Warfare & Tactics

The opening question is "Can FC's be friendly?"

My answer is yes he or she can be or rather, should be.

It can be argued that a stern and somewhat mean FC can get good results and command great respect and acquire quite a following. However when it goes wrong that FC will take a massive ego hit and will take a long time to come around and confidently try again. That FC will also place blame everywhere except on them selves. It's no wonder they burn out fast. Its a tough act to follow.

The freindly FC can also get great results aswell as some pretty nasty losses. The big difference is the ability to move onto the next situation better mentally able to handle it. Longivity ensues.

A good FC, which is something else and only comes with time, leaves little to chance. They will assess as much as they can and then communicate orders with great effiency. They leave no mistake in explaining what is to happen and what is expected. They will also be more free about discussing what went wrong and how to make it better without being insulting.

So it can be said the real best FC's in game usually come from the friendly camp. If only because they last longer and gain more experience in general at FC'ing.

A point to always remember wether in a gang of 3 or in a gang of 600: This is not Tsun Zu's Art of War it's Eve-Online™ It's just a bunch of guys trying to enjoy a video game who shouldn't mind the odd loss here and there in the name of a good fight.

Make it fun!!

Some FCs have more patience than others, but FC'ing a mid to large sized fleet can be quite the blood-pressure raising experience. Imagine this if you would, you are playing StarCraft or some other RTS, you tell your units to go attack the enemy units. Only half your units actually attack the enemy, well the other half go in the completely wrong direction. You also have two zealots (or marines or zerglings) who had way to much to drink and they are talking over your commands. Yeah that's what FC'ing is like.

Also if you have ever been a substitute teacher for a 1st grade class, FC'ing holds much similarities to that.

Couple of points here I like to make comment on.

I think being friendly may well get you respect and it may also stop ppl logging. But in truth I think results are what counts, I few chaps that have made comment know me, pretty well... neither have ever had me balling them out on comms as an FC, but then... neither have ever screwed up. Both however have seen me rip someone a new one. I think i'm right in saying both would also have me FC. Perhaps (though I might be pushing things here) would "trust" me to lead their corp into nearly any type of fight.

and that is results based. of this i'm certain.

Also, on another note.. we are viewing this in the cold light of day. hindsight is always 20/20 and I know for sure I have regretted the way I have spoken to some chaps, after the fact. But in the white heat of battle, as has been mentioned in this thread... things get strange. FCing is hard bloody work.. even when things go well and to plan. When things go south and they do for nearly every FC, damn that is hard work. Combat lasting any more then 20/30 is like doing a days work. FC'd a fight of Gal Mil vs R'n'K couple of years ago, (we lost... or should i say "I" lost). That was some 72 minutes long. Was honestly drained both mentally and emotionally.


Pinky, makes a good point too.

At the end of the day all FCs have their ways and it's all about results, friendly or a fowl mouthed arrogant asshat, if you win... people will fly under you.

I want to add a couple of points also.

Perception/Attitude:
eddie mentioned a 72 minute fight against R'n'K that he 'lost'.
My first thought was, Effing Awesome! 72 minutes of serious PvP against some of the best in the game. Ship loss is way down on the list imo. That had to be gaming at its finest. My point is, players perception will be all over the place, but if you ave a fleet with positive attitude, it goes a long way.

The Fleet makes the FC. He cannot accomplish one goal without them. Would be like saying the pitcher is the only important player, or the quarterback does it all on his own. Every player needs to do his job or the FC cannot succeed.

You can fake ignorance,
but you cannot fake brilliance:
Good FC's have moments of brilliance. Perception, timing, experience, all come together for glorious battles.

....Sometimes it's just not YOUR FC. Sometimes it's the other FC and there is nothing you can do about it.

Last point:
Most FC's want to do good. They know what failed and what worked. If you can do better, then run a fleet. Otherwise support them and be constructive. Otherwise you will find yourself and your corp with 1 LESS FC.

This whole, long thread, is just an indicater of how multi-faceted the job of FC is. Many issues have not even been touched on. Spies, personalities, strangers, RL, etc. Can he be friendly? Calm is more important imo.

To the OP: yes, FCs can be friendly, as long as the pilots in their fleet are competent and willing to work with a friendly FC. If they insist on doing stupid **** or being pests, it becomes a matter of either forcefully correcting their errors or allowing the quality of the fleet to degrade. I think most people would rather not cater to the babies and dimwits, and have only so much time to spend on educating the inexperienced, which results in many FCs getting a bit frustrated and going off.

An FC starts out friendly.

But then it starts. At first people will as 'is there a fleet up' when a single incursus comes by a system. Then they will ask where the fleet is when it's been clearly stated in the fleet description. Then they won't have comms or a mic. They will be incapable of reporting intel with numbers and system names. People will bring the wrong ships. People will have horrendous fittings despite there being standardised fleet ships.

After all that the FC will get shouted at for losing a gang.

And then they become insane.

My first experience of FC'ing was taking a bunch of players who normally did industry and missions out on a lowsec roam. I specified small ships - nothing bigger than cruiser sized and no expensive stuff as it was supposed to be just a learning experience.

I had read up on FC role and had a pre flight check list, the usual stuff - know your ranges, set your orbit range, ammo and drones, paste etc..

So, we had about ten guys, mostly in t1 frigates and me in a cheap fit thorax.

I struggled to stay calm in the ensuing chaos as half my guys didn't have voice comms and the ones who did wouldn't shut up, people jumping gates without being told, or aligning to the wrong gate and we had to wait for them to catch up etc..... It also didn't help that I was also dual boxing with a forward scout.

BUT, even though we all got killed after an hour or so of roaming and getting a few cheap ass kills - It was fun!

I guess my point is that if you stop enjoying being an FC then it's time to stop. It IS only a game after all.

AWWWWW that's so nice of you!

Bad players who do stupid stuff and lose their ships inevitably blame the FC. Eventually this wears down the FC and the bitterness becomes permanent.

Only the FCs that are worm beyotches IRL like Damar and Gunnyt