Squadron manifesto

The repeat cycle of the rise and fall of squadrons*. (From what i observed)
*in some cases

The first option:

Stage 1:the squad is created and people join and the squad is booming.

Stage 2: Someone thinks its a great idea to create a squad group outside of the dogfight forum so you can talk privately. For Example a websites, google group, etc.

Stage 3: This causes people to use that rather than dogfight forum.

Stage 4: Noobs think that your squad is inactive because people aren't using its thread on the forum.

Stage 5: No noobs will join your squad. The squad will crash after its own members leave do to not being a "cool" squad.

Stage 6: One of the former members of your squad will go on to create his own squad.

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The second option:

Stage 1:the squad is created and people join and the squad is booming.

Stage 2: all the people you recruited never use the forum and the are the type of noobs that only play for a week. So basically after a month your squad which you proclaim to have like 70 members only actually has 3 active members.


Stage 3: Noobs think that your squad is inactive because people aren't using its thread on the forum.

Stage 4: No noobs will join your squad. The squad will crash after its own members leave do to not being a "cool" squad.

Stage 5: One of the former members of your squad will go on to create his own squad.


Mark these words. Don't follow the path.


Please comment, do you agree or not?

I don't think forum is so big of an issue, because a relatively small portion of the community regularly participates and contribute on forum. For me, what fueled my switch from Bombshell to Gi, was the number of players I saw in games, how often, and whether they were in chat and were friendly. In BB, it was Red, Storm, and now and then Kenobi. With Gi, it is Air Raider, Gunnerzz, Weazelzgirl (or used to be), Horriblebreast, King, Slayer, and more, on a regular basis.
So to me, it's about finding people in-game and in chat more than on forum.

It is noteworthy to take a look at how the most successful squads operate. For instance, Misfits and M.O.M and there are a couple of other good up and comers like DD, Legends, Lafayette, and Gunners. Not to cast out the older squads like the Falcons and Enigma, but you will notice an obvious connection between a thriving Forum thread and a thriving squad. Misfits are no where near the largest squad, but we are the most active squad here on the Forum. I believe that shows a direct correlation between health of a squad and healthy Forum numbers. M.O.M continues its relevancy because of their activeness here on the Forum. So yes Dixie I can definitely see and agree to what you are saying.

Weather[*M]an wrote: It is noteworthy to take a look at how the most successful squads operate. For instance, Misfits and M.O.M and there are a couple of other good up and comers like DD, Legends, Lafayette, and Gunners. Not to cast out the older squads like the Falcons and Enigma, but you will notice an obvious connection between a thriving Forum thread and a thriving squad. Misfits are no where near the largest squad, but we are the most active squad here on the Forum. I believe that shows a direct correlation between health of a squad and healthy Forum numbers. M.O.M continues its relevancy because of their activeness here on the Forum. So yes Dixie I can definitely see and agree to what you are saying.

I kinda felt insulted Dogfight Clan was not included in this list. It's the largest squadron in the game, with most active players and completely unmanaged. All I do is 'accept' anyone that requests to join. Nobody ever chats on it, it has no forum section and most of its members don't even know who the MORAF of the squad is. It's awesome!

In my experience and lots of trial and error

To run a successful squad (in my opinion) and this apears to be working with LEGENDS
Heres just a few things that I sujest
1. Pick a name u think alot of ppl will like also one that has a good theam
2. Be committed and put in alot of dedication
3. DONT BE A SPONGE SQUAD, owning a good "elite" squad takes patients.
4. Find ppl who u can trust to help u run it, assigne officers to do certain things like...2nd in command (person who knows u best and who u can count on), Forum editor (just to deal with all the small details on forum), Recruiting Officers (ur squad isnt gonna grow unless u invite ppl) and last but not least try to recruit a banner maker (I know we have many banner factories, but its cooler if u have someone in ur squad who can do it)
5. Set standards and goals
6. Be creative and invent things other squads dont have (for example LEGENDS: we now have a inspiration section on our 1st post, includes squad who inspire us or influence us: M.O.M, Misfits, Falcons, NLR, Gunners Inc etc.....
7. You will come across a bad egg here n there, I sujest u talk to them and see if they cant striaghten their act up...if not show them the door.
8. Have ur all ur squad members wear a call sign...this shows that ur members are proud to be who they are
9. Influence ur members to squad chat amd come to forum, this will help them feel more connected to the squad
10. Fly togeather and show off ur squad as much as possible, its fun pluse its kinda like advertising

