I felt the need to take the time to write this because of my, being a caller, observations to reactions to Clan members during a Skirmish or the aftermath discussions. By in no means am I addressing an individual or seeking to be punitive in this discussion, however, I feel if gone unchecked, it will have a negative impact on the overall moral of the Clan and its members. Although we are here for fun and entertainment, we need to follow some guidelines so as a group we can overcome the other opponents and have fun in the process.
I never really wanted to be a caller but in the absence of individuals willing to, our clan could never get a skirmish underway. So my desire to battle with my fellow clan members in a skirmish outweighed my dislike to be a caller, so thus, a caller I became.
Being a caller is a thankless task, if we win by my strategic deployment I am well revered, if we loose because of my blunder, words can not adequately describe the feeling. A callers "job" is not ONLY to deploy the tanks to engage the enemy in the best situation as possible, believe it or not that is the easy part compared to the "job" of identifying discrepancies in a fellow clan members game play that is in opposition to team play, individual upward skill building, or detrimental practices. Telling someone that he or she is not "playing" their tank properly is not a "fun" thing to do, but left uncheck, leads to larger issues in the future.
Every caller has his or her own style and as an individual we sometimes despise certain callers for more then one reason.
1. Deploying tanks, especially YOURS, to areas that YOU disagree with or seems just plain stupid.
2. Telling YOU how YOU are not playing YOUR tank correctly by not being in the correct position, over extended, or away from the group.
3. Not letting YOU take in the tank that YOU want to use for whatever reason, (too slow, wrong type, gun depression, no pen, etc...).
4. Telling YOU to go here (D5) behind the rock, side scraping, and YOU go to (C4) behind a bush because YOU decided that (C4) was a better spot for YOU, or YOU didn't confirm the initial deployment because maybe the caller made a map click mistake, the click is vague, or YOU missed the exact spot.
5. Being told to "radio silence" during battle.
6. Caller doesn't seem to accept your ideas or concepts during a battle or after the aftermath.
Callers are not the enemy, last time I looked they are on the green side just like all of us. Callers may need to be more understanding in their task at hand and how it effects one another. I would personally ask everyone to, before it becomes an issue, please take the time to talk to the caller in a private chat or private TeamSpeak channel. Please wait till after the run of skirmishes to address your concerns. I would ask it to be private as to not undermine what little shred of ability I have to direct individuals as it is. Please don't leave your concerns unaddressed as I am most likely unaware as to what they are and how I am negatively effecting your "game play". I am aware that we are here for fun and entertainment. Callers need to work towards implementing guidelines in a way that will not so far negatively effect your "fun" but allow us as a group overcome the other opponents. Please help me in this endeavor.
The following paragraphs were written by a clan member of one of the top Clans in World of Tanks, Gorillas (-G-).
Although, in my opinion, we (B0TS) do not require or necessarily follow these principles in full, I believe we could benefit from voluntarily individually adopting them. As a caller, I strive to have everyone following these general principles.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES by (-G-):
Different callers have drastically different methods and styles (as you will see). But a few general principles are almost always in effect.
First, bring your A game. All tanks are expected to have at least 2.5 skills, perfect gear, camo insignias, and the optimal blend of consumables/ammo regardless of expense. If you don’t have the perfect tank, perfect gear, or are lagging you will be benched.
Second, don’t play like a pubstar. Everyone in G has a ~65%+ win rate. Everyone is very good at the game, and is accustomed to carrying, using pubbies as meat, and so on. In clam wars, that attitude has to go. Everyone is equal, and everyone fights as a group, not as a hero. This includes taking hits for your teammates, working together, focusing fire, and pushing as a group. There are some very good players in this game who are terrible at clan wars because hey can’t get over their own stats/selfishness. Don’t be that guy.
Third, tactics are different. In pubs, teams tend to fan out across the map and start to work long range snipes on each front, wearing the team down. In CW, battles are almost always won by a concerted push of a main force with a token defensive/sniping force in reserve. Thus, the skills you practice every day in pubs (picking a good bush, sniping, playing vision games, and so on) don’t help. Really nothing helps other than hours spent in tank companies or 7/42. Its a different style of play.
Please feel free to comment, however, please keep your comments generalized.
Thank you, glhf
Kiptap