4 replies to this topic

[Threat Doc]

Despite the name of this thread, what I am about to propose has nothing to do with forming an organization so much as making a pact. I am not looking to lead anything (I am not worthy to lead such an august body), at least not until this game begins into leveling and/or Community Warfare, so I can get my merc unit up and running as quickly as possible when the game allows for it. Finally, with this just being a proposal, I leave the disclaimer that I am only putting the idea out here, and would like for this to expand into something more than what I propose, WITHOUT becoming an organization, and WITHOUT any sort of leader.

A league is defined as (n) 1. a covenant or compact made between persons, parties, states, etc., for the promotion or maintenance of common interests or for mutual assistance or service.

2. the aggregation of persons, parties, states, etc., associated in such a covenant or compact; confederacy.

3. an association of individuals having a common goal.

4. (rewritten to reflect) a group of mercenary/house units organized to promote mutual interests and to compete chiefly among themselves.

This particular league is designed for those who intend to command: those who wish to be Merc Corp Commanders, their Executive Officers, and/or their Command Staffs. We are the community leaders, we are putting ourselves out there so others can come to the game, play together in something that is bigger than ourselves, to encourage good will among our members and among other commanders.

MY SHORT HISTORY
On October 31st, 2011, when MechWarrior Online first opened their page on Facebook and announced their presence, I had signed up with the MWO forums immediately on the announcement –I was on Facebook the moment the announcement came across my advertising block- and put up my Armageddon Unlimited Facebook page within minutes. I began working the unit up to a status that grew to be 44 members within three weeks, which is two members larger than any iteration of the unit before, though by September, 2012 our unit fell apart, and I killed it.

Well, I’m obsessed, I utterly love the BattleTech universe (since November 1984), in any medium, and I love being in command of my own unit. Am I great at it, no, but it has brought me to a point where I want to command, again, and have far-more training and a better outlook than ever. So, after a year away from the game, almost entirely away from MWO, butt-hurt and trying to get myself back together, I returned to see the reality of this community, at this time...

THE REALITY
There is a huge amount of vitriol, anger, and inconsolability on these forums, and it’s ridiculous that it’s this way. Did PGI make promises concerning certain things about MWO? Yes. Have they broken more than a couple of those promises? Yes. Do people have a right to be angry, put-out, offended, etc.? That would be subjective.

The truth, however, is that it doesn’t really matter whether people have those rights or not. If we want to have this game, if we want to have the opportunity to not only have the ability to change things for the better in the game, and to keep this game moving, and allow it to expand into places we can imagine, but are invariably a long way off, and we want to secure the virtual future of the BattleTech universe, we have to begin acting like community leaders.

Remember, I am not one to talk, as I was bashing PGI up until I heard the entirety of NGNG 88, along with most of the naysayers, but I have come to a realization about my actions and deeds, and that I can have a positive effect, rather than killing my favorite science fiction universe, hence the reason I’m writing this to you. This is NOT a love letter to PGI, it’s not trying to kiss anyone’s backside, and I am not begging you for anything; rather, this is a letter asking for you to join me in helping not only MWO, but MWT, Tactical Command, BTU, and future potential BattleTech universe projects that will stand on the shoulders of these, now. Indeed, this is not anything that PGI needs to be involved in or should be involved in, but rather something we need to do for the survival of our community and game universe.

PART OF THE PROBLEM… OR PART OF THE SOLUTION?
More than likely, if you’ve read this far, and you are a commander in a unit (whether as the CO, XO, C&S, or just the group organizer and maintainer), you are someone who loves the BattleTech universe and/or has played in previous MechWarrior Ladder and/or Planetary League(s), and have decided to form your unit here for the sake of play, whether in Solaris or the Planetary portion of Community Warfare, when it does emerge for us. Your only question is will you continue to support the development of MWO for the sake of getting to Planetary/Solaris play, or are you thinking of leaving it behind?

If you are the latter, feel free to stop reading, now, and move along. For the rest, read on to see what we can do, together, to get this moving...

THE PRIMARY GOALS… OBJECTIVES
This community is growing at a fair pace, now, but with all of the poison all over the forums –much of it is legitimate- I doubt many stay long enough to actually enjoy the game. With that in mind, the primary goals, now, of the Commander’s League, if you agree with it, and you’re willing to put any disillusionment you have aside for the sake of the grand potential of what the developers at PGI have expressed several times they want to build for us, are as follows...

