BF2S Forums Commanding ?

If the server rules say "Don't do this", and you go ahead and do it, then you should expect to get in trouble.

I'm in favour of a rule saying Commanders shouldn't fight.  Commanding demands your full attention to do it properly.  Constant scanning, UAV'ing, Arty'ing and so on isn't enough.  You need to be examining enemy movements, issuing orders, changing those orders and so on.  Sometimes, it's best to explain WHY you've given an order, either through text or VOIP.

Having said that, I certainly don't see the harm in dropping a couple of claymores to make your hidey-hole that bit more secure.  And if the *enemy* commander happens to trigger them, what the hell was he doing all the way over there anyway?  That's a world of difference from a commander who joins in assaults or uses vehicles.

Clocking up 20+ AA kills while commander is pushing it, though.  Any admin is going to just see the number of kills you have, probably not how you're getting them.  Even beyond that technicality, I don't see how you can devote enough time to commanding if you're constantly scanning the skies for enemy jets.  And if you're not scanning the skies for enemy jets, you shouldn't be in the AA in the first place.   Let someone else who can use it more effectively take it.

Commander flying or in a vehicle instead of commanding, depends and was written from the beginning in the BF2 Official Game Guide (the Field Manual, let's call it) under the "Commander Tactics/ Chain of Command" Chapter, (and I quote):
"While the commander will have to do some fighting in the 16-player games, in the larger games, use the commander for orders and support".
   Meaning, that if the map's small (16-players) commander definitely will have to fight AND command. If the map's medium (32-player), it's his decision if fighting AND commanding, or only command. In the larger maps (64-players) he must  most definitely command only.
   We know that RoE have changed a lot, and flying, driving armor or vehicles is already out of the question while commanding, and as MRE´158 says, u must follow server rules, but talking about fighting I still think will depend on the size of the map, commander's criteria and field needs.


Semper Fi!

If you REALLY want to be anal about it, then what the server did to you is entirely against ROE.  Server admins cannot prohibit any player, regardless of class, by "explicitly or implicitly" stating that you will be kicked from a server for using a vehicle or fighting.

A lot of people forget that this game is about having fun; with the new patch it's increasingly becoming that way.  I believe that, if a Commander takes care of his team, he can be on the front lines with everyone else if need be.  It takes a while for the UAV/Arty/Scan/Supplies etc. to refuel and most of the time the game is usually not so close that if you're not on top of that every second it's a life or death situation.

I hear what you mean on guarding flags.  Generally, when I command on Karkand (either as USMC or MEC) I spend my time on the suburb outpost because it's one of the easiest to be capped.  I'll be spec ops and put down c4 to ward off any evil armor coming my way - I can't tell you how many times I've been kicked for doing this.

Sometimes though, it can be soooo frustrating to be a commander on maps like Karkand when your entire team rushes for the Hotel and refuses to follow your orders.  I'll fight as a commander if I feel like it, but I rarely give orders to people because - hey, let's face it - how many people follow commander's orders?  Maybe 1 in 5 for me.  If people want orders they can ask for them and I'll be happy to give them, and I always let squads know that supply drops are available (generally for squads with armor) but beyong that, the UAV and Arty are what I focus on.

But if you come across a server that says "Don't do this" just don't do it, or find a new server.  It sucks, I know, but even when the server admins are fascists there's nothing you can really do about it but realize there are thousands of other servers out there.

The only thing you need concern yourself with - have fun.