TG BF2 League: End of Week Two Poll. And what's to be done with these COs?

ABRA · 01-27-2006, 02:40 PM

One of the preseason tweaks that remains to be decided is the game variant we run. Tactical Mod is our most popular mod by far. AAS(push) mod is next most popular, followed by 2 lackluster vanilla BF2 matches. But then there's Special Forces. It was our lowest attended match yet also the one that seemed to generate the most enthusiasm.

So I'm putting it to a poll. Which one should we run more often in the League? AAS 'push' mod or Special Forces? The winner 24 hrs. from now will be run this Sunday. Go vote and read on.

Anyway, this week was a mixed blessing. Our much anticipated and publicized Saturday match was our second lowest attendance ever. But then you TacMod aficionados blew us away on Wednesday with the largest match to date!

More notably is that both matches were admined by our new League staff admins shawn and munchkin. Good job guys!

So where are we heading? Well attendance is still something we want to raise but our fans seem to be enjoying themselves despite the low numbers. So drastic league format overhauls to increase attendance are unlikely, just minor tweaks like the one we're polling.

Why isn't vanilla BF2 an option in the poll? Well tonight is what I consider to be an almost obligatory last chance for vanilla BF2 to be considered for anything but light rotation. After two showings at about 20 players and pretty little match chatter on the forums, it doesn't appear to be able to support League play. If you disagree, make tonight a blockbuster night

Otherwise I think as long as TacMod Sunday Nights don't steal our thunder, TacMod and the winning poll variant will be our heavy rotation variants, with vanilla and the other poll option vying for light rotation slots.

Another thing I'm looking for discussion on is the future of the non-infantry divisions. Partially on our end, partially on the rostered members' end, those division have not been utilized at all. So I'm thinking about doing away with them, any thoughts on that?

Which brings us to the other issue of the role of COs in the League. We've had I think two out of six matches with COs; in one or both of those only one team had a CO(to that team's eventual loss I might add). Also during roll call many, if not most, players seem not to want a CO.

Well that kind of bowls me over. TG, tactics, grand stratagems, charismatic leaders, dutiful soldiers; COs seem like a key ingredient in that recipe. Our members seem to disagree, but perhaps more importantly, few people seem to be volunteering to CO. So my question to you guys is what role would you like to see COs taking in the League if any? And of more immediate pragmatic concern to me, how should the League format be altered to encourage that role?

Remember, next match is:

Tonight at 10 pm EST at Dalian Plant in Vanilla BF2

SgtDuke · 01-27-2006, 03:47 PM

I think that we can improve attendance by having one league match each week at a regular day and time, maybe Fridays at 9 pm EST, with heavy promotion beforehand. I know that you want to have varying days and times for matches so that almost everyone can make at least a match or two, but it seems that unfortunately there aren't enough people available at the odd days and times. Also, I think that as attendance increases, and we play with closer to 64 players on the larger maps, the CO and air positions will become more vital and may be a worthy part of the league divisions.

**Strag** · 01-27-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtDuke

I think that we can improve attendance by having one league match each week at a regular day and time, maybe Fridays at 9 pm EST, with heavy promotion beforehand. I know that you want to have varying days and times for matches so that almost everyone can make at least a match or two, but it seems that unfortunately there aren't enough people available at the odd days and times. Also, I think that as attendance increases, and we play with closer to 64 players on the larger maps, the CO and air positions will become more vital and may be a worthy part of the league divisions.

Sounds like a great idea, except for the Fridays at 9pm EST part. I'm hoping it would be on a weeknight. To that end, what if the current SF Weds Night was replaced by a weekly SF League match on Wednesday nights? Basically, it would be the same situation as what occurs now with SF on Wednesday nights, but it would actually be a sanctioned League match. That might help solve some problems with player turnout, and it might also help make happy everyone interested in getting a weekly SF fix.

EDIT: Whoa! Even though I chose the "Special Forces" option in the vote above, it says I voted for the AAS Mod. Let it be known that I voted for Special Forces.

seppyk · 01-27-2006, 05:54 PM

I like the idea of the AAS mod because it allows for fronts to develop that normally don't happen in the vanilla game. Defense as a team is an interesting strategy. As much as people hate the river wars on Karkand, some interesting tactics show up both by brute force and diversionary tactics which make that particular type of game interesting to me. I actually find the Tactical Mod to be a bit slow paced for my aggressive ADD style. I'm sort of curious why the vanilla mod doesn't get a big turn-out considering that's what packs the public server every night.

**Telorn** · 01-27-2006, 05:57 PM

I couldn't find this, so how does one sign up as a free agent for this event tonight?

ABRA · 01-27-2006, 06:08 PM

Heh. And here I was trying to sneak a third match in this week.

