Side Balancing

[Hamltnblue]

Here's one way to fix unbalanced sides if the development group wants to put some time into it.
Novalogic did this with one of their older MMO games. It works like this
You log into the AVA
A menu pops up allowing you 3 choices. Axis, Allies, or Either
The server keeps both sides balanced by doing the following:
IF you chose Axis it looks at the current balance.  If Axis has less than 3 or 4 player advantage it lets you in.
If Axis has over 3 player advantage the server tells you how many people are in line in front of you. When the next slot opens it automatically loads you in.  Same thing for Allies.
If you select Either, the server puts you in the side with the least players.
This way you can ensure a balance.
Using this method would remove the need for team switching to even up the sides. After that a long wait time shouldn't be a problem.

[lasersailor184]

Not a bad idea, until you consider that this would ruin any attempts at squad cohesion.  With a simple questionaire at the beginning of logging in, you've possibly sent a single squad to 3 different countries.

[Hamltnblue]

Not at all.  If everyone on the squad picked the same side they would be put in the same line and wind up together.  Nova did it successfully.

[WOOD1]

I'm not into waiting in line for anything, except maybe free money.
I was wondering if HT could set it up as sort of a player preference, you check a box when you sign up or change your preferences to allow or not allow the server to place you on a side that needs you. Squad members and people who don't want to change sides wouldn't select this, people who don't care could. It would then be an automatic thing each time you log on, you could still change sides manually if you wanted and you could change your preference at anytime. Make the default that you will be switched because it would take most noobs a while to figure this out.