COMMUNITY REPORT - DECEMBER 29, 2015

Last week I made the mistake of giving up on the Allied team. I really thought the nail was in and that all was over but declaring a victory. I was wrong! The map has stopped the westward progression and is now slowly moving east. This is not the first this during this campaign the direction of the map shifted. In this report I will discuss the campaign, the patch, and other items that I think you would be interested in.

*********************
COMMUNITY REPORT
December 29, 2015
*********************
CAMPAIGN UPDATE:

The Axis had pushed the Allied Forces to the edge and it looked like victory would soon be declared. Last week I choose not to write anything about the campaign, I believed that it was going to be over before I could published the report. I was wrong! The Axis were pushing hard, and the map was moving west. On December 18, 2015, monsjoex posted a thread in the Allied Secure Forum (link for those with allied secure privileges) to motivate the Allied players into holding England till the patch was released. To be honest, when I saw the post I thought there was little hope in that happening. In the thread, player exlax replied, “You so funny.” So I was not the only person who thought it was not going to happen. Soon after that post, the map stopped. There was no movement to the west, or to the east. While some towns did swap hands, it was not many and the actual front line stood still. Since then, the Allied Forces have stolen the momentum from the Axis and are planning their New Year’s Celebration in Luxembourg. While they are on the right track, the Axis Forces are planning to hold their Celebration in England. Some Allied Players had given up on this map, today they are logging in to help their team. Some are expressing their surprise in that the campaign was not completed and they are helping their team move eastward.

While the momentum is currently in the hands of the Allied Forces, the Axis are closer to the victory conditions. At any given time the Axis could take back the momentum and finish this campaign off. Both teams have the ability to win this campaign. It will come down to which side can get their team into the game, and motivate them to work as a team. Both sides have operations in the coming days, and both sides need their players to help them. This campaign is going to be one for the record books and your team needs your help.

------

COMMUNITY UPDATE:

Well Christmas has come and gone, and I hope everyone got what they wished for. During a week that I expected things to be quiet, it was far from it in the community. On Thursday, Christmas Eve, we released the patch (1.34.15). This patch is one of the most controversial patches put out in a long time. Even now, it still remains as such. Prior to the patch, many discussions took place in the General Discussion and The Barracks forums. Players debated their positions, and while they did, we watched and listened. Within CRS, we debated and stated our positions. A few weeks ago Xoom held a survey where we had the highest survey response that I have seen in a while. Hundreds of players responded to the survey. We wanted to get as many players to take the survey as possible. The main goal was to give a clear path on which way the community would like the FRUs to go.

The response to the survey was strong, but too close to be decisive. I read in the forums where one player though this discussion was fueled by side bias, and I can assure you that it was not. This topic is evenly divided in the community, on both sides, and even inside CRS. Axis, Allied, and Rat all had their views, and all the input was the same, very close to 50/50. Even with Hundreds of people giving their input, the decision was still close.

Several points were made on both sides during the time this was discussed. Some said that truck frus would take too long and slow down play, others said it would increase team play. One point many made was that it would kill the attacks, while others believed it would draw the fighting out of the towns into the field. Many great points were made for both sides of this debate, and in the end a decision had to be made and it was.

The Truck set FRU has returned to the game. Since release, it has been as controversial as it was prior to the release. Some like it, and some do not. The feedback we are receiving is showing that teamwork has increased on the field, and it is tough to set up and hold a FRU if teamwork is not present. Preparing for an attack takes more planning, and to accomplish a successful attack requires for setting the FRU and defending the FRU. Since the release, some of those who are against the chance have changed their minds, while some who were for the change have changed their minds too.

So where do we go from here? Simple, we will continue to watch and listen. No true change of this magnitude can be judged with only a few hours or days. It takes days for a true vision to play out. We have to keep in mind that about 50% of the player base wanted this change, and they deserve a good chance for it to be a success. Giving time to allow new play styles to be developed around the new mechanics of the game is required. It would be easy to make the change, see that it is hard, and then throw up our hands and say that it did not work, but would it be fair to those who wanted the change?

