What's The Rook Problem?

[Seagoon]

Hi All,

I guess I'd like to have a discussion with fellow Rooks mostly to try to figure out what is consistently going wrong with our side.

I've just read two threads that correctly note that we have some serious problems. Some of our older squads are even considering leaving, and personally I understand why. We have an almost terminal lack of numbers - even nits and bishes admit that there are certain times of day when the ratio is always against us. But that begs the question, why don't people want to be - or stay - Rook?

I'm a compulsive underdog player, and I never switch sides, so the chances of my leaving are slim to none. But I can fully understand why others do. So here are my questions, and I'm hoping you guys can help me answer them:

1) Why do we seem religiously opposed to working together? On the odd occasion that someone posts a mission, it is inevitably undersubscribed some are even totally ignored even when they aren't stupid. Calls for help go ignored, calls to consolidate in one area are also ignored, calls for updates as to the situation at a given field are ignored. No country is worse than the Rooks about failing to provide escorts for Goons; I've actually watched Rooks with OVERWHELMING numbers at a base allow a single stray Con to blow away an incoming Rook Goon because they are more interested in being the first of five Rooks to chase down another fleeing Con.

2) Why do we seem so unconcerned about the Strategic situation? I have to hand it to the Bishes. Whenever their home islands are under attack they come together and work en masse to try to recover or defend home fields. WE ROOKS on the other hand, will actually continue to furball on center island while our home bases are being taken. Calls to the dweeb brigade for help and pointing out the obvious (hey guys we are about to lose X home base!) are inevitably greeted with "Shut up, I pay my money to play and have fun" replies. It never seems to occur to them that they aren't going to have much fun with no resources, no dar, and a 9 to 1 ratio against them.

Heaven help the poor Rook who tries to offer strategic advice, or tries to organize a defense - he gets hammered with "You're not the boss of me" and the aforementioned "Shut Up, I pay my money..." replies. We can actually watch the effectiveness of mass attacks from the other teams and then immediately respond to suggestions that we do the same thing with the same inane "I hate all forms of authority and organization replies".

So is it that we have an extraordinarily high percentage of selfish players, is there a vast bishnit conspiracy, or do we need a special arena created called "Useless Dweeb Furballers" with an 8x8 map and only 1 base?

And now, from the secret archives an actual Rook Country Channel conversation:

"Rook1: I told you. We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.
Rook2: Yes.
Rook1: But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting.
Rook2: Yes, I see.
Rook1: By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,--
Rook2: Be quiet!
Rook1: --but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more--
Rook2: Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!
Rook3: Order, eh -- who does he think he is?
Rook2: I am your king!
Rook3: Well, I didn't vote for you."

- Seagoon

[BotaBing]

We suck. Everyone's a hero, almost nobody will goon, even if a base is down and ready. We are constantly divided, and there's no team leadership.

[FDutchmn]

Looks like the Rooks Joint Operations is taking a break... it will be revived

[8ball]

The Rooks were on a Blitzkrieg tonight.  We took 5 bases within 40 minutes and pushed knights all the way to the corner of the uterus map.

[CyranoAH]

I think we Rooks tend to cooperate when we have the numbers to do so... it's hard to go on a mission when you know the next rook base is about to fall... and another... and another....

Then people just say "what the..." and don't give a damn about teamwork, since, as the Bishorgs say: "Resistance is futile, you will be reset".

Daniel

[BlauK]

I really hope that those squads that consider leaving the Rooks will reconsider. Our squadron actually recently rejoined Rooks because Knits had  the high numbers constantly while Rooks were always in minority... in European late evenings that is.

I am also quite surprised that many other Bishes and Knits have not made the same move already. Must be difficult to find targets when odds are 120-120-70 like last night... and Rooks were being banged for reset.

At least we Rooks can always find enemies

[Citabria]

rooks run from a fair fight and complain when outnumbered

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by Seagoon
But that begs the question, why don't people want to be - or stay - Rook?

Maybe you guys need a new slogan. This "Come get Ganghumped by the Bish/Knight MA Juggernaught" just isn't getting the new recruits" Maybe you should try "Be all that you can be" The army had some success with that in the 80s. I'm sure others have some good slogan ideas for increasing Bish recruitment.

