Clan Creation

Chain of Command – Squad

One of the most important factors associated with military structures is how well the lowest level of the Chain of Command operates.  In military context, a chain of command is a line of authority and responsibility to which orders can be passed down from a higher authority.  This article is based off of my experience with developing and using a chain of command in my past and present clans.  Everything being written will be based off of the United States Army Ranking System.

In regards to Squad Leadership, I would recommend a 1 to 3 ratio between leaders and members.  To every 3 members, there should be 1 leader, just like how the United States Army does it for their Infantry Fire Teams.  However, not everyone will be available for scheduled drills and matches, so I would never structure my roster with Fire Teams in mind.  I would define Squad Leaders within a squad to provide overall leadership and management for his respective unit as a whole, in-game and out of game.  Keep in mind that this structure is based around playing games instead of real life military structures.

For the Untied States Army realistically would have 6 different ranks involved within a Squad:  Private, Private First Class, Specialist, Corporal, Sergeant and Staff Sergeant.

The image below shows ideal positions for each rank:

The members, or regular members, should be the bulk of the squad’s manpower and hold no authority in the Squad.  The senior members should be able to take command of the Squad in event that the Squad Leaders are not present.  They’re usually next in line to take command of a Squad, and most likely to have gone though formal training for these positions.  They should not hold any administrative permissions in regards to managing the squad.  Assistant Squad Leader and Squad Leader hold the administrative permissions in regards to managing the Squad, and report directly to Platoon Headquarters (or any other higher command.)

The idea behind this type of structure is to allow members to figure out who is in charge in official games easily, and allow for a more flexible management structure outside of game.  Here are some examples of possible events that this structure can be used for:

• Third Squad within Second Platoon, Baker Company has:  a Staff Sergeant as Squad Leader, Sergeant as Assistant Squad Leader, and a total of 8 Senior & Regular Members.  Example:  Second Platoon experiences a transfer of it’s Platoon Sergeant.  Because of this, the Squad Leader of Third Squad is promoted to Platoon Sergeant of Second Platoon.  The Assistant Squad Leader therefore is promoted to Squad Leader, and a senior member is selected for promotion to Assistant Squad Leader.
• First Squad within Third Platoon, Easy Company has:  a Sergeant as Squad Leader, Sergeant as Assistant Squad Leader, two Corporals as Senior members, and 12 Regular Members.  Example: For some reason, both Squad Leaders are missing for a match against  another Clan.  The most Senior Corporal assumes the role of Squad Leader, and the least senior Corporal assumes the role of Assistant Squad Leader for the match.  These Senior Members would have the authority to continue in the official game.
• Second Squad within Third Platoon, Able Company has: a Sergeant as Squad Leader, Corporal as Assistant Squad Leader, four Private First Classes as Senior Members, and 6 Regular Members.  Example: During a course of events, both the Squad Leaders were discharged for inappropriate activities within the Clan.  The most senior Private First Class is promoted to Assistant Squad Leader and the Platoon Sergeant of Third Platoon assumes the role of acting Squad Leader, until a replacement is found or the new Assistant Squad Leader is deemed ready to manage the Squad.
• First Squad within First Platoon, Fox Company has:  a Staff Sergeant as Squad Leader, Sergeant as Assistant Squad Leader, Corporal as one of the Senior Members, and 8 Regular Members.  Example: While in a public game on the server, the Corporal notices that a regular member of his squad is acting inappropriately on the server in front of public players.  The Corporal attempts to get the member to stop his activities, however is ignored by the squad member.  None of the Squad Leaders of First Squad are online, however the Platoon Sergeant of First Platoon was on.  Acting as Squad Leader, he informs the Platoon Sergeant of the activities of this member.  The Platoon Sergeant now can manage the Squad in the absence of the Squad Leaders to get the member to stop the inappropriate activities.

