Post #8: Clan Management Part 2

Create a forum:

• Develop one section of the forum for new recruits. Have them list the number of hours they play and what age they are so that you know they will be available when you need them and that they don’t have too early of a bedtime. 
• Develop another section for challenges. Allow anyone access to this page so that they can challenge your clan to a war. Make sure to list your clan’s hours of availability and your clan’s nationality (languages spoken). 
• Develop the final section of your forum for the schedule. Post dates of training matches, wars, the stakes of the war, and who will be playing and in what positions they will play.

Do not use the ranking system:

For this type of clan, the ranking system is unhealthy. Obviously there has to be a leader, however, it is not necessary for there to be positions under that. When you develop a ranking system for a war clan, then those of higher rank will sometimes abuse their power in game during wars. I have never seen the ranking system be successful for a Type A clan. 

Give rewards:

Type A clan people are all about receiving awards. They want to be recognized as the best, that’s why they’re competing. As a leader, you can give awards in game by complementing your team on their skills and also by allowing them “coveted” positions such as sniper or bomb carrier. 

Don’t always go for the large kill count player:

Remember that the purpose of a type A clan is to win. Often large kill count players are in the game for one person… themselves. Players who listen well, give good directions and know how to loose a kill or two for the team are far more valuable than those who can rack up kills quickly. Choose your members wisely by not just choosing the best of the best, but by choosing those who know how to play as a team.  

Don’t manage your clan with your temper:

Far too often type A clan leaders have a mean temper. There’s money involved and it makes things a little more real. Yelling at Johnny for accidently fragging himself or telling Bob he’s stupid for rushing straight into the enemy’s arms isn’t going to make your team play better. 

Next post: Clan Management Part 3

Post #7: Clan Management Part 1

Or perhaps you’ve moved along to MW3, which this post is equally applicable to. Actually I highly recommend moving along to MW3. I just bought my copy today.

And let me tell you, I’m super-duper excited. Anyway…

There are two styles of clans for the COD gaming community. First let’s figure out which type of clan you are.

Clan type A: a moneymaking clan. Clans like this are run like businesses. You have scheduled training times, scheduled wars and even scheduled maneuvers during gameplay. You know your stuff and you’re all about the winning. This is not a social event; this is a status, profit-earning event. Only the finest play on your team.

Clan type B: a family clan. You know where everyone is from, what their real names are and what type of pets they have. You talk more than you play. Sometimes you synchronize clan movie watching together, just so you can hear everyone laugh at the same time during the funny parts in team speak. You may participate in wars, but they’re not a huge deal. You have a ranking system, but it’s just to keep the peace. You love your clan as much as you love your “real life” friends.

I know some of you may be a little type A and a little type B, however I think for the most part, it will be clear which one your clan is. Next post I will go over some tactics for managing either an A or B clan. Stay tuned.

Post #6: Clan Tactics/Strategies for Wars

Clan tactics vary, however, there are a few basic pointers I would say are applicable to clans of all shapes and sizes.

There has a to be a leader
I’m not saying that the leader of the clan has to be the leader in battle, I’m just saying that there has to be one person calling the shots. One person to make big decisions. One person to say bomb A or bomb B. If you don’t have one person acting as commander, chaos will ensue.

Use individual strengths
You know Bobby’s an awesome sniper, but he always team kills with his grenades. Susie has perfect timing and always plants the bomb at just the right moment. Jim is the best rusher on the team, while Todd knows all the best camping positions . . . etc.

Know the individual members of your team’s strengths and weaknesses. Then play on them. Divide roles to each member. Tell Susie she will plant every round, Bobby that he will stay in spawn and snipe, Jim that he clears the way, and Todd that he camps out the bomb.

Below is a list of positions for a team of four, six and then eight.
Four-man team:
• Sniper (uses sniper rifle at an elevated location)
• Planter (bomb carrier, carefully and cautiously makes way toward the bomb site)
• Rusher (moves quickly to meet enemy team, making the majority of the team’s kills)
• Camper (picks a spot and sits in it, waiting for the enemy to walk past)

Six-man team add:
• Rusher
• Planter Buddy (sticks with the bomb carrier to help them make the plant)

Eight-man team add:
• Camper
• Sneaker (sneaks to get behind enemy team)

*Campers and Planters make good leaders because of their positions on the map.

Create strategies
• Plan before a match what routes bomb carriers and rushers will take, and where snipers and campers will be positioned.
• Label the map. Create titles or phrases for every location on the map so that teammates will recognize what you’re talking about. We all know that, “That one house behind you,” isn’t very descriptive.
• Create a few simple rules. In my previous clans we’ve had rules about guns that no one is allowed to use or rooms that no one should go into so that no one is tempted to do anything stupid or to use a crappy weapon.