Talkin' with Tex
Wow!! This week has been dy-no-mite (no offense, Jimmie "J.J." Walker) with hard battles, desperate defenses and attacks that culminated with OPERATION DYNAMO on Sunday, September 19, 2021. It was the battle that DID save Dunkirk and the Allied Forces as they slugged their way to a hard-fought victory. Battles on air, ground, and sea raged in the Theatre of Dynamo in the round along the coastal shores and countryside of France and Belgium; not to mention the English Channel. Hordes of infantry and tanks, swarms of aircraft, squadrons of destroyers, trawlers, and even freighters! No one does combat like WWIIOL so it was intense for the three hours of gameplay. At the end, both sides gathered together on Discord as XOOM did a quick ad hoc roundtable to gather player feedback. There was some very good feedback given and if you would like to add your 'two cents' continue to let us know. Special thanks to WESTY91 for the planning of the event, kudos to the event commanders JWRONA and KMS, and, of course, the hat tip to the GM Team as OHM and TMAN performed their special magic in setting up the scenario map, equipment tiers, and forward bases for both sides. We cannot fail to mention the efforts of the Marketing Team with IMBRUTUS' promo video and the always spectacular photos by PROPA in the run-up to the event.
With the Allied victory, a future event will be "The Weygand Plan". The Community Management Team is striving to plan various historical or what-if scenarios based upon the victor of each special event. Our intent is to continue to pursue history while having a good battle whenever we can. 
Campaign Update - #184
As of this writing on my Underwood Model 5 typewriter, the Allied have definitely stalled the hurried Axis drive to the French Coast and now a series of see-saw battles ebb and flow across the front with the Axis owning 76% and the Allies clawing back to 24% on Day 33 of the campaign. Who will prevail? Get in game and do your bit for King and Country, rally to the Tri-Color, or the Black Eagle. Keeping fighting, rally your friends, and enjoy the "Best Virtual Bar - 20 years running!".
The High Command
The real reason, IMHO, why WWIIOL is unique is the scope of the game and its peer-run organization called the High Command (HC). One which we can physically experience in massed assaults using combined arms, strategic bombing campaigns with escort and interdiction and then there is the textual / ethereal experience of HC. The HC at times can be flawed whether in organization or human capacity, there are grand times and trying times that occur within that long-running organization. Recently, the HC structure has seen decreased participation and, sadly, some resignations. It is CRS' intention to continue to develop the HC system from 1.0 to 2.0. In the interim, CRS is exploring immediate solutions to the issue of minimal or no HC online. As we explore those alternatives, more information will be released.
Even with those alternatives in place, there will continue to be a HC-presence and with that presence - certain knowledge and skillsets are needed. Some of which is strategic (typically and historically when the greatest number of HC are online), learning some of the back-end system processes for the HC function, and then there is the mindset of serving.
The HC role most of the time is serving and helping your fellow gamer; sacrificing your game-time while active as HC whether driving up mobile spawns, baby-sitting a spawn depot at a front-line town, etc. Many years ago I gamed with a fellow squad mate named Pruitt who was so passionate about supply, resupply, overstock that he formed the ad hoc Axis Truckers Union to rally like-minded gamers to help aide the team at critical times during a battle or campaign. I thought it was one of the most self-less things I had witnessed and participated in during my gaming experience. In some ways, HC is like that - helping others.
Most certainly HC makes mistakes - the biggest are not always communicating when an AO is getting yanked, and at worst, making a snap decision with an incomplete picture of the situation. They are human, just like you, stressed at times, helping to manage a dynamic, fluctuating, and at times, a fickle player base. 
All of those things are true and yet that peer-run organization has not been duplicated in any online game. It was recently pointed out to me that HC also has an RPG element to it. I recognize that and to some extent we should welcome that but at the end of the day when the HC asks someone to help whether within or outside of the HC structure, it is a request and can never be a demand. The exchange of credibility in moving the organization forward to assist the player base is the "secret sauce" of WWIIOL.
We cannot overlook that vital ingredient nor should we ignore the fact that not everyone is a perfect fit for such a role. One of the goals and desires on my "list" of to-do's as the Community Manager is to not only rebuild the HC organization but to let each officer candidate know there are certain expectations and those expectations really have NOTHING to do with how you move flags on the map or desire to role-play at senior command levels. Individuals focused on virtual glory, the perceived power of ordering others to follow your military genius, or simply being a drama llama . . . I strongly discourage you from applying or at a minimum, you need to prepare yourself for some difficult conversations during your ongoing participation in the organization should you cloak your real desires. Your role within HC can and will continue to be worthwhile, frustrating, sometimes underappreciated, and then maybe, if you are doing it properly, you see the ripples of your selfless service impact your fellow gamers and future leaders in a positive way. We, individually, can expand, contract or shatter our cup of credibility during interactions with each gamer.
The Mailbag
- We are still working out the details for the Mailbag and I hope to be able to announce some real progress in the next week or two (see last week's report for the scoop).
- There was an inquiry made about the Stuart treads and that is still under internal review. I am following up on this request for information.
- XOOM gave another sneak peek of the upcoming US M3 half-track - we are considering using the APCs as the future of mobile spawns. Here is another opportunity for input!!
How to be Successful in WWIIOL
Our game is a difficult game to learn and master; however, over the years there is some great content to show you how to be more effective in the game world AND to showcase how to enjoy yourself, too.
- WWIIOL Interactive Training Videos
- Know Your Streamers
- WWIIOL Wikipedia
- WWIIOL Game Manual
- WWIIOL Basic Training Guide (an oldie but a goodie - courtesy of the 91st Sturmbattalion)
Ready to Contribute to WWIIOL?
Interested in sharing or developing WWIIOL content? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Community Management Team (CMT)
We are here to serve and engage with YOU!
| NICK | SIDE |
| BLKHWK8 | Allied |
| IAN77 | Axis |
| IMBRUTUS | Joint Training Command |
| KMS | Axis |
| SIDEOUT | Joint Training Command |
| TEX64 | Texan  |
| TREVOR8 | Axis |
| WESTY91 | Allied |
I am honored to be a part of the Community Management Team (CMT) and I look forward to seeing you on the battlefield and if I show up on your kill list . . . I was looking at my map!! 
tex