It seems to me that the only time you should order lancemates to attack anything is when you have to protect something. Then you order them to attack enemies to keep them busy and not allow them to attack what you're trying to protect. Otherwise they seem kinda dumb and its better to just let them attack enemies on their own. They don't seem to make best use of their weapons...ie a mech with primarily LRM armament will close in and try and use the few lasers it has instead of standing off and using the LRMs to good effect.

Oh, how wrong you are! Lancemates have saved my ass many times. Would you like to go up against 10 Clanners by yourself?

I agree, I'm not saying I'd rather be without them, I'm just trying to figure out the best way to use them.

My biggest problem is that my lancemates won't do what I tell them. I tell them to repair, they walk around with their thumbs up there asses. We're standing less than 100 meters from the bay. And another thing, I tell them to form on me, and they just stand there. Is there anything to fix this problem?

I have always had problems with lancemates. A good exmaple is this; I useally take the biggest mech which is also the slowest. You think that they can keep up? Nooooo. Suddenly, I'm getting surronded by a company and half my people a just jogging along! As for the standing still thing, the last time they did that was in the middle of the firs thrakad invasion mission. Two of them would not move no matter what I did, they wouldn't move. So I just got pissed a blew them up myself.

Castle: All units, be advised, Spectre is targetting friendlies. Spectre must be neutralized immediately.

That is what actually happened, word for word, the last time I attacked my lancemates.

quote cgconrad

My biggest problem is that my lancemates won't do what I tell them. I tell them to repair, they walk around with their thumbs up there asses. We're standing less than 100 meters from the bay. And another thing, I tell them to form on me, and they just stand there. Is there anything to fix this problem?

I have not been able to get them to repair outside of the Eaton - Revolution and Halloran V - Escort missions. I also cannot get them to repair when they are too far away. Do not tell them to repair all at once because then one guy will use it and then the rest will say "No can do." As for forming on you and standing there, if they are 100 metres away then they are formed up on you.

Lancemates are especially useful on mission where 'Mechs and buildings must be taken out or when you have 'Mechs and tanks/choppers as enemies. Your lancemates can take out the 'Mechs while you focus on the weaker turrets, tanks, choppers and objective buildings. also, continuously telling your guys to attack a specific enemy makes battles go a lot faster.

I agree about many of the friendly A.I. problems, especially the one regarding weapon usage. Take note of the lancemate "background" though, and pick the right ones for the right roles. (example: put "Blaze" in a laser-geared Nova Cat. she specializes in lasers/"heat delivery systems", and so knows how to use them far better than LRM's. Keep this in mind.
In addition: the larger the friendly force, the more clumsy they are. this is in partial accordance to actual militaries, as it is harder to carry out orders properly when they have been handed down 14 times. the game represents this as widespread friendly confusion...but only in some cases.