As time goes on, we are seeing positive coming from the change, and we are seeing some negatives. It is not 100% right, yet it is not bad enough to just pull the plug. As we move forward, we are listening to the community through the many discussions taking place. One example is this thread taking place. We want to know your opinion.

------

FROM THE DESK OF BADGER:

With Christmas behind us, it is time to plan ahead for the next year. My plans are pretty simple, I will remain dedicated to the development of this game, and helping in any way that I can. I am inspired by the many players who are so dedicated to this game. Many of you have given hundreds of hours of your time to help this game. Some have built tools to help players with the game; others have given their time to help lead their side. These leaders could be in the form of High Commanders or Squad Commanders. They could also be that member of the community who decides to take that CP and organizes a team of strangers in the field and leads them to success. Some of the community leaders are those who tune to the help channel and give aide to new players as they enter this world we enjoy so much.

Since before this game was released, there has been hundreds of players who go out of their way to help other players and this game. I know I owe my being here to one player, pyldrv. When I was in closed beta I got frustrated and was about to give up when he got with me and helped to teach me the game. Pyldrv was only the first to reach out to me in my time of need, but it is a good example of how one player can make a difference to a new player. He not only helped me, but also linked me up to a squad (The Lafayette Federation), which at that time the majority of their members were not even in the game yet. Since it was closed beta still, the majority of the members were not in the beta, but already planning for the game to be released. On the Axis side I remember the Wrecking Crew had plans to be in Paris within 24 hours. I mention both of these squads due them being the first that come to my mind from the early days and I wanted to give credit to both sides since I know it happened both on the Allied and on the Axis side.

Many of us old timers got our feet under us though this way. We enter the world, get confused, and some player reaches out to answer our questions, even though some may not know how to use the chat to even ask a question on how to use it. It is important to remember that the green tag player, who just died several times due to learning the game, is important to the future of your side and this game.

There are several ways players can help this game survive, and one of them is to help the new players. This can be done by as simple as tuning the help channel to help others, or signing your squad up for the Host Squad Program.

For those who have not heard of the Host Squad Program, it is a great program that has great success in keeping new players with the game. When a new player joins the game, they are introduced to the game for the first time through the host squad program. They are put into a squad who has volunteered. The players have veteran players help them get acquainted with the game, and in many cases, they stay with the squad. So while the squad is helping the game, they are able to raise the number of members their squad has. Some of these squads have reported as many as 30 new recruits per day.

Many complain that they cannot recruit new members for their squad, this is a great tool to help with that while also helping new players as they join our community. The host squads are often the first contact the new players have with our community. Those new players are important to the future of our game.

As for the changes to the game, well I have admitted that I am one who was for the Mission Leader placed FRUs, so you can imagine my feelings when I found it would be truck placed. Too be honest, I was disappointed. Many times changes have happened to this game that I personally did not agree with. With a game this size, and hundreds of players out there, it is only expected that it will happen. I know the world is not centered around me, and that I am not always right. So even though I was against the changes, I decided I would give it a shot. I am still giving it a shot, but from what I am hearing, the teamwork is increasing on the field. I am for teamwork on the field with the least amount of pain to accomplish it. If this ends up being something that helps quick building teamwork, then I am all for it. As a lone wolf player, it is very hard to find team work in the field.

I know when I am in the field, when a leader hits the ground and organizes, it makes me get all excited, almost like Chris Mathews and his tingling leg at debates. When a true leader is in the area, you know it. They are commanding the channel and giving orders to take a town and organizing groups to accomplish different tasks.

While I like teamwork, there are a couple of reasons why I do not join a squad, or start one, and it is simple, I like to stay as neutral as possible in my position, and also being able to relate to the lone wolf players. There is a high number of our players who are not in squads, or even want to be associated with one. They have their reasons, and I believe they have the right to remain free if they wish.

So if this happens to be a tool to help make teamwork easier, then I will be the first to eat my words and say I was wrong about it. I will give it a true chance to win me over. I do hope that I was wrong, and that it is found to be the best change that ever happened to the game.

I am collecting the questions that were submitted and will be getting them to the team for them to answer. The plan is to include them as part of this report in the weeks ahead. We got some really good questions and I cannot wait to see what the answers are to some of them.

