We Do Teamwork

Hello everybody!

I'm starting a new attempt on the teamwork group. I'm going to arrange 1/2 - 1 hour practise sessions followed by a more informal gaming session. The plan is to do the same thing as before, but more systematically.

I'll set up events via the Steam group and will keep on setting them once or twice a week, regardless of the turnup. If nothing unexpected happens, at least I will be there. You can join in the middle of a session or skip sessions - basically anything goes, join whenever you feel like it. Also, if the times or the days are not good for you, please tell so and we'll try to fix it. (By the way, if you haven't noticed yet, "Upcoming Events" is shown on the right side of your Control Panel's Overview (Front) page.)

The voip will be in the Tactical Gamer TeamSpeak server, channel TG-RO, password zzzz. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SERVER REQUIRES REGISTERING, so if you haven't done that, either talk to me on Steam or go to http://www.tacticalgamer.com/ and choose "Resources/TeamSpeak" from the site menu. You need to register to the site, before you can get to the TeamSpeak page. When you get to the page, however, you'll find rather clear directions. In any case, if in trouble, just talk to me. It's also possible to only use the keyboard for communication, unless you want to try leading a squad. Again, talk to me and I'll take you through the keyboard settings.

In the beginning, to have a slower game tempo and time to think before action, the maps used are going to be the huge Red Orchestra and Darkest Hour combined infantry/tank maps. Please have both games installed and try playing the big tank maps to make sure you have most of the textures downloaded. Once we have some experience and the things start running smoothly we can gradually move to more fast paced smaller maps and even to different games.

The practise will be the absolute minimum to able meaningful teamwork, using only procedures that are usable ingame. It's done in steps, starting with the more basic things, moving gradully to more advanced. The topic of a session will be adapted to the least trained attendee. This will, of course, mean that the more basic steps will be repeated over and over, but the basics need repetition anyway, so it's all good.

The schedule will look something like this:

basic communication
basic infantry movement
defending a position (and not get sniped)
infantry assault and retreat
infantry at procedures
using an apc (driving, using mg, getting in and out, securing the perimeter, assaulting...)
tank procedures
combined procedures
...

Also, as a new feature, I'm going to employ voting and majority decisions for most every situation, starting with choosing the game and map all the way to making tactical decisions such as "should we go through the center or right flank?" or "should we attack immediately or wait a while?". The idea behind this is to create some sort of democracy in the group and also to force people to get involved in all aspects of the game. Also it means, that the team leader will become less a decision maker and more like just a conductor of an orchestra.

Finally, a few important words. While I'd like to encourage people to speak up, chat and socialize while playing, the intention here is not to create just another "gaming chat room". If you just want to talk with your buddies while playing, join ANY existing clan or teamwork group :P. So when playing here, please don't let the chatting disrupt the teamwork effort or your concentration. Another important thing is to remember not to run around by yourself. That'll just get you alone in enemy's sights and make it that much harder to regroup with others. If you at any point get confused about where you should be, stay put and ask.

Hope to see you joining the sessions.

Yoza