Author Topic: Balancing the numbers and a solution (Read 1021 times)

AKcurly · « **on:** March 11, 2002, 01:52:07 AM »

When we first signed up for TOD, I was sternly told "if you fail to meet your quota," you will be dropped from TOD.

So, I asked the guys, "how many of you will give me a firm commitment?" As I recall, 8 said "I will be there." So, I took the 7-10 slot.

Every single frame, we have had at least 3 walk-ons flying with us. So yeah, our numbers have been in the neighborhood of 14-16.

But, am I supposed to change our number commitment from 7-10 to 14-16? That doesn't seem to be an optimal strategy. Even more importantly to Aces High, it's isn't a good idea to say "AKs, trim your numbers." The walk-ons want to participate and it's important to HTC that they do so.

Ok, here's one solution. All of us enjoy the planning and realism of TOD, but maybe we need to rethink how we plan the events. How about this?

1. The CM running the event create the missions. They don't have to be too complicated. Instructions could be as simple as "AKs, take Typhoons and go bomb A13." Now, this is the critical part. Place the orders in a password protected location and don't give the password to anyone (yet.)

2. Require all participants to be in SEA by 9:15. At point, you can see how the numbers look. Between 9:15 and 9:30, the CMs will say "AKs, you need to fly Allied instead of Axis." The numbers are out of whack. This would assume that the AKs were signed up for Axis duty this tour.

3. By 9:30, the CMs will have the numbers more or less equal. At that moment, you will give the passwords to the allied and axis COs.

4. Between 9:30 and 9:59, the troops will be busy reading the webpage, learning their assignment.

5. Kickoff at 10.

curly

sourkraut · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2002, 09:23:18 AM »

Only issue is that it is hard enough to get everyone on time at 10PM, getting and keeping everyone online for 45 minutes is going to happen.
Good thoughts though, we need fresh ideas to address this problem.
~~Sour~~

AKcurly · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2002, 11:55:56 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by sourkraut
Only issue is that it is hard enough to get everyone on time at 10PM, getting and keeping everyone online for 45 minutes is going to happen.
Good thoughts though, we need fresh ideas to address this problem.
~~Sour~~

Yes, time is a minor issue. But, if we keep having severe number problems, I'm afraid we'll lose participants. Perhaps we could get it all done in 30 minutes rather than 45.

curly

skernsk · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2002, 12:57:57 PM »

If a squad falls below 66% of their committed members during a TOD that squad may lose their place in the TOD's.

This is the rule as it is written on the website. Curly I think you can safely go tom the next level on the roster and not have to worry about going below 66%. When we pick sides we go by the LOW number of the amount you register.

As for the other idea. It is good for a snapshot of an event with fewer people, but in the TOD there are 200 folks waiting to fly. I personally would not want to be the one worrying about whose password is whose etc.

I like the idea in that we can move a squad to the other side if we need to.

We might want to keep a squad in reserve to go where needed, but again you have a Frame CO trying to get organised and it may not be fair to dump 1 or 2 extra squads on him at the last minute.

As long as we have a pretty accurate number of people at the start of the TOD we "should" be okay. What compounds the problem is that when a few squads on one side are at 66% of just over they are in trouble....then the other team has 150%, 175% and 200% of thier numbers basically dealing the fate of the TOD.

Fatty · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2002, 01:48:56 PM »

I'm open to any idea that means more work for skernsk and sling.

AKcurly · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2002, 02:30:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by skernsk
If a squad falls below 66% of their committed members during a TOD that squad may lose their place in the TOD's.

This is the rule as it is written on the website. Curly I think you can safely go tom the next level on the roster and not have to worry about going below 66%.

I like the idea in that we can move a squad to the other side if we need to.

We might want to keep a squad in reserve to go where needed, but again you have a Frame CO trying to get organised and it may not be fair to dump 1 or 2 extra squads on him at the last minute.

As long as we have a pretty accurate number of people at the start of the TOD we "should" be okay. What compounds the problem is that when a few squads on one side are at 66% of just over they are in trouble....then the other team has 150%, 175% and 200% of thier numbers basically dealing the fate of the TOD.

Ok, I've changed my numerical commitment, Skernsk.

Bernie, in reference to your statement "As long as we have a pretty accurate number of people ..." Man, it's not working. We were one of the worst offenders (badly underestimating our numbers) and we are on the side that is low in numbers!

CMs, heads up: ANYTIME you detect a gross numerical imbalance, feel free to move the AKs to the other side.

curly

Ripsnort · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2002, 02:39:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Fatty
I'm open to any idea that means more work for skernsk and sling.

LOL, its soooo hard to give you guys toejamt, since you toejamt upon yourselfs so much.

Hey, I think attendance drops off due to dis-interest, repeat orders for all 3 frames, go read my "Flexible Fronts" post.

Nifty · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2002, 03:54:52 PM »

Curly, you were an offender only on paper.

I 100% treated you guys as a 16-20 squad when writing out the numbers.

You had consistently hit 16-18 players the previous TOD, and possibly the one before that as well.

The Allied squads that were going well over their commitment in this TOD did NOT go well over their committment in the prior TOD.

Now maybe these guys didn't realize that they were gonna have a jump in attendance. However, going from 4 or 5 guys to 8 or 10 guys is a big jump on paper. Even the Mongrels went over. We had some new guys to the squad as well as a few that came back recently. We pushed our 10 guys from last TOD to 14. I don't think Daddog expected it, or maybe he just missed it. I believe this is the case with all the guys here.

My point is, the squad COs can help with the numbers. Give us your best guess each tour. Don't be afraid of falling below 66% as we're not gonna kick you out if fall below it one frame.

Jebo44 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2002, 06:13:22 PM »

IF falling below the 66% line why not just demote a squad to toejame duty??? I.E. If you have 6-10 slot then you get choice rides like the F6F. If you fall below 66% then you get stuck with the TBM's:(

Just a thought dont everyone slam me at once.

daddog · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2002, 05:19:38 PM »

Lots of ideas to think about. Gents!

I have mentioned to Sling and team that from now on in the TOD's, (especially true of the Pacific) any Axis side should get about 20% more then the Allied. Without a doubt attendance is better for Allies then Axis in any TOD we have had. Giving them a boost early on will help. It is a quick fix and will work for now, but there are others mentioned here and on the CM BB we will be looking at.