad, six medics or 3 spec ops is not needed. a good squad combo is at least 1 Medic, 1 Support, 1 Spec-Ops and 1 Anti-Tank and you can round out the rest of the squad with whatever is needed at the time, but make sure you have those 4 key classes, or prepare to fail.

*At all times remember that your squad can spawn in on you, and act accordingly.. retreat, regroup and annihilate.
Rushing into the action is great fun, but when you are wiped out along with your squad, it gives the enemy repreave and most likely you will have a long distance to travel back to your objective.

Squad Member - Medic:

*your first priority is your squad leader, keeping him on his feet should be your primary concern, as he can spawn in the entire squad.

*Make logical decisions as to who to save and when.
it might be awesome (and your buds will appreciate it) if you run out and ressucitate a fallen squaddy after he gets mowed down by a tank's mounted cannon.... but why not wait until that tank has moved, or shifts focus. there is no point in giving him a two for one ;)
and on the flip side of that, you are a medic you should be throwing yourself into enemy fire to revive your squad, just make intellegent decisions on when you should be doing that.

*When in a battle, pinned down, or simply taking an area.. setup a mini health station. throw out med kits as soon as they recharge, this will make it easier for your squad to advance, and if you aren't around they can nab some health that you left for them.

*If you are a medic, you should NEVER EVER have to be asked for health. it's your job, your duty as your chosen class to have that health kit out and heal your squad as they battle. again don't wait to be asked for health, take the initiative and fullfill your role.


Squad Member - Support:

*Your M249 is next to useless as a combat weapon, even in single shots and bursts the accuracy is nill at long range, horrible at medium, and decent at close range.
however you need to approach the class with the realization that your gun is for SUPPRESSION, keeping the enemy back, and wearing down their health.
(most of my points come from damage assists rather than kills. this is not a bad thing, and should not be thought of as such)

*Elevation is your friend, Hills, Silos, Cranes, Building roofs.. anywhere that lets you rain hot lead down on your enemy and keep them occupied is where you need to be.

*As with a medic, you should NEVER EVER have to be asked for ammo, don't wait until your squad is running dry, CONSTANTLY throw down ammo and have your ammo kit out while your squad is fighting or has downtime (legging it to another flag etc)

*Also as with the medic, you need to create ammo stations when you are pinned down, taking a position etc.. throw ammo out everywhere you can when they recharge, this makes it easier not only for your squad, but your teammates who might not have a squad.

*Grenades! use them, and use them often! remember your primary weapon is next to useless for infantry combat (when not used in a suppression role) instead rely on the fact you can lob 5 grenades, and can rearm yourself with a press of a button :) (unlimited nadeage)

Squad Member - Sniper:

*here again (as with the Support) Elevation is your greatest ally, Buildings, cranes, Hills (especially grassy hills where you can blend in) are where you need to be.

*Keep in mind this is NOT COUNTER-STRIKE, you will not be racking up the kills with your rifle from miles away.
in fact that's the very opposite of what the sniper should be used for... snipers make excellent spotters (use your popup rose and select spotted), and it is definately much harder to make a kill in BF2 regardless of no scope sway.. simply because most units are body armored and can take anywhere from 2-4 hits to take down (and the random innacuracy on the rifle makes things even worse).that being said, Pick your targets, use your rifle to pick off weakened enemies that your squad is engaging, or weaker classes (like the medic, spec-ops other snipers and Engineers who have no body armor)

*Snipers make good solo/lone wolf classes, I would not recommend having a sniper in a well ballanced squad as you want to be with your men at all times, a sniper can spot just as well without being in your squad.

*You carry 2 Claymore anti-personnel mines, place them facing ladders leading to your position, or doorways etc. (a lot of people don't realize they have these) the claymore is like a proximity mine (but will go off even if you or your team goes in front of it), when something passes in front of it, BLAM very effective.

Squad Member - Anti-Tank:

*you are the most effective anti-armor weapon in the game. with all the cover in BF2 (from buildings to barrels and foliage) taking out a tank has never been easier. you should be popping up from cover take your shot, start reloading, sprint (reloads while sprinting) to another area and hit the tank again, rinse repeat.

