Posted 28 October 2002 - 05:38 AM
I tend to treat my rookies as one of the guys. Once my soldiers get to be captain or higher though, I tend to use them more as rear echelon troops. I pretty much send all my rookies, squaddies, and sergeants out together. However, if I see a situation where risk is high (like entering a UFO door), I tend to send in the rookies first. I figure it's a good chance for them to get some good experience (though I'll generally try to back them with a more experienced soldier if possible). If they live they get to shoot up alot of aliens, if they die, well then I guess they're a hero.
That no pain no gain aspect is what it's all about. Losing rookies is a smaller loss and by giving them the riskier roles they catch up to the rest of the squad faster. It's those risky situations they get the opportunity for many kills which brings them up in stats faster. To me, it seems inevadable the rookies get the riskier roles since you're going to take casualties one way or the other sooner or later. Pushing the rookies hard helps them become better replacements faster, and/or suffer less set backs in the campagn. War is hell.
LOL, it feels like I'm almost trying to justify my command decisions to myself. :angel:
I'd hate to be a general in real life.
"Private first class Gunkel, we've got a situation on our hands. The odds of survival are low, but this is a great opportunity to show what you're made of soldier. That's why I chose to volunteer you for the job at hand, because I knew you were the man for the job and wouldn't let us down. All you gotta do is climb up that hill and enter that weird looking space ship and shoot anything that moves. Gunkel... Gunkel.... Oh, I guess it's normal to have a few butterflies. I remember when I was a private first class. Oh the stories. Anyway, we've got a mission to accomplish. Get going boy, get going... No time to waste... chop chop."