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WELCOME BACK, COMMANDER In today's topic, I'll be going over the complete process of how to command in a PUG and providing you general tips on how to command effectively and thoroughly. This guide is intended for players who are new to commanding and are willingly to step up to the role. We'll go step-by-step on every detail we have to offer. Lets dive straight to the point, shall we? Topic 1 ——— General Rule of Thumb ——— 1. Use Your Map! 1. Using your map is the greatest tool you can have! This is by far the best way to get critical information on the battlefield, and see where enemies are attacking. By pressing M on your keyboard (by default settings), you will open up the big map and see the play areas the map offers. On the left side of the map, you can see the info box containing character classes and vehicles. This is incredibly useful to see what your teammates are assigned to/playing as. Image from in-game Renegade X 2. The dot with the ping circle outline represents you, the player. Nod players will be presented as a red dot, and GDI players will be presented as a gold/yellowish dot. You can also see a range of other identifiers such as base defenses (Guard Towers, Nod Turrets, etc), harvesters, player vehicles, and neutral structures (Silo, Communication Center, etc). Image from in-game Renegade X Important note for old and new players: since <<Patch 5.71.534>>, players can no longer see neutral vehicles in the enemy base. This was incredibly frustrating since players could predict a rush of APCs or tanks. If they're Q spotted or found by a Radar Scan/Spy Plane, they will show on the map however. 2. Which Target! 1. Killing the Weapons Factory/Airstrip or Barracks/Hand of Nod isn't the only way to cripple the enemy. Killing the Power Plant will slow down enemy production as vehicles and character classes are now expensive, and will put the Advanced Base Defenses (AGT/Obelisk) offline. ——— ——— However, never let your guard down or be too comfortable because you destroyed the Weapons Factory/Airstrip or Barracks/Hand of Nod. The enemy will always have a chance to rush you at any moment! Just because you lost your vehicle production or Refinery doesn't mean it's over. Never surrender when you still have options! Comebacks do exist! You just got to believe! ——— ——— Just be aware that now the Power Plant is destroyed, and the Advanced Base Defense isn't, don't destroy it! You'll be team hampering yourself and feed the enemy more amounts of CP (Commander Points)! When you lose a building, your CP tick increases allowing you to rush more often. High Economy Maps ——— ——— Destroying the enemy Refinery early game can be a huge blow and costly for the enemy as they no longer have a steady income of credits to buy vehicles or characters. Destroying the enemy Refinery late game can [possibly] be futile as the enemy team is now rich with credits. Playing the long game, however, can have it's pros and cons. ——— ——— Maps like Crash Site and Reservoir have a Power Plant, but no Advanced Base Defenses. By mid-to-late game, you should have a high amount of credits which means if the enemy destroys your Power Plant mid-to-late game, you should thank them. You now have a increase rate of CP (Commander Points) which you can use in rushes. Image from in-game Renegade X 2. Last but not least: destroy the enemy harvester! It is often very important early game to destroy the enemy harvester as a early game objective. Destroying the harvester will mark which team will succeed. Maps like Field X, Goldrush, and Mesa are good examples. If GDI's harvester is destroyed, they won't be able to push out Medium Tanks as quickly early game to hold the field. If both teams lose their harvester, Nod will have the upper hand as they're vehicles are faster and cheaper than GDI ones. ——— ——— If you're GDI and you manage to lose harvester early game on Field X, for example, tell your team to grab Gunners/Rocket Soliders to oppress early Nod vehicles such as Artys and Light Tanks. GDI MRLS are usually a bad way to take field early as they are not as good as Nod Artys. If you have confident and excellent tankers, then they are good to go on buying a MRLS. Don't forget to grab your dedicated repairs! 3. Support Powers! 1. Using support powers is a obvious must, especially when you need to Offensive Buff on the enemies Refinery. Don't be afraid to use [commander] support powers in the battlefield. If you know it's difficult to Q spot enemies, you can always drop a Radar Scan/Spy Plane in the battlefield or in their base. Using a Radar Scan/Spy Plane will waste 150 CP, but if your team is coordinated and able to kill the targets highlighted you'll get more CP than you did wasted. Don't get carried away and spend too much of it though. If you are going to Q spot or Radar Scan/Spy Plane, always call out your target and which target to hit! You're target will be numbered depending on how many you spotted. As a Commander, it is very important to always Q spot or your team won't know what to hit. Targets who are spotted are also going to appear on the map and mini-map! This goes back to the first point of Use Your Map! Most weaponry in-game doesn't allow you to Q spot targets very far. If you have Timed C4 or Remote C4 available in your inventory, switch over to that and you can Q spot far away than a common Assault Rifle or Laser Rifle. ——— ——— Communication Centers are also a good way to see where enemies are in your map. Maps such as Field X, Steppe, Darkside, Toxicity, and Outpost all