*Your sub machine gun is next to useless in combat, you are the only infantry that can take out armor, and like a game like C&C your sub machinegun is extremely useless for anything besides a melee weapon (lol). stick closely to your squad and realize what your role is, you are as screwed when you see infantry and you have no anti-infantry backup, as your squad is when they see a tank rolling towards them when they are legging it to another spawn point.

*Your rockets are useless against infantry unless you score a direct hit (which is easier than it sounds) there is NO splash damage from your rockets (this is for gameplay), or at least it's so little you can fire a missile an inch away from infantry and they won't even have a scratch on em.

Squad Member - Spec-Ops:

*Get in a boat and head towards the enemy HQ, you are the only class that does not show up on radar, and the only class that can blow up the enemy commander's UAV hut (therefore depriving him of UAV drone scans) Artillery (he cannot hit your team with artillery fire) and Radar (commander cannot launch scans for your units)

*Most things take 2 C4 charges to destroy (c4, UAVhut, Radar, tanks, etc) Bridges take 4. make sure you have a support infantry nearby (or in a pinch, commander supply drop) or else you will be running outta C4 in a hurry.

*take note of enemy movement and tactic patterns, and use your C4 to exploit them. (for instance placing c4 on the inside sides of the cracks in the walls at HOTEL, and blowing them up as infantry enter) (on the flip side, change up your own tactics often)


General tips:

*If you see armor spawn (tanks APCs etc) let your squad know to get into it, and take control of the asset. (armor can mean the difference between taking a flag and losing it)

*Stay with your squad at all times, make sure your squad leader is always your spawn point (by selecting the green bubble in the spawn menu).

*When faced with armor/snipers/choppers/bombers, Warn your squad and disperse, staying bunched up only guarantees you and your squad a swift death.

*Buy a mic and get on VOIP, I cannot stress this enough. the ingame communication is great, but really nothing beats VOIP for teamwork, as well as immersion.

*Whenever you see an enemy (any enemy, infantry/armor/air/etc) MARK IT with your command rose. when you use the SPOTTED circle to spot an enemy, they appear on radar for a short while, and is immediately visible to all members of your team (not just your squad) not enough people do this.

* when you see your squad is missing one of the 4 essential classes, let them all know you intend to change on your next spawn (and depending on the situation, you might want to suicide and spawn on your squad leader right then and there) don't worry about a score hit for suiciding, in fact don't worry about score at all... in this game all that matters is that your squad/team wins.

*If you plan on changing classes for some reason, LET YOUR SQUAD KNOW... orginization is key, no one minds changing, but if we don't know we have no medics, or no Anti-Tanks, things can get hairy.

*Use your grenades often, especially when on foot, throw nades at flags when they are trying to capture it.

*if your squad is taken down, GRAB A MEDIC KIT (from your dead medic most likely, or even an enemy medic) AND REVIVE YOUR SQUAD LEADER, I cannot tell you how important a tactic this is, and I have yet to see ANYONE besides myself do this.

*capture flags as a squad, the more men you have at a flag, the faster you can secure that flag, stop the ticking of your team's tickets and respawn there if needed.
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I reserve the right to add onto this later.

I have not added Assault or Engineer, as both classes are pretty self explanatory (and are not essential)

I hope this helps you guys out, special thanks goes to all the guys in my squad.
(thanks to Axyon for the sticky)
if you have your own tactics or tips please feel free to post them.
 
Awesome post, man!

Medic is my favorite class next to Assault. I rack up lots of kills with assault, doing some impressively long lobs with the grenade launcher, but with medic... I enjoy reviving my fallen comrades. I can't even count the number of times i've revived you, and vice versa Mr.Redundant :)
 
Fantastic guide, I'm sure it'll help greatly with those that need the info on basic teamwork and soforth - it helps them to play, and overall effects the performance of our squads!

Just one thing to note about the Assault role - its smoke grenades are incredibly useful with assaults, distractions and screens for movement. Just thought I'd mention it :)
 
Axyon said:
Fantastic guide, I'm sure it'll help greatly with those that need the info on basic teamwork and soforth - it helps them to play, and overall effects the performance of our squads!

Just one thing to note about the Assault role - its smoke grenades are incredibly useful with assaults, distractions and screens for movement. Just thought I'd mention it :)

yeah I noticed you throwing them when we took out the Comm buildings at the Airfield... I was like.. wow someone actually used it! awesome!
unfortunately besides that one instance no one ever has/does. :(
 
Mr. Redundant said:
yeah I noticed you throwing them when we took out the Comm buildings at the Airfield... I was like.. wow someone actually used it! awesome!
unfortunately besides that one instance no one ever has/does. :(
Yeah, I saw that smoke grenade too.

I wish they were as effective as they are in Counter-Strike source... the thickness, and spread of them.
 
This is brilliant, I can't remember who was leading earlier, but they rocked, we really did kick ass.
 
Anti-tank, that's me! :D
Thanks for the guide Redundant.
 
Mr. Redundant said:
*if your squad is taken down, GRAB A MEDIC KIT (from your dead medic most likely, or even an enemy medic) AND REVIVE YOUR SQUAD LEADER, I cannot tell you how important a tactic this is, and I have yet to see ANYONE besides myself do this.

You do this for me most of the time :D I don't think I've been in a squad where the squad leader is medic except when I'm the leader.

You also mentioned the spotting feature. Not enough people spot enemy forces. Some people just say, "enemy apc" and don't spot it leaving squadmates looking around for where it could be. Spotting is very simple. All you have to do is press "Q" (default) then click the center circle to spot something you're aiming at.

I'd like to point out sime things about helicopters.

Helicopter Pilots

*In the attack helicopters on either side. To be as effective as possible bring a gunner with you (preferably in your squad for voice comm.). The gunner can be much more effective against ground units than you can.

*When attacking enemies at a control point be sure to hover as level and steady as you can so your gunner can use the machine gun or TV-guided missiles properly. It's pretty hard to make kills with the missiles when the pilot is just making attack runs with his rockets. Keep steady so your gunner can do his/her work.

*When attacking control points make sure to destroy the Stinger emplacement ASAP (either in an initial pass with rockets or direct your gunner to destroy it with a tv missile). When you're hovering near the control point it only takes two quick stinger missiles to take you and your gunner down.

*If your lock-on warning does go off. Take proper evasive action. If you know where the lock is coming from, take evasive action at a perpendicular angle. If you're at a right angle from the attacker moving relatively quickly the missile will most likely miss. Flares aren't even needed 80% of the time. I drop flares if the attacker is very close and I don't think I'll be able to take proper action in time.

Shooting Down Helicoptersp

I've heard numerous complaints saying that AA weapons are worthless...hopefully this will help those that have trouble with the stinger emplacements.

*If you're at a stinger emplacement, don't just fire as soon as you get lock. Chances are the helicopter is moving in a manner that your missiles will only be wasted and give away your position. Wait for the proper time. Sometimes just getting lock will cause the helicopter to panic and drop flares taking wild action. I like to bluff like this making the helo use his only defense early while I wait for the proper shot.

*The Proper Shot - Most people just get lock and fire their missiles right away only to find that their missiles barely miss the tail of the helo. The slower the helicopter is moving on a perpindicular axis to you the easier you'll be able to hit them. Obviously a hovering helicopter will be easy prey. A helicopter charging you or flying directly away from you will also be simple to take down. Say there's a helicopter moving across your view almost completely perpendicular to you. You jump into the stinger seat and get lock. The helicopter pilot has various choices now. He'll probably drop flares fearing an imminent missile coming his way. He'll either speed up his forward movement (bad for you :(), try and swerve off to his left or right (towards or away from you - slower perpendicular movement = better chance of missile hitting :)), or he'll tip his nose skyward trying to back out of the missile attack (when he's pretty much stopped is the best chance you can get :D). Two quick missiles as the helo turns towards you, away from you or backwards will be your best bet to take one down.
 
damn good guide. can't wait for this damn 1 hour limit on my comp time to be lifted so we can get back into some heavy squadding :D
 
some great info Amish/Redundant, thanks for your posts they should help us in the field :), i'm always available for a game if i'm on xfire : babyheadcrab

again amazing posts guys, keep up the good work. :) we should make a wikipedia entry or clan website like i've seen on shacknews and other game sites. see ya'll on the field.
 
Absolutely excellent guide, with really essential and relevant info!

The only thing I would add is helicopter tactics; when you're flying a Blackhawk, make sure the enemy can never get behind you, because that means the gunners are useless and you're an easy target. In the same respect, you should always favour your gunner when in an attack chopper- there's nothing more annoying that a pilot who keeps swerving away from the plane you're bringing down. It's easier that it sounds; whenever I try and point my gunner in the right direction, I end up losing the enemy, and usually spinning all around the place looking like an idiot.