A Squad should be a formidable force in any game.  Any Squad should have the ability to impact the flow of a battle using sheer force.  Each Squad should have a well-rounded arsenal of weapons for any missions.  With that in mind, it’ll be up to the Clan Leader (or any authoritative leaders) to assign loadouts for their respective games. In any official games, or drills, it would be highly recommended to get Squads broken down into 2-3 teams with 2-4 individuals per team.  This gives the Squad a tactical advantage in any confrontation against any other squad or clan.

Some basics to which Team Leaders and Squad Leaders need to focus on when developing their tactics.

• Aspects of formations, special rules of engagements, sectors of responsibilities, squad movements, etc.
• Keeping members informed with relevant information.
• Ensuring good situational awareness by simple formations.  Proper sector coverage and security is always a must.
• Having disciplined initiative and momentum in the heat of battle, by all parties involved.
• Maneuvering members or teams across the battlefield with good and timely orders.

Keep in mind that no one will ever replicate military organization.  It’s too hard to simulate in any game.  Everyone needs to develop their own way of controlling their Squads in the heat of battle.  Having a standardized doctrine will allow members to be transferred across to different Squads with a minimum learning curve.  Again, keep in mind that the information provided here is simply to help Clan Leaders accomplish any structuring goals they might have.

Basic VoIP Software

For anyone who isn’t in the know, Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP is the most common fashion to which online players use to communicate to each other in and out of games.  The idea is to transmit sounds from a microphone across the internet to other computers.

I am not getting into much detail about the programs, however I will recommend Teamspeak 2 for anyone’s voice communication needs.  I’ve found the best success with Teamspeak 2 in regards to being:  reliable, flexible, and easy to use.  Ventrilo is also an another good option if Teamspeak 2 does not offer everything you need.

Back in the day, I remember when voice communications was a rare thing to find in any clan.  Now you can’t find a Clan without a form of voice communications.  This is due to the fact that having a form of communications give members a competitive advantage.  Allowing members to keep their hands on the mouse and action keys in any game allows them to focus on the game itself  instead of typing out communications between team members.

Most voice communication applications give Clan Leaders the ability to create channels for any intent or reason.  I think it would be ideal to use several sub-channels for the purpose of making in-game voice communications as clutter-free as possible.  Individual sub-channels should be used for ground level tactics and coordination between members of a respective group, allowing leaders to focus on the strategy of these groups instead of basic tactics.

Teamspeak 2 Only:  The “Channel Commander” feature allows anyone set as the channel commander to speak to all other channel commanders at the same time, regardless of what channel they’re in.  Ideally the channel commander function should be reserved for members who are leading squads/sections who need to talk to other squads/sections over a command channel.

Heres some of the most popular VoIP software currently used:

• Roger Wilco is currently owned by GameSpy since late 2000.  The most current client side version is 1.4.1.6.  The program requires a $3.95 per month subscription of GameSpy’s tools.
• Teamspeak is currently owned by TeamSpeak Systems GmbH.  The most current client side version is 2.0.32.60, however an open beta of Teamspeak 3 is due to come out on December 19th, 2009.  The program is currently freeware.
• Ventrilo is currently owned by Flagship Industries, Inc.  The most current client side version is 3.0.5 (3.0.4 for OSX.)  The program is currently freeware.
• VoiceChatter is currently owned by Weiland Software, LLC.  The most current client side version is 1.2.0.  The program is currently open source freeware.
• Mumble is currently an open source project and has no defined owner.  The most current client side version is 1.1.8.  The program is currently open source freeware.

Raising funds for your Clan

Any Clan Leader will tell you, raising funds for your clan is one of the most difficult and challenging tasks anyone can do.  The factors of the economy, trust and services is one of the largest challenges going against Clan Leaders today.  This article is all about establishing a system for Clan Leaders in raising funds for their respective clans.

Donations

One of the things a Clan Leader needs to do is document where the donations are going towards.  By publishing where and when these funds are being used would build trust between the donors and the clan itself.  Keeping donors aware of where these funds are going to will make them more willing to donate funds again.  Humans by nature are careful with their money, and they surely don’t want it wasted.  If you give the donors a reason not to trust the leaders of the Clan, then don’t be surprised if they don’t donate again.

