This post is intended to spark overall discussion regarding the topic of organized training. I for one would like to see a little more discipline and focus applied to drops, and I don't think this would need to be to the detriment of fun either. As a little application to even communications and tactics would help improve both skill levels and applied fun in the process due to motivation and further interaction between players. I certainly wouldn't want "funsics" to suffer at the hands of "serious business" but personally think the two can co-exist healthily. Also imho any training could potentially be a minimal impact to people's diaries as I'm not thinking 24/7 training but more the occasional (if regular) infusion of concepts. Communication, interpretation and application of battlefield information, focus firing, priority targeting, focusing weapon points on certain mechs etc. all could in some way be incorporated into a training package that could help with the ongoing awareness that could be helpful to our pilots. And whilst I don't consider that the adoption of hard and fast rule set to the above is needed as the battlefield is always a dynamic place, its the ongoing understanding of the above principles which when co-ordinated and communicated as a unit can help to improve performance. So for me its the understanding of the above topics in a conceptual form as a "syntax" so that anyone trying to co-ordinate a company or lance on a drop will then have confidence in being able to relay instructions in recognized and understood way. Personally my experience so far is that people seem to be more focused on the medals at the moment (myself following the band wagon) and the other longer term objectives seem to be secondary issues. This isn't me saying that the medals aren't helpful atm, as they are an incentive for some to be more active I guess and they can be fun but the emphasis imho would be more productive if the more team related achievements can be focused on. And those I see as a joint effectiveness even if personal achievement can be correlated as advantageous with helpful teamwork and then the hopefully obvious point that the introduction of training as something potentially beneficial to the acquisition of the medals anyhow. But please don't label me as a "storm crow" on this issue as I have had many satisfactory and fun drops with individuals in the short time I'm been here so far, I'd just like to see some disciplined focus to training and co-ordinating efforts. I had heard a rumor however that some of the officers where considering a number of structured training packages already, so I hope I'm not pre-empting something that already is being considered for a more timely introduction later? If this is very much the case that I will wait in anticipation of said discipline even if slightly impatiently. (I do love a good disciplining though, just remember to include a safe word.)
Noesis, I think you will enjoy a project that is currently being worked on. It's a bit early to let slip exactly what is happening, but I do think it will address some of your desires and more information will be coming soon. Now, that said, the next thing to do beyond what we're working is to organize drop times with others who are interested in exactly what you are. Work with your Lance Leader to get something set up, or, if they aren't available, take initiative (as you already have) and you may end up as a Lance Leader yourself. We prefer to "lead from the bottom", in that our core member-base determines what they are interested in participating in and finding others within our community who are interested in the same.
also depends on your CCO or lance leaders i run company pratice every week and it seems to be going well if one my guys or girls cant make it il throw you a invite.
Right now there are a few companies that do weekly practice. I don't know about David's or the others but Mongoose it's not mandatory because well life comes first.
Not to mention we've been running slowly since the phase 1 implementation... It should pick up nicely in phase 2! In the meantime, a couple of us have been writing some guides (in here or on MWO forums) which are general/specific and helps a lot having basic knowledge. Which reminds me, I need to update my light mech/jenner guide
WOW! That was like reading a Congressional Bill! It's a great idea Noesis. When we were able to drop as 8 we did have some training drops against each other and some training drops with Swords of Rasahague. Was fun. While the App process says quite a bit about casual play, there have been efforts at getting organized to make things even more fun without getting too heavy. Arrara, Loved your guide it helped me a lot.
Sounds all good, cant wait to Dihm and co have instore for us. tried to play MWO for the first time today, could not manage more then 5 mins without reaching for the pain killers. hopefully it will be better in a other week, gutted i will miss all the fun with the new mech tomorrow
Once 8 vs 8 drops become possible AND against other only pre-mades, this will become a focus quickly as we will lose without it, and nobody likes to lose. As of now pugs aren't good enough teammates and previously it was too easy to roll pug groups, so it never became THAT important (although we do try to focus fire and call out targets), but it will soon be very important.
Setting up coordinated training, organizational wise, is quite easy. The main factor is just schedules aligning and drive to do it.
I'm pretty sure I brought this up back in the day of getting a group like this together. Nice to know someone is out there that wants to do the same. By the way I don't like the new logo. Without the clown I think its ok.
Well, I'll just toss it out there, but one thing that would help immensely is a bit of a primer on how to speak over voice comms clearly. In my time playing EVE I had to be really good at this because I was/am a scout, and gathering, analyzing, and relaying information quickly and concisely was/is my job. I've let a lot of that discipline slip playing MW:O, but the most important concepts of radio communications apply. For example, one should always state one's callsign and who one is talking to, to avoid confusion. When acknowledging an order, repeat it back precisely so that the person giving it knows it was received. Eh. I'll try to tighten-up my speech over TS during matches to lead-by-example, as it were. This isn't a big deal in the current four-player groups, but with 8v8 coming soon, and eventually 12v12, comms discipline can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.
Eh ill throw my hat in, from the perspective of a guy that barely gets to drop with the guild due to time zones and no pc currently: Whilst I understand and appreciate the need for coms in matches to flow smoothly, that target priority will help win the matches, ext. At the end of the day I don't often get time to pop in when you guys are on, so if we were to do something like this I would be grateful if such information is in a written format as well. If only to ensure that people, like myself or in a similar situation as myself, are not then segregated against as we haven't completed the "Coms 101 training pack" Additionally, my understanding was that we had lances that were made for competitive play where this style of play comes to the fore more? And again, I may have taken the OP far to bluntly, and have this topic off kilter! (been known to happen before!)
I believe as already said that something is being worked on. But I would agree with the 8 man drops coming back that we need to make sure we stay somewhat focused or we may very well get rolled. Biggest thing is comunications, but I am not sure that orders need to be repeated nor callsigns used. People should learn the voices of the people dropping with who are stepping up to take charge of things.
Getting the 8 man drops back, and evolving into the 12 man drops will be incredibly useful for us. That said, there are cool things in the works that are not yet complete. That that said. Many companies now have organized practice night, but they are not mandatory (since we are first, and foremost, a casual fun loving group). That that that said. Teaming up with peeps you play with regularly is a great first step to improving. Work on concise communication. "Delta, Gauss Cat, in Echo 3" works well.
Is there a quick and standardized way to tell somebody you have a k2 about to fire at them? like "Demon stalker, K2, 3 o' clock" or something. I don't feel the map coords are practical if someone just snuck up on you. edit: maybe someone could make some kind of com guide.
It's usually a combo of both. Grid coords for locations to move to or far off enemy locations. When you're in a brawl, it's the clock, high or low depending if you're on a hill or not. Running in pairs and using Nato phonetics to call targets for focus fire is the other part of it too.
things are already in the works along this line, as Dihm said, that aside, if anyone wishes to help me with a continuing program I'm looking for people to come up with descriptive strategies for a 'playbook' this program http://playprepared.com/ might come in handy, also I've already created a module for the existing maps here Gamepack ID: MLQCLI feel free to play around with it, the program is intended for like, group mission briefings and such, so using it for that might also be a good way to work out some of your tactical concerns, I was having a hard time actually getting people to connect to my briefing though, still works just fine for making my 'plays' as shown here
