[FOLK] New platoon structure (and updated comms guide)

[fer]

If you have a Folk forum (http://www.ferstaberinde.com/folk/forum/index.php) account, you will have received this update by email. For anyone that plays in the Folk sessions but hasn't got an account yet, here's a copy (also, please think about opening an account, because not everything gets cross-posted):


SUBJECT: Folk Communique!

Comrade Guest!

The number of comrades joining the fight for a socialist agrarian utopia continues to grow. Our session is approaching 50 guests, whilst our sister session ARPS Tactical Tuesday has already seen 60 guests!

To help us manage the numbers, we've decided to re-organise the Folk platoon. Read about it in this thread:

http://bit.ly/KRKSyl

Our approach to comms is not changing, but we now ask that anyone taking a leadership role has configured TeamSpeak's Channel Commander (CC) feature. To read how comms work with the new platoon structure, please see this thread:

http://bit.ly/KAMcY7

Folk and ARPS mission makers will be pleased to know F2 has been updated; for more details see this thread:

http://bit.ly/KYmKdc

Please take a moment to read these threads, so you'll get the maximum enjoyment from the sessions and improve the experience for others. Of course, these changes don't guarantee we'll be any more effective, but there may be more comrades between you and the enemy. Dead comrades.

Hasta la victoria siempre!

Fer :)

[harakka]

Reading this is highly recommended for the ARPS Tactical Tuesday participants as well. We will be adopting similar organization and comms system in ARPS, and new missions should mostly be made using the new platoon structure. Our current system just isn't cutting it any more with these player counts.

The new squad leader role should also help ease people into command roles, without having to take the big leap of overall mission command right off the bat.

If you have questions about this after reading Fer's lovely links, just ask.

[Joseph-Sulphur]

Truly, the wisdom of the party knows no limits. If I'm commanding a platoon with this layout, I assume I'll be wanting to give the squad leader orders and let him deploy his fireteams as he sees fit? I feel like a commander micromanaging A1, A2, A3 etc would get a bit tedious.

[fer]

I assume I'll be wanting to give the squad leader orders and let him deploy his fireteams as he sees fit?

Correct. Leaving you more time for the things that matter. Like catching up on episodes of Gossip Girl (although I think it's gone downhill since the wedding episode).

[mike]

Correct. Leaving you more time for the things that matter. Like catching up on episodes of Gossip Girl (although I think it's gone downhill since the wedding episode).
So true.

But hopefully this will create a serious reduction on CC chatter because it really was too much sometimes (even with the CC traffic plugin I made for ts3).

What will be the slotting "strategy" be for this new platoon layout? Fill topmost teams or spread them all out evenly?

[fer]

But hopefully this will create a serious reduction on CC chatter because it really was too much sometimes

The new ORBAT should help reduce chatter instantly, but 'noise' is also a function of how individuals choose to use comms. It's always going to be important for people to try and stay concise when using voice comms, whatever the channel.


(even with the CC traffic plugin I made for ts3).

Sounds interesting - is this something you can share?


What will be the slotting "strategy" be for this new platoon layout? Fill topmost teams or spread them all out evenly?

It will always depend on available numbers, the mission, and common sense - but in general we'll seek to create balanced squads. That may mean Charlie isn't always used, because I would like to avoid us having squads composed of just an SL element and a single FT.