ARΣS -=EnM Squad=- Sunday 4th March

[J_Th4ng]

And me...

[Snakestyles]

I want one virtual high 5 and gay fist bump for reading the rules!

But no serias, keep it tight guys dont get over confident and stick to the call outs.

[s3xy_j0nny]

*Paul
*SlipperyDuck
*Tyger
*Cr0n0s
*dryman
*j0nny
*ph4tty
*Dr4ggy
*Leppy
*Hubris

[Paul]

I want one virtual high 5 and gay fist bump for reading the rules!

But no serias, keep it tight guys dont get over confident and stick to the call outs.

I don't feel over confident at all ARES demolished eSWAT who in turn creamed us so this is going to be one hell of a tough game. If we play like we did against ASF and improve a bit more then we could win but it will be close no matter what

[Hubris]

I don't know if you've seen but we are often mentioned on DGL articles. The simple fact that we get mentioned means we have what it takes to be a great competitive clan. Grrr was forged and immediately recognized in BF2 and recently was praised by Vovo as "a prominent force in the Bad Company 2 league". Snakestyles has also consistently reminded us of our skill and potential. We can't let one game and the relative success of a CS clan deter us from our goal.

We want to make premier division before Rage, from there, it's what we make of it. We have players who have been on the FPS and BF scene for years (many many moons), we have young guns, we have top level representatives, excellent impartial insight and perhaps most importantly, we have a close knit group of guys. We just need to find our groove and ride that lightning as far as it takes us.

Leg 1 of the DGL is for seeding. Group B is the group of death, we do have a toughie, but it's certainly not the toughest. In order to qualify this leg (or at least get a good seeding in second leg), we need to make the top three spots in our group. So far, we're sitting fourth - ESWAT are on the same 5 points, but ahead on tickets. ARES and SSG still have to play a game to be on par, so its all in the wind.

In the write up of our ESWAT game, the reader gets the sense that it was a shock win for them, it was a perfect storm of factors and it sucked balls to learn a few hard lessons. Rather in week 2 of Leg 1 than later. We have re-learnt that clan matches are won by callouts, lines of sight, patience, discipline and guts. With ARES, the bye week, FiB and SSG ahead of us we need to take stock of where we are, plan the road ahead and re-commit ourselves to it.

If we are unlucky or lose against ARES or SSG, it is likely we will qualify for the second division. This would not be failing. It's early in the year and we have many matches still to play before Rage, whatever happens we will be up against some top drawer COD, CS and BF teams. We have to bring our best to climb the leaderboard and be promoted to the premier division before the end of Leg 2. We came so close in BC2, we can't falter now.

So far, I have rotated the team a lot. Partly because we needed to test players in positions, partly because we've had some availability issues and partly due to a lack of commitment. We all recognize the benefit of stability to a team, but that requires us to be prepared to put our egos in our pockets and play the best we can for each other. It's been a good and a rough start for us, but we are still in the running and this is an opportunity to make premier early, we must earn it.

Recently, we've upped our training regime, tactics and callouts thanks to the honourable Snakestyles. We are becoming much more focused in our practices and matches. I believe we're starting to master the game and gel as a team, but we're being held back by emotional baggage. We're upset because our expectations were not always met in terms of what role we play, we're upset because we lost against ESWAT and we're upset because we are feeling the strain of RL.

Lotro, Skyrim, ME3 and now Diablo 3 are lurking; some old and new deamons tempting you from your path. I've missed pmurgs and it looks like Cr0n0s and NoMaD could be offline for some of what is left of Leg 1. It's good to know that although Leppy and Dragonne are part timers, they're always keen and make excellent fodder. To get premier status, we need to galvanise. We have to put our teething problems behind us and start firing on all cylinders.

As captain, I promise you a stable line up, shorter and more effective practices and a duracell will to win. Let's forget ESWAT and focus on the road ahead. The next four weeks are up to us, we can beat SSG and this ARES game could go either way. If we can get three practices in a week (one a match practice) and if we're lucky, that will mean a spot in premier either at the end of this Leg or the next. But we need 12 guys, three practices and a match a week to do that.

