Talk:Structure changes

On Multiplayer within the RS.

First, as it currently stands, the RS as a club truly has little to no interest in MP. I speak from my experience in XvT over the past several years. One way to make the RS more interesting to new members, and perhaps to some older members as well, is to have a better way of dealing with multiplayer, rather than the system I have experienced of "MP Events every so often."

Two of the most successful groups I have seen at dealing with MP (for XvT), were Zone-based. These groups, TIE Fighter Alliance and The Rebel Alliance, made their mark by heavy recruiting - they constantly had new people and welcomed everybody. While this practice generally precluded them as a statistical beast in competitions, as interest in XvT has waned, TFA and TRA are the last two clubs standing.

They succeed because they provide an environment in which people who love their game are allowed to play it at any time they want - events are constantly happening, and these events actually have variety in them too. One week the competition may be to see who shoots the most mines, the next it is an uneven melee competition (2v1 etc). They allow for everybody to play, and the winner squadron-wise is determined by which squadron has the greatest number of points. In XvT, this works rather well because a couple active pilots can keep up with any "elite" pilot in terms of score, simply by flying more games.

You might think, the EH does a good job at combining SP and MP. My opinion is that they do not. Their emphasis is almost exclusively SP, with a squadron or two set aside for people who want to do MP. This has led to a culture of 1v1 matches, and thus left EH pilots at a serious disadvantage when it comes time to work together for any event. The EH has a small MP base, and they do not provide much for their pilots to do.

My personal opinion is that a club will either be SP, or MP, and cannot do both well. Loving MP tends to push SP to the back, while those who love SP look down on MP gamers as well. These two cultures, while not totally irreconcilable, would create a great deal of strain. That said....

My suggestions on what the RS would need to succeed in having an active MP base: 1. Some players who truly love MP 2. A variety of events, with something always happening. 3. A way to track the statistics of such events (ie Battlestats.com) 4. A good sense of community, to help people feel welcome and that they are a part, even during those times when everybody is a little too busy to participate much.

":)
~ Col. Han Suul
(aka BOSS_Nately, Fury_Nately, TRA_ShmellyK10, TFA_LarryBoy)
Former multiplayer pilot