HT considering limiting/restricting.....

[AKSWulfe]

This is based on the assumption that it's actually squads upsetting the numbers.


I'd venture to guess it's a) influx of newbies to bish due to it being the default country, b) people getting bored of getting gang banged and leaving, c) people hopping countries because they are getting gang banged and want easier kills, d) people WANT to be on the biggest side, and e) squads do occasionally jump around- but this is the least of the problems.

Rather- modify the "default login" to alternate every 3 hours or day... or when they create an account give them a random country assignment(based on country population overall- and placing them in the lowest populated country) that they must stick with for 12 hours then they can change... but they can't change to a country that has more than 40% of the total players online.

The solution isn't as simple as limiting side switching, or sign up at the beginning of the month to fly for a side (you fly for one side all month? good for you... not everyone wants to though... especially when they are looking for a good fight... not a bunch of friendlies gang banging some poor soul).
-SW

[K West]

"rotation must be submited as a request and then granted based on other squads rotating in the other direction"


That would work for me.

Westy

[john9001]

i did not know squad members could be in different countries and talk on private squad channel, wonder what they talk about, work , weather, where the CV is , what missions are being launched, how much fun spying is.

[Mox]

Originally posted by 2Late4U
In an effort to slow down the roller coaster country numbers, HT in chat today announced that switching countries when in a squad may be disabled in the future.  While no definite yes/no was given, and no timeframe provided, this would be a major change with some fairly large effects.

IMHO this would be the best thing that's happened to AH in a long time.  Some restrictions on squad country changes would go a long ways to stop squads from coordinating migrations so they can stack the numbers (if you believe this doesn't happen look again).

I'm sure we'll see a lot of post from old timers (some of whom happen to be a part of the problem) about how unfair blah blah blah

225 vs 48 is no fun anyway you look at it.

[Mox]

Originally posted by K West
"rotation must be submited as a request and then granted based on other squads rotating in the other direction"


That would work for me.

Westy

Sounds like a very fair solution to me.

[Sabre]

Originally posted by cajun
I do not think this is a good idea, I was thinking of signing up for MA and maybe join a squad, but not if they add this feature.  I'd like to be able to fly Knights a little and if rooks start dyin ill join rooks etc. or maybe a friend or some1 is on the other team?

All this would do IMO is greatly discourage people from being in squads...

Something should reward being loyal to 1 country, but not restrict a person to only that country.

The last line above is the key.  It is generally better to influence behavior than it is to legislate it.  The former is voluntary, while the latter is forced and therefore a possible source of contention and resentment.  The key is to find the right "carrot" to use.  You don't want to mess with HTC's business model, so offering any kind of discount for staying with one country is out of the question.  On the otherhand, perhaps some kind of military rank system within a country, such as WWIIOL uses, would provide a subtle, pychological incentive.  Maybe send out tour ribbons for staying with the same country for an entire tour, too.  These are fairly inexpensive, and would be kind of cool to wear to the Con.  It would bring an element of role-playing to the game.  Some would not care, but if even 50% do it would bring a favorable shift to the side-balance effort.

[Sandman]

Control is an illusion, HT.

[Mighty1]

This idea smells like WWIIO!

[Nifty]

Workaround - Disband the squad.  Everyone hops country, now as independent.  Reform the squad in new country.  Takes a bit of effort, but not too much.

I like squads that rotate, because when they come to Knights, I get to fly with them for a tour or so.  Last night was the first time I've ever gotten to fly in a furball with Lazs and Apache in green, the latter of whom threw out a Check 6 that saved my butt.  I actually hope these guys stay Knight for awhile, BKs are good to have in a furball.

I also like staying Knight because of the "permanent" Knight squads.  I like having the MAG-33 guys around to throw up some missions, for example, and I know if I see Wotan or AG (sachs) near me, I can count on them.

I hope HT changes his mind.  As much as I like having the same people I know I can count on in my country, I also like flying with the rotating squads when they come through Knitlandia for a tour.

[Turbot]

Originally posted by Dead Man Flying
it's nice to be able to talk to my squaddies

-- Todd/Leviathn

Had not considered the spying opportunities.  This is not a good feature.

[Nifty]

Originally posted by Turbot


Had not considered the spying opportunities.  This is not a good feature.

This can be done without squad communications.  Lev just leaves the squad, and hops over to another country.  He and his squaddies tune a text chan (or VOX chan) to 201-299.  Cross country communications.

I hear the MAW know about this one...  

[Dead Man Flying]

Originally posted by Turbot
Had not considered the spying opportunities.  This is not a good feature.

LOL You assume that my squad:

1)  Cares about "winning" the war enough to spy.
2)  Is organized enough to do something about it.
3)  Is good enough to accomplish organized objectives.

We are none of the above.  We view AH like a game of pick-up basketball in the neighborhood.  Everyone's friends with everyone else, regardless of whether or you're shirts or skins this time out.  I'd hate to have that sort of interaction curtailed.  It's not a "strategy" issue at all.

-- Todd/Leviathn

[Dead Man Flying]

Originally posted by Nifty
This can be done without squad communications.  Lev just leaves the squad, and hops over to another country.  He and his squaddies tune a text chan (or VOX chan) to 201-299.  Cross country communications.

If I wanted everyone to be able to hear what I'm saying, I'd write it on Channel 1.  

-- Todd/Leviathn

[AKSWulfe]

You can also tune to indvidual players and talk to them, whether they are on your side or not.

But should this be taken away for country "safety"? No... a lotta guys don't wanna use ch1 to talk to one other person.
-SW

[CptTrips]

>Had not considered the spying opportunities. This is not a good
feature.

They could always communicate via RogerWilco, ICQ, IRC, AIM, emails...

There is no way to stop them if they want to do that.  

Frankly, given the level of organization, there usually isn't that much for someone to spy on.

Wab