taking leadership

[trykael]

so, one of the things that initially drew me to this game was the idea of working as a team for a main goal. when i played halo2 on xbox live, that's what i loved about the game...ctf and team king of the hill were always my favorite. tf2 takes it to a whole new level...it sets you up with classes that almost necessitate teamwork. it's one of the reasons i love playing medic - because i enjoy the team atmosphere. however, i've found more and more that unless i'm playing with some pretty advanced players, everyone seems to just be in it for their own glory and kill count.

i guess i have a 2 part question. 1) how do you feel about the teamwork idea, and about one or two people taking leadership of a team (or at least the majority of a team) in order to accomplish a goal together. 2) if you like that sort of thing, how do you take leadership without being "that guy" that everyone hates (no relation or offense toward ThatGuy(tm) ... 'cause i don't want to die with a sniper shot next time i see him ).

so...what are your opinions? and...if you're into the teamwork aspect of the game, friend me so that i can start playing with more people who enjoy it!

 

[Firethem]

teamwork is the most essential part of TEAM fortress 2. You will see that a team that doesn't play in team but all in lone rangers will always lose, no matter what. A team of noobs will own a team of pro players who play alone. You will also see that team players have a better kpd ratio, because medics tend to prefer them, and such, let them play longer and have even more fun in the game.

Sure there is always 3-4 people that don't follow the group and the team will win anyways, but there is also a need for someone in the team that doesn't stay with the pack (spy waiting on the last point).

There is also a leader that pops up from time to time to help the team from losing. If that happens and the leader is a good player and that people listen to him/her, you'll see amazing things happen, like a complete rush of 4 points in warpath and such. To be a leader, you first have to be good at what you do. People will not follow you if your orders lead them to their death without kills. Then, you have to be known, cause people will not listen to the first person they see. To be known, just play and have fun with everyone, it'll come naturally. Then, to take the leadership without being hated, you must not obligate people to do anything. If you ask for something and people do it, you are ready to be the leader. If not, don't push it cause you'll lose people admiration and they'll think you're just bossy.

 

[Crashman]

I completely agree about the teamwork thing. And I think you'll find that teamwork > skill in most cases. I think the best way to take leadership is by way of suggestion. Such as saying something like "Do you guys want to try the right tunnel?" or "I'm going to build up an uber, can someone help me take out these sentries?".

The easiest way to end up being the aforementioned "that guy" is by barking out orders, saying things like "we don't need four engineers guys" or "everyone follow me". You also don't want to say redundant things like "push the point guys" or "engineers get your stuff built".

Overall I think the most important thing in succeeding at leadership is to earn the respect of your teammates. Compliment them for doing well and don't be negative when they do poorly. Team morale is a very important part of victory as well. 8)

 

[trykael]

great suggestions guys - i completely agree.

i don't have much of an urge to be the leadership yet...i'm still relatively new to the game, and my skill level is WAY below what most people would be comfortable following, but i enjoy playing with a good leader, and i'm willing to help with suggestions when no one else is stepping up.

so...when you get into a server where it's a bunch of individuals playing instead of working together, do you stay in the server and attempt to build up some teamwork, or do you usually bail after a while because of frustration and look for a different server?

 

[Captain Mental]

Teamwork comes with experience and knowing your teammates.

Experience in the map you play makes you make the good decisions in strategy.

Knowing your teammates well makes you know what to expect of them.

And the two comes with more playing time and the rapport you develop with the players in game.

The way to go about it, as far i know is to choose you role properly (select the class that the team needs the most) and know your role in the team (play your class like it is expected). Sometimes to be a support player is not glorious but is rather effective.

 

[AzzNik]

Knowing the players is a key for sure Captain. I 100% agree.

I would advise anyone to try to emulate good team players too. Watch what they do and follow their lead. It doesn't have to be a spoken or typed thing, it's more awareness. If I see Nutz get an uber and move towrds Cap 2 on Warpath, I know that is the time for a pyro to move in as the sentries are being blown apart.

What is funny is some of the most dominant teams I have played on were the ones that were the most fun. Everone just knew what to do and we were goofing off and laughing on our mics. I don't think it is necessary most of the time to be super serious to be successful.

 

[eachdraidh]

Captain I 100% agree, yet I don't. There are constantly new people logging onto the servers so the senario changes just as much. I think it takes the cooperation over every player in there particular roles to make a great team. The loners tend to move into the roles of the spy's and the snipers. The other tend to play the other classes.

In other words what I'm trying to say is that regardless of the skill or knowlege you must have the general cooperation of just about everyone on your team do really do well(goldrush ban michael scott last night is a perfect example of what I'm talking about.)

