Battlefield 1: Basic Tactics Notes

I have been enjoying Battlefield 1 a lot lately and can not stop thinking about tactics. What I have found is that the difference between a winning team and a losing team is working as a team and utilizing every tool available. Because Battlefield games are military simulations and reward teamwork knowing military tactics can take a team to the next level. Here are some notes I think will help others compete more effectively and make my life easier when I play.

Knowledge is power!

1. Holding Lines

1. In any team based game forming lines is the best way to defend a position or hold from attacking forces. Once you have advanced you should clear the position and hold the line where the enemy will advance from. Running off right away from an important position leaves it vulnerable. It is not necessary to own the entire map but controlling most of the map might be more effective.
1. Vehicle Tactics
1. Stay moving to keep the enemy from spamming attacks. There are no lock-on weapons in BF1 so the enemy has to anticipate your next position if you keep moving.
2. Use Space and Cover.
1. Just like a soldier you should not get too close or stay in the open if you do not need to. Stay back and destroy targets from distance to debilitate the enemy’s cover and forces.
3. Watch out for mines. They are small but deadly. Most of the time they are on main roads or entrances to major positions like flags. Stay off the main road or shoot the road in front of you before moving forward. This will slow you down but will save you from blowing up before you do any good.
4. Tanks/Large Vehicles
1. Have a repair unit or two stay with the tank either inside or outside to help with ground forces and to repair the tank when needed. This will keep the tank or other vehicles in the fight.

3. Squad Tactics
1. Versatility
1. Use 1 of each load-out type plus 1 floater. The floater switches load-out to fit needs.
2. Specialized
1. Build a team around a goal. Ex. Anti-tank, Speed, Defense etc...
4. Buddy System
1. 2 is always better than one. The more the better especially when on foot.
5. Cover Fire is huge.
1. Even in hardcore modes firing in the direction of the other team will force most opponents to move, take cover, miss or you may convince them the threat is greater than it really is. It creates a bit of chaos and can distract enemies. Be careful in hardcore mode not to shoot your teammates. That is counter productive.
6. Stealth
1. You don’t have to shoot at everyone you see. If your goal is to get to a certain part of the map then don’t get distracted or give yourself away. Sneak through buildings, use the environment and stay hidden to flank the enemy or take a position otherwise hard to get to.
7. Be A Menace
1. Sometimes, especially when my team sucks my only goal is to become a menace to the other team. To flank them, or rush past their ranks or snipe from a different position, or blow up all the buildings on the map. Similar to creating chaos this tactic is fun and creates distractions. If the enemy is looking at you they aren’t looking at your team. This might give your team an opportunity that there wouldn’t be if you just ran with the crowd.
8. Create Chaos
1. Sometimes, especially when you are losing the best thing to do is something novel and unpredictable. Go a different route. Try to take a different position. Go way around the crowd. Use a ton of cover to confuse and distract the enemy on a bigger scale in order to create opportunities to advance and break through their line.
9. Pushing forward
1. Utilizing smoke, gas, fire, cover fire and explosives to create cover can help your team advance especially when the other team has a strong line or is dominating the field. If you can get one member of a team past the line then squad-mates can spawn on them to turn the tide.
10. Spawning Tactics
1. On Squad
1. Spawn on your squad most of the time and it may be wise to change class to one that supports the squad. A team can is more effective on the battlefield than an individual most of the time.
2. If you’re alone and in a strategic position it may be wise to hide for a moment to allow your squad-mates to spawn on your position.
2. Random
1. Spawn randomly if your squad is not in a good position or continues to take a bad tact on the field.
2. Spawn randomly if you want to create chaos or you see an opening in the field your mates don’t see.
11. Conquest Tactics
1. Let a position go sometimes if it is costly or overwhelmed. You only need to majority of flags for your tickets to go faster than the enemy. Once you control the majority of flag positions put pressure on the other positions but it is not good to sacrifice a controlled majority just to get one more flag.  
2. Utilize the horse and other fast/agile vehicles to move to far positions quickly and create an advantage. If you can get a horse to the farthest position you can keep the enemy busy retaking a flag nearest them while your team takes more and more positions.
3. Try to hold and maintain the flags nearest your team’s spawn base. This allows your team a clear line of defense if the other team is doing well. Focus on those positions that your team can hold instead of spreading your forces thin trying to take every position. Also, if all else fails and you have no flags it will may be difficult to regain momentum if they have positions nearest your spawn base.
4. Take out tanks and other heavy hitting vehicles as soon as possible. Vehicles can be devastating so use mines, AA guns, artillery, and anything else that gets them off the field.
5. Don’t let tools go to waste. Many times the winning team is the one that uses all its resources. Planes, horses, vehicles and elite classes can be very powerful and neglecting them is a bad idea. Practice with them so that if others do not take advantage of them you can.
12. TDM Tactics
1. Don’t rush around like you’re in Call Of Duty. You'll get shot. People are in windows and down alleys waiting to shoot you. Look around the environment and use cover.
2. In TDM mode the name of the game is patience. Playing fast and loose against a disciplined team is a recipe for defeat. Especially in hardcore mode.
13. Domination Tactics
1. Just run around in teams and take positions. Domination is a combination of Conquest and TDM. You can take a position with relative ease but holding them can be hard. As always working in a squad is the best way to win.
14. Rush Tactics
1. Offense: When on offense securing a position is important, then take detonate the bomb. Then maintain the position by using cover and ambush anyone that gets to the bomb.
2. Defense: Tripwires, and dynamite can be used to ambush the objectives. Hold the line near the objectives. Medics with syringes can help keep coverage around the objectives.  
15. Operations
1. Operations is essentially a huge version of Rush. More vehicles and objectives. These are long matches and a good defense is hard to deal with. Keep in mind you have a limited number of units on offense to make them count. You have 3 chances so make progress even if your team is losing so that the next wave you can start at a forward position.
16. Misc.
1. Tank mines and tripwire bombs stay on the battlefield after you die until they are exploded or you set up more so set them and forget them. If they are in a good position don’t set up more until you have a better spot or think they are exploded.
2. The elite classes can be found on the field in crates. Don’t let the enemy get them. They are powerful and can give the team that claims it an advantage.  
3. Horses are fun and a big distraction for the enemy. I enjoy this new feature to the Battlefield games.
4. Don’t skimp on the ammo or health resupplies. If you are a support or medic class and don’t put down resupplies you suck. Throw them down all the time. Right when you spawn, when you see a teammate or when you haven’t done it in a while.