Also, I have a question... how do you control the Helicopter guided missiles? They're a gunner's best friend against tanks, but I can never steer the thing- it just flies off and explodes on its own :(
 
Little tip, if you're in a helicopter; an extremely effective (if a little risky) method to evade a lock is to fly extremely low and fast. With all the varied terrain and buildings in the way in this game the enemy (on the ground) will have an extremely hard time following you with a lock. :)

The same applies for enemy jets, most pilots are unwilling to follow you so low. Also, if there is a lock on you dont imediatly drop the flairs. Wait a second or so, otherwise its just a waste in my experience :)




Also, I disagree about what Mr Red said about the support class's weapon being useless. Its extremely effective at close range (when taking flags for instance) and very usefull at medium range and is still pretty accurate. I've even taken out a sniper with one from one beach base to the other. :)



Also, if your a special ops guy and see an incoming squad or army on the flag your at and don't stand a chance of holding the position on your own... I have developed a nasty little trick :p

Simply place all your expolosives over the flag, in the buildings and in the general area. Then retreat, wait until the flag goes white and detonate. :p then simply go and take back the flag.
I've used this to great affect a number of times :D
 
I've used Marksman's C4 technique, It's really good, Similarly if you're a sniper, a Claymore can ruin someones day :)
 
You should describe exactly how one can check the squads and join one if there is room. Also how to create one themselves.
 
Fishlore said:
You should describe exactly how one can check the squads and join one if there is room. Also how to create one themselves.

Squad Screen

*To create a regular squad, simply press Caps Lock (default) to open up the squad screen. All the current squads are listed on the left. You can just press the create button to create a regular squad. The squad names follow the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc - Of course it will only get to Juliet because there is a maximum of 10 squads on a team). When you're in a squad you can just press Caps Lock to see who is in your squad (squad leader has the squad number beside his name).

*To create a custom-named squad (Such as HL2.NET), press the Custom Squad button at the bottom left on the squad screen. You can then name your squad anything you want. There is also a small padlock you can click to make the squad private. In a private squad, you must be invited into the squad (to accept press Page Up once the notification pops op in the lower left portion of your screen) or you must click the Join button beside the squad you want to join and the squad leader must approve your request (Page Up).

*To manage your squad there is a button at the bottom (right next to Custom Squad). Pressing Manage Squad will open up another window to the right with the names of players in your squad (you have the ability to kick them from your squad) and below that there is a list of all other players currently unassigned. You can click check boxes beside their names to invite players to join your squad.

*If you want to join a squad, simply press Caps Lock to open up the squad screen and click the Join button next to the squad you wish to join. If the squad isn't private you will instantly join that squad. If it's private it sends the squad leader the option to accept or deny you access. If you wish to join a private squad please invite yourself and if you are from HL2.NET please announce it in chat. Inviting yourself makes it easier on the squad leader because they won't have to go into the squad screen to pick out players and invite them. Announcing that you're from HL2.NET helps because lots of you have changed nicknames from your forum names and there are tons of people out there not from HL2.NET trying to join our squads.

*To give orders to your squad you can open up the squad screen, right-click on the map anywhere and any option you need will pop up. This is for orders that aren't in your immediate area (for those you can just use the T interface).
 
Hope you don't mind me adding on.

Squad Member - Sniper:

*The best way to effectively operate as a sniper is to form your own "sniper" squad. This is because snipers are much more efficient at camping flags about to be captured from a distance than at capturing flags themselves. Let your commander know you want him to order you around flags where he can see incoming enemies.

* The key to being an effective sniper is to be patient. As stated already, unlike in counter-strike, you aren’t going to easily rack up kills. The importance of the sniper is not how many kills he gets, but which ones. It is much more desirable for a sniper to camp an endangered flag for 5 minutes, even with only few enemies coming in, than for him to run around the map killing a lot of random people. As a squad loner, you have complete freedom of position. In addition, snipers are nearly unspottable. Choose a good spot and stay, only relocate when necessary.