So, I need to know from you, whether we have the minerals, commitment and maturity to give this Leg and whatever the next holds for us, the best we have as a team. We're going to train harder, play better, win and have more fun than we've ever have ever before. This is an amazing game, played by an awesome team and I will do everything it takes to see us dominate at it. We can beat ARES and SSG if we are happy and clinical. If you're not happy, say so now.

V1: dryman
V2: ph4tty
V3: Tyger
D1: SlipperyDuck
D2: Cr0n0s
T1: Hubris
T2: Paul
T3: j0nny

*Dr4ggy
*Leppy

?Pmurgs
?NoMaD

We need to start fast, be decisive in securing our target flags, adapt to what the enemy is doing and hold our flags. They're sure to rush us and get frustrated if we stubbornly hold and make them come to us in the firefights. We know coordinated strikes are the best offensive tactic (we must expect it to be used against us). We also know just how big an advantage squad coordination, patience and the drop is on defence. Don't rush, adapt your positions to the situation.

SL's on defence split your troops up on all flanks, lock down critical lines of sight and do the leg work in the chaos while your guys fight. On attack, put your boys on point while you assess the situation, communicate and then flank as a secure spawn for a full storm of an area you've just softened. Maximize effectiveness with M320s, Rockets, Mines, LMGs and most importantly, other SLs. Deny the revive and call if they manage to manage the attack count (2 or 3 kills).

Our tank will engage theirs from a distance, support our defenders and soak up dmg for an assault on the third flag. Paul must keep his head on a swivel and J0nny must be able to get out and in behind me safely so we can deny them the chance to rampage our flags. It's all communication. Whenever the enemy tank is up, call its static position and the SLs need to consider sending a ninja to kill the spanners or get rockets in from behind or at 90 degrees from the side.

We'll have done this bastard elimination soon and have our map targeted, right now we just need to focus on the basics and get ourselves sharpened up for a big match. Please contact your squad mates to try get a short informal squad specific public session in this weekend. As soon as we know, I'd like to host a 30min practice on Sunday morning at 11AM to run through our strats, starts and skirmishes. Let's get our minds right, practice and force ARES to play on our terms.

Callouts, lines of sight, patience, discipline and guts will allow us to control the pace of the game and will make us very tough customers...

[Paul]

Wow lots of reading but well worth it!! I am more keen than ever to show the community what we are made of

[Hubris]

Hahaha ya sorry about that, but you should be used to that from me by now

[NiteShade]

Hubris, I think you're doing a kickass job as TL. Keep it up! Long ago its been agreed that honesty is the key.... It is easy to give praise and much harder to point out someone's weakness. Unfortunately, that is your job... point out mistakes and offer solutions. The team will never grow or learn from mistakes if everyone sits silent harboring problems/annoyances.

[s3xy_j0nny]

Hoooah

[Snakestyles]

The practice is really important. With a set schedule of pactice sessions per week and a schedule for what happens in each session you guys could get into a good groove. I know it sounds like a lot to do but some players will just miss some of the sessions. I also suggest some 4 vs 4 squad rush games that are open to bagger if all of nuts is not around. Try play two per week 1 map only, if you set it up before hand have players confrim this could be the best practice all of you get. It will just lift your gound pouder skills, communication and knowledge of the maps.


you should aim for

Two 1 hour 8vs8 games per week 1 will be DGL and one with against a random team
Two 1 hour 4vs4 squad rush games either internal or vs random teams
Two 30 mins map strat & skill sessions
One 30 min pre game warm up anytime before the DGL game

Thats a total of 5h30 mins per week and you dont even have to be in all of these sessions. They can also be moved around week by week to accomodate players and DGL games.

If Tyger could handle booking of games vs other teams for practice & DGL games that would help.

Some type of calander booking system is required were players can confrim availbilty would be cool.