Originally posted by soda72
I would like to see more organized squads in the CT....
But when we see more and more "lone wolf" types flying in the CT when the arena number gets around 30 it leads to a game style play that pisses off CT regulars.
I don't think it's a case of the lone wolfs being the problem, actually. Organized squads are cool but large squads can also lead to "gang" mentality, it seems. I wouldn't have realized that if my squad hadn't become so inactive over time.
The mere presense of a large squad in a small arena can lead to bad things without another large squad opposing it ... at all times. Squad members develop the mentality of flying with their squad no matter what. It doesn't matter if there's 14 squadies on and 3 opponents. The feel the MUST fly as a coherent unit 24/7.
Not many squads encourage their members to split up and oppose each other. It's certainly not a common thing in the MA. There are a few in the CT. But those squads aren't the largest.
I've seen squads log on in the CT during dead hours and 6 guys go on a milk spree until the map resets (which we all know porks the CT arena). Why do they do that? Well ... they're bored. And that squad has the mindset that that's a fun thing to do. Or maybe just one or two of the bossy ones do and the rest just wanna do whatever those guys want as long as the squad flies together.
I'm not knocking you or your squad, Soda (nor am I singling any one squad out). I've flown with you and I like ya. You're a nice fella and you're fun to fly with ... as are many in your squad. But ... I don't think organized squadrons ... strictly speaking ... is the answer.
Perhaps an organized arena is more along the lines of what would help things in the CT. A
scenario-like atmosphere that regularly permeates the arena.
Thursday night missions was going to help that along but it's kinda fallen apart. I think that's because it hasn't ever really been approached as a scenario.
As much as I'm an advocate for multiple styles of play ... I heartily recommend scenario ground rules to be put into place. Let's say we start organizing scenario-style mission match-ups right here in the forum?
Set up the forces. Players sign up in threads. Sure ... walk-ons always welcome but when you have a balanced core already set up before they log on, that'll contribute to more balance.
Determine equal goals for both sides but give the battle more depth. Sure .... for the assault/bomber types you can select a base or number of bases that need capturing on both sides. Not the whole map, mind you .... or even a significant chunk of it. Two or three, tops.
For the air to air types add in kill attrition. A certain number of kills on one side or the other and the battle stops right there ... .due to attrition.
Throw in other ground rules such as forfeiture due to side disparity. If one side or the other surpasses their oppoent by a certain percentage ... battle's considered over and the side that breached the limit loses. That's right .... if your side is getting close to 2v1 (just an example) and the next three guys that log on all gravitate to your side and pushes it over the mark ... boom .... battle lost.
Before anyone says that seems unfair ... look at what it promotes. It's pretty much a self-imposed balancer in the CT. If my side is fighting hard to win the battle and I see the roster start to tilt the odds in favor of the side I'm flying for I'm going to make requests of balance known. Whether that involves new log-ons to be given the suggestion to fly on the other side or for players to switch. I'll even switch .... just to keep the battle going - but that's a personal thing. Like I said, it'll promote the larger side advocating arena balance to log-ons.
Of course, there's the chance that players would try to abuse the rule and mass migrate to the opposing side to cause them to lose when they are, in fact, winning. But with such a small population that would be kinda obvious and we could just as easily throw in a clause that that represents actual capitulation of the migratory birds.
There could be more things we think of, as a group, I'm sure. But I think you see where I'm going with this. The key isn't organization on the individual squad level. It's organization on an entire arena level.