*Shoot in front of running targets! Not because battlefield 2 has a realistic balistics calculation that makes the bullet go slowly from on point to another, but because of latency. If you've ever played call of duty seriously, you know you should shoot at least a persons width in front of a running soldier. It may seem wierd at first, but experiment with how far you shoot in front of people and watch for the diagonal crosshair animation that announces a hit.


Squad Member - Assault:

*Since the assault class has such a powerful weapon and body armor, your sole purpose in life immediately changes to kill as many people as possible, and as fast as possible. You should always follow your squad. A good assault member with good aim and strategy can make a huge difference, for he has the best medium-long range weapon (the m16) and the most powerful medium-close range anti-personel grenade launcher.

*Make sure you use as many grenades as possible. Although getting the curve and aiming right can seem difficult at the beginning, you will be able to make very impressive shots in no time. Grenades are great for taking out enemies behind corners, buggies, and in those desperate situation where you actually run nose to nose with an enemy (in that case, aim the grenade slightly behind them).

* In order for your kills to be any useful it’s crucial that you use your weapon to cover your squad at all times. Same as the sniper, do not go off an kill random enemies, eliminate threats. If you see two enemies, and one of them is shooting at your squadmates, while the other is taking care of blues, the choice should be automatic.

(I personally think smoke is completely useless, so if anyone wants to add that on, be my guest)


Squad Member - Engineer:

* Although anyone who’s played RTCW or its expansion Enemy Territory knows engineer was by far the most important class, the engineer has become, mayhap debatably, the most useless class in Battlefield 2. The reason being is that the commander can drop supplies, which repair as fast as the engineer without the risk of being killed. Hence my first tip: pick engineer only when it is needed, you’d be much more helpful picking one of the four essentials.

* Now the commander has been whining about a lack of engineer for the past 10 minutes, maybe it’s time to reconsider the above. As an engineer, you should split of your squad so that the commander doesn’t have to order an entire squad to repair the UAV drone at the back of your base. That would be a waste of time and resources. Since your weapon is fairly weak, getting an assault or medic in your squad would be a good idea.

* If, instead, the squad leader has been whining about a lack of engineer, you should stay in your squad and occupy your principal squad transportation. Especially in popular squad transports such as APCs and Hawks, having an engy repair the vehicle while being able to shoot down enemies can mean the difference between base spawn and practically close spawn for your mates.

* It’s important you use up all your mines. The mines seem to be a fairly undervalued weapon, but if placed right, they can easily take down infantry’s worst fear. Watch where enemy tanks often maneuver, and place them at choke points and entrances. Tanks are incredibly deadly as they can take on entire squads guarding a flag. Taking tanks down before they even start to shoot is one of the engineer’s best capabilities.
 
marksmanHL2 :) said:
Also, I disagree about what Mr Red said about the support class's weapon being useless. Its extremely effective at close range (when taking flags for instance) and very usefull at medium range and is still pretty accurate. I've even taken out a sniper with one from one beach base to the other. :)

I have done that many times, however in comparison to other weapons, and the fact that sniper could have taken you out in one shot, the support weapon is usually frowned upon.

the point was to teach people to use the weapon in an effective way, suppression, ask my squad... using the weapon in this manner is the real way to go.

the accuracy is horrible, and always random no matter if you have ironsights and are prone and aren't moving.. and taking single shots.
the gun isn't supposed to be the devestating MG you find in other games, like DOD.

that being said, of course you can kill people, I kill em all the time with my SAW, but getting close and spraying is a desperation move, covering your squad is a much more effective TEAM role.
which is what my guide was meant to be all about :)

awesome additions AmishSlayer and TheSomeone :)

and TheSomeone LOL at your sig "I got the blues" haha
 
Mr. Redundant said:
I have done that many times, however in comparison to other weapons, and the fact that sniper could have taken you out in one shot, the support weapon is usually frowned upon.

the point was to teach people to use the weapon in an effective way, suppression, ask my squad... using the weapon in this manner is the real way to go.

the accuracy is horrible, and always random no matter if you have ironsights and are prone and aren't moving.. and taking single shots.
the gun isn't supposed to be the devestating MG you find in other games, like DOD.

that being said, of course you can kill people, I kill em all the time with my SAW, but getting close and spraying is a desperation move, covering your squad is a much more effective TEAM role.
which is what my guide was meant to be all about :)

awesome additions AmishSlayer and TheSomeone :)

and TheSomeone LOL at your sig "I got the blues" haha


Well yah :p I was just thought it would be nice to point out its not completely useless :p After all, i'm sure we could all do with a few more people carrying ammo about lol...