Links:

http://www.ign.com/wikis/battlefield-1

http://battlefield.wikia.com/wiki/Battlefield_1

Treating Employees with Respect

In my time as a store manager I strived to be the kind of boss that people wanted to work for. When an employee comes to work and feel like they are part of a team that cares not only about the success of the business but about the success of the individual as well they work harder, stay longer, pitch in when needed and stay happier. Here are some not so easy concepts that I am mindful of when on the clock. While this mainly applies to bosses at the store level these tips can help anyone interested contributing to a respectful workplace. 

Be Honest:
Being honest and candid with employees is important. Letting an employee know the real you allows them to reveal their real self, which leads to more trust and more connection. I would often break the facade of "polite customer service agent" when alone, in the back room or in a meeting to give my real opinion about something. I would be honest about how I felt about a conference call, e-mail or customer in order to humanize myself.

Also, be honest about your decision making process. Explain the pros and cons of decisions and ask for input. I would often ask employees what they would do to solve a problem and either offer alternatives or let them go with it. Conversely, like the shoe, I would simply solve the problem in the best way I knew how without input but then follow up with the employee later to ask them about the solution and it's effectiveness and potential alternatives. 

Do the Work:
Only when you work harder than everyone and are willing to do any task you can you expect others to do the same. My least favorite thing to hear another store manager giggle about is how they make new employees clean the toilet. I can see testing employees but making them do it because you don't want to or because you're the boss is disrespectful. Clean the toilet yourself and when people notice that it is important to you they will either do it on their own or have no excuse not to. Do the work that needs to get done and excuses will fall away. No one respects a hypocrite and a hypocrite respects no one.

No Excuses:
Take responsibility and admit when you screwed up. If you want people to be honest with you you have to be honest with them. A little humility can go a long way. Looking in the mirror instead of blaming others sets a precedent of integrity, honesty and self ownership that extends to everyone on staff.

Be Ethical:
Store managers must create an environment of safety, inclusion, and high ethical standards in order to protect the store, employees and themselves. By taking an unambiguous stance on harassment, discrimination and following important policies is the best way to maintain and protect the people that matter the most. Setting a tone of seriousness when policy violations occur and holding people accountable via HR procedures ensures that white lies do not turn into HR nightmares, or worse, legal action. Knowing the rules inside and out and making sure employees know how to report issues and solve problems will help foster a culture of respect and fairness on all sides.

Creating a culture that engenders respect on all sides requires honesty, hard work, humility and ethics and starts at the top. Respecting employees means respecting their intelligence, humanity and individualism. I believe respect can only be earned and like any relationship it is a two way street. Treat people better than you want to be treated (especially if you're a masochist) and you'll be surprised at the results.

Thanks for reading!