A faster game, a larger map, larger teams: this would spell disaster for any team starting out. Coordination difficulties, confusion: they are all traps that a potential commander could run into. However, one of the operational traps that many will overlook initially is the question of supply. I already addressed this in the TF/TFC Tactics and Strategy Guide, but in TF2 it is of greater importance.

Will offense actions strand on supply issues? Undoubtedly. Not many people will only waist one bullet per kill: most operatives will start to flood a potential position with firepower. This will result in a shortage of ammo somewhere along the line. It brings to mind the latter part of the North Africa Campaign, where Allied troops could flood the Axis with bombs, bullets and attacks, while the Axis was rationing every bullet. It is therefore necessary that operatives or squads have the back up to provide them with new ammo, health and armour.

The medic and the engineer are therefore important support figures that cannot be left out of any team. Consider the following, which BlastRadius sent in:

A group of like 2 medics and 2 engineers and a marine or maybe heavy machine gunner. They could set up a little mini-base somewhere about half-way between the center of the map and the base side. With sentry guns (or are they not automated in TF2?) set up, it would be pretty well defended and the marine/gunner would be a last linie of defense if anyone made it in. With medics at your service and whatever the equivalent of dispensers are in TF2 set up (or if there are none, then the engineer alone can be pretty useful), an entire platoon on men passing by could be completely replinished and ready for battle again in half the distance it normally takes. This would also make falling back in the heat of battle a better alternative.

Now this is an excellent support base which can be built up in a covered position behind any frontline position. Bunkers, houses, any fortified position could serve here as a �roaming� base for you offensive. The enemy will be thoroughly confused with squads streaming in at full strength. Respawned operatives will not have to stop at their own base to load up on gear, but can easily be thrown forward to stock up there.

This of course works both ways, therefore the commanders attention should be out for enemy supply points as well. Consider it a priority objective to take out a supply point. An enemy running low on ammo will either have to retreat, making the lines shorter or fight itself to death: in the end hacking away with every brick, pipe, dagger or axe they can find.

It is realized that a team cannot afford to have more then one of these �roaming� bases on its side. Therefore a commander should triangulate distances between squads in such a way that all squads can benefit, or back up the main attack only. Under no circumstance whould such a supply point be moved to the flanks of your attack! Moving to your flanks will make your supply point susceptible to flanking attacks, or terrorist actions.