TEST 501st Discussion Thread

[JoeCool4433]

I was just bumping our recruitment thread when I noticed TestBot's post about the 501st, which he is the head honcho of. I figure all questions and discussion can go here as I have some questions to get us started off.

• Will the 501st have a command structure within its ranks?
• Will still be able to go mining or exploring if we get the inclination or will we be stuck just doing ops?
• Will there be CTA's or the like where our presence is required?
• Will we be guards for our mining and trading ops or will they be required to find their own guards or sometimes both?
• Will there be coffee (or tea) and snacks for Saturday morning ops?

Of course that last question was a silly one, but otherwise those are my serious questions for this as I am genuinely interested in being a part of fleet/squad combat and our military might.

If we can help it, let's try not to derail this as much as possible so that anyone who is interested in the 501st can get the right information and ask questions.

DISCLAIMER TIME!: Of course, many of the questions will be unknowns without having a game, so there may not be an answer right at this time for anything specific in regards to gameplay such as ship fits or fleet doctrines and such for now. I will reserve a post below this for a FAQ of sorts.

 

[JoeCool4433]

Reserved for FAQ's sake.

 

[TestBot]

Huh. Making this thread is probably a smart move. Should have done it myself. Thanks a lot :). As to your questions:

Will the 501st have a command structure within its ranks?

Yes and no. 501st is not a seperate organization. 501st is a group of us withing TEST that like to do similar things. That said, there will be some iterations of internal ranks based on who does what. For example all people who go through the squad leader training will have the SL rank and or in combat the squad leader's decisions outweigh all other non political decisions.

Will still be able to go mining or exploring if we get the inclination or will we be stuck just doing ops?

You can do whatever you want and be part of 501st :) what we do is essentially organize operations and exercises and ask you to be there. Even during ops if there is some downtime we can do fun things while we wait for action.

Will there be CTA's or the like where our presence is required?

I have no idea what CTA is. Will edit the response when I find out what it is.

Will we be guards for our mining and trading ops or will they be required to find their own guards or sometimes both?

Can work both ways. If we have a mining op running in super risky then sure why not. If there is a normal mining op (which will most likely never be attacked) then probably not because I personally like to keep things action oriented. Either way if high command (using the term loosely) deems us necessary then we will be there.

Will there be coffee (or tea) and snacks for Saturday morning ops?

Obviously there will be tea for the tea master race.

DISCLAIMER TIME!: Of course, many of the questions will be unknowns without having a game, so there may not be an answer right at this time for anything specific in regards to gameplay such as ship fits or fleet doctrines and such for now. I will reserve a post below this for a FAQ of sorts.

I can not emphasis this point enough. 501st is VERY dependent on gameplay and mechanics. For example in Planetside there was a 501st squad that I ran. First it was a sniper squad. Then it had to change and adapt to the updates and changes and became a fast attack light assault squad. The same will be true for Star Citizen. Right now Star Citizen 501st is simply an idea of what I would like to be. I look forward to fulfilling this idea when the persistent universe launches.

 

[JoeCool4433]

Huh. Making this thread is probably a smart move. Should have done it myself. Thanks a lot :).

You're welcome. I'm just here to help. o7

Working title for the thread was "Ask a TestBot" :P

I have no idea what CTA is. Will edit the response when I find out what it is.

Call to Arms.

Its really more a question about if we're out doing our own thing and say a bunch of Reddfaction guys are getting chewed up and call us up to help them out cause they're in trouble. If we didn't have an op going or let's say, for arguments' sake, we're playing another game, do we rush into SC to save the day or is it whoever is on and can help would like to?

It was an EVE term, when I played, used by 0.0 alliances that required people who were on and doing whatever to drop everything and run out to save whatever was in need of saving and if they didn't, they would get the boot or at the very least yelled at. Sometimes even requiring them to drop everything in RL for the sake of the game.

I already had an idea of what the answer was to this question, but figured it would be worthwhile asking for clarity's sake. Most of the things here are speculative at best anyways, but its fun to speculate sometimes!

 

[Jumanx.]

Any plans on getting the 501st up and running for the dogfight module?

 

[Egriz]

So the 501st will be a sort of private militaristic organization within TEST?

Count me in.

As long as I get my coffee and snacks.

 

[TestBot]

Call to Arms.

