[ARCHIVE] What is the OLD Folk platoon?

What you really need to know about Folk ARPS and ArmA 2
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fer
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[ARCHIVE] What is the OLD Folk platoon?

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Note: This thread only applies to Folk missions written before June 2012 and is here for reference only. This thread also contains an illustrated guide to comms in the old Folk platoon.

Is this going to be another question and answer thing?
Kinda, but less snappy and with more text; and possibly some lists and diagrams. Oh God, here comes the text wall!

:psyduck:

What is the folk platoon constructed from?
There are 3 basic element types within the platoon:
  • Leadership element
  • Fireteam element
  • Attachment element
Tell me about leadership elements
There are 2 in each platoon: the commander (CO) element, and the deputy commander (DC) element. These are 2-person elements, with the CO/DC accompanied by a medic. Or personal physician. Whatever. I think he has some bandages.

Tell me about fireteam elements
Up to 6 in each platoon (although you can have more if you're feeling greedy), each consists of 4 players:
  • Fireteam leader (FTL)
  • Automatic rifleman
  • Assistant automatic rifleman
  • RPG rifleman
The fireteam is the basic building block of the platoon, and is patterned on the fireteam concept described in Dslyecxi's excellent TTP2.

Tell me about attachment elements
These are 2-man elements that can be used to add a specific type of special weapon to the platoon, such as:
  • Medium machinegun (MMG)
  • Medium anti-armour (MAT)
  • Sniper team (ST)
Not every mission will feature these attachments. You can also invent other types of attachment: vehicle crews, mortar teams, civilian affairs outreach teams with Hello Kitty stickers on their helmets (even).

How is the platoon organised?
This is the tricky/smart bit: the platoon's structure is dynamic, and changes depending on the CO's plan. During the briefing process, the CO must assign each fireteam and attachment to 1 of 3 possible states:
  • Under the direct command of the CO
  • Under the direct command of the DC
  • Independent (under the indirect command of the CO)
What does that mean for FTLs under the direct command of the CO?
Fireteams under the direct command of the CO effectively form a squad, with the CO as its squad leader. The FTLs will still be expected to provide leadership to their fireteams, but they can expect to be working closely with other FTLs also under the direct command of the CO.

And the FTLs under the direct command of the DC?
Exactly the same as those under the direct command of the CO, except under the DC. Think of this as a second squad. The DC is her/himself under the indirect command of the CO.

What about the independent fireteams and attachments?
As the word independent suggests, these elements will be working alone, but under the indirect command of the CO. Examples of this include a sniper team which is tasked with providing overwatch for the whole platoon, or a fireteam sent off to patrol by itself (because it is unloved).

What does this mean for TeamSpeak 3?
During the mission the channel you need to be in will depend on whether your element is under the direct control of the CO, DC or independent:
  • Under the CO: Channel 1
  • Under the DC: Channel 2
  • Independent: Channel 3 (or a new channel might be created especially for you)
How do CO, DC and independent leaders communicate?
Using TeamSpeak 3's Channel Commander feature.

What about markers?
The CO and DC have map markers, as do each fireteam and attachment (if present).

Image

So does this mean a folk platoon has irregularly-sized squads?
Yes, it can; but the CO can choose to structure the platoon in lots of different ways. Here are a few examples:

Image
Example 1: Here, the CO has formed a squad under his command consisting of the Alpha and Bravo fireteams; this squad will use TeamSpeak 3 Channel 1. A second squad, consisting of Charlie and the MMG attachment, is under the DC, and will use the TeamSpeak 3 Channel 2. Lastly, the sniper team will act independently, and will use the TeamSpeak 3 Channel 3.

Image
Example 2: Here, the DC is not used at all. Instead, the CO has formed a squad under his command consisting of the Alpha, Bravo and Charlie fireteams; this squad will use TeamSpeak 3 Channel 1. The MMG attachment will act independently, and will use TeamSpeak 3 Channel 2. Similarly, the sniper team will act independently, and will use the TeamSpeak 3 Channel 3.

Image
Example 3: Here, the CO has formed a small squad under his command consisting of just the Alpha fireteam; this squad will use TeamSpeak 3 Channel 1. A second, much larger squad has been formed under the DC, consisting of the Bravo, Charlie and Delta fireteams, and will use TeamSpeak 3 Channel 2.

