Gentlemen, it seems we have a problem

[flakbait]

Over the past few months I've seen people post new squad announcements here with no response. During my trial I started a squad, and asked people to join up. Granted it would only be a temporary thing, but I thought it'd be fun. Out of 120+ pilots I encountered during those 2 weeks, just 3 responded. None joined because they were already in a squad, but I was thanked for my offer by all 3.

The distinct lack of interest by the general populace is staggering. From what I can tell, people are going towards the old online game syndrome of: "I gotta kill, I gotta kill, I gotta blow sh^t up, I gotta kill!!!!". I see the lack of response as a waste of perfectly good ideas. If I could have my way, I'd join at least 4 squads just to have more fun. Once I can afford to pay HTC expect to see "Victory 3 by Delta6" quite often.

Right now I've got 13 nose art images set for use. More than once I considered giving them away, but decided against it. As it stands I'm sitting on a great idea, but refuse to act on it. Why? With this unreal dry spell for new squads it's pointless. Besides, I don't play in the MA just in H2H games on an odd basis. I don't know if this is a brief respite or a permanent condition for new squads. One thing I do know is that if things keep going this way, you won't see any new big squads.

Heavy Bomber Groups are virtually non-existant today, while in BETA I can remember at least 3 of them. Twice I boarded a B-17 as gunner for one of these squads. All in all, I'm afraid of this horrid lack of new squads. After all, this strategic system we've got is rarely, if ever, used. Just the same old Capture the Base, yet very few full blown planned battles.

As Westy [I think] said "People want the big planned out ops, but don't want to put out the effort they require". Too true my friend, too true.



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Flakbait
Delta 6's Flight School
"My art is the wings of an aircraft through the skies, my music the deep hum of a prop as it slices the air, my thrill the thunder of guns tearing asunder an enemy plane."
Flakbait
19 September 2000

[Kronos]

Absolutely too true....   Im CO of a squad in AH since tour 1 and have seen a large drop off in the number of recruits even remotely interested.  However, I believe part of the problem lies in too many squadrons out there with just 2,3 or 4 members.  O8r squadron is a base capture squadron, but if we could ever increase in numbers our strategic operations would also increase.

As it is, we barely get enough members to attend our squad meets, let alone take a base, but that's another problem entirely  

Kronos
CO 99th "Raging Rooks"

[Thog]

I've definately noticed this.  My old squad (The Haze, 100th FBG) is dubious about coming over and I think this is part of the reason (lack of squad support in general).  The 352nd is still mired in WB, so I can't expect to see them anytime soon.  

So lacking those two options I did a little shopping.  Not much out there, and a painfully underutilized strat system due to lack of squad participation.  Coordination seems anemic.  I don't know if that's a function of overall AH numbers, immaturity of the community (not as individuals <ahem> but as a group), or simply some dynamic that hasn't kicked off yet.  What was Drake's equasion again?  

In any case, it seems like I could start a tank company or something, but that'd be a waste of time to do it.  And I haven't yet seen a squadname in the MA that made me know fear.  Closest I've encountered is a BK's, but that's because I know those guys (some of them), and they are truely evil sticks.  Individually.  They don't really do much on a coordinately level though.  More like so many Jedi...

Net effect; waiting for WWIIOL.  That game will live or die on it's squad-level organization.

Thog

[sling322]

I am looking for a new squad actually.  My old squad leader just quit the game and now I am squadless.  I would like to start a heavy bombing squad and concentrate on mostly strategic targets like HQ's, cities and such.  The problem with that is the lack of escort.  Most of the fighter jocks in the main arena are too busy padding their scores to worry about helping a group of bombers make it to a target and back.  I think this is what steers most members away from joining a bomber group.  Anyway, just my opinion.  I am gonna keep my options open and start looking around for a bomber group to join.