• Council people away from the vitriol, confusion, supposition, and garbage written on these forums daily. This means anyone, but especially the folks in your own ranks. I know many of us, including me, have one or more beefs about the direction and position of MWO, at this present time, but I’m willing to put mine on hold to see what the future looks like. You get more flies with honey than vinegar, and there are hundreds of thousands of gallons of vinegar in these forums, just now. The goal is to get these forums back to serviceability so new folks coming here, and those who have come and gone, will hear and see that this is a great community, again, and will come or return to enjoy time with their fellow enthusiasts.

• It is up to us, not PGI, not IGP, to make sure OUR game continues to have fresh cherries at all times. Once we return the forums to serviceability, slow our roll with regards to the ugliness prevalent here, it will then be up to us to get our recruiting up. I know, many of you will say that your recruiting is just fine, right levels, etc. However, once objective 1, above, is in far better condition than it is, now, and we Commanders begin to look outwardly for new recruits, new people to bring into the game, not only for our own units, but for others if incoming MechWarrior’s don’t fit with us, I think you’re going to see this game explode, population-wise. We must make it OUR priority, OUR mission, to take command of this community, repair it, and drive it forward.

• New people, those who’ve been here a while, and anyone else who doesn’t know the BattleTech universe, the extensive outlay behind this game, the fluff and lore behind their favorite ’Mechs, tactics and unit cohesiveness training, etc. should be made available, including folks to help train them. I’m not saying force training on anyone, but just make it available.

More can be done, later, these things can be better-defined. I’m starting the conversation, but this is not my baby.

If you agree with these things, to taking command of the community and attempting to make it better, as outlined above, you don’t have to sign, you’re not expected to do anything in this forum; just commit yourself to attempting to guide others, as a Commander should do, to make things better.

Alternately, if you have things to say to make all of this better, blow this thread up and let’s get something good done. What say you?

[whiskey tango foxtrot]

I say you are part of the problem or part of the solution.

as a member of the Lone Wolf support group we support the game and the development of it.

we help players and have a great time doing it and we tolerate NO drama.

we are over 600 strong and growing , this is what we do to be part of the solution.

hopefully this attitude will spread, i believe that will help push things in the right direction.

<S> Whiskey...

[Threat Doc]

Thank you. My actions will determine whether I remain part of the problem, or become part of the solution. I hope more for the latter, as I have mostly been of the former.

I just can't fathom acting, anymore, with indiscretion and indecency toward those who are not required to take anything we've said, to listen to anything, to respond to anything. Though we put in a good portion of the money, it was because we agreed with their initial vision, though it may have changed since that time. If we continue to put money into the system, we tell them the direction we see them going, now, is the right way to go. I cannot direct this game, I will not even have a chance of being heard, if all I can do is yell and criticize. I may have destroyed my ability, my reputation, because of my own arrogance, already, so I'm not counting on being heard any time in the future; however, if I can have a positive effect on others, turn them away from getting started into the extended criticism, for the sake of having a better future, of being heard through them, then that's what I should do.

My actions here are honest, and I am trying to live up to what I've always said I am, an honorable man. Hopefully, that's enough.

[BlackPhoenix01]

Aces Wild support most of what has been said here. People need to keep a positive spin on things and look at the long term overall rather than get pissed off whenever patch time comes around because PGI doesn't have a slave army working for them to get this game done yesterday. I stand by the fact that most of the people who complain about this game still play it. Instant gratification junkies will always gawk and blab about something wrong and, unfortunately, will always be the most motivated to take action against something they don't like because it's easy. Ironically, they are also usually the ones who exploit issues too. CW aside, this is still a fantastic up-and-coming game that is only going to get better. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Give valuable feedback instead of hot air. Drink a beer and enjoy your free time with friends.

Edited by BlackPhoenix01, 18 September 2013 - 05:08 PM.

[Chief Tigris]

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade supports the betterment of all players. As pilots we all let our adrenaline surge in battle. But when the dust settles it's us left with the great power and responsibility to spark change because we can, because we've either chosen to lead or because other's have chosen to follow us. Either way, it is up to us to step up to the plate.

As for training, it is heavily stressed in Jin-Roh, and as for the masses, I stop in ngng ts, north american ts, and the international MWO ts and help players in the education center and highly encourage our skilled warriors to take the time to do so as well. Don't get me wrong, my training plans, methods and organization are under wraps, but a simple run down of the game and a few tips won't cause harm to my Corporation and will start a green mechwarrior on the right leg. In addition, what commanders can do for the community though they don't command the community per-say, is to hold their warriors accountable for their actions within the online community. Nuff said.

For those of us with A/V specialists, good with video and youtube, you could make a Corporation sponsored tutorial.