Every Man For Himself - High

[humble]

Originally posted by DEMAN
The real question I ask myself about all this B.S. is "why now"?

 The reason I ask this is because our squad was Rook when Rooks were in the same boat as the Knights are now. We moved to AH 2.5 years ago and just by the luck of the draw ended up Rooks because the first squaddie that tested the game out started as a Rook. The Rooks we were HUGELY outnumbered on a full time basis for the first year the 81st was here. I don't remember HiTech changing the rules to even out the sides then, do any of you?

 What I do remember was a group of Rook CO's getting together and coming up with a way to try to fight the numbers problems with a tactic of teamwork and goodwill, thus the RJO's. HUGE kudos to GhostDancer, BFD and the rest of the RJO founders for having the foresight and perseverance to try to coordinate this. This wasn't just an organization to help fight the hordes but was also working behind the scenes to foster a better attitude of Rook toward Rook to make Rookland a more appealing country to be a part of. Everyone worked to keep things polite, courteous and congratulatory between Rooks whenever possible. This obviously worked and I believe that the majority of squads that moved here in the last 1.5 years did so because of a better country attitude than what they currently had.

 Rooks changed their fortunes with hard work, perseverance and a good attitude and I for one find HiTech�s meddling more than a little out of line due to the fact nothing was done by him in the past when the shoe was on the other foot.

 The whiners that started all this rolling should maybe look at cleaning up their own house rather than having the management change the rules to suit their need.

DEMAN,

I've been here for alot longer than 2 1/2 years and the rooks were never outnumbered as badly as you think they were. Although they certainly have spent their share of time at the bottom of the ladder. I certainly can't fault your logic with regard to the RJO's. The response from many (including me) was to stop switching and fly Knight...easily the most consistantly outnumbered over the last 18 months. We had our moments but for the most part we were constantly on the short side of the equation where the meat met the metal.

The bottom line is really simple, for whatever reason the "balance of power" stabalized at a point that left the arena unbalanced on a regular basis and has obviously had some kind of significantly detrimental effect that can be tracked statistically....otherwise these changes would not have been implemented.

The actions undertaken were not aimed at the ROOKS, they were aimed at the imbalance. Truthfully I'm amazed that HT & crew stepped up to the plate on this one. In the end the game will be better off. I'm sure that they will evaluate the effect and tweak it as needed but it's a start in the right direction.

[culero]

Originally posted by hitech
Midnight: Since you conseed side balance is needed.


Try come up with an idea that does the following.

1. Moves people to the other side.

This is the basic issue, I have herd lots of ideas but most that I have seen are always made to "Not impact me". So they were basicly saying for this small penalty I still won't change countries and still get to fly the way I want. Well that dosn't acomplish the thing you agreed needed to be solved.


HiTech

Instead of penalty perhaps try reward? Like, reward people and/or squads for making a switch when you want them to.

I know its been discussed that perk price adjustments haven't worked, but has it been discussed what it might mean if a perk point award for country switching to the smallest side were implemented? Maybe that would cause some people to go "Hey! Free perks for switching! Let's go!"?

Second question, how about thinking outside the box - what if the numbers balance wasn't really that critical?  What if people in an outnumbered country could always play even when being ganged?

Or...in other words....

Is it really necessary for the gameplay model to include being able to completely wipe out a country? Wouldn't a safe haven for each country give those complaining about not being able to fly what they need?

Is it really such a big deal for one country to have more people than the others, or is it the ability of that country to pin another in a corner and CAP their butts that's the real problem here?

I realize this isn't the exact input being asked for, but it is a way to address the core problem, which is people having a hard time being able to fly, without penalizing anyone or forcing anyone to switch sides. Perhaps its worth considering?

Just for what its worth!

culero

[Kev367th]

Think your missing one important point Humble -
When the Rook were outnumbered a lot of Bish and Knit squads swapped to Rooks to balance thing out.
This was done voluntarily without being asked/forced because it was in the best interests of the game, and the COMMUNITY as a whole.
The reverse hasn't happened.
Thus the current situation.

We started Knit, went Rook when they were outnumbered, when Rook numbers grew, we went to Bish who were the lowest numbers.

We created it, we didn't fix it (like in the past) as we should have.

Would be interested to hear from other Knit/Bish squads who went Rook to help them out.

[VolsCAF]

Our squad has flown Rook since it moved to AH. We have developed relationships and teamwork with other squads in our country. This adds significant value to the game for me. I believe others feel the same. Changing countries is not that simple. I am not whining about the system change, just saying that changing countries is not just about me or my squad.

All I can hope for I guess it that a lot of "unattached" or lone ranger pilots who don't really care will change countries so that the the squads who want to stay and maintain our history will not have to do so. If not I suppose we will have to endure whatever changes are made until balance is achieved. I can say for sure that if we were (and we were for a looong time) the undernumbered country we still would not change sides. Because it's just not that simple. On the other hand if a short term switch to another country would help we might try it but I'm not thinking that will do it.

I understand the delima. I hope over time it works out so that those of us who enjoy the team building and relationship aspect of the game as much if not more than the fight itself can get on with enjoying the game sans launch delays or planes we can't fly or changing countries or whatever controls are deemed necessary.

Whatever it takes we'll stick it out until it gets resolved and try to help make it work.

[Kev367th]

WTG VolsCAF - The voice of sensibility from a Rook. Not a hint of a whine, just a we'll stick it out and make it work.

I think it may already be working.
Bish have picked up a lot newbies recently, and some former Rookies.

[Crashy]

Originally posted by VolsCAF
Our squad has flown Rook since it moved to AH. We have developed relationships and teamwork with other squads in our country. This adds significant value to the game for me. I believe others feel the same. Changing countries is not that simple. I am not whining about the system change, just saying that changing countries is not just about me or my squad.
:

First Vols, this isn't to you or the CAF guys, I'm just responding to this sentiment that others have expressed about developing teamwork/relationships with other squads in a country.

All of you that have expressed this...You dont think back when other squads from the Bish's and Knit's switched to Rooks to help balance things didnt have this too???

They did but made the move anyway...

Besides it's fun as all heck to shoot down an ole buddy