If you need to tell someone something, or let a team mate know somebody moved, or ask for covering fire, or bark some orders, or whatever, yell it to him! What's the difference? I'll tell you; one way your teammate gets the message, the other way you look like you're having an anuerism trying to give hand signals that say, "he went over left, now give me covering fire so i can chase him".
You'll probobly say, but then they know what we're going to do! So...What? How many times will that make a difference? Surely not if you've been shooting at each other, it is assumed you will do SOMETHING if the other guy moved to try and get him!
I suggest that you come up with hand signals for certain situations. Such as stalking, sniping in a group, or when playing the role of a scout. These are the times you need silence. Make a signal for "come here", "get down", "stop", "you take point now", and one for "head back". And I mean head back as in, "missions done, back to base", not retreat. For retreat, get on your pony and book it! These are roles where you most likely won't be packing much firepower, so yell once to your group or partner and you both better understand it's time to head for the guys with the guns (the ones on your team of course...)!
You may want a different set of signals for a more aggresive type of play. When you know where they are, and the know where you are, make signals you can yell, using numbers of letters. This will save time and make you seem more organized, which draws some respect from opponents. For instance, if you want everyone to fire on a guy, yell "22", or "AlphaDelta" or some stupid thing, as long as you all know it and all will remember it. This way you don't have to waist five seconds yelling, "everybody fire on him!".
Another mistake teams make is trying to come up with a signal for every single little thing. If you and your teammates do not have any ability to think what the other is thinking, or analyze a situation and operate under general instructions from whoever is in command, then you need to practice together some more, scrimmage each other, you will learn how the other one works.
It's nice to know the standard signals, like pointing to eyes, then in a direction, then showing a number with your fingers. That means "I see, over there, x amount of enemy". Or point to a team mate, then your eyes, then a direction for "look over there". Pointing to your ears means "listen", that characteristic slashed throat signal (waving your hand in front of your neck like as to say dead) for either "shutup NOW", "stop for love of God", etc. I generally do that as a last resort before choking whoever it's directed at :)
Another crucial method of communication is to establish a system of ranks. Everyone under a certain person listens to THEM. If they die, the next in line commands everyone under him. Officers should be open to suggestions, perhaps just plain didn't see a certain piece of cover, if a lower ranked man suggests a way to use it, take it into consideration, maybe it's a better way. Don't get embarassed. If everybody could do it all on their own, no one would have started the idea of teams and role playing.
However, you must be sure that people WILL listen to their superiors, otherwise it makes for an ugly situation. Do not tolerate disobediance as an officer, and seriously consider getting rid of any player with a big head who always does his own thing and won't let the plan go through. If he really thinks he's better than you, he will win the respect of the team by showing his smarts and skills, and eventually he may outrank you through vote. Or he may rank the same as you, you never know, you make a great team as equals. Don't get too carried away with this though, you need to be able to play as an individual, not as a machine which is commanded and needs commands.
Also, the whole team should be filled in on any team "slang" for equiptment, special moves and tactics, or any equipment that you refer to in code for secrecy reasons. This is good for tactical weapons, a certain assault pattern you execute well, something so that you can still take them by surprise and not let them get a jump on you.
I hope to keep adding to this page, and hope it helps you out.
Post any questions on the message board.
-Captain Clay