And btw, the sniper was aiming at me, I hit him before he could get his second shot off :p
 
If you're an Engineer I would recommend that you save one mine for those "oh shit" moments where a tank gets in really close to your squad... unless, of course, you just can't possibly protect the entrances without the use of that one last mine. In my experience, if you can get close enough to the tank to throw a mine on the roof it will be destroyed when it moves in any direction (for example, to chase you around the corner after you run away), whereas throwing a mine down next to the tank usually gives it at least one escape route. It's can be a lifesaver when the AT guy gets blown to bits. I've done it at least five times, so far.
 
Helicopter Basics
1) First and foremost, invert your controls in the aircraft section of options. Go to Options>Controls>Aircraft and check invert controls. This will make it easier to fly both planes and helicopters.
2) Take time to practice. Don't go onto a server as a complete pilot novice and expect to fly. Start your own server, and fly around for a bit. Practice landings and hovering.
Flying
1) Start the engine going by pressing the "W" key. This will increase the speed and bring you higher. The HUD will show how fast and how high you are by the left and right bars. The left bar is engine power/speed and the right bar is altitude.
2) Wait until the engine is fully revved before you move out. Get a few meters in the air and then move your mouse, slowly[/B,] in a downward direction. Only move it slightly, however. This will get you moving foward, but it will decrease your altitude because your nose is facing donwards. To compensate, keep your finger down on the "W" key to keep your altitude high.
3) You should be moving foward now, good. So now what? Try turning in the helicopter, of course. This is done by a comination of mouse movement and the "A" and "D" keys. When turning, only move the mouse slightly and slowly. Jet pilots move the mouse over like crazy. Doing this will result in a total loss of control that only experience pilots can get out of. Move the mouse so that the horizon is titled very little. Now, press the "A" or "D" key, depending on what direction you want to turn.
4) Practice turning and doing 180 degree turns. This will help when you get locked onto by a missle later in the game.
5) To slow down and decrease altitude, release the "W" key and press the "S" key. This will come in handy when being chased by a jet and when you have to land on a dime.
Landing
1) Oh boy, landing. This has got to be the hardest feat in BF2 next to flying a helicopter. It's not hard, but doing it properly and flawlessly takes practice and determination.
2) First, slow the hell down. Do this by releasing "W" or holding "S", as stated above. When you see the spot you would like to land on, slow down and anticipate how to approach it. Maneuver youself by turning, if necessary.
3) Keep your nose down while approaching and make sure that it's not too far down. This will cause a crash at such a low altitude. When you get within 10 feet of the landing zone, pull up slowly so that your crosshair is on the horizon of the HUD. This should stop the helicopter dead in its tracks. If it doesn't, then you are going to fast. As a remedy, pull the crosshair up a little bit above the horizon until it stops.
4) Continue holding "S" and you will know when you landed when the screen bounces just slightly.
5) Congratulations! You landed. This will pay off when you are complemented by your troops on your tight landing.

Warnings

1) Know the size of your helicopter. Pick a landing sight that is not too small. If it is, you will probably hit something and damage your chopper. Bigger is better.
2) Don't land on your troops, if your are making a pickup. Land next to them.
3) Be swift and silent. The good thing about choppers is that they can land in tight places. However, your cover could be blown if you go in with both gunners shooting everything. Land, drop, and get out of there.
4) Watch out for that tree! (Also known as, don't fly too low.) Trees are taller than you think, fly low to avoid entanglements, but not too low.
5) Be courteous. You're not the only pilot out there. Don't hog helicopters. Ask around if anyone wants to fly. If you are good enough, they will probably say no.

