Reza Malin, on 04 February 2017 - 08:14 PM, said:
This is just my opinion, but maybe because, once you join a unit, the majority of them turn out to be some strange pseudo-military wannabe group, with "training" sessions, and telling people what they should or shouldn't be doing.
The problem isn't that the system for joining units is difficult, far from it. Its not hard to enter a TS channel or apply on a website. Its because some of the units are bloody strange, and people just can't be arsed with the hassle. A lot of people just want to play the game, and play FP rather than QP, without having to justify everything they do.
Not about joining a unit - don't join one. I didn't for a long time. That's got nothing at all to do with getting on TS and teaming up or learning from other players how to play.
I've been on probably 20 different TS. Maybe more. I did a 'mech bay tour' in FW 2.0 and went around to all the factions. I've played with *most* the units and teams in the game. I've never seen or heard any of them act the way you're describing. I think you're talking about what you're scared of encountering, not what you've encountered.
Many groups have some guidelines. Follow the drop callers call, if you've got a complaint voice it after the match. Take mechs that follow a general guideline when called - for example if you're in the IS you need a 'fast heavy' in your deck that goes 70-80 for many strats when attacking some maps on invasion. You need to get into position before the other team gets set up. Plenty of groups have a 'try not to bring LRMs' requirement most the time though it's usually pretty lose and full of exceptions.
If that sort of stuff (listen to the drop caller, bring good mechs, don't be a jackass) is too restrictive for someone then FW is going to always involve them getting utterly crushed by even pug teams full of players who are willing and able to coordinate a bit, bring good robbits and make decent choices. The game is 12 v 12 - there are teams on every match. QP or group queue or FW. It's always a team game. The team that plays like a team always beats the one that doesn't. People who don't want to play in a team or don't care about being in a team will always be losers here. That won't change until it's 24 player deathmatch.
Training drops happen too in some (certainly not all) teams. Usually when the members request it. It helps a lot when you're in a team to have everyone on the same page so when the drop caller says 'push that corner' everyone knows what that means. It doesn't mean run around it full speed, it means first guy goes right around the corner, 2nd guy goes wide of him, 3rd wide of him, etc. and you need to leave room for the first guys going in to duck into cover when they get too chewed. There's some positioning involved in teamwork and having everyone on the same page about it means it happens more easily in a match. Most teams have a handful of training drops in a year. Like 2 or 4. Maybe 6. Again, if that's too hardcore of a commitment to you, dropping in a match with your teammates a couple times a year to get the new guys up to speed.... well, you're going to lose a lot to people with the mustard seed of effort involved in doing so.
However none of that requires joining a unit. Ask questions, build a decent drop deck, get on TS with some group or another so you're coordinated, follow the calls, learn to play and try to carry your weight. That's all that's needed. Joining a unit or not has nothing to do with it - though joining a unit is nothing like you describe.