Salute Gents,
Part of the problem IMHO is what I call "itinerant squadrons" or squadrons that rotate countries every tour. It isn't their fault, but the nature of their movement makes for unballanced play at times.
I would suggest that these squadrons that move countries coordinate their efforts by posting on the BBS, tallying their numbers, and setting up a rotation schedule in such a way that no country is picked clean of participating squadrons for any given rotation. Self regulation is the key to avoiding this problem gents. If every "itinerant squadron" rotates Bish, Rook, Knight, Bish, Rook, Knight, and every squadron makes sure even numbers are in each country each rotation, then most of this issue is solved. I can tell you from experience that a determined group that flies together regularly and works toward a single goal is going to walk all over a cobbled together group of defenders. Teamwork on this level cannot be denied, and two to ten guys that just met over an airbase are NOT going to deny this group their goal.
Another problem is the gangbanging or two countries ganging up on one to the exclusion of attacking each other. This normally self regulates somewhat because there is always some joker that will attack his "ally" and get things started back up all over again on that front. In addition when a country is on it's knees both the advantaged countries have to jockey for position of having the most bases or they won't win the reset, so the disadvantaged country gets an opportunity to take back ground.
Which brings me to the final problem, the disenchanted logging off, or jumping sides for perks, or just so they can stinking fly since their own country is so disadvantaged it cannot up aircraft in a meaningful way. I am flying Knight, my squadron flies Knight, and most of my mates fly Knight, ALL the time. I have seen the numbers shift alot when countries are ganging up, suddenly their ranks swell, or the disadvantaged countries numbers just dwindle. Alot of Knights are so disgusted this tour I find many of them in the Training Arena just trying to get SOME flying in without frustration overload. I am quite certain this has occured to other countries in the past as well.
Again self regulation is the key here, HTC could implement some type of perk system that would help disadvantaged countries, but perk planes are not going to give enough advantage to a country outnumbered 2-1 on TWO fronts, NOTHING is, that country is TOAST sooner or later unless both gangbanging countries start fighting each other.
One thing I would like to see is some more coordinated activity on the part of EACH country. IE someone in charge of the efforts of each countries participants. I know we love to be individualists, but if nobody is setting strategy or giving orders there is no coherent or goal oriented attacking going on.
Many times I have seen a huge furball continue, to the exclusion of holding strategic and much needed assets, despite the entreaties of many of us who actually glance at the map once in awhile. We beg, we plead, we threaten, and we still lose strategically important assets because nobody will help with the defense.
WW2OL (oops, I said a bad word) has attempted to use score to "put someone in charge" but their sim is unfinished, and may not surpass this one due to the ever improving nature of this sim. (doesn't AH ROCK?!) I dunno if this is the way to go, since score mongers can switch sides to up their stats, but I do think SOMEBODY ought to be making strategic decisions for each country.
For example, using the above map and Knights point of view someone could say, OK there are 27 of us, 12 of you defend 44, 4 very high interceptors to deal with bombers, 4 low interceptors to deal with fighter/bombers, and 4 osties/tanks to hold against GV attack and fighter bombers. Another 12 defend 14 in the same way. Interceptors are NOT to come down to attack fighters, just loiter for bombers. Three of you try a sneak GV attack on any other base to keep them busy defending it. In this way the defenders are coordinating, and spending their time, which is a limited resource, in the most meaningful way, or doing as much as possible with the least pilots. When nobody is in charge you get six guys here, five guys there, and 16 in a big furrball somewhere else or worse, single pilots all doing something different.
Just some food for thought from an Ex-Tanker and current Virtual Fighter Pilot.
Jeff Waite
aka GIJeff