-Sikboy

[Dawggus]

Here Here Blauk

I don't see the logic of leaving your homeland because the numbers are so lopsided ... heck, that will leave them numbers more lopsided .  And I don't buy that the Rooks are consistently less organized than the other Countries, we have all had our share of snafus .

My take on it is that every Country has it's ups and downs, and the Rooks are down right now, can't argue that.  But, now is not the time to give up the ghost and flee to another Country, now is the time to strengthen our resolve and come out swinging for the next round!

I look at Country loyalty almost as important as Squad loyalty.  My Squad has had its ups and downs over its seven-year tenure, but I never even once considered leaving, and I'm sure you feel the same about your Squad .  Rookland is my Country, and I'm not leaving her, especially when she needs help the most.

Oh, and I think FD is right, look for a little rebound of the RJO .

Cya Up!

[MANDOBLE]

Seagoon, the only problem is in the numbers. For similar numbers rooks work fine, like yesterday night.

[Kieran]

The "problem" is we have a few Knight and Bishop generals in disguise playing the Rook side. Rooks just want to have fun- it's just taking a little longer for some of the guys to figure it out.

[MANDOBLE]

Perhaps it is due timezone, but I never encountered a "general" playing in rookland and never found anyone trying to imposse any kind of strategy using the country channel. Some of us just post missions, some rooks simply join and proceed with it. Most of the action is squad oriented instead of team oriented.

[lazs2]

been a rook for a long time and except for the fact that we are down on numbers lately... I don't see a problem.   Course... I never thought capturing bases was a lot of fun in any case.
lazs

[Preon1]

It's been a number of months since I've flown rook or nit.  I spent most of last semester with Busher hounding me to come back home.  When I finally did, I noticed a major difference.  There are some people on the Bish side that are not only very loyal to .country 1, but are willing to give up a lot of their time to recruit people for missions.  Over the last couple of months, it's gotten to the point that a mere name draws enough numbers to take a base against superior opposing numbers (especially now with AHV).  I've been lucky enough to lead a few of these missions but the ones that I put up are usually 50/50 on whether or not people join.  People like Falcnwng, DsrtRat, and Fariz consistantly put up missions and people will lawndart their planes to join.  I don't remember the rooks having anything vaguely like this.  Do they now?

[Masherbrum]

I have a couple of comments.  I disagree with a couple of posts.

Seagoon - I agree that there are selfish players, they exist in the other two countries as well.  Their excuses will surface when the tables are turned, they will.  We do need to work together, all of us need to "play our part as a team" to assist others in need, take fields, protect our fleets".   The sun is on the horizon for us, don't get down over this Seagoon, I love underdogs too, you are more unpredictable that way, use it to your advantage.

Sikboy - Due to the recent allegations (i.e. the Catholic Church), I don't need any "advice" or "trash talk" from a Bishop.  Worry about your church, Bishops, we'll tend to the castles!  {I'm catholic}   I shot down a Bishop piloted C-47 that was trying outturn and outrun me (in a Spit Mk IX)!   He went down tired and never had a chance all alone over water.  What should be his slogan?  "Catholic bishop needed to replace pilot who strayed from his group?"

It doesn't do us any good to get worried about this, instead of griping about it, do something about it!  Get an extra kill, If you are logging off, go back up "one more time".  I have been playing this for FOUR DAYS, four days and communicate efficiently with my squardon, and other planes.  If there is any "legitimate" gripe, it is lack of communication.  People are more worried about inflating their ego's with typing trash talk in-game, then asking which bases needs help? or any other HELPFUL aspect of being a "troubled" Rook.

I'm sure I have ticked a couple of people off, because "I am new" and "have the nerve to post this crap!!!".   Instead of complaining about a map that changes DAILY (it does).   Friday night, the Bishops had to pee in the ocean, off of their dinghy's.  Let's work together and put the "trash talkers" in their place.  Off of the map!  I will do my part, will you?

Those in an opposing country (in-game) who feel 'touched" by this post, bring it on in the air, please.  Channel your aggression towards me, while you are doing that the "island hopping will commence".    Sure, I'll take some licks (and have no problem with that), but it evens out, when it is all said and done.

If we are a "team". let's start acting like a TEAM!  GO ROOKS!!!!!!!!  

Jay