TG-3rd and Community. AKA "Why We Lock Squads"

[Crux]

*Crux removes his admin hat and puts it very clearly to the side*

Let me say right off the bat that this post is being made entirely NOT in my capacity as an admin for 2142. It is being made by me personally in response to some of the community perception and sentiment that appears to have developed over the last few months regarding TG-3rd.

"Elitist" is the term I've heard thrown around most frequently, although I suppose there are others as well. A big source of this perception has come from a few fronts - rumors of exactly what it is the 3rd does, what they are about. And the fact we sometimes (or frequently, depending on who you ask) either lock squads in-game, or spend time in the 3rd's teamspeak channel instead of the general one.

I am posting to address this, and to state some things very clearly to avoid confusion. If, at the end of reading this you wish to call the 3rd "elitist" or other things, then I guess that's your right.

The 3rd was formed in order to make a competitive TG IHS for 2142. Winning competitions wasn't necessarily the initial goal of the 3rd, but rather an outcome of our true goal - to become a close-knit team founded on the principles of teamwork and maturity. When recruiting new members, yes we certainly looked for a certain base level of skill. But skill was not the determining factor on which we admitted new members. Attitude was. A new member had to be a decent guy (or girl) to play a round with. To have a sense of humor, to keep things in the right perspective. We passed on plenty of skilled players simply because they either seemed to immature for us, or we didn't consider them to be "TG" enough for us.

So having formed this team, and worked on our tactics as a unit the next natural step was representing TG in competition. This started in response to a call from a TG admin for TG teams to compete in the BFCL league. We competed, playing the TG way from start to finish and had success. We joined the TWL ladder, and made the #1 spot on that ladder also playing the TG way against teams for whom bunnyhopping was simply a perfectly normal way to play.

Playing against organized teams with skilled members is no joke. These folks practice. They train. They prepare. Nobody likes getting their butts kicked, and when you constrain yourself to playing in the spirit of the game against teams that will push the limits of the BF2142 engine at every opportunity (more so in TWL than BFCL), you have to come prepared.

Quite some time back, we made a conscious choice. We could spend hours a week in our private server running through strategies and practices, training our butts off. We could effectively isolate ourselves from the community in order to get the practice needed to compete at that level giving up certain advantages through our commitment to TG's principles. We chose not to go that route.

Instead, we chose to get most of our 'training' in on TG's conquest servers. We did so to remain connected to the community as much as possible. To remain a true part of TG because we believe in what it stands for. Most competition matches are centered around small infantry squad-level action. Heck the last three months have been spent competing in squads ranging in size from 2 people to a maximum of 5. This requires a high degree of coordination and teamwork. The pace is fast and furious. Small mistakes have large consequences. A 2-man squad cannot act the same way as a 6-man squad, and those two people have to know what the other is going to do.

So sometimes we lock squads. We do so not because we don't love all of you in a big furry bunny kind of way. We do so because we're choosing to play with you instead of against each other, or scrimming some team on a private server somewhere. Scrimming some outside team would be a better way for us to practice. It would make us better, faster. Instead we try to compromise to remain a part of the very community that by and large seems eager to criticize us for that same choice.

Training simply can't be done with a full squad all the time. It often can't be done with people who aren't intimately familiar with our squad roles and tactics. No we don't always lock our squads, but when we do we do so for a purpose and that purpose is not elitism. It isn't isolationism, jerk-ism or any other ism. It is to elevate our level of skill and teamwork. While one need only look at reaper's recent apology to realize that we do not always achieve our goal of teamwork and maturity. So we're not perfect. But we're trying to be, and we'd love a little understanding when it comes to our role within TG and what we're trying to accomplish.

This is why a lot of our team give up their own free time to volunteer as admins. Why you see a lot of TGU classes run by members of the 3rd. Why we try to open and maintain tactics discussions on the forums. Because we are a part of this community, and we want to give back to this community where possible.

So at the end of the day, you make your choice. We made ours as a team. We chose to play with you all, even if it wasn't always in the same squad. You can choose to hate us for that, or criticize us. You can be 'pissed off' at us as some people have become, you can call us 'elitist.' That's your choice. Having made this post I can honestly say there is nothing more we can do about it. We still love you anyway

[Shurikane]

Here's what I see from an outsider's perspective:

Normally, a TG member creates a locked squad. He invites his buddies in, and when they've all pressed PGUP, he unlocks the squad and whoever else fills the remaining slots. That is all fine and dandy since people love to flock over to TG-led squads.

Some squads, however, have remained locked for extended periods of time. I don't have any names handy - sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. One guy does it one day, then doesn't do it another day, and vice-versa, etc.

The confusion arises among pubbers. They figure: "If TG locks their squads, then so can I." And since squad locking is against the server rules, you have one confused pubber wondering what's going on.

I honestly have no clue about how to solve this issue. On one part, the IHS wants to be left alone, which is great. On the other hand, squads must remain unlocked, which is nice too. What remains now, is to draw the line and make everyone clear on when it is and when it is not okay to lock a squad.