 

[Captain Mental]

True E@chDraiDH, team chemistry is a mystery on its own. It can happen instantly with whoever you play with. But for all the times i happens, there is more chance of it not happening.

In answer to Azznik, yes some of the best teams i have been we're also the most fun i ever been in. But of course, a team's greatness depends on its adversary and when the opposition isnt working together, then it makes your team more dominant than it really is.

The best thing to look for is always to have the most fun you can and try to win as a unit. And friends often tend to care for one another and also stick together more when it is time to plan attacks. I've been blessed to play in places where there is alot of returning players. It makes things far easier. But it means the enemy too is more organized. But hey, i wouldnt have it otherwise

 

[Flippy the Squirrel]

[quote1211225954=trykael]
i don't have much of an urge to be the leadership yet...i'm still relatively new to the game, and my skill level is WAY below what most people would be comfortable following[/quote1211225954]
Leadership is not a quality you decide to have. It either happens or it doesn't. If you feel comfortable making a suggestion, or informing your team-mates of some relevant information, do so. You'll find that, as you get more comfortable in being a part of a team, that your leadership skills will grow.

A leader is not, as many might submit, on tier above their team. They are the team member to whom others happen to listen. It is a transient thing, and should (in a good team) change quite frequently. I've often said that a good team results in a dissolution of the ego (not the eGO!), and I mean it. If you're in a good team, you won't care about who's the leader, because you'll want to help the community.

Ironically, those who want to just be team members often become the best leaders of all, because they understand and can appreciate the team dynamic. So, relax, don't worry about assuming the mantle of leadership. Just be part of a team, and it'll come in its own time.

 

[Cage]

To me, having a leader on the team, has been really beneficial when I'm playing. Almost any time someone has taken charge and offered advice/ideas to the other players (in a non-hostile manner) things get done efficiently.

However, I haven't been on a team where someone who is being a leader is doing it in a hostile manner, so...

 

[eachdraidh]

I think maybe we didn't emphasize the most important part of playing online. FUN!!! No matter what have fun.

 

[trykael]

oh trust me - i agree with you eachdraidh...i just have MORE fun when i'm playing with a functioning team

 

[blizbiggy]

[quote1211307470=trykael]
...i just have MORE fun when i'm playing with a functioning team
[/quote1211307470]
I agree. The major downfall is when people dont work as a team and you try to get them to work in the team and it just doesn't seem to work out. I usually stick around for a while, although we get our !@#$% handed to us. After a while it does get old of continuous losses, then I just flip to 2fort lol.

 

[Gippy]

Not sure if any of you guys have played any of the FIFA games for computer or XBOX, but in that game, team morale is of the utmost importance. If your team morale is not up, your team consequently does not play as well... I think you have to have a good team chemistry to win games... And I think that its better if someone takes that leader role, he/ she just has to make sure that they are not being a snob... Most games are not like this though because a lot of the players I have played with are in it for themselves. The eGO servers are not like this though, and that is why I play in them so much...

 

[Underhill]

Leadership has to be done in the correct way. Flippy stated this eloquently in his post.
Lets say that you just lost another capture point on warpath and are pushed back to the last point . You notice all the demos running forward toward the arch. Do you say?
A) Will one of you demo at least mine the last point?
B) We need to watch for a spy cap here, can one of you guys mine the last point just in case?
C). MINE THE LAST POINT YOU IDIOTS!!MINE THE LAST POINT!!MINE THE LAST POINT!!

 

[agent86]

I think that the best (wins the most, has the most fun) way to play is on a coordinated team with clear roles and objectives.

That said, you're not going to get that on a pub. Not without stacking the teams. Teamwork like that requires trust, cooperation, mutual respect, etc, on top of individual skill. I think generally on public servers which team wins depends on the individual skill levels of the players on the team more than it matters whether or not there is one player shouting orders.

I've found in my years of playing pubs that if you try to organize the unruly mob, you're more often than not going to end up frustrated and alienating players. I think in the general case, you should just pick a role the team doesn't have enough of and play that role as best you can. Try to anticipate the enemy's strategy (what would YOU do in their place? are there alternate routes into an area that aren't covered?) and keep the team informed about what is happening as best you can.

Things are significantly different if you're playing with people you know and who you trust and who trust you back. However, since I find that's not frequently the case on public servers, don't stress out and get frustrated over teamwork and who has it and who doesn't. Just enjoy it - it's a game!

 

[wasawiki.]

The better teamwork the team has, the better the team plays and its much funnier to play in a team with good teamwork