I've been using the Squad Leader upgrades for awhile so here are my thoughts on the equipment effectiveness.
1. Deployable Spawn: Need a minimum of one additional squad member to deploy. Great for back capping as it allows instant redeployment close to the objective but make sure to keep it out of any potential arty retaliation on your flag cap attempt. Also a must have for Titan assaults or flag/silo defense when you’re squad is outnumbered and prone to quick deaths. This may be common sense to some but I must admit it surprised me at least twice. Make sure to keep away from ANY over hanging structures like cat walks or protruding roofs as they will block the ability to drop.
2. Targeting Drone: Need a minimum of two additional squad members to deploy. This is my favorite toy. It does a great job of tagging nearly all hostiles with a red diamond for your squad, if not all teammates in the local area to see. I haven’t figured out why all enemies aren’t tagged but it’s not 100%. The best results I’ve had is when I activate it and them jump into a walker. Talk about racking up kills. The other team must be completely surprised as I pop around a corner firing and strafing their entire squad as if I know exactly where they’re hiding Wink This advantage is only magnified when I have a support gunner. The targeting drone is also highly effective a close urban maps. Note: Don’t bother trying to hide with this floating over your head Wink
3. SMG Drone: Need a minimum of three additional squad members to deploy. While I love the idea of the added firepower, the effective range and damage dealt is far lower than I expected; similar to the deployable sentry gun. In fact, the best success I’ve had with this item is after I’m dead as it often grants me a post mortem on my assailant. Another characteristic it shares with the sentry gun is it’s desire to shoot at enemy through walls inside the Titan. It doesn’t actually kill the bad guys, it just TKs unfortunate members of my team who inadvertently step in it’s kill zone. Where this drone really shines is with flag/silo defense, especially when combined with the sentry gun and my support machine gun. If someone makes the mistake of getting too close to my staked out position, they're dead before they see me.
-[ORD]Von Demon