contain a Communication Center that you can capture with a Repair Gun/Tool. Communication Centers are very useful for spotting rushes outside enemy territory so be sure to capture it to your advantage. Image from in-game Renegade X 2. Be careful using Cruise Missiles in-game as the enemy can shoot them down with a Rocket Soldier, Sydney/Raveshaw, or any vehicle if they have good aim. Most times, Sydneys and Raveshaws will be in the field to target the Cruise Missile with ease and without interruption. Cruise Missiles (depending on how you use it to your advantage) will 90% of the time fail feeding the enemy VP (Veteran Points) and waste of 800 CP for you. 10% of the time the enemy team will neglect, or too busy being focus, to shoot the Cruise Missile causing it to hit it's targets dealing massive damage to vehicles, one shotting infantry players and light armor vehicles while also giving you a crazy amount of CP and VP depending on your effectiveness and targets. ——— ——— Be aware of maps that contain Sam Sites/AA Towers as they can also shoot down Cruise Missiles, EMP Strikes, and Smoke Strikes. Some map examples include: Walls, Toxicity, Lakeside, and Whiteout (which is no longer in PUG rotation). 3. Using EMP Strikes on your enemies in tough situations in the field is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when their is abundant of vehicles. Even if the EMP Strike doesn't get any vehicles, it at least puts the enemy in a small panic causing them to fallback or push aggressively. However, don't spam it too much of it as it does cost 500 CP to use. Use it wisely! Then again, don’t underestimate Defensive Buffs. The EMP immunity is incredible for breaking past enemy anti-tank infantry. 4. All In or Nothing! 1. Every Commander always has a wild idea in their head that they think it will work in the start of the game. Meme Rushes or what most PUG players like to call Rule 7 is a gamble, a 50/50 chance it will work. If you believe your commander is making a strategic mistake, please do no hesitate to suggest a different strategy. But at the end of the day, they are the Commander so you must abide to their plan. ——— ——— Keep in mind, Meme Rushes are very risky and will likely fail in the start of the game. One team is going to have a very bad time so don't expect PUG Organizers/Moderators to re-balance the teams if it does or doesn't work out. 2. Always listen to the Commander and your team! Be a team player! Do not complain about the outcome as it doesn't help you or your team. Lowering your teams morale causes your team not to do well in the battlefield. Excessive whining or complaining will likely cause you to be muted or kicked from PUG by a PUG Organizer/Moderator. ——— ——— Lowering your teams morale will have negative consequences! Everyone will always have a different mood during pre-PUG. It's always best to keep your team in spirit and ensure the atmosphere is enjoyable for your team. Don't go overboard and start sh*ttalking the other team. Mental warfare can be a strategy to taunt the enemy team, but be respectful. Topic 2 ——— PRE-PUG ——— 1. Once you join the Waiting & Reserves voice channel in the public TA Discord server, PUG Organizer/Moderator will ask for a Commander who is willing to step up. Once you the Commander has stepped up- we'll move you down to the {redacted} channel where we'll then start our balancing. In the channel with PUG Organizer/Moderator, a coin toss (heads and tails) will determine who will get to pick first. The winner of the coin toss will get to pick first (obviously). As a Commander, you get to choose 3 picks if there is more than 40 players, or 2 picks if there is less than 40 players. In most cases, you'll get 3 picks since most people join late. ——— ——— Be wise about your picks! Choosing your friends is okay, but it's always best to choose players who are very good at their job. Of course, if your friend is very good at their job go ahead and choose them. 2. Once we balance you and your team, it is highly recommended you pick a dedicated Base Defender who is willing to, of course, base defend for you. The Base Defender is the person responsible (most times) for placing down Proxy Mines in buildings so sneakers won't sneak the buildings. You and your team have access to see the Mine Count on the left side of your screen (above your map) so you can call out mines if they go missing. Image from in-game Renegade X For more information about base defending, please refer to this guide here: n/a Topic 3 ——— EARLY GAME ——— 1. The game is starting and the map has been chosen. Before the match officially begins you have time to discuss with your team about your early game plan. This depends on the map and your teams spawn locations, but don't be afraid to call out individual players to do certain task. So for example on Field (low pop): Hand of Nod/Obelisk ---> Capture Tiberium Silo/Protect Harvester Airstrip/Refinery ---> Take the Infantry Tunnels Image from in-game Renegade X 2. Priority one for early game should be economy advantage so you must protect your harvester while also destroying theirs. If a Tiberium Silo is present in the map, also try to capture it. Depending on the map and your economy, organize and roll out types of AT/Tanks to contest the battlefield. The default for GDI is Medium Tanks/Gunners and for Nod it will be Artillery/Light Tanks/LCGs (Laser Chain Gunners). If GDI loses their harvester, Gunners will need to be called out or the team has to donate for early Medium Tanks. Don't forget your repairs! You can donate early after 3 minutes and 