well those are just a few of the things I do with my squad so ill let u see how that works for yourself

great advice spit. i see the forum as an extension of the game. so squads with members that do not use it are at a disadvantage. communication is paramount in running any type of organization. so i absolutely agree that a squad with 80 members looks great on paper but doesn't translate into bodies you can put in the fight. and yes i'm talking about G.I.

i think the integration of forum and game accounts will help all squads very quickly. the main obstacle i have faced so far has been members of the squad who are unable to access the forum due to this, that, and the other. now they'll be able to click the forum tab from squad chat and be logged in and ready to post. that will allow for quick training of recruits by easy access to squad front pages and related posts.

a healthy squad uses the forum to their advantage and posts content not only for themselves but for the rest of the community to enjoy as well. let's keep all the squads alive.

zuperman wrote:

Weather[*M]an wrote: It is noteworthy to take a look at how the most successful squads operate. For instance, Misfits and M.O.M and there are a couple of other good up and comers like DD, Legends, Lafayette, and Gunners. Not to cast out the older squads like the Falcons and Enigma, but you will notice an obvious connection between a thriving Forum thread and a thriving squad. Misfits are no where near the largest squad, but we are the most active squad here on the Forum. I believe that shows a direct correlation between health of a squad and healthy Forum numbers. M.O.M continues its relevancy because of their activeness here on the Forum. So yes Dixie I can definitely see and agree to what you are saying.

I kinda felt insulted Dogfight Clan was not included in this list. It's the largest squadron in the game, with most active players and completely unmanaged. All I do is 'accept' anyone that requests to join. Nobody ever chats on it, it has no forum section and most of its members don't even know who the MORAF of the squad is. It's awesome!

I love the last sentence you wrote Zuperman...

"Nobody ever chats on it, it has no forum section and most of its members don't even know who the MORAF of the squad is. It's awesome!"[/quote]

You have created the anti-squad It sounds like your kinda over chat and forum being part of the game. those things probably create a lot of headaches for you

i've been reading a couple of your recent post...your pretty funny...

True... Falcon is more active on it's squad site than the forum but I personally feel that the forum is not the base of (Big) squad life. It is however a great tool. Having only known our inner system I'm biased but... if you've only ever been a forum squad then yes it would be a major indicator of the stability of your squad.

Activity in game is key too ... and Misfits hold that down without a doubt in my mind. You can't join a match without one being there or joining soon. Lol

Im ok with active squads. But it gets tiring when you check back to squad 5 mn.later and you see that there are 12 new posts you gota read and respond to.
To much activity can b a bad thing.

Turtles crashed with the second thing.

G.I. Mac McMelkor wrote: I don't think forum is so big of an issue, because a relatively small portion of the community regularly participates and contribute on forum. For me, what fueled my switch from Bombshell to Gi, was the number of players I saw in games, how often, and whether they were in chat and were friendly. In BB, it was Red, Storm, and now and then Kenobi. With Gi, it is Air Raider, Gunnerzz, Weazelzgirl (or used to be), Horriblebreast, King, Slayer, and more, on a regular basis.
So to me, it's about finding people in-game and in chat more than on forum.

@Mac McMelkor, BB has never been as active in squad chat or on the forum as some squads, we've always been here to fly, I agree with Fox. but interestingly enough Mac, when you were a BB pilot I never saw you on the game.

@Weather[*M]an, I think you forgot another important squad on your list...