[Original RPG] More input please - semi-permanent squads

Reflector · Post by **Reflector** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:51 pm

We're full of ideas right now. Here's another we came up with.

For the purpose of allowing players and characters to buddy up better, the staff had the idea of putting together some semi-permanent squads in each faction. They'd be roughly ten members each organized for the purpose of going on missions together, always under the same leader and with the same teammates. At base you'd be free to wander as you please, but you'd have war buddies to socialize with and you'd know who your direct boss is. We felt this might help develop comeraderie among the characters (and you guys!) and thus serve to develop characters, but we wanted to ask you first: do you think this would be good for the game, for your characters, and for yourself?

If there's a majority to go with it, I'll post a draft of the team arrangement we put together. From there, you folks will be able to request moving your characters to and from teams if you don't like where they are. We'll try to put together characters who we know have a history together, and we'll do our best to accomodate your requests without unbalancing the numbers too much.

Raise your voices, people.

Reflector · Post by **Reflector** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:54 pm

While I have you, I want to note that we don't just want to ask for your input on our ideas - we want your ideas too! Do you have a vision of some system that'll make the game run smoother? Maybe you have a storyline you'd like to see happen in the future? Maybe you think the way we do things is completely wrong and you want to revolt and rebuild from the ground up? Maybe you just want to write me a love letter?

Whatever it is, please PM your friendly neighborhood mods with any idea you have to make the game better. This thing is here for you, after all, so tell us how you'd like it.

optimusskids · Post by **optimusskids** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:24 pm

i don't know if theres enough active characters for squads of ten but i do think it would be a good idea.

Rather than just the Mayhems or the Wreckers or who Optimus randomly scooped up from the Ark today or who we want to sell toys of and all have the same gimmick but aside from that really don't fit together from cannon.

Jazz " I do love it when a plan comes together."
Howling Mad Powerglide
B.A. Ratchet
Face Getaway

In addition to deployable squads maybe we could formalise some of the other structures on base work out who fits where in Security , Logistics, Coms, Reconnasiance, Medical. So theres structures they slot into on base as well as off. Generally people know who's the head of a certain speciality but after that it gets more fuzzy. If a chain of command doesn't work just redesign the characters areas of interest. For example

Director of Intelligence
Head of Counter Intelligence
Head of Field Operations
Head of Q section
Head of intelligence analysis
Polyhex desk chief
Iacon Desk chief

or

Strategic Logistics
Tactical Logistics
Procurement

miked23 · Post by **miked23** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 1:22 am

It sounds like a good idea but theres 2 problems that I see.
1: I don't know if we will have enough for ten man squads

2: also if your going to have leaders the player leading the squad should be active with all of them becuase I don't want to see 1 squad sitting and doing nothing and others doing everything.

redman prime · Post by **redman prime** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:47 am

I think it could be a pretty goo Idea, but the # of players is what would hinder it.
maybe it's time to actively recruit?

Reflector · Post by **Reflector** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:29 pm

Originally posted by miked23
1: I don't know if we will have enough for ten man squads

We looked at the numbers and picked ten-ish because it was a close number to a real squad that was divisible by the number of active characters. 'Course, doing so means we'll only have a few squads - maybe six or seven per faction, including gestalt teams. But if there's a majority opinion that we should have a greater quantity of smaller groups (say fireteams instead of squads), that can be arranged.

2: also if your going to have leaders the player leading the squad should be active with all of them becuase I don't want to see 1 squad sitting and doing nothing and others doing everything.

We'll be trying to keep the squad leaders in the hands of mods and players we know won't flake out. We know the worst thing for this would be your sergeant disappearing in the middle of a firefight. We'll make sure that doesn't happen.

Originally posted by redman prime
maybe it's time to actively recruit?

I've been encouraging staff to do so, but I may as well ask in general: if any of you folks have friends you think would be interested in joining up (or could be convinced/bribed/threatened into it), please do invite them aboard. We love new people.

...They make good kindling.

Reflector · Post by **Reflector** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:41 pm

It's been a while, and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. So, as promised, here's a draft of squads the staff came up with:

Autobots
Command Staff: Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Prowl, Skids, Crosscut, Blaster

Wreckers: Roadbuster, Overdrive, Scoop, Whirl, Stepper

Unit One: Grimlock, Chromedome, Rosdos, Swoop, Hardhead, Chainclaw, Landfill, Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Hoist

Unit Two: Fortress Maximus, Crosshairs, Jetfire, Gunrunner, Fizzle, Brainstorm, Hubcap, Backstreet, Hosehead, Doublecross, Derby

Unit Three: Jazz, Ironhide, Red Alert, Smokescreen, Ratchet, Perceptor, Wheeljack, Bluestreak, Inferno, Warpath, Tracks, Cosmos

Unit Four: Hot Rod, Nightbeat, Siren, Override, Dogfight, Quickmix, Aero Blade, Dirge, Greatshot, Guzzle, Minerva

Aerialbots: Silverbolt, Skydive, Air Raid, Fireflight, Slingshot

Protectobots: Hot Spot, First Aid, Blades, Groove, Streetwise

Reserves: Sky Lynx, Omega Supreme, Mirage, Trailbreaker, Hound, Brawn, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Windcharger

Decepticons
Command Staff: Gigatron, Astrotrain, Shockwave, Soundwave, Reflector

Mayhems: Bludgeon, Stranglehold, Fangry, Octopunch, Pounce

Unit One: Scorponok, Ravage, Beastbox, Squawktalk, Quake, Krok, Charger, Loadrun, Chop Shop, Vindicator

Unit Two: Hatemonger, Weirdwolf, Roadblock, Counterpunch, Frenzy, Rumble, Carnivac, Wingspan, Excavator

Unit Three: Spinister, Tracer, Snapdragon, Flattop, Ramjet, Sunstorm, Thundercracker, Buzzsaw, Cryotek

Breastforce: Leozak, Gaihawk, Hellbat, Killbison, Drillhorn, Jalgar

Predacons:Razorclaw, Divebomb, Rampage, Tantrum, Headstrong

Reserves: Trypticon, Cyclonus, Skystalker, Kickback, Bombshell, Shrapnel, Slicer, Airwave, Nightracer

If you folks don't like where one of your characters is, speak up and we'll do our best to have him resituated without unbalancing things too much. Otherwise, we'll be implementing this with the next story arc, which will be beginning by this time next week.