5 seconds. ——— ——— If you have Gunners/GDI Rockets rolling out, be sure to tell them to place AT Mines! AT Mines are very important as they stop and protect you from Stealth Tank rushes or any vehicle rushes in general. Image from in-game Renegade X ——— ——— If you control the economy, you control the game! Don't let the enemy team get a chance to breath or let them get a slight income of credits. But be careful, anything that gives you VP (veteran points) also gives you credits so make sure your team isn't feeding them. 3. When you look at your Overview Map (pressing M on your keyboard by default), it is your duty as the Commander to monitor the spread of your team. Ensure you have at least one player on every route so they can watch out for early Meme Rushes or infiltration catching you by surprise. If a player is requiring assistance on the Infantry Path as they know they can't handle it on their own, you need to tell your team to assist them. Same goes for the field if AT/Tanks need repairs or more firepower. Topic 4 ——— MID GAME ——— 1. The battlefield is harden and contested by both sides. Your primary focus is to gain field control for veteran points and economy, that way you and your team are stronger and ahead of the enemy team. Being passive is generally not a good idea (depending on the map), so being aggressive is what you want. You always want to keep the enemy team on their toes, and never time to think. Don't be too aggressive or suicidal with your vehicles, however, as you don't want to feed them Veteran Points and credits. Look at your map and identify weak spots. Have your team coordinate with you and get ready to push if you have to. 1. IF YOU HAVE FIELD CONTROL! 2. If you have complete field control, consider gathering your Infantry/Tanks to gather on you so you can buff all of them in. If your team is lost or confused where to gather, be sure to put a waypoint of "Meet Here" on the battlefield so players can identify where to go. You can identify where the waypoint is at by looking at the overview map or surveying your surroundings. Before you rush in, it is very important to call out your target! Tell your team which building to focus first! Don't forget to Q spot your target! Announce which buff you're going to use as well. Make sure that your team has enough of an economy/veteran points to retake the field afterwards. Image from in-game Renegade X To put waypoints as a Commander, on your keyboard press CRTL + C to open the Commander Menu. Then press 1: Mange Waypoints on your keyboard to access the waypoints given to you. Image from in-game Renegade X Waypoint on the map: Image from in-game Renegade X 2. IF YOU DON'T HAVE FIELD CONTROL! 3. If you completely lost field control, consider breaking out together with a Defensive Buff or defying the odds with a small player rush. Just be sure to have enough players to defend the base when you push out. Don't do infantry rushes when you know the enemy is right outside your base, especially when they're is a massive horde of tanks getting ready to destroy your base in the process. You will never win a base race with enemy vehicles outside your base. Remember, desperation is an advantage! Don't surrender when you still have options! If you know your team isn't communicating, or failing to hold a position, it's okay to move on to the next map. Topic 5 ——— LATE GAME ——— 1. Players are starting to hit Elite and the Heroic mark, and both sides are still contested in both the field and infantry path. Seems balanced (which I doubt), but one team has to come out on top. Both sides are getting tired, and their mental capacity is slowly wearing out. If you need to play the long game, then do so by farming Veteran Points to reach Heroic. Remember, you do more damage the higher rank you are. Attempt to do Rocket Rushes (as GDI or Nod) as they have excellent damage and hit target from far away the higher your veterancy is. Don't underestimate Heroic Rocket Rushes, they a very deadly and burst a building down very quickly if you're not careful or paying attention. 2. Repeat your orders! Hearing a single order is hard in a loud channel. Hearing the same order repeated 10 times is a lot easier. Keep going until you the game is over! It's not over until all buildings are dead or they surrendered. Don't get comfortable either! Just because they lost the Barracks/Hand of Nod doesn't mean it's over! As I said before, Rocket Rushes can and will be the end of you. PUG Islands Game 6/3/2023: Image from in-game Renegade X ——— CLOSING POINT ——— General Commanding Tips Don't be evil dictator, or demanding. Not everyone can hold a position for too long in the field or infantry path so don't force anyone to do something they're not good at. Don't be a dick either, or you'll lower your teams morale making their performance unacceptable. "When you die, get a X" is a great way to gather people for a rush. Always good to have a Plan B and it's natural. I assure you, you won't disturb players on the field for doing so. Remember! PUGs are completely different from public games! You can always command in public games to learn or get a head start, but the experience is going to be different. Well, that about does it for this guide. Congratulations for reading all of it, and I hope it helps you in commanding! If you any questions, be sure to contact any of the PUG Organizers/Moderators if you need assistance. We will try our best to help you so don't be afraid to ask. Join the Official TA Discord Server here: >>> Click me! <<< Join the Constructive Tyranny Discord Server here: >>> Click me! <<< PUG - Ultimate Infantry Guide ——— n/a PUG - Ultimate Tanker Guide ——— n/a PUG - Rocket Rush Spots Galore! ——— n/a PUG - Ultimate Base Defender Guide ——— n/a Xeon's Old PUG Commander Guide ——— >>> Click me! <<< PUG Crate Changes ——— >>> Click me! <<< Jay's Keybinding Tutorial ——— >>> Click me! <<< As always, - Jay

