RS2 TIPS : OFFICER TRAINING SCHOOL

Deployment

• Ho Chi Minh Trail allows for faster cooldown-reduced spawning at specific areas to shore up holes in the line or rush heavily-guarded meat grinders. Because the insurgency relies heavily on manpower versus combat machinery, this is a very valuable ability that is often overlooked. It’s important to think and strategize differently when playing PAVN/VC versus US – as commander, the focus is on your soldiers versus heavier support abilities.
• Ambush deployment allows you to force respawn dead teammates on your position. This is an invaluable fast cooldown tactic that allows the CO to serve as a mobile forward spawn point in secure or hard-to-reach areas, and protect themselves against US forces breaching their position by teleporting a murderous cadre to their position. Cadres, by gum!

Reconnaissance

• Scouts serve a similar function to the heavier airborne US recon plane – marking enemies for the CO and friendly units, allowing him to accurately evaluate the combat situation and best utilize NCO support marks. The (relatively) fast cooldown time and inability to be countered by US forces (unlike the flimsy recon plane) makes it a vital support ability.

Offense/Defense

• Barrage is the closest thing a PAVN/VC CO has to the US’ napalm and artillery abilities. They fill a similar role – allowing him to wipe out heavy troop clusters, deny reinforcements or access to certain zones and generally suppress hostile troops. Because this is the only major artillery-type unit available, it is best used sparingly. Beware of the large AOE!
• SAM Anti-Air Missile is arguably the most useful and important defensive ability available to PAVN/VC forces. Lasting only a short time, it provides a crippling “iron dome” that shoots down any US aircraft at altitudes over 75m. This makes it a lethal one-shot weapon against recon planes, napalm jets and the vicious AC-47 Spooky.Note that smart helicopter pilots will rapidly dump altitude to counter this (making them more vulnerable to ground fire from HMGs and RPGs), though the warning period is so brief that it’s likely you’ll kill at least one or two helicopters (particularly the slower Hueys and Cobras). This overall effect is exceptionally powerful against US forces, as they rely heavily on air superiority for mobility, support and offensive capabilities.

 US Army/USMC

Welcome to ‘Nam, boot. It’s about time you boys got here. ARVN is straining to hold back the Commies in the north, and every time we try to hit ’em back they vanish. Charlie doesn’t like us spoiling the party. They’ve made that clear, and we’ve made it clear we don’t do parties without fireworks and air-dropped gasoline.

We’ve got the best and biggest guns, attack choppers, dogs (not here, though), napalm, C4, Claymore chains that go “pow” and about a hundred different kinds of full-auto death. Don’t get cocky, though – Charlie’s a slippery ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, and you’ll need every tool you’ve got to bring some sweet democracy to South Vietnam.

War is hell – and you get to be the devil in charge!

At the start of the Vietnam War, the United States was the singular military entity in the world – with striking force matched only by the USSR. In Vietnam, their forces were capabale of dilvering immense punishment on PAVN and the Viet Cong, and effectively unmatched in conventional warfare. This was not, however, a conventional war – a fact that US commanders and political leaders learned too slowly and far too late.

You – as a commander in the US Army or USMC – can learn from their mistakes. Don’t be fooled by the array of firepower at your disposal – smart squad-level tactical command will still carry the day. It’s your job to coordinate fast heli-born infantry and piercing ground attacks supported by powerful artillery, napalm strikes and the fearsome AC-47 Spooky gunship. Take to the skies in a mobile command center aboard the loach or sit back and enjoy the Hue sunshine as your GIs and Cobras take the fight to Charlie.

• Versatile heavy infantry capable of spawning on their squad leaders.
• Powerful artillery and air support – both unmanned and player-piloted.
• Strong overall hitting power against any and all exposed enemies.

• Static spawn positions and relatively low ground unit mobility.
• Air units vulnerable to directed SAM batteries, static HMGs and RPGs.
• Ground units vulnerable to ambushes and traps.
• Relatively limited respawn options and abilities (particularly on SL death).

A few final pearls of wisdom for you numbskulls:

• Always remember to use your respawn abilities. They will aid immensely, and are essential for winning against organized US forces. You don’t have the stopping power they do, but they will make mistakes when faced with superior numbers and faster respawns.
• Remind your squad leaders to place tunnels near the frontline. They often forget, and it will save a great deal of time and help with keeping the fight up against those damned GIs.
• Remember that – when crouched, prone or in a tunnel space – you are invsible to air recon. Use this to evade being spotted from the air – or that salty USMC commander who keeps trying to napalm your HQ.
• Be frugal with artillery, as you only have one versus the Americans’ two and half. Learn where enemies cluster and bring fiery vengeance down on them. It has a broad AOE, which can be very effective against US forces landing from Hueys.
• Time your AA for maximum damage. Ideally, there should be multiple helicopters up and active – or, if you suspect that the American CO is about to call a Spooky or napalm. Remember that it has a short time and moderate cooldown, and that some enemy air support is more dangerous than others – sometimes a poorly-flown Cobra is far less worrisome than a Huey dropping soldiers against your base.

• You have air and fire superiority. Use it.
• You can fly as a passenger in the Loach helicopter to perform all the same actions you normally would from a radioman or radio table. Watch out for AA and ground fire!
• Be aware of AA – it’s Charlie’s strongest counter to your strongest abilities. If your choppers are getting shot down and your recon plane just went offline after ten seconds in the air, avoid sending in the Spooky or Phantoms until the coast has cleared. Ask your ground units where enemy concentrations are, and ask your NCOs for marks.
• Coordinate LZs for Hueys with your squad leaders and designate strong points for artillery and napalm strikes. Keep in mind that your troops can focus on a single objective while you lay down close air support against the others. Same goes for the Loach and Cobra.
• Call out sniper and tunnel positions. Tunnels are easily recognized as static locations with alternative icons on your map. These are VC spawnpoints, and should be destroyed by explosives or air strikes as soon as possible. The Cobra excels at this.

• DO communicate. Call for marks. Call out enemy locations (with grid zones/proximity to LZs and objective areas). Call out troop concentrations. Be vocal. Be bold. Don’t be a scrub.
• DO watch how the match is playing out, and direct your men to where they need to push or hold. You’re the eyes of team and its sole strategic command, and it’s important that you stay frosty and watch how the enemy is moving. Try to predict hostile patterns and call recon accordingly – it gets easier to manage after a few matches.
• DO ask for help. Request that your soldiers and squad leaders actually do things. Everyone starts somewhere, and in war the best time to take charge is almost always now. You’re the boss, and the team with focused and attentive leadership usually wins.
• DON’T be a controlling, whiny ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, because you will (hopefully) get fragged if you do. Be smart, be patient, be empathetic – choppers get shot down, raw recruits don’t follow orders, and NVA players insist on making the same tired Vietnamese “impressions”. Relax, and do your job. In the words of Sun Tzu: “The expert in battle seeks his victory from strategic advantage and does not demand it from his men.”
• DON’T drop napalm on close marks just because there’s nothing else. They will send your♥♥♥♥♥to Leavenworth. Or boot you. Or frag you. Or track your IP and send you a boquet of♥♥♥♥♥♥