Holding a fundraiser is also an another way to get donations for clan activities.  Setting a goal to get a new server, or to upgrading the existing server is sometimes enough to motivate members to donate.  It also reinforces the team environment, if everyone in the Clan is donating funds to the fundraiser, then this would motivate even the youngest members to find a way to donate.  It’s all about team effort.

Having a raffle for a new game will always gain the support of your members.  Dropping 5 dollars down for 5 tickets for a $49.99 dollar game has motivated many members in my past clans to donate.  It is highly recommended to do any drawings live on a webcam to prevent any possible rumors of fraud.  This also gets members involved into their clan, providing a sense of purpose and pride with their respective clan.  If someone wins anything, of course you make sure they get it!  Again, the trust factor.

Setting an example is ideal for any Clan looking to raise funds.  In saying that, it might be woo of any Clan Leader to make senior leaders pay membership dues to support the Clan.  This shows that the leaders are dedicated to keeping the clan afloat, and motivate members in donating to the cause.  Something like 5 dollars a month is not too steep.  It was said before and will be said again, “leading by example.”

An another way to gain donations is providing reservations for members and public players alike.  This can only work for extremely large high traffic low ping servers, and is unreliable at best.  However, this can be offered as a benefit to members who are interested in gaining access to the servers on a 24/7 basis.

If your clan has some type of weapon restrictions like I did with my Operation Flashpoint clan, then it might be ideal to release some of the restrictions if and when a member donate funds.  Force the clan to use iron sights whenever an official game is ongoing, but if someone is a donor to the clan, then allow them to use scopes and aimpoints in official games.  This will otherwise get unwilling member to donate funds to the clan to gain access to restricted weapons.

Affiliate Marketing

An another route in earning funds for your clan is Affiliate Marketing.  Many game server providers have some form of affiliate marketing for communities, clans and other organizations looking to earn funds.  It’s a practice to which a business rewards one of it’s affiliates funds for each visitor or customer who purchases their services.    You can earn a commission for each purchase, however you also gain a commission each time someone renews the services, earning the Clan a consistent long-term income.  Most of the time the businesses will provide a banner and a text link code with an affiliate ID.

Advertisement

This is a highly unpopular route for many clans and I would recommend avoiding this tactic to earn funds for your Clan.  I wouldn’t recommend this if your traffic is not above 100 visitors per day.  These advertisements can be attached to your Clan’s main page and forums to generate funds like other websites.  A website I found very helpful is 2 Create a Website Blog.  I highly recommend this website for anyone interested in being successful with website advertisement.

Realism Units

There is many communities and groups that are here to bring a realistic feel and immersion into the games they love to play.  We’re social creatures by nature, and in this case we tend to form organizations for the purpose of enjoyment.  These organizations aren’t even a clans, they’re Units, and many of their members will correct you in the event that you called them anything else.  Many individuals outside the community would say, “it’s just a game.”  However the game is simply not an enough.  They wanted a deeper connection with structured gameplay that has evolved into Tactical Realism.

It’s a vision shared by many players alike within the realism community. Teamwork.  This common interest has motivated many players into a realism community… usually by accident.  Many players usually don’t seek out a realism unit on their own, but with teamwork in mind, they were bound to find them one way or an another.  They want is the sweet satisfaction  of completing a mission with predefined roles and responsibilities for each individual on the battlefield.

However, Realism is a double-edged sword. While many units will use a military-style ranking structure and require members to call their officers ’sir.’  There are also plenty of units that there that believe in “serious play, but not too serious.”  A lot of times calling each other by rank is simply a No-Go in these units.  If you want the immersion, or just team cooperation, there’s always an option out there.

Every realism unit does experience the same turnover rates like a regular clan would, however they usually benefit from higher numbers of recruits and a better core of members.  This alone will build a bond that can last for months, even years due to the enjoyable gaming experience.  Many players would join these units with their own motives for their own personal advancement, but what really kept them around is the people themselves.  The friendships and the sense of belonging is what draws the community closer together.  It may be complicated to explain it to someone else outside of the community, but for those who are part of this brotherhood, it makes complete sense.