Why have you done things this way?
Primarily, the folk platoon is about flexibility. The nature of folk means that its missions must cater for varying playercounts, and having squads of a fixed size becomes quite challenging if you cannot be sure of having enough [sobre] players to fill all roles. The dynamic structue allows COs to use multi-element formations with low playercounts.

But the way that the Army / Marines / Jehovah's Witnesses organise their platoons is better!
They have way more people than folk. Also, that level of organisation makes us afraid.

An illustrated guide to comms in the old Folk platoon (previously a separate thread).

Is there anything I should have read already?
Yes, comrade. Before proceeding further, please read these threads:
Okay, I've read those threads. So, what's this thread about?
A number of comrades have expressed confusion at knowing when to use Channel Commander (CC), TeamSpeak and VON etc. This thread is intended to provide clarification. It is also here to help you avoid annoying other comrades by spamming a channel with inappropriate information (such as when comrade Tigershark uses TeamSpeak to flirt with comrade Sulphur, and everyone in the squad is made to feel uncomfortable).

Okay, let's do this! Who should be talking on Channel Commander (CC), and when?
The only people who should be talking regularly on CC are the CO and leaders of squads and independent elements.

Example: In the platoon set-up illustrated below, the voices that should be heard almost exclusively on CC are: the CO, DC and Sniper.

Image

Is it okay to listen in on CC?
Yes, this is okay and even recommended for anyone who knows they are likely next in line to command a squad or independent element. However, if you fall into this category please avoid talking on CC until you actually assume a leadership role.

Example: In the platoon set-up illustrated below, DC is a squad leader and talking to the platoon CO on CC; the FTL of Charlie fireteam may want to listen in on CC because s/he may have to step up and lead the squad in the event of the DC's death.

Image

Is it ever okay to talk on CC when you are not a squad leader, but the situation is an emergency?
Yes, but please exercise common sense. If a friendly tank is about to reverse over a party of toddlers and CC is the only way to reach the tank commander, then by all means jump on CC, say "break break break", and help us avoid an expensive court case. If you spot some dangerous looking characters in the next valley (teenagers wearing t-shirts featuring the characters from Twilight), relay your concerns up the chain of command instead.

Who should be talking on TeamSpeak, and when?
Generally, a TeamSpeak channel will be shared by two or more elements (e.g. two fireteams, or a fireteam and a medium AT team) - together forming a squad. The only people who should be talking on the TeamSpeak channel are the element leaders (e.g. FTLs, team leaders).

Example: In the platoon set-up illustrated below, in the squad composed of CO, Alpha and Bravo, the three voices you should hear almost exclusively in the TeamSpeak channel are: CO, Alpha FTL and Bravo FTL.

Image

Is it ever okay to talk on TeamSpeak when you are not an element leader, but the situation is an emergency?
Yes, but again the key is to exercise common sense. If what you have to say affects the whole squad and needs to be communicated instantly (for example, if you have noticed an enemy Shilka preparing to fire on your group hug), feel free to speak up on TeamSpeak. If you just want to tell a person in your fireteam that you've stopped to take a drink from your bottle of vodka, use Group VON.

Who should be talking on Group VON, and when?
Everyone should use Group VON when talking to others in the same element. This applies whether you're an element leader (e.g. FTL), or a regular member (e.g. Assistant Automatic Riflemen).

Example: In the (by now pretty familiar) platoon set-up illustrated below, Charlie FTL uses Group VON to ask his men to stay in formation, and they use Group VON to laugh at his commands.

Image

What about the other types of VON (Direct, Vehicle, Side)?
Please avoid using Side or Global VON. For Direct and Vehicle, you can use these where appropriate but they are entirely optional - for example, if a fireteam is travelling in an IFV the crew will at best be in the same squad (and hence TeamSpeak channel), and at worst the FTL and IFV commander will be able to communicate via CC.

What if Group VON, and perhaps all flavours of VON, are borked for me?
That's a fair challenge, and if you find your VON is completely broken then you'll need to make sparing use of your squad's TeamSpeak channel.

This sucks, I have a better plan for communications.
Every approach to large-scale communications has its drawbacks, and preference is subjective. The hosts are always on the lookout for new ideas so please feel free to start a discussion in General Discussion. However, for now this approach is what we've chosen to use and we ask that you abide by it.

What about ACRE?
Sadly, ACRE requires addons ... and Folk sessions do not (it's been one of the key principles since the sessions began in 2010).

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