Originally posted by humble
Sign back up and the game "assigns me" to ROOKS:eek: ...which also happened to be side with highest numbers at the time (kind of suprised at that). Anyway I decided to fly a couple hops...
Naturally went to base being pounded....my FM-2 was reduced to a "blue light special on Isle 3" before I could even get the tail wheel up...gee not much different than being a Knight:D I thought.
Anyway, decide once is enough and move over to next base and grab a 109 G-2....
1st thing I notice is the full dial is "spinning" I mean I can SEE it moving (gonna take some getting used to)....as I climb out I point to the mid point between enemy base and capped field....now...
I'm hereing and seeing (text) alot more info than I was used to as a Knight. As I climb out to an "operational alt"...usually 12k or so for me...I see some dot's...call em out...wow...actually get a response...close on in to Identify 3 190's a jug and a lower spitty...as I'm perusing my options one of the 190's forces my hand...as I reorient and fly the "merge" I start to look around and update the SA....AND...there's a friggin voice in my ear telling me whats happening and giving me options and info (all good:aok )...its cobra412...anyway he clears my 6 as I try and engage the spitty...which breaks...back to help cobra and then back to the capped field...pick up a couple of scalps the fall to a hog as I'm trying to help clear the vulch cap (even a 6 call there)...
As a "single" I'll move to the lowest #'d side while we work thru the #'s issues...but make no mistake if most of the rooks are like the guys I flew with last night they got their #$% wired tight. <<>> 
Yup, I noticed the same thing in reverse. I fly Rooks, but also fly Knights occassionally. It's really weird being on Knights after flying for Rooks. Noone says anything, nobody is typing any information on country or range channel. There's almost no communication whatsoever. I'm Rooks because of all my long-time friends are on Rooks. But, I'd want to be Rooks anyways, numbers or not. You just can't put a price on great teamwork, mutual support and communication, it has a pronounced 'amplification' effect on everyone's performance.
Just the other night I was Knights, helping against a Bishop CV attack. It was me and about 7 Knights, 40dogmaw and some others I recognized. I was doing like I do on Rooks, clearing 6's, calling out new contacts and enemy moves. No one says anything, no one types anything. I begin to wonder if my vox is porked, I ask on range channel if my vox is working. I get the reply, "Nope we hear you fine". I ask, "You guys don't talk much do ya?". The reply, "No, we're just listening to you, thanks for all the information". Anyways to make a long story short, we made short work of the Bishop's attack, and as is their trademark they quit, with their CV still intact to go fly greener pastures.
I think so many people have never been on Rooks, they are not even sure what good teamwork is. It never occurred to those Knights I was with to communicate, although they appreciated the effect my communication had on our overall success. When Slapshot speaks of Rook comraderie, this communication factor is a HUGE part of that. Why the other countries haven't picked up on that and emulated it to some degree is beyond my comprehension. Surely, those that complain about Rooks, "Coming out of the woodwork" and even Rooks gang-banging must realize this all happens do in great part to the fact we are always communicating, we are always telling each other where we are, where the enemy is (heading, alt and vector) and other basic combat information on range, country and vox.
Zazen