Its really more a question about if we're out doing our own thing...

Oh so that's what it is. In that case yes and no. We don't (usually) run mandatory ops as they get annoying. Because of the fact the CIG has embraced the XMPP method for chat, it means we will get to send out pings to get the attention of interested people even if they are doing something completely unrelated. This means if we are needed, we will try our best to be there.

 

[TestBot]

Any plans on getting the 501st up and running for the dogfight module?

Unfortunately probably not in the early days. At the moment I don't have a computer capable of running the hangar module and me getting a PC capable of running the DFM is dependent on a lot of thing. If someone else wants to step up and run ops and such then by all means but I, personally, will most likely not be there in the early days. 501st will start as soon as it is relevant and I can run it.

 

[TestBot]

So the 501st will be a sort of private militaristic organization within TEST?

Count me in.

As long as I get my coffee and snacks.

Yes. I mean TEST in itself is a somewhat militaristic organization. 501st just has smaller numbers and uses advanced tactics and puts some more effort into perfecting the technique.

 

[Egriz]

Yes. I mean TEST in itself is a somewhat militaristic organization. 501st just has smaller numbers and uses advanced tactics and puts some more effort into perfecting the technique.

Does Aurora bombing count as advanced tactics?

501st sounds like something I'd definitely be interested in getting involved in.

 

[TestBot]

Does Aurora bombing count as advanced tactics?

501st sounds like something I'd definitely be interested in getting involved in.

If you sound tacticool while doing it then yes.

 

[starkestrel]

Call to Arms.

While I think a rigidly required Call to Arms would be a Bad Thing TM, I think it would actually be very cool if we ran a text alert server of some kind. We'd be a fairly potent force if we all got a text message IRL alerting us to SC activity, with a request to scramble jets if it worked for us.

We could put several disclaimers on it that this is by no means a requirement, and we urge everyone to manage their real life affairs as a priority, but if you're free or can get free, a Call to Arms will be an appeal to join when you're able.

Unfortunately probably not in the early days. At the moment I don't have a computer capable of running the hangar module and me getting a PC capable of running the DFM is dependent on a lot of thing. If someone else wants to step up and run ops and such then by all means but I, personally, will most likely not be there in the early days. 501st will start as soon as it is relevant and I can run it.

Barring insanity at work, I'm available to organize ops until TestBot gets up and running. I don't have the tactical or strategic experience to train a group in squad- or company- level activities, but I do have the organizational experience to get people there and flying in an organized manner.

 

[JoeCool4433]

If you sound tacticool while doing it then yes.

JoeCool is always cool. Especially at flying.

While I think a rigidly required Call to Arms would be a Bad Thing TM, I think it would actually be very cool if we ran a text alert server of some kind. We'd be a fairly potent force if we all got a text message IRL alerting us to SC activity, with a request to scramble jets if it worked for us.

We could put several disclaimers on it that this is by no means a requirement, and we urge everyone to manage their real life affairs as a priority, but if you're free or can get free, a Call to Arms will be an appeal to join when you're able.

My name is JoeCool and I support this idea. Cthulu 2014

Barring insanity at work, I'm available to organize ops until TestBot gets up and running. I don't have the tactical or strategic experience to train a group in squad- or company- level activities, but I do have the organizational experience to get people there and flying in an organized manner.

I will also lend a hand to whoever is up top until TestBot can fully take the reins.

 

[TestBot]

I love you people so much <3

 

[VeryAngryOtter]

I'm interested in joining.

 

[Shards]

I want to go to there

 

[starkestrel]

I want to go to there

There has already come to you. Polish those flippers, platy-marine!

 

[BluChew]

I'm in for sure! Not certain the game mechanics will be anything like EvE, but I always enjoyed PvP'ing in small group roams.

 

[TestBot]

Important clarification: There is no 501st to join yet. 501st right now is an idea that I would like to do in the final game. Thank you so much for your interest and it means a lot to me. I look forward to flying and shooting with you under the 501st banner in the game :)

 

[starkestrel]

Clarification: There is no game, other than the waiting game. Until such time as there is game, pilots of the 501st are not authorized to conduct stealth ops, strike ops, or recon ops. Until such time as there is game, you're responsible for your IRL actions, squad. No ramming your Kias into suspected pirates in the suburbs!