Bridge Officer Guide
The Bridge Officer is the link between Marines and Command. Their job is to co-ordinate the squads on the ground and make sure that each squad is working with the supplies and intelligence that they need.
Each Bridge Officer spawns in their Officer Uniform, with everything they need to do their jobs effectively. The headset that you spawn with is the most important piece of equipment you have. The Bridge Officer's headset has access to every channel used by the USCM, and you'll need to use all of them at some point.
Communications
Aside from your fellow BO's, and your immediate superiors (The Executive Officer and the Commander), you'll talk to most people via the comms system. While wearing your Marine Command headset, you can access all channels used aboard the Sulaco. To do this, your put a little code before your message in the command bar, (If you're reading this guide, I assume you've at least learned how to speak ingame). Each channel has it's own specific code, which are as follow:
- General = ; Hey there!
- Command = :v You bureaucratic bastards!
- Military Police = :p MP to Requistions!
- Requisitions = :u Where the hell is my supply drop, RO?
- Medical/Research = :m I don't care, glue her leg back on and give her the gun!
There are also four channels that are turned OFF by default on your headset. Each of these four are for the four seperate squads you will need to help co-ordinate. When you choose a squad on Overwatch (we'll talk more about this later) you should turn the channel for that squad on. You do this by holding the headset in your hand and then clicking on it. Then, click on the specific channel to turn it on (or off). The codes for each channel are:
- Alpha = :q Listen up, Alpha!
- Bravo = :b Status, Bravo?
- Charlie = :c Understood, Charlie.
- Delta = :d Negative, Delta!
If you want, you can enable all the squad channels and listen in to get a better understanding of where all the Marines are and how they're coping. But, make sure you pay the most attention to your own squad, they're counting on you to tell them where to be and what to expect when they get there.
Overwatch
Overwatch is the real meat to playing as a Bridge Officer. When you enter the bridge (you get there by going left from the Cafeteria until you can't go left anymore), there are three consoles available to you. The leftmost console belongs to the XO. Many XO's are happy to let you use their console, but make sure to ask first.
Using Overwatch
Overwatch allows you to:
- Select a squad to manage.
- Set objectives for that squad.
- Message the squad without using the headset.
- Look out through that squad leader's helmet camera.
- Cycle between assigned squad leaders.
- Launch supply drops for the squad.
- Use orbital Strikes to bombard the squad's targets.
This is done through the menu given from the Overwatch Console.
Supply Drops
A good Bridge Officer will work well with the Sulaco's Requisition's Department (Requisition Officer and Cargo Technician) to keep their squad armed and supplied. You can use the Requisition channel (See above) to talk directly with your friendly RO.
Each Squad Leader has a cache of beacons in their vendor. There are three supply beacons immediately available, and the RO can order more in case anybody runs out. These beacons act as a homing device for a supply drop which you can launch from your Overwatch console. Make sure to listen to your squad, they may not directly tell you what they need, take note of which Marines say they're out of ammo, and use the helmet camera to see if there are any nearby Marines that need replacement helmets. Also, remember to ask questions.
When you know what your squad needs, make sure to pass on the information to the RO. Ask them to prepare a supply drop, and make sure they load it up onto the correct launch pad for your squad. Then, let your Squad Leader know that their supply drop is ready, and have them deploy their supply beacon as soon as possible. The supply beacon must be thrown in an outdoor area to be useful.
Once the beacon is deployed, you're ready to go. Navigate to the supply drop menu in Overwatch, and get ready to launch. If you need to, you can set an X and Y axis offset, you make sure the supply crate avoids any obstacle in the way. When you're ready, you can go ahead and launch the crate. There's a slight delay before you can launch another crate, so use the time wisely; maybe have the RO prepare another crate for you. (Don't worry, the love being told what to do.)