------

FROM THE DESK OF THE AXIS COMMANDER IN CHIEF:

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the game
Not an Allied was stirring, not even Dubane.
The download buttons were readied with care,
In hopes that the patch would end their despair.

The Axis were nestled all snug in position,
While visions of victory danced in front of their vision.
Hierbart and Delems, and I in a cap,
Had figured a plan for more Allied flags trapped...

To be continued...

Well it's certainly been an interesting week. I'm not going to wade heavily into the debate about the changes to the FRU rules, but I will say this: it is in our control as a side to make the changes work to our advantage. We have to concede that the Allieds have been better at implementing the strategic changes neccessary to adjust for the removal of player-placed mobile spawns. However, I've seen many Axis officers, veterans and new players alike share ideas on how to make this work for us. It is obvious greater planning and co-ordination must go into setting up a FRU. I think ATG's, Engineer bunkers and infantry support is key to maintaining zones of control for the infantry and tanks to be supported from. I encourage all of you who feel dissapointed or dismayed at the abrupt shift in momentum to pick yourselves up, log into TS, join in the fun and in be a force for positive change in our fortunes.

Together we are stronger!

... then at once, the server sprang to life,
Suddenly Axis were in all kinds of strife.
But Axis don't despair, the future can be bright,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good fight!"

If the strategic aspect of the game interests you and want to join a dedicated team of officers, then click this link and join the High Command. Returning officers and recruits all welcome:

PROMOTIONS AND NEW OFFICERS:

None this week. Stay tuned for some big announcments next week!

WEEKLY AWARDS:

Week 2, Campaign 120

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rockhit - tower of strength in our community, always on the attack and ready to help his side

SQUAD OF THE WEEK
WHIPS - a great new squad with lots of serious veterans, been capping up a storm

OFFICER OF THE WEEK
Falken - map mover extraordinaire with an eye for spotting weak spots in the map

OTHER AWARDS:

Frontal Attack: XCAS, LUNATIK, MONTYUNO, HANG, GVONPAUL, MASSPANIC

Forward Base Defence: ROCKHIT, UNFURER03

It continues to be an honour to serve as your Commander in Chief for campaigns 119 and 120,

Chin up, and lets go Westwards, Axis!

S!

-Todberg, Axis CinC

------

FROM THE DESK OF THE ACTING ALLIED COMMANDER IN CHIEF:

We are entering the 4th week of Campaign 120 and the Allies have halted the Axis advance West. We still own Oostende in the North. We are holding the axis along the Lys river in the center of the map. We still control Ham/Noyon/Chauny down South.

A great job by all. We have stabilized the lines and now is the time to start pushing East. Earlier in the week we trapped and bounced an entire Axis division down South.

Keep up the great work, keep logging in and push East.

Awards:
• Player of the Week (PotW): BonesMcoy
• Squad of the Week (SotW): Lancers
• Officer of the Week (OotW): Martigan
• Defense of France Ribbon: Skipa, Wewak, and Dwalin

New Officers: DarthMarty

Allied Acting CinC
Kyotee

------

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As we close out this year and move into the next it is important to celebrate the past and to learn from it to make the future better. It is hard to believe that this game has been here for 15 years. I believe the best years of this game are in the near future. Everyone here at CRS are very thankful to you who support us, and to all the previous Rats who helped get us to where we are today. The future is bright here, and I am looking forward to 2016. The next year has so much planned for us all. The Development Roadmap outlines a lot of what is planned. Me personally, I am looking forward to the 1.35 patch that is looking good right now, and the prospects of us working with fixing and creating new vehicles in the first quarter if all goes well. While the company had some bad years in the past, today it is much stronger and this game is going to live on for many more years to come.

To those of you who lost your faith in CRS in the past, I invite you to come see what is being accomplished today. To those who have stuck with us along the way, your support is appreciated more than you can imagine.

For the new players joining our community, Welcome aboard! You will soon learn that there is no community like this one. We are here for you and want you to feel at home. Do not hesitate to ask questions, many people in this community will do everything that they can do to help you.

As you celebrate the passing of the past year, and the incoming of the new year, please stay safe. From everyone here at CRS, we wish you a Happy New Year.

*********************
END
COMMUNITY REPORT
December 29, 2015
*********************