State of the Teamplay Address

[kilevvri1]

Enough is not being done I think, to promote and effectively curb gameplay towards proper teamplay.

I bumped into a thread with this:

7. Seeing the PoE2 server go from tight nit community of teamplay gamers to a bunch of rambos who couldn't even spell teamwork.

And I must say I agree with it to a degree, I have not gone through the trouble of affiliating myself TG to just have that be and not attempt to rectify it post haste. I propose the commencement of LEARN TG nights. at least 3 nights a week. Also on those nights limiting the amount of players with |TG| affiliation to 3 per squad including SL. A rotating TG CO for all maps, and effective use or the REPORTING text to let TG players follow the line. Any more requirements that would be useful can be added and all this could maybe added to the server messages to remind those that do not frequent the forums.

Just my 2 cents! It is my mission to do my fullest to uphold and promote the tenets of TG anyhow I can.

[BaneII]

Simply put, there is no rule about being a bad player. Sometimes I think people believe that's it normal to constantly get killed over and over. I mean really, how many times in a row do I have to kill someone before they think about changing their tactics (or lack of)? Or maybe they just have fun running around and shooting guns regardless of anything else. So how do you get players to improve themselves to increase the quality of gameplay? $64k to anyone with a solution.

[kilevvri1]

Hence I want to lead by example, its our best bet, don't you think. I am not saying that players won't die, c'mon we all know no player/squad is invincible. Close but not fully And most of that comes from learning from ones/others mistakes, true?

I think with more SL's running around on a regular basis without 6 TG players in the squad frees up some of those players to teach a few new players who just might surprise us and start SLing on their own. As I see it now I start a squad and BOOM 5 regs and most of them have TG tags. Now I am not complaining , but on the other hand you will see 1 or 2 other squads with 2-3 players no TG SM's and they are all over the place. Some people actually have to be taught were as some learn by themselves.

BTW BaneII, you need to stop leaving the front of the Dingo so open.

[AMosely]

This really isn't anything new, as I am sure many of you know. I am always happy to weigh in on a teamplay thread, though, because teamplay is the bread and butter of TG.

I firmly believe that the key to good teamwork is communication. Communication is critical to achieving any goal, whether in the CO, SL or grunt position. Communication is essential to leading a team or a squad, conveying orders, querying and relaying status. Communication is critical to getting an administrator to kick a player off the server for not following the rules - or for not communicating! Communication is best carried out using voice, so use it (ingame and teamspeak). Mature communication is the key to to enjoying this game and many others.

[Mr.McFeelme]

You can only require so much before the fun starts getting sucked out of the game, though.

I think promoting good sportsmanship is more important that enforcing rules, imo.

[kilevvri1]

Isn't a few nights a week worth it so we can have competitive games a few nights a week. without major asshattery.

[Beatnik]

True enough, but what you describe is the responsibility of the people that play on the server, not on the admins to create new "rules". Micromanaging rules (like max # TG tagged players per squad or mandatory COs) is unnecessarily burdensome on everyone and will quickly suck fun from the game.

That being said, the spirit of yr post is right on and leading by example is the way to go. Also, getting people thinking about it by making a thread like this should focus attention on keeping the level of teamwork high.

[BaneII]

When I squad lead I tell those members who I'm not familiar with upfront to follow orders or get kicked. I've hit the kick button more often than not since Friday. So where do these players go? Do they actually learn anything or just find a squad with a bunch of other folks of the like mindset? You know, the squad on your side with members who are all over the place. That is what I'm talking about. Just saying leadership and communication doesn't fix that particular problem. If those are the majority of players on the server, gameplay isn't going to improve.

[kilevvri1]

You both make brilliant points but take this into perspective:

1) Create an environment conducive for mature gamers to enjoy the games they play without the everyday interference from the less-than-mature gamers.

2) Create an environment where there was mutual respect for your fellow gamers and where all members would be working together to advance the enjoyment of their hobby.

3) Support game play in a near-simulation environment. Where the focus of play would not be solely on doing what it takes to win, but doing so utilizing real-world combat strategy and tactics rather than leveraging exploits provided to players by the design of the game engine, regardless of the level of advantage, if any, it gives over the opposing team.

1. and 2. represent my commitment to TG, I have gone on record numerous times on the de-evolution of team play in POE. My goal is to try to build a drive within like minded individuals to go back to the tenet in 3. and to drive lone wolves and anarchists into at least a retrospective moment where they see that playing by the rules ends up being much more enjoyable than not.

Sure holding a flag with no opposition can at times be deadly boring but it is a much more rewarding experience than say decimating 50+ opponents and still losing the round.