[Crux]

Here's what I see from an outsider's perspective:

Normally, a TG member creates a locked squad. He invites his buddies in, and when they've all pressed PGUP, he unlocks the squad and whoever else fills the remaining slots. That is all fine and dandy since people love to flock over to TG-led squads.

Some squads, however, have remained locked for extended periods of time. I don't have any names handy - sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. One guy does it one day, then doesn't do it another day, and vice-versa, etc.

The confusion arises among pubbers. They figure: "If TG locks their squads, then so can I." And since squad locking is against the server rules, you have one confused pubber wondering what's going on.

I honestly have no clue about how to solve this issue. On one part, the IHS wants to be left alone, which is great. On the other hand, squads must remain unlocked, which is nice too. What remains now, is to draw the line and make everyone clear on when it is and when it is not okay to lock a squad.

The rules right now states basically that squads shouldn't locked without a reason. One-man locked squads are a big no-no. 2-5 man locked squads can be ok provided they are using teamwork and not just being idiots about it.

I wasn't really intending this thread to be a discussion of rules regarding locking squads. That's a debate that probably belongs elsewhere for right now. I was just explaining why we do sometimes do so, and the purpose behind it to combat some of the rumors and opinions floating around right now.

[Bc2ID]

So sometimes we lock squads. We do so not because we don't love all of you in a big furry bunny kind of way.

Good post Crux, well said and probably long overdue. Thanks for stepping up and saying what needed to be said. It amazes me at how some innocent things can be perceived and misconstrued. We all love the 3rd and what you bring and give back to this community. Sometimes all of the hard work can be overlooked but shouldn't.

Cheers!

[HockeyTemper]

"Manlove" and "Funmen" squad will ALWAYS be unlocked (unless I had to lock it to kick someone). I am proud to be a member of TG and I wholly agree with Crux's post. If I ever lock a squad or join a locked squad it isn't to keep certain people out, it is purely to work on a specific tactic or include a specific person. I think I speak for all of the Thirdehsefdee when I say we are not here in-spite of the rest of the community, we are here because of it.

[Crux]

If I ever lock a squad or join a locked squad it isn't to keep certain people out

Well, I sometimes lock them to keep you out. Does that count?

[Zhohar]

"Manlove" and "Funmen" squad will ALWAYS be unlocked (unless I had to lock it to kick someone). I am proud to be a member of TG and I wholly agree with Crux's post. If I ever lock a squad or join a locked squad it isn't to keep certain people out, it is purely to work on a specific tactic or include a specific person. I think I speak for all of the Thirdehsefdee when I say we are not here in-spite of the rest of the community, we are here because of it.

All "Pecan Pie" squads will always be unlocked because, if I've learned one thing from my years of culinary experience, it's that pie tastes best when shared.

[Damonte]

Damonte's name is Damonte, and he endorses this message.

[Smachin007]

The 3rd are always fun to play against, or with. You guys(and girls) demonstrate the level of "TG" to an awesome level and thats great. Behind you all the way.

[Crux]

Hi, my name is Bommando. You may remember me from such smash hits as "Tutti Frutti Summer Love" and "Pleasureman".

May I recommend inviting 3 people max to your squad and then opening it to visitors thereafter? You could have two squads of three SFD people and the rest made up of others. This is a great way to introduce people to organised play and dispel any air of elitism you may accrue along the way

We already do this often. But thanks anyway

[HockeyTemper]

We already do this often. But thanks anyway

This is the equivalent of "He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite Sandwich".

[austforbeer]

I don't mean to be rude but honestly, if you think the best way to practice against real teams is to play on Pub servers I honestly have to question your experience playing professionally. While I will be the first to say that Tactical Gamer, skill wise, is a top notch server, expecting that playing against a bunch of pub players is good tactical training is a farce.

Scrims against well coordinated teams is a MUST.

That said, I will say for myself that TG as a community should have a real competition driven creme` de la creme` force to represent itself on competition ladders. While having closed squads may be a big no no normally it gives the casual players something to work for and have respect for if not admiration.

Of course I have never been one to look down on the locked groups to begin with but I think having a squad or two really represent it brings a sense of pride to the server and people who play on it regularly.

Some people may take offense to it but if they really appreciate the server and want to enjoy and become part of the community they should expect the closed squad or two given every map or so.

[KoopaTroopa]

Dudes need to grow up if a locked squad is actually causing them grief.

[Crux]

I don't mean to be rude but honestly, if you think the best way to practice against real teams is to play on Pub servers I honestly have to question your experience playing professionally.

Reading comprehension for the win!

We do so because we're choosing to play with you instead of against each other, or scrimming some team on a private server somewhere. Scrimming some outside team would be a better way for us to practice. It would make us better, faster. Instead we try to compromise to remain a part of the very community that by and large seems eager to criticize us for that same choice.

[Arithea]

I don't mean to be rude but honestly, if you think the best way to practice against real teams is to play on Pub servers I honestly have to question your experience playing professionally.

Crux isn't saying here that we never scrim other teams, simply that we don't get the majority of our practice in that way. Apparently, it's working (check about halfway down the page for the latest news on the BFCL finals). We've run into some really great strategies on the main TG server that have given us ideas and plenty of insight into our playstyle as a group.