Ok, that's all I can think of. Hopefully this will end your days of being a landlubber or a sealubber. Pilots are cool-ass-mother****ers! Hope to see you in the sky!
Advanced section: Coming tomorrow.
 
ray_MAN said:
Helicopter Basics
1) First and foremost, invert your controls in the aircraft section of options. Go to Options>Controls>Aircraft and check invert controls. This will make it easier to fly both planes and helicopters.
2) Take time to practice. Don't go onto a server as a complete pilot novice and expect to fly. Start your own server, and fly around for a bit. Practice landings and hovering.
Flying
1) Start the engine going by pressing the "W" key. This will increase the speed and bring you higher. The HUD will show how fast and how high you are by the left and right bars. The left bar is engine power/speed and the right bar is altitude.
2) Wait until the engine is fully revved before you move out. Get a few meters in the air and then move your mouse, slowly[/B,] in a downward direction. Only move it slightly, however. This will get you moving foward, but it will decrease your altitude because your nose is facing donwards. To compensate, keep your finger down on the "W" key to keep your altitude high.
3) You should be moving foward now, good. So now what? Try turning in the helicopter, of course. This is done by a comination of mouse movement and the "A" and "D" keys. When turning, only move the mouse slightly and slowly. Jet pilots move the mouse over like crazy. Doing this will result in a total loss of control that only experience pilots can get out of. Move the mouse so that the horizon is titled very little. Now, press the "A" or "D" key, depending on what direction you want to turn.
4) Practice turning and doing 180 degree turns. This will help when you get locked onto by a missle later in the game.
5) To slow down and decrease altitude, release the "W" key and press the "S" key. This will come in handy when being chased by a jet and when you have to land on a dime.
Landing
1) Oh boy, landing. This has got to be the hardest feat in BF2 next to flying a helicopter. It's not hard, but doing it properly and flawlessly takes practice and determination.
2) First, slow the hell down. Do this by releasing "W" or holding "S", as stated above. When you see the spot you would like to land on, slow down and anticipate how to approach it. Maneuver youself by turning, if necessary.
3) Keep your nose down while approaching and make sure that it's not too far down. This will cause a crash at such a low altitude. When you get within 10 feet of the landing zone, pull up slowly so that your crosshair is on the horizon of the HUD. This should stop the helicopter dead in its tracks. If it doesn't, then you are going to fast. As a remedy, pull the crosshair up a little bit above the horizon until it stops.
4) Continue holding "S" and you will know when you landed when the screen bounces just slightly.
5) Congratulations! You landed. This will pay off when you are complemented by your troops on your tight landing.

Warnings

1) Know the size of your helicopter. Pick a landing sight that is not too small. If it is, you will probably hit something and damage your chopper. Bigger is better.
2) Don't land on your troops, if your are making a pickup. Land next to them.
3) Be swift and silent. The good thing about choppers is that they can land in tight places. However, your cover could be blown if you go in with both gunners shooting everything. Land, drop, and get out of there.
4) Watch out for that tree! (Also known as, don't fly too low.) Trees are taller than you think, fly low to avoid entanglements, but not too low.
5) Be courteous. You're not the only pilot out there. Don't hog helicopters. Ask around if anyone wants to fly. If you are good enough, they will probably say no.

Ok, that's all I can think of. Hopefully this will end your days of being a landlubber or a sealubber. Pilots are cool-ass-mother****ers! Hope to see you in the sky!
Advanced section: Coming tomorrow.


Man, nice guide - I'm glad I've got a joystick :)
 
I have a joystick as well, but I have no idea how to get it work. I also don't want to know because I've pretty much mastered keyboarding it. :p Oh, and thanks. :D
 
and don't forget to drop your tank's smoke grenade!!
 
For medics, remember you can heal yourself, by just holding out the medpac in front of you. Also, after using the defibrillator, make sure you 'reload' it (you rub the contacts together) later on. If you're in a tight situation and you're trying to revive someone, and you pull the defib out without having 'reloaded' it, it will immediately reload, costing you those precious seconds to save your fallen comrade.
 
Thanks for the guides everyone im sure this will help others and myself.
Playing as a TEAM makes this game that much more realistic and intense.. REALLY
 
SixThree said:
and don't forget to drop your tank's smoke grenade!!

Tanks have smoke grenades? Dear god, I never even used that. I forget what I bound that key to. LOL
 
thanks for the awesome guides Redundant, Someone, Slayer, Ray. I'm finally getting a feel for the heli's with my logitech joystick >.<
One question! I opened the second weapons in the 16 player maps but I can't use them on the 32 player maps? Is that normal? Or do I have to get more kills or something hMmm
 
just a general tip for medics.
always try to revive someone at the waist/butt. (the center of the player model)
 
Mr. Redundant said:
just a general tip for medics.
always try to revive someone at the waist/butt. (the center of the player model)

It makes it feel all tingly around the pee-pee.
 