Case in point I lead a "MEDICATED" squad on Orel last night Where we held church all round just our 1 squad without ever losing it with almost no help from other squads. In fact I sent a fire team on 2 separate occasions to help 2 other squads take BACKYARD. CWE SS483, tha_Khan, DrunkenPirate, IllicitFilms and SashaBaronCohen helped me attack defend and hold Church all round to the point we were bored waiting for attackers who had no doubt lost morale attacking and being decimated by our squad, that was fulfilling.

Having a few moments like that can surely change a persons perspective on team-play over just playing. Suffice to say it is much easier to have that kind of moment with a TG'er at the lead, Yes or No? Answer that question truthfully and you will begin to think the way I think now. Or maybe not but it will get you thinking!

[tHa_KhAn]

Originally Posted by BaneII

When I squad lead I tell those members who I'm not familiar with upfront to follow orders or get kicked. I've hit the kick button more often than not since Friday. So where do these players go? Do they actually learn anything or just find a squad with a bunch of other folks of the like mindset? You know, the squad on your side with members who are all over the place. That is what I'm talking about. Just saying leadership and communication doesn't fix that particular problem. If those are the majority of players on the server, gameplay isn't going to improve.

I see more unwillingness to work as a team, than true lack of leadership as well. I see people form squads, even custom named ones, with no intention of working with other squads as a team, only self serving attackers. I don't have a problem SLing non-regs, but more and more when I find a true noob to the community, they either leave the squad or I have to kick them because they are not interested in working with the squad...you know the type: spawns as a sniper as soon as the round starts when you tell your squad to hold spawn, grabs a tank drivers to a high point and abandons the tank. Only leaves his perch to place claymores around the closest friendly spawn points, curses at people for hurting his score by setting off the claymores and finishes the round with teamwork score -50 kills 5 deaths 20 all while still arguing how people should not hate on the sniper kit.


Edit: You do have a point Kill, if a TGer is at lead there will more likely be great defense played by the squad than just mindless killing. Good round last night, BTW.

[kilevvri1]

Originally Posted by tHa_KhAn

Only leaves his perch to place claymores around the closest friendly spawn points, curses at people for hurting his score by setting off the claymores and finishes the round with teamwork score -50 kills 5 deaths 20 all while still arguing how people should not hate on the sniper kit.

Shhhh, SashaBaronCohen might hear you

[AMosely]

Originally Posted by Mr.McFeelme

You can only require so much before the fun starts getting sucked out of the game, though.

I think promoting good sportsmanship is more important that enforcing rules, imo.

True, but TG's rules promote good sportsmanship - bunny hopping, teamkilling, not following orders (on purpose), not communicating, otherwise being an a$$ - all unsportsmanlike, in my opinion. This is why I think communication is key - the player base will not improve unless people put effort into communicating the right style of play, and communicate to cut out those who aren't participating.

[kilevvri1]

Ok, before this before this gets into a tit for tat, lets just see what we all can do to try my idea out. Without any official sanctioning lets just try to all be SL's when needed, not bunch into our comfort squads and report anarchists to admin to keep them in check. See how it works.

Mon. Wed and Fri sounds like good days but lets just just try it tonight and see how it affects overall game play throughout. Thats all I can ask for now and if we see a definitive improvement we can continue doing it on a prescribed pattern. OK?

[WhiskeySix]

I'd just like to say there should be no kicking from squads - if a player isn't "squad worthy" for any reason (not following orders, lone wolfing, etc), there's a good chance they shouldn't be on the server. Please take a few seconds to let admins know if this happens so we can take care of it - either in TS or global chat. (Because that punk you kick from your squad is going to join someone else's squad and ruin their round.)



I think the server's actually in great shape - I've been squading up with a lot of new faces and have had some good times. I think the main thing is that we can't isolate ourselves in TG-only squads. It's as simple as that IMO. I was in a squad yesterday where I noted to our SL that we had bleed and he asked what that meant. So I explained the main goal is to get >50% of the flags and then make the other team charge into the teeth of our defense. I could tell the lightbulb turned on and he threw a Defend Here! marker down and got people defending... and I was the only TGer in the squad!

[kilevvri1]

Originally Posted by WhiskeySix

I think the server's actually in great shape - I've been squading up with a lot of new faces and have had some good times. I think the main thing is that we can't isolate ourselves in TG-only squads. It's as simple as that IMO. I was in a squad yesterday where I noted to our SL that we had bleed and he asked what that meant. So I explained the main goal is to get >50% of the flags and then make the other team charge into the teeth of our defense. I could tell the lightbulb turned on and he threw a Defend Here! marker down and got people defending... and I was the only TGer in the squad!

I never thought of that, I guess making sure everyone understands the concepts of the game is another thing that is not being touched upon. I will integrate this into my Sling tonight and see what happens. Thanks for that Whiskey, kudos.