For regular players in the PUGs, we are looking to expand the balancing team. We’re looking for individuals who regularly attend the PUGs and well versed with the game. If you’re interested and fit the bill, throw a Discord DM to either Xeon Wraith#1717 or Quinc3y#3635. For those interested, here's a trip down memory lane: The things we’ve tried before: What have we changed?: How it all works: [This is the bit you’re probably reading this post for.] We normally split players in pairs based on these roles: Anti-infantry (Infantry) Anti-tank (Infantry) Tankers Field repairs Defenders & Sneakers The stronger you are in a role and the more often you play in it, the better you are considered to be in that role. We usually try to split players one-for-one in dedicated roles first. If there is an imbalance among the dedicated role players, we would try to correct it with multi-role players. Not each role is equally easy to counter, so we usually balance these roles in a specific order. 1. Anti-infantry (Infantry) Players who can aim well. This is almost entirely a mechanical skill. There are little counter-play options for weaker players to use which puts this at the top of pick priority. Whenever possible, we usually try to split players based on their preferred character choice. Players who can snipe will be split with other players who can snipe. Similar process for players who mostly play Mendoza/Mobius. This isn’t always possible, so we may have to split players who prefer completely different characters. We also sometimes get exceptionally strong infantry players around who can’t be adequately split with anyone, so we have to do larger splits of 4 or 6 people. Any remaining infantry imbalances are compensated in the ”Anti-Tank” role. 2. Anti-tank (Infantry) Anti-tank players who support the main tank mass. Raveshaws, Sydneys, Gunners, LCGs. These players usually can’t aim as well as the dedicated anti-infantry players, but they’re still better than most. We normally split these players with the anti-infantry player balance in mind. Due to their field presence, we usually hold off splitting all AT players at once. It’s important that we balance them with the “Tanker” role in mind. 3. Tankers The players in vehicles that hold the frontline. Every team needs solid tankers. As mentioned previously, we do use "Anti-tank" players sometimes to balance out for Tanker skill levels. On the whole we do try to split this role as evenly as possible though. There is also a bit of flexibility with balancing this role with the “Field Repair” role but we try not to use this. 4. Field Repairs Hotwires and Technicians. The unsung heroes of the battlefield. Every teams needs solid repairs. We usually try to balance these guys out numerically even as possible. This doesn’t always work out. It’s not uncommon for Tankers to switch over to Field Repairs once their vehicle dies, so the numbers in-game vary quite a bit. 5. Defenders & Sneakers Not every PUG we have people willing to defend for both teams so this is a two role split. Both roles can sometimes be hugely impactful and other times they don’t do anything useful. Pretty much all players who do play in these two roles also play in different roles as well, so we normally do larger splits for this role. BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE: In addition to main roles, there’s a lot of other things we keep in mind when making teams. Audio balance: The amount communication clutter every player provides. This is things like consistently trying to be funny with crappy jokes, calling out unimportant things and moaning about how “X killed you”. We try really hard to avoid putting too many loud individuals on one team as it can seriously dampen the PUG. We actively balance for this every PUG and this is usually done with larger multi-role splits to make sure game balance isn’t affected too much. Player attitudes: Not every player can keep their cool when they’re losing. Not every team can keep winning (otherwise we’ve probably fucked up). It’s important to make sure we balance out the players who take losing poorly so team morale doesn’t instantly crumble on a loss. Leadership presence: For when we don’t have commanders or for newer commanders, we try balance out the players who have led in the past. We’ll actively put more experienced, vocal players on teams lacking in commander experience to help push them towards effective strategies. Playstyles: There’s a lot of ways to play a role. Occasionally we get players with similar playstyles, like players who like to spam tunnels with low tier infantry or players who ram vehicles at their enemies. We try to split same playstyles when possible. Friendship groups and synergies: People tend to have more fun when they’re with friends. People tend to play better too. We try to keep track of this and keep friendship groups together when possible. This isn’t always possible due to balancing concerns. Player names: We try not to place players with similar names on the same team. It’s extra communication confusion for no reason. This is why you’ll never see Havoc89 and NF-Havoc on the same team for example.

As mentioned: Do you want to see the beacon pedestal being enabled for PUG matches?