kevlarorc wrote:I haven't read any other replies but it seems to me that you are confusing something that needs to be fixed in the game with something that needs to be fixed on the server.
Server admins are there to fix these problems. I think that by changing the game itself in this way will only cause more problems.
Negative. This is a game issue. It's meant to be a realistic game and it succeeds, moreso than any other multiplayer game I know of. However, leaving the squad and player class logistics up to the game is a lot better than leaving it up to the server because it creates consistency and also because admins aren't on at all times to enforce the rules (even when they are on, we can't expect them to enforce every player in a 64 man server).
Of course, servers do have a role to play. But I do think that human nature is a bit too competitive in game situations to the point where people compete against their own team more than co-operate (especially with a scoreboard present) and for this reason, I think that there needs to be some enforcement of teamwork so people truly work together as a whole team and not as a team divided up 64 times. I do appreciate that PR rewards teamplay over kills score wise, I still think you'll have players who only try to have the highest kill count and I still think you'll have players who only fulfill what they need to do to get points and nothing else (no long term planning, no strategy, no communication with or between squads and the commander).
In real life, it doesn't work this way. While I know the game is supposed to be enjoyable and too much gritty realism does cut away from the enjoyment (like having to walk for an hour just to get killed and never respawn), I also think that a change like the one I suggested doesn't cut away from the enjoyment aspect of the game; rather it enhances it.
There are even examples. Even though AA isn't a game that is wildly popular anymore, I do think the idea of training for individual roles, especially when the game has a steep learning curve, greatly advances the quality of players in the server. Piloting is not easy and casual players who tend not to play very often will steer away from piloting and leave it to other, qualified players to handle if such a system is in place.
I would also recommend that servers have the ability to not recognize players qualifications if they abuse them (this could be powerful server role).
The idea of ranking up and proceeding through numerous qualifications would really benefit a game such as this. It would make sure that people playing for the first time don't end up as squad leaders or pilots. It would give more power to the commander as an oversight to see people in their proper places and it would also entice prospective players to stick around and earn these abilites. I think a rank, a qualification and a punishment system, *ahem* similar to real life but still enjoyable and worthwhile, would greatly improve the quality of public server matches.