We need 2 New “sub” commanders:
Lieutenant (limited number active on map)
Sergeant (limited number active on map)
And:
Commander active on map limit
Give each commander a different colored icon
Give each Commander general map chat with text in his/her icon color
New separate command channel for Commanders, lieutenants and sergeants only to report and to give & get orders to each other.
Commander UI showing, players, parties, positions & supply numbers as a bare minimum.
Maximum of the 3 command ranks on the map with the icon active:
2 commanders
6 lieutenants
12 sergeants
Sergeants can form parties of 10 players max, sergeant included.
1 Lieutenant can partie with 1 – 3 sergeants max.
2 lieutenants can party with 3-6 sergeants max.
3 lieutenants can partie with 6-12 sergeants
Commanders can form parties with 3 lieutenants max and/or 6 sergeants max.
(based on an estimated 150 player per map per server player limit I read about somewhere. If fully organized this would leave 22 spots free for a few 2-5 parties, solo roamers, JP-ers)
This would need 20 different colors total for the icons flooding the minimap. So much easier and less polluting for the minimap: The 2 commanders are always visible to everyone. Lieutenant & sergeant icons are only visible for players if they are in a party with them.
Sergeant icon would always be red since the players will not see the icon of any of the other 11 sergeants, only the sergeant and the 2 commanders on the map. When a lieutenant joins, the icon will transfer to the lieutenant and back to the sergeant when he leaves. When you have 3 lieutenant and 12 sergeants party up there are only 3 different colors for the lieutenants needed + 2 for the commanders.
Parties do not need to be disbanded, only sergeants can disband the base parties but Commanders and Lieutenants can simply join and leave disregarding the maximum of 10 players including sergeant party size.
The maximum party size on the map would be:
1 commander
3 lieutenants
6 sergeants
54 grunts
times 2
Or any other combo within the fixed limitations. For instance 1 commander could also join with 6 sergeants without a lieutenant present.
Some servers probably already have a similar organization set up somehow, but I think Anet should have provided us with this in the first place. The benefits would be tremendous imho for everybody and this might even do something about zerging. If you have 12 sergeants = 120 players roaming the map in small groups, capping what 10 man can and scouting at the same time. Commanders & lieutenants can easily focus on the bigger picture and have optimum feedback. Commanders can react on the information they get from the field and can order lieutenants to form up with 2 or more sergeant in the area to quickly aid somewhere or exploit a tactical situation which requires more coordination. They can take command of troops themselves to coordinate quickly and when things are going well, leave it to the sergeants or lieutenants to finish while they speed on to adress the next tactical situation. All they have to do is click the next party in the command UI and join it to take over direct command. Leaving it to the sub commander when things are under control.
This would also provide a learning ground for future commanders since they could grow from Sergeants via Lieutenant to Commander. Or if they feel happy being the sergeant they can keep doing just that.
To successfully deploy this every player who has bought the commander book should be given the choice once: Keep the commander rank or get a refund and a 1 time reduced price to buy one or more of the other 2 new ranks. Something along the lines of for instance:
Give up commander and:
Make 2 toons lieutenant or 4 sergeant.
1 lieutenant and 2 sergeant toons.
After that:
Sergeant book is 30G
Lieutenant book 150g
Commander book 400G.
Now you will probably say, if it’s gonna be 400g, I’ll keep my commander title. But do not forget about the active on map limit. 2 per map, 4 maps = 8 commanders at any given time. I’m guessing here, but on most servers there are already enough commanders to cover every map 24/7 with a decent sized Dorito zerg!?
Like in real life armies, the higher the rank the less of that rank there are hence the 400G price. Plus commander is not account wide at the moment limiting people to playing 1 toon. But how many would gladly swap that commander icon if they can, as I suggested as an example, have multiple lieutenants and multiple sergeant toons instead.
Don’t focus on the player numbers I mention they are mostly for example.
Would this be playable and a welcome change to WvWvW? What are the pros & cons, will this benefit gameplay, will it ruin it for small servers or improve it for them or will it give already strong servers an even greater edge.
Flame away….