rpm371,
Two Sundays ago when we actually did run an organized RJO (last night wasn’t organize or anyone playing ground control for the RJO squads) was chatting over this subject with several other C.O.s that I know from other countries (from FSO events).
So did some research:
http://www.dgideon.org/aceshigh/master-list-of-squads.xlsThere are 491 registered squads of which 341 are actively flying in Camp 54. Of these squads there are two types of squads .. dedicated who only fly for their country and primary who mainly fly for one country but also fly a bit for other countries. Here is the break down of the squads:
82 - Bishop Dedicated - 24.0%
8 - Bishop Primary - 2.3%
96 - Knight Dedicated - 28.2%
16 - Knights Primary - 4.7%
91 - Rook Dedicated - 26.7%
31 - Rook Primary - 9.1%
Interesting enough the Knights have more dedicated squads than the Bishops or the Rooks. When you factor in primary squads then the Rooks take the lead with 122 squads to the Knights 112. The Bishops have the least amount of squads, just 90, and the least primary squads .. seems the Bishops are the most unified for flying for just their country.
Now the next interesting thing is possible pilots. Of the actively flying squads there is a total of 3880 pilots registered. Here is the country break down for them:
970 - Bishop Dedicated - 25.0%
86 - Bishop Primary - 2.2%
1040 - Knight Dedicated - 26.8%
199 - Knights Primary - 5.1%
1195 - Rook Dedicated - 30.8%
390 - Rook Primary - 10.1%
By this once again the Bishops have the least amount of pilots to pull from with just 1056 possible from their dedicated and primary squads. However, if you look at the kills and deaths for the camps you will see that Bishops either are flying a lot of hops (they are leading both the Knights and Rooks in deaths) or they fielding a larger percentage of their potential pilots than the Knights. Plus, I have started tracking arena numbers from 9 – 10 pm EDT and several times the Bishops are equal to the Rooks or actually have more.
Seeming to indicate that the Bishop squads are definitely motivating their pilots to turn out and play. Especially in the light they have the smallest pool or pilots and squads to draw from.
The Knits on the other hand have 112 squads (96 of these dedicated) and a possible pilot pool of 1239. However, they are consistently fielding the least amount of pilots even though they have most dedicated squads, the 2nd most dedicate and primary squads, and the 2nd most possible pilots.
The reason for this we can only guess at. Although as I said a couple main motivating squads on the Knits side about 1 year to 9 months ago dissolved and MAG-33 multi-squad went defunct. I don’t fly Knits so I have no idea what it is like flying over there .. organized, not organized, fun, grumpy, etc.
The Rooks on the other hand have 2nd most dedicated squads, 91 that field 1195 possible pilots to the Knights 1045 possible pilots for 96 dedicated squads. Meaning I think you have larger squads (who are usually more successful of keeping their pilots engaged in the game and turning out) on the Rook side.
But when you factor in the primary squads (those who fly for Rooks and bit for others) then you have see a big discrepancy. Rooks now have possible total of 1585 pilots to pull from.
I would guess since Sunday is becoming known as RJO day (even when its not) that many of these primary swing squads end up flying for Rooks on that day. Which is why you see a spike on Sundays and then the numbers different on other days (Mondays seem to be a favorite Bishop day).
A couple squads switching will help but I am not sure by how much.
HiTech putting into the code a new variable that does not allow people to switch countries to the country with the highest numbers I think will help also. Will prevent independents and primary squads from switching from one country to a country that numbers start to increase.
However, there is only so much HiTech can do since basically everyone really wants the ability to fly for the country, the squad, and the people they want to fly with. So can only go so far with programming solutions.
I know that others have also said BS when I brought up country’s culture or environment but I do think that plays a factor and that concerted work by a bunch of squads to make their country more attractive to fly too has made a difference (Rooks went from around 50 dedicated squads 2+ years ago to 91 now) to attracting and keeping squads and independents.
More than willing to talk about this with anyone and how I think the Rooks got out of the bucket.
P.S. The excel sheet has the Army of Muppets as Rooks Primary .. they are actually now a Knights Primary squad. But it takes me two days to go through all the squads numbers .. so I don't do it often.