Most game servers are populated by children who sling around obscene language without the consequences of real life.  Many of these kids choose to do this under the veil of the internet to burden other players from an enjoyable night of gaming.  Anyone can act a fool when playing a game, however a select few can play the game in a respectable way.

That’s what matters to these units.

Delegating Responsibilities

There is always a lot of focus put on the position and responsibilities of being a Clan Leader. Most unsuccessful clan leaders will retain all these responsibilities and disregard the potential growth they can have when they delegate.  It also prevents the Clan Leader from becoming too bruned out from all the responsibilities and simply skip ship.  This every well can be the number one reason why a clan would fail.

Another reason why Clan Leader’s should delegate they’re responsibilities is to allow members to get involved with their clan.  This keeps things interesting and gives them a sense of purpose that they wouldn’t usually have in most Clans.  I wouldn’t recommend “assigning” jobs to members, however give them an option to sign up for these positions.  Allowing them to sign up for jobs would prevent a high turnover in regards to the jobs you have (since they chose the job), and enabling you to keep more administrative members.

I want to give some ideas out to Clan Leaders interested in delegating some of their responsibilities:

Entry level Jobs: These types of positions provide a first step for many leaders in Clans.    These type of positions generally require very little skill and knowledge, perfect for low ranking members.   The idea is to provide apprenticeship into your system of operating your clan and should be the ground-level of recruiting leaders in the future.

• Journalist: Writes about official matches, recent promotions, community news, game and clan announcements. 
• Records Secretary: Keeps all member information up-to-date.  This person might also cover information displayed on the website and forums, and should inform leaders to keep info up to date.
• Recruiter: A new members link to the rest of the Clan.  Recruiters should be gaining the interest of the players looking to join a Clan and perform promotional events like Public Matches.  They usually answer any questions that the new members might have, and provides information in regards to joining the clan.
• Schedule Secretary: These members keep the calendar updated for each incoming month.
• Trainer: These members provide training and tips for the game the Clan play’s most.

Management Jobs: These members usually have the most seniority out of all the members of the Clan.  The Clan Leader usually provides some level of independent decision making to these jobs, allowing and enabling them to administer their respective groups as effective as possible.

• Team Leader: These members usually have seniority over most of the members of their respective Teams.  In a military-style structure, these titles can range from “Squad Leader,” “Platoon Sergeant,” etc.  These members provide a link between regular members to leadership members in regards to problems, and conflict resolution.  In the real world, these positions might be called “Supervisors,” or “Sergeants.“
• Financial Head: This position might come later after some growth, however Clan Leaders need to think about assigning someone to handle the funds.  They should keep track of where the funds are coming from, and provide recognition to members who have donated.  In the real world, this position would be related to being an “Accountant.”
• Moderators: They provide some type of skills involving Web Administration and Managing an online community.  These members should enforce the rules on the forums and servers to provide a quality playing environment.  In the real world, this position might be related to “Human Resources,” or “Quality Assurance.”
• Co-Leaders: These members are usually someone who has been trusted by the Clan Leader and has been chosen to be their replacement in the event the Clan Leader is no longer able to lead the Clan.  These members should be the Clan Leader’s top assistant in regards to running and operating the Clan as a whole.  In the real world, the most common use of this position is “Executive Officer” or “Deputy Commander.” “Administrative Assistant” is fitting in some cases.

I would highly recommend not giving out any administrative rights to anything that can effectively shut your Clan down.  Access to Web Administration, Server Accounts, Paypal Accounts, etc, should be left to the Clan Leader, and someone that they trust deeply.

These are some basic responsibilities and titles for members in the event the Clan Leader wants to delegate.  Just like a major business, no single person can build an empire without delegating in some fashion.  The idea is to give all your members the management side of running the clan and giving you a more strategic position within the clan.  Instead of managing individual members, start managing groups of members.