Each country has a core of 'devoted' people that do not switch countries. Some do this out of an allegiance to the chess piece, others do it simply because they know that is where they can find their mates.
If that core of dedicated players display a certain set of traits, others of like mind will flock to that banner. It's not a good thing or a bad thing... it's just nature. Most people like to 'win' at whatever they may want to do with their time in the game. Being around people with the same objective will increase the chance of your 'victory'.
I have noticed in my playing time zone (and I've said this a million times before, but it seems to match others' assessments of country trends) that the Bish have a core of players who do like to capture bases. Other people who like to do the same will find more success when working with the accomplished base takers and thus get their sense of gratification more often when playing with players of this style.
The Rooks are a far more squad-based country. Country channel is almost dead compared to the Bish country channel... all of the chatter seems to happen on range or squad channels. I know that 90% of my chatter takes place on Squad. This isn't a bad thing... I log on to fly with my mates and I like to be able to hear them without having a million other blokes trying to chatter away pointlessly on range.
I've spent very little time with the Knights. They seem to be more squad based than the Bish but not quite as much as the Rooks. If I'm looking for a hard fight, though, I will always go to the Knight front. The Bish (mostly, there are obviously some excellent sticks that fly Bish) only put up a good fight if they are in great numbers. Don't get me wrong, these fights are more fun than anything else a lot of the time, the Bish just seem to need to have a large group at hand to really be interested in a dogfight.
So, basically, I do think that each of the countries do have their own subtle, underlying differences but rather than cast this in a negative light like many do, I prefer to look at it as a good thing. Each country offers any given player a place to call 'home'. The furballers have a 'home' (provided the numbers are even), the base-takers have a 'home' and those who like a bit of both also have a 'home'. This is a positive thing, each country has a certain 'feel'.
I will say this, though, the Bish are the easiest to feel welcome with. Country channel is very friendly, open and inviting and there are lots of people there willing to lend a hand and work with new guys. I noticed a
massive difference in this regard in the two weeks where I switched to the Rooks before I joined the Prawns. The calibre of Rook wingmen is light years above what you find (typically) with the Bish but there is less of the welcoming atmosphere that the Bish display so freely. This is a product of the Rooks being a more squad-based country, I believe.
To me, that just furthers my opinion that each country offers something different to people who are looking for a certain 'environment' to play the game in.
It took me a long time to feel 'at home' with the Rooks. There are now heaps and heaps of guys that are not in my squad that I'll have a chat with when I see them on range but even though it has been years since I was a Bish, I still get more of a response when I log in and type 'G'day lads' on country channel.
The differences are good.
