We lost some good squadrons that used to fly Rooks. They all seem to have joined either the side that needs numbers the least, or the side that has enough tactical mission planners to wipe out 5 frontline fields in US AH prime time. Of course, this is entirley up to those squadrons and not something that can be criticized. However, if there was a time we need squadrons in Rookland, it is now.
Another thing is, as good as the Rampaging Rooks, JG1 Oesau, Dragonhawks, 412th and etc are, they lack a lot of manpower compared to some well-known squads of other countries that boast like 8~10 members on-line at prime time. 8~10 people is a enough number to consist a mission all by themselves(they become the tactical 'vanguard' in organized attacks), not to mention a big "core" that draws a lot of other people into organized attacks and defenses. I think the most I've seen on-line in Rook squadrons were about 4~5 people occasionally with the Dragonhawks or the 412th.
Thus, the Rook Joint Ops was born. There might have been other attempts simular to this one in other countries, but the recently conceived RJO boasted from tme to time one of the most successful forms of organized strategical moves with multiple squadrons.
But if you think it the other way around, the other countries haven't seen self-organizing movements simular to the RJO within their country because THEY DIDN'T NEED THEM. Why would one need a Joint Ops when a single squadron in a mission can match the numbers of the RJO with multiple squads combined? Thus, RJO can be translated as something born out of desperation in recent Rook events - loss of prestigious pilots, loss of squadrons, severe lack of experienced players and loss of overall numbers.. etc etc.
The RJO kicks into action when multiple squadrons are on-line in the Rook ranks with sufficient numbers, too. In other words, when there aren't many squads around in Rooks, no matter how 'equal' the number is, the gangbang heaps down on us, because it is so easy to shoot down Rooks like shooting a fish in a barrel.
Recently I've noticed a lot of names that I first saw at the Rooks pop up at either Bish or Knit. A lot of people who were asking "how do you turn the engine on" stuff, or some newbies with a bit of flying experience whom I used to fly with, give a few tips and pointers... or some AW 'refugees(as some one might call them)' who I met at the Rook side, then after a few weeks it turns out they moved to the Bish or Knit. They call their fellow 'refugees' newly introduced to AH to join in that country.
It's vicious circle.
Big squads move out, some old pilots quit, new people stack up at the other countries while the Rooks are suffering shortage of man power. We lose initiative, lose territory and get butts kicked... then the newbies hastily move to the "winning" side which in turn destroys the balance even more. Movements like the RJO, as much as I look upon them with great respect, is nothing but something that delays the inevitable mountain of gangbang which tumble down on us.
The result is something like this.
It is one thing when some countries are 'twice' in numbers when there are only about 50~60 people in the MA. Something like this is a totally different matter:
