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General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: VWE001 on June 25, 2002, 03:25:16 PM

Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: VWE001 on June 25, 2002, 03:25:16 PM
I was pokin around lookin at stats while eatin lunch and decided to go look through suads to see who was in each, see if I recognise names. I was amazed to see so many squads with only 4 or 5 people in them or even less. My squad EFW-SOG has 30 members and over 20 have been active this tour.

I know since I have been in my squad it has grown quite a bit and we are always looking for more to join. It seems as though that is not a goal for many of these "groups". Is that not why you form a squad and participate with one?

Now I know HTC doesn't want to pee in anyones Cheerios but shouldn't there be some type of standard in that you need XX number of people in order to form a squad. Or be given a time frame to build up your squad?

I do like the idea of rewarding "trainers" but that is exactly what a squad is for, is it not? My squad nights are Sundays and Wednesdays during which we do as much training of new people as they can handle. That is part of the fun of getting together.

Of course my opinion is just one in a billion but to have so many squads containing so few people it just seems like such a waste.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Kratzer on June 25, 2002, 03:27:56 PM
I couldn't disagree more.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Hooligan on June 25, 2002, 03:34:34 PM
How many members a squad contains or what the purpose or goals are for a squad are their business.

Hooligan
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Manxer on June 25, 2002, 03:43:47 PM
You have to consider that historical squads didn't consist of dozens of pilots. The smaller squads are likely more historic than the larger ones. I would suggest that it might be fun to have a mission outline where the small groups of squads could get together online for an evening of squad runs though. I know our squad would be up for something like this.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Yeager on June 25, 2002, 03:47:20 PM
"The only squads we have to fear, are squads themselves"

"Four score and seven squads ago, our forefathers......"

"We the people, in order to form a more perfect squad....."

"Mini-me, stop humping the squad"

"And then I saw her squad, now Im a believer"

"Ask naught, what you can do for your squad, but rauther -what can your squad do for you?"
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Dux on June 25, 2002, 03:48:03 PM
I don't understand your concern. If Rogue Squadron has only 5 or 6 members, this affects you how?
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Wanker on June 25, 2002, 03:54:13 PM
LOL Yeager! :D
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Revvin on June 25, 2002, 03:56:27 PM
To limit the squad size would discourage many from starting up squads and give those smaller squads out there who have just started up even less chance of increasing their numbers as they would not officially exist until they had quite a few members.

My squad was started a year ago and has a roster of 11 pilots. As CO I know I could easily have doubled that if I had employed a 'recruit at all costs' mentality. Each and every new recruit is asked to fly with No.9 on our Sunday squad nights and if they fit in with the squad then they are asked to join us. That may seem a little 'standoffish' but I have a duty to my other members to ensure the nice atmosphere within the squad is maintained so their fun is not spoilt by a new recruit who causes trouble. Even now I could have had 14 members but have removed three over the last few months due to inactivity for two tours. If members can't offer me the courtesy of mailing me and saying they will be away a while then I won't know if they will return and if new recruits view our roster and think they like the look of our squad from the roster size etc then it gives them a false representation of our size and that is unfair to them. Quite a few of the larger squads in AH would be half their size if you counted only active members.

Many people complain about the ammount of new players and how they don't know the game etc etc but this is where squads help and to hinder squad creation would be a very bad move IMO. New squads keep the game fresh.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: agosling on June 25, 2002, 04:01:27 PM
Why not form wings?
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Mr Hanky on June 25, 2002, 04:08:32 PM
No... no... no... the solution is to force people from bigger squads to join the smaller squads to make things fair.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: VWE001 on June 25, 2002, 04:09:29 PM
Quote
I don't understand your concern. If Rogue Squadron has only 5 or 6 members, this affects you how?


 I'm not concerded at all, I just had a few questions and was looking for feedback. Everyone has a different point of view and I was wondering what others thought on this issue.

Sheesh, some of ya'll act like I just poked you with a sharp stick! :D
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: funkedup on June 25, 2002, 04:15:32 PM
"You have to consider that historical squads didn't consist of dozens of pilots"

12-24 is about right.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Kratzer on June 25, 2002, 04:20:18 PM
To elaborate, we have 12 guys, most of whom have been together as a squad for 2 years.  For us it is more about having a small group of friends with shared interests than it is about playing any one game.  Forcing us into accepting a bunch of people we don't really know just to have a "big enough" group would suck, and be the exact opposite of our reasons for having a squad in the first place.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Rude on June 25, 2002, 04:22:08 PM
We have no desire to grow our squad...we do not actively seek out new members.

Those that have joined our squad wanted to be here with us...tends to make a tight group which in turn tends to grow real friendships which in the end is the most rewarding.

We grew to 22 members once..it sucked.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: moot on June 25, 2002, 04:41:21 PM
What Rude said, except the concluding sentence which I can't relate to.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Reschke on June 25, 2002, 04:58:16 PM
I have to echo the sentiment that not only my CO (Kratzer) and others in this thread have said. Most of us in this game don't want to be a part of a squadron that is huge. There are exceptions to this but even then those larger squadrons are broken down into much smaller groups.

My experience with it has been smaller, tighter groups with common interests make the games better in some way. I was once a part of a squadron in another flight sim that claimed to have 90 members. Talk about a clusterf***! There were people in that squadron I never saw ever and we were supposedly a US time zone based group. Plus you never got to know anyone due to the huge size of the group and the constant stream of people in and out of the squadron. I tried to stay with it for a few months but in the end helped form a small group with some guys I met in that large squadron.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Fatty on June 25, 2002, 05:03:36 PM
You non-historical, frivolous squads are a drain on the game and have no business here.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: funkedup on June 25, 2002, 05:25:16 PM
"You non-historical, frivolous squads are a drain on the game and have no business here."

WERD!
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Fatty on June 25, 2002, 05:47:56 PM
(also I don't think you're going to convince HiTech to outlaw his own squad and funked sucks)
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: funkedup on June 25, 2002, 05:58:55 PM
Shut up and make me some wings!
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: streakeagle on June 25, 2002, 06:08:35 PM
In support of the US Army's current ad campaign:

I am a squad of one!
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: cajun on June 25, 2002, 07:02:20 PM
I don't think its a good idea, if you want to make your squad big you can, but some maynot want to.  It would be allot harder to start a squad.  I've been thinking of signing up for the MA someday and form a squad, but I may not have 10-12 ppl who will join it right away.

My point is, why limit people? If they want a bigger squad they can merge, but some may not.

I don't mean this to sound a "flame" or anything, just my point of veiw.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Dead Man Flying on June 25, 2002, 07:31:08 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Fatty
You non-historical, frivolous squads are a drain on the game and have no business here.


Ni!

-- Todd/Leviathn
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Durr on June 25, 2002, 07:36:03 PM
I dont think there should be any limit on how few people can constitute a squad other than the 2 person limit that currently exists.  I like the large and diverse number of squads we have here currently.  There is something for everybody, whether you want a strictly historical squad that honors a real-life unit from WW2, or whether you just want a social group of friends to fly with, whenever you log on, or some other combination of the two.  It is interesting to look through the HTC squad webpage and visit the various squad websites and see how they are set up.  I like the way the system is set up right now.  People have the ultimate freedom to choose to play however they want.  They can join a squad if they want to, or play solo if they want to, or even make their own squad if they want to.  More choices is a good thing.  I think limiting or tightening the rules on squads in any way would probably be a bad idea.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: SOB on June 25, 2002, 07:41:10 PM
Did sumbody say WINGS?!
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: sax on June 25, 2002, 09:08:30 PM
What ever turns your crank.

Observation though, with the exception of the Ak's ,Firebirds and Assassins, smaller squads can be just as effective as any 20 plus squad.

And another bonus is, if you are old like Toad and Rude, less names to remember, better focus on killing:)
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: JB73 on June 25, 2002, 09:34:32 PM
I also don't agree...
our squad III/Jabostaffel has about 10-12 members but only 4-5 have stats in the last 2 tours. the others have lives and are involved in other things (some are playing WWII online:()
my CO JB42 knows he has no right to tell a person what they do with their life and has no power to make them play a game...
why should our squad be punished or disbanded for what some people do with their lives?!?
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Mino on June 26, 2002, 02:50:53 AM
How many members are in "The FUBARS"?
Title: Re: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: AKcurly on June 26, 2002, 04:33:32 AM
Quote
Originally posted by VWE001 think some need to merge?

No, each squad needs to decide what trips their trigger.

I like base capture; some like fur-balling and others like fighter sweeps and we even have a few buff squadrons.

Isn't it cool that we have a setting where all of these things can practiced with mutual enjoyment?

And, I do have it on good authority that Rude had to reduce the size of his squad so that he could remember all of their names.  Such a sad thing ... he'll probably get lost on the way to the CON :D

curly
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: wulfie on June 26, 2002, 05:08:22 AM
Kurt Tank invented squads!

Kurt Tank invented wings!

Kurt Tank invented FunkedUp, and is therefor gay!

Mike/wulfie
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Vermillion on June 26, 2002, 09:05:09 AM
I'm kinda guessing here, but I think his point is the "mini" squads of 2-4 people, that regularly sit in the "Top 10" of the squad rankings.  Its easy too do if you only have a few pilots and they all are the "score fanatics" types, so that makes the so called squads overall average extremely high, because its an average of just a few people.  Those aren't squads they're not even sections or flights.  Some of them will in a month only have 1 or 2 active pilots.

I guess IMO you should have at least 8-10 people to call yourself a squad, and at least 5 should be active in any given month to be considered for the squad scoring ranks.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Kratzer on June 26, 2002, 09:19:19 AM
score schmore.

Those two people could just as easily suck, and not have any good scorers to bring their score up.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Fatty on June 26, 2002, 09:22:39 AM
You just knocked out FUBARS (5 listed, 2 active this tour) then Verm.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Toad on June 26, 2002, 09:30:31 AM
Hey, you!

I don't agree with that at all.......

whatever yer name is.
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: VWE001 on June 26, 2002, 10:24:47 AM
Quote
I'm kinda guessing here, but I think his point is the "mini" squads of 2-4 people, that regularly sit in the "Top 10" of the squad rankings. Its easy too do if you only have a few pilots and they all are the "score fanatics" types, so that makes the so called squads overall average extremely high, because its an average of just a few people. Those aren't squads they're not even sections or flights. Some of them will in a month only have 1 or 2 active pilots.


Very well put Verm, you get an extra gold star for your post. :D

Hey speakin of gold stars, we need to have HiTech walk around the Con and give out little gold stars for each assist so we'll at least have something to show for 'em! :D :D
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Revvin on June 26, 2002, 10:39:46 AM
So all this is about score :rolleyes: there must be something missing in people's lives when their ego needs to be massaged by attaining a high squad rank and they want to stop smaller squads coming through because it sometimes stops them doing this. I think the selfish  score driven mentality that seems to be rife in AH has reached its zenith when you feel the need to stop many players enjoyment of starting a squad just because it interferes with your score :rolleyes:
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Arfann on June 26, 2002, 10:46:48 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Mr Hanky
No... no... no... the solution is to force people from bigger squads to join the smaller squads to make things fair.


No no, Mr. Hanky. That would only allow the large squad to dump "dead weight" on the smaller squad, making them even less effective. The only fair solution is to randomly sort all paying members into 20 member squads.  MUCH more realistic than having some say in who you "serve" with. :p
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Angus on June 26, 2002, 11:48:19 AM
We need wings, where our squads can join a wing, which I belive would better have a maximum number of members. For that, - a wing channel on the textbar.
How about that HTC?
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Rude on June 26, 2002, 12:42:13 PM
Curly....


No way will I get lost enroute to the con...Toad is left seat on this trip and I'll be nappin the whole way:)
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: hblair on June 26, 2002, 12:50:09 PM
I would like to see the FDB's forced to merge with the 412th Braunco Mustangs. I could just picture midnight and creamo on voice comms together. :eek:
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Otto on June 26, 2002, 01:02:10 PM
"I'm kinda guessing here, but I think his point is the "mini" squads of 2-4 people, that regularly sit in the "Top 10" of the squad rankings.

   So.....?  What does this have to do with the price of fish in the Big City?
Title: Squads... think some need to merge?
Post by: Roscoroo on June 26, 2002, 01:32:11 PM
I think the squads are just fine as is. it allows new players to start  and learn the ups and downs of squad leadership, along with the commodrity that goes on .
the only thing I would like to see is the joint operations alittle more organized (meaning that there needs to be more email communication between the squads)