Hopefully A Useful Suggestion

[Sloehand]

I'm still fairly new to FSO (this is my fourth), but in discussions with others I was encouraged to present this idea towards helping to better balance the sides at the last minute, if necessary, due to actual turnout.

I know side balancing is difficult to do, but I have an idea for last minute adjustments.  It could be set up when assigning sides such that, one large squad, one medium and one small squad are not assigned to either side, but are designated as "transitionally available" (a "Taxi" squad, if you will) for that Frame (or Event).  Being initially unaffiliated to either side they would have no orders issued in advance of the Frame, and would not know the strategy of either side.

These squads could be moved (just one, or two or all three), as necessary to which ever side needs the pilots so as to reach near proper balance as defined for the Event.  They would, if at all possible, be assigned as a squad (so they would at least fly together) in the last 5-10 minutes before the start to a particular squad on their 'new' side, who would impart the plane/loadout and lead them in the mission.

Squads would rotate each Frame (or Event) being in the "bucket" as one of the transition squads.  As a Taxi squad, they will know to be prepared to join up quickly on whichever side they are assigned. 

[Golfer]

As a racer I know how you like to plan your lines for the upcoming race and have ample time to formulate all the angles.  The downside to that idea from my POV would be either having both sets of orders (bad) or no orders (way bad) until the last minute.  Hardly a meaningful amount of time to see where the objectives for your whole side are, where you fit in and how everything comes together.

I could see using "squads" as a method of grouping individuals who would volunteer for such duty, but not as much as the coherent unit of players that FSO is known for.  Not a bad seed of an idea though IMHO.

[Sled]

Interesting idea, has some merit.

My gut feeling is this might cause as many problems as it solves.

But it is something we will think about.

[Krusty]

You won't know which side needs it more until you're about to roll, by then they'll be useless orders-wise. They'd have to brief in the air, probably meet the enemy before they have their squad on course and in to the target

[Damionte]

Not sure it would be as bad as all of that.

The planning of the missions may seem complicated when you're doing it, but for that squadron receiving last minute orders it's not a big deal.

We may think we're super generals but on an individual sqaudron basis, the orders are rarely more complicated than escort bomber group X from A to B.

Or go to X21 and drop ord on target C.

Or fly to thats-it and fly cap over base what's it's name.

For the individual squadrons it's not so important that they know why they're going to X and doing z. As long as they go to X and do Z.

If you make yuor battle plan without the "hole" squadron you can treat them as an extra reserve when you do get them.

[cbizkit]

The planning of the missions may seem complicated when you're doing it, but for that squadron receiving last minute orders it's not a big deal.

I would agree with this, it's not as big a deal as it sounds. To mitigate the issues you would want to make sure the squads which are tasked for this role have their CO present and have a CO who reviews the objectives prior to the frame and is capable of thinking on their feet and adapting to the situation.

Yes, there are squads out there which would not be best suited to this type of duty, but at the same time there are squads which would handle it just fine. Pick the right people for the job and it certainly could make a positive impact for FSO.

[Sloehand]

As pertains to knowing specific orders, I've seen where the mission orders have 2 and even 3 squads join up for the same mission task in the same area, both on the offensive and defensive side.  So, the thought was a taxi squad would be attached to prepared squad, and simply follow that squad's mission orders and their C.O.  Upon moving to which ever side they are needed, they need only be told who they are being attached to and the plane/loadout/location to be ready to fly.  Further enlightenment happens as needed after getting airborne.

At T+5 minutes, if it is seen that one side (say the attackers) have 20 more players than it should have over the other side, then the large and medium squads might go to the defenders (might be 18-24 pilots all together, for example) while the small squad (4-6 pilots) goes with the attackers, thus narrowing the out-of-balance state to a negligable level.