Incidentally, if anybody has more exciting names for the squads, please let us know. We tried but failed to find a medium between terribly generic and terribly cheesey.

Post by **zigzagger** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:18 pm

But, but, but.....where are my Protectobots?

Reflector · Post by **Reflector** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:11 pm

Oh, heck, we did this up before you claimed them. They'll be their own squad a la Aerialbots and the like. I fix.

optimusskids · Post by **optimusskids** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:39 pm

Squad names would be good maybe we should all make suggestions and put them to the vote.

Unit One from it's makeup looks like it's going to be in the thick of things but apart from Ratchet's nightmare i can't think of anything

Unit three has got a lot of the originals in so maybe something reflecting that.

evil grin inter squad rivalry

Weirdwolf: " We working for love Gigatron !
Under him do we no wrong !
One, three,two, four! All we are predators , know we the score!
Two, three,one, four! Pound we our enemies into the floor !

Off sound !

three, one , two four!!!"

Maybe the Hunters for the Cons Unit 2

slartibartfast · Post by **slartibartfast** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:05 am

Blaster and Skids are command staff ? They were under my command on cybertron... oh the irony... but as long as I'm with Cosmos I'm happy.

as for team names, I'd imagine they'd come from exploits, such as the "butchers of Broadcoast" or "the lost"... I can't think of many names cheesier than Breastforce though

Ravage · Post by **Ravage** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:49 am

Sounds really neat sorry I ve been so on and off in the game lately. I think I am a bit lost anyway lol.

Wouldn't Scorpnok and Hatemonger be command staff though? I figure an infantry General and former Decepticon leader might be on the staff?

Post by **Warcry** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:20 am

'Command staff' doesn't mean 'the highest-ranking guys in the faction' so much as 'the guys who have duties that keep them at the base'. Prime and Gigatron's deputies, personal aides, bridge crew, comms staff, and whatnot.

Hatemonger and Scorpy are field commanders. I don't think they'd be too happy if we chained them to a desk.

Originally posted by optimusskids
Unit three has got a lot of the originals in so maybe something reflecting that.

Earthforce?

Ravage · Post by **Ravage** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 4:24 am

Yeah that does make sense. Hatemonger would get rather bored as he does like getting his hands bloody from time to time.

optimusskids · Post by **optimusskids** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:54 am

What about Tap Out

How about having some of the units without Coms and medic specialists send volunteers for additional training. I can see it now
that'll give people something to do between missions.

Hubcap :"well I could pass you out but i'm not sure there is some Administrative costs, say 5000 shanix."

Ratchet scanning list "check ,check oh slag who put Chainclaws name down for medical trining tell me its a joke it was you Sideswipe tell me you're playing a trick on me."

Post by **zigzagger** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:46 pm

I've deliberately been selecting characters with specific rescue/support-type talents, and it is no coincidence that I chose the Protectobots and Inferno, to go along side my current character of choice Ratchet in order to strengthen the Autobot's rescue/medical/extraction support. I'm just brainstorming here, so just humor me, but how about placing them (and characters of similar characteristics) in some sort of tactical extraction/rescue/special operations unit, or at least giving them a special title. They'd be the equivalent of the the coast guard, or something along those lines, where they could be dispatched anywhere in the game (provided transport, of course). I could have Ratchet be one of the heads of this special operation unit, since he's a seasoned veteran and combat medic. Plus, I don't intend to use Defensor a whole lot (unless circumstances permit it), so the Protectobots can be dispersed as individual bots. That way, one group can have First Aid function as a stand in medic allowing Ratchet to be available for other squads, or have Blades providing aerial support else where. Having the characters move around more freely like this could add an element of realism during battles when support must constantly be mobile and not in just one spot.

Heinrad · Post by **Heinrad** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:45 am

Don't forget Black Battle Convoy.

Unit One: Lightning Strike Coalition?

Grimlock: "Not sure if these guys strike like lightning. Name work, though."

tahukanuva · Post by **tahukanuva** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:03 am

Where's Dethlok? I know he's done nothing and stuff, but...

Post by **Warcry** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:42 am

Originally posted by zigzagger
...how about placing them (and characters of similar characteristics) in some sort of tactical extraction/rescue/special operations unit

That won't really work because the different units are going to be working all across the map. We'll have characters on Earth (eventually, anyway), at Iacon and deployed to various battlefronts across Cybertron on a semi-permanent basis. The different medics and S&R characters would have to be spread around with them, so a unified Rescue command structure wouldn't really work.

Ironically, it would have when everyone was on Earth, but we never had more than a handful of medics and S&R types then.

That said, if the medical characters assigned to each different location were to function in the way you're describing, it would work pretty well.

And we'll get around to finding places for Dethlok, BBC, and all the rest of the guys we've forgotten before the game starts up again. Just let us know that they've been forgotten.

Reflector · Post by **Reflector** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:31 pm

Also, if you could indicate which team you'd like your missing character on, that'd help. Please be mindful of trends we have, like Autobot Three being all first- and second-series and Decepticon Three being all aerial.

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[Original RPG] More input please - semi-permanent squads

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More input please - semi-permanent squads