What do you guys think of Duke's idea? Do you think one match a week would be better for the League or worse? I'm probably going to give it a shot for awhile in the later weeks of the preseason.

Strag, your proposal underscores the various opposing opinions as to what is best for the League. Some want weekday matches, some want a single weekend match. Honestly, the Wednesday SF night is outside my jurisdiction, so I will leave that decision to others. But if the SF community is willing to let the League crowd into their Wednesday match, I'm sure some for more League presence can find its way there.

I hadn't really planned on laying these cards on the table yet, but the thought has occurred to me that this League might be best served by having only one game type in the regular season. Or that is to say, possibly separate Leagues for each game type popular enough to attract staff to administer it. Basically a whole new world of complication and work. Personally if we are going to consolidate the League's diverse play options for the purpose of attendance, I would think that this restructuring would be more beneficial than restricting match times. But that's just my guess. Thoughts?

ABRA · 01-27-2006, 06:17 PM

seppyk-First off, where's your 96th man? I'm afraid you answered your own question about vanilla BF2. It is because people can get a hot and heavy game at any time that they don't make a point to attend the vanilla League matches. Or more accurately, the fans of the mods that the League has offered can't get that at any time so they make a point to show up and make the BF2 crowd seem smaller than it is. I think that the existence of SF night explains in part why our SF match was so under-attended but the absence of a TacMod night until now explains why those matches were so well attended. Leaves your AAS mod to inherit the League throne.

Telron- I thought you were on the Master Player List but checking I guess you are not. I'll add you and then just show up. No one really needs to sign up for these matches until they get full. At which point more attention will be paid to the rosters and the slot allocations. We're welcoming all comers at this point.

**Strag** · 01-27-2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABRA

Honestly, the Wednesday SF night is outside my jurisdiction, so I will leave that decision to others. But if the SF community is willing to let the League crowd into their Wednesday match, I'm sure some for more League presence can find its way there.

I was just thinking that if the folks who currently like to play SF on Wednesday nights joined the League, then they would be assured of having top-notch SF games every Wednesday night. And, of course, the League would be assured of having solid attendance for its top-notch SF matches.

But, alas, League members seem to be leaning toward the AAS Mod over SF.

seppyk · 01-27-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABRA

seppyk-First off, where's your 96th man? I'm afraid you answered your own question about vanilla BF2. It is because people can get a hot and heavy game at any time that they don't make a point to attend the vanilla League matches. Or more accurately, the fans of the mods that the League has offered can't get that at any time so they make a point to show up and make the BF2 crowd seem smaller than it is. I think that the existence of SF night explains in part why our SF match was so under-attended but the absence of a TacMod night until now explains why those matches were so well attended. Leaves your AAS mod to inherit the League throne.

We're sort of just playing casually right now, but I will be around tonight to play in the league match. I was at the last TG league game when we played Tactical Mod on Oman and it was a good time. I'll try to rally the troops if they're around tonight, but the weekend is hit or miss for most people in terms of free time.

ABRA · 01-27-2006, 06:35 PM

Well what's the usual attendance on Wednesday nights?

ABRA · 01-27-2006, 06:37 PM

Anyone else have an opinion on the CO matter?

It pains me that the League matches are lacking in this department, but they don't seem to be missed. Somehow I can't believe that that's really the case.

ABRA · 01-27-2006, 06:43 PM

Oh and one more thing. The next match after tonight will be Sunday before the TacMod festivities. 6 pm EST. Map and variant to be decided by this poll.

shawn · 01-27-2006, 06:51 PM

voted AAS.
as far as the COs go, for the smaller games where theres only 3 SLs on each side its easy enough for them to organize themselves in an SL channel. In my opinion being a commander when you only have 3 squads wouldnt really be that much fun because its so easy for the SLs to just do it themselves. Maybe in big games where there is nearly full amount of squads the CO spot will be more popular.
And for the jet/helo divisions i may have a biased opinion but i say do away with them until a problem comes up. Then after this problematic situation, tailor however you organize the squads to solve the problems that came up.

**Barracuda_Magoo** · 01-27-2006, 07:38 PM

I like the AAS mod, but it had some issues during the match (huge radiuses especially) so I voted for SF. However, not everyone has SF, so AAS would also be a good choice (assuming it can be altered a bit).

As for CO's, I'm somewhat interested in filling in when no one else wants to. During the Daqing league match I CO'd half the round (after we lost the flag with the chopper I was flying), but, IIRC, several of the matches since then were specified up front as no-CO rounds. I should add that in 7 months of playing, I've only CO'd ~5 rounds, so my offer to CO might not be in the best interest of the team

ABRA · 01-27-2006, 08:40 PM

Yeah I see your point on the no COs with only a few SLs.

As for AAS flag radius issues I have been told that previously adjusting the capture radius in BF2CC fixed the problem.