you really think there is a difference in the way a country plays?? As an occasional side switcher in my experience I would disagree
As an occasional side switcher myself, I have strong opinions about how each country plays; and yes, they play differently; but (and this is important) they play differently depending on numbers and time of day. All opinions below based on Pacific Standard Time.
The rooks are typically at a numerical disadvantage in early morning hours, and are just out there for points and the occasional denial of base takes. When they have a numerical advantage in late afternoons they actually roll bases, depending on who is on to lead them.
The knights have numbers early on and typically move on the outnumbered rooks, shifting over to attack the bishops a bit too late, tactically speaking. be-cause...
The bishops tend to have the numbers and the will to roll maps and win them. They are weakest and dumbest in mid-afternoon (again, PST) and often get double-teamed then and lose momentum and focus. But bish tend to have the numbers because people who play to win gravitate to that side.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's an interesting and complicated dynamic because certain players (J0ker and crew for the bishops, for example; ZENSEN and whomever follows him for the rooks) change the rules, so to speak; and if, like me, you really want to help your team win, you have to watch the roster to see who is on and figure out what is going to happen and how best to take advantage or counter it with whatever skills you possess. It's one of the reasons I love this game: it can be such a chess match at times! :-)