Raziaar said:
Tanks have smoke grenades? Dear god, I never even used that. I forget what I bound that key to. LOL

Same key as countmeasures for flying stuff. Smoke can be handy with tanks, as apart from hiding yourself from anti tank guys who wont be able to see directly where you are in the smoke, if you got a squad of guys with you, this will give them fantastic cover.
 
:O I always play as Spec-ops, I never knew they don't show up on radar! :LOL: . Hmm and where are UAV pubs located at? I want to try doing the things you've listed.
 
Base jumping can completely overwhelm an enemy. All the squad leader needs to do is sit on top of the crane or the hotel and his squad can somply spawn and drop down over and over, It is a guaranteed flag cap since all the squad leader needs to do is watch the ladder and no one can get him.

Also...shift is the default boost for vehicles, try it out!
 
Bleh I'm too tired to format the text to match, but here is my addition for the Sniper Class.

--- Remember that where the center of your scope is, is not where your bullet will be at long distance!!! Bullets curve in the game, so aim higher than you normally would. I suggest getting a buddy in a private game (1v1 private match) so you can test this out. Combine this with lag, and you need to aim ahead and above your target! This is very crucial so you don't waste bullets.

--- To add to this, the best shot to take, is when they are standing straight up and towards you, as you have more surface area to hit. With the added surface area in the vertical direction, you don't have to worry too much about the bullet curving down as there is a high chance it will hit him somewhere since there is so much of him being revealed.

--- Wait for your targets to come to you. Do not move around to get a shot, as the shot will most likely be gone. Sure rotating and moving very little in prone is okay, but don't run to the other side of a building to get a shot off, unless it's 100% necessary... This will totally blow your cover (the eye focuses on motion no matter how small)... I would rather miss one target, than get my hiding spot found and me getting killed (which means you must find a new spot). This brings us to the next point.

--- Vary your hiding spots!!! The maps are huge, and there is tons of grass and terrain... Don't just sit up in that crane because that is a spot most counter-snipers will look right away... Hide up in hills, obscure buildings, etc etc... Keep them guessing! If you die, don't go to the same spot again, as the counter-sniper will probably look there often thinking you will return...

--- Keep your team informed! This was said already, but it needs to be said again.... As a sniper you can see a lot of the battlefield and doing Q -> Mouse Click is really simple and lets your teammates know where the enemy is... Before taking any sniper shot I always report my target in, because if I don't kill him, at least my teammates can try or they can flank him while I'm sniping him, and kill him anyways... Sure I might not get a kill point, maybe a kill assist, but that doesn't matter... Oh, and it's essential to spam these things ;) Report everything!

<3
 
--- Keep your team informed! This was said already, but it needs to be said again.... As a sniper you can see a lot of the battlefield and doing Q -> Mouse Click is really simple and lets your teammates know where the enemy is... Before taking any sniper shot I always report my target in, because if I don't kill him, at least my teammates can try or they can flank him while I'm sniping him, and kill him anyways... Sure I might not get a kill point, maybe a kill assist, but that doesn't matter... Oh, and it's essential to spam these things Report everything!

Sure, but remember to look at the minimap as well! Reporting stuff is useless if no one else is paying attention!

Some tips...

Contrary to big ego opinion, you are not rambo. Do not try and take on 10 enemy units by yourself if you're not in at LEAST an Abrams.

While being a medic, revive your troops at any cost, including your own life.
 
TheSomeone said:
I seriously doubt bullets curve in BF2.



I dont think there is bullet drop as such....

But if the enemy is lieing down you do have to aim slightly above them. I think its more a hitbox problem than balistics lol. I've tested it (Not extensively mind.. i might be wrong) but its quite possible to aim at someones foot whos standing at extreme distances and hit it (Ie no bullet drop).

Btw, I am saying aiming for the foot because you can hardly test bullet drop by aiming at the top of a person, of course its gona hit.. it will fall onto a lower part of the body :p




Hope that makes sense.... :thumbs:
 
Even though it's been said that bullets don't actually travel in BF2, I could swear if you watch a single tracer from the tank MG you'll see it fly and then impact on whatever you're shooting. It won't hit instantly with the tracer lagging behind.

Probably just me.
 
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