January 2015 Unit Inspection

"Quick, Colonel Dingleberry is coming!  Ditch the swill, and look professional, damn your eyes!  Swiftly, now!  Hide that bottle, you frakker - or you can be sure the Old Man will stand on your back and yell at rest of us for six solid hours!"

Initial Observations

Before we proceed, I want to note that this is not directed at anyone in particular, except yours truly - the Lieutenant Colonel.  I have determined most of the issues ultimately rest on my recent lack of oversight on certain matters. The unit is absolutely huge now, and I have had to delegate some of the responsibility to my most trusted officers.

Your Command Staff are some truly awesome folks, willing to devote lengthy periods of time to all the myriad activities that go into making a unit like this work.  If it weren't for them, HLGK would (at best) be another tiny Liao unit struggling to drop 8 or 12 men. However, the training isn't working out like we wanted it to.

The moment of action has come at last, Gatekeepers.  We laid out a plan last fall that has been steadily chugging along, refining our unit's precision and response time.  Still, I find that we are not where I wanted us to be, though this isn't the fault of any instructors.  We've not been performing poorly, and if I felt the need to censure or reprimand one of our soldiers it would be as discreet as permissable.  In fact, we've been observing a powerful increase in capabilty, gunnery and pilotry as our newer recruits get more comfortable with how the unit is coordinated.

Yes, folks - competition season has returned, and the Liao war machine has not been idle.  We have temporarily suspended HLGK actions in the CW Waiting Room to focus on what we have always considered to be the real game - league and campaign event competition.  We have been preparing a number of interesting events for the community.  Prior to running a full blown league with teams from across the Inner Sphere, we decided to hold a Lance Commander Challenge - a league-style competition event pitting our Sang-Wei (and a few Sao-Wei who may have the chops to hack it in the Command Staff) against each other in a structured environment.

As a matter of fact, Maskirovka has been assessing our commanders (as well as the soldiers) since before Community Warfare debuted.  We are constantly searching for the right sort of people to move up the chain to help with managing the massive unit we have built, and we do not take this task lightly.  The person we are looking for is smart enough to ask questions, bold enough to control a lance in battle yet cool enough not to get frustrated when they order men to their deaths.

During this research we have found a number of alarming trends emerging from the data since we accepted so many new recruits in the last two months.  For a moment, the synergy of our implemented tactical components has been jeopardized by individuals who, for whatever reason, have a response time that is either too slow or non-existent.

We have lost the luxury of time, I'm afraid.  We can't spend any more time waiting for people to get with the program on their own.  So, today you will see things begin to move forward at a very rapid pace.  We have a lot of ground to clear and very little time to do it in.  It's time for you to make a choice, and I'm here to help you with that.  With that in mind, consider that...

As of this moment, all Gatekeepers are mobilized for war. 

Playtime is over, soldier!  

It's time to get with the program.

Several new policies and procedures will be published as quick as we can get to them to address the issues that have been identified.  This past weekend's Lance Commander Challenge was deliberately constructed to stress-test the Gatekeepers in a wide variety of criteria.  Well, the report card is in, and by and large we're doing quite well.  

So what's the issue?

Though not affecting everyone, we're starting to notice that some of the members of the unit are not where they need to be.  This varies in degree from pilot to pilot, depending on the amount of time they have spent with instructors.  For some, it's a simple thing such as not completely understanding what a word or term means within the doctrine.  For others, it's a disagreement with certain tactical components that ranges from mild to severe.  For others, it's a complete misconception about what [HLGK] has become, where we're at and what we mean to accomplish.

Rather than hash the whole thing out and waste time explaining why we do things a certain way, we're going to skip that from now on.  It's irrelevant, and folks are taking this to mean they need to be focused on something other than where we want you.

MWO is SRS BSNS, K?

For some of the guys still around from last year who aren't playing that often, the new [HLGK] is a foreign environment.  We've tolerated this "casual" behavior for quite some time now, even though we have banned non-Gatekeepers from the TS3 for the statement "it's just a game, man."  We made the decision three or four months ago, and the entire Command Staff (including myself) has allowed this sort of thing to slide.

It's important to note that once you enter Purvo Actual, you have willingly entered the realm of the Gatekeepers.  A lot of people will not appreciate how we do things.  Others will be drawn to it.  Can you guess which goup of folks we're looking for?

Your solo pub drop kills / damage scores do not impress us.  Anyone can hide behind a rock like a b!%tch and steal kills with a Gauss.  It's not hard.  For large unit drops, however - a different mindset is required.  I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, because we already went through training a glut of recruits  before the ISC last year.

"Training, harumph!  What are you "training" that could benefit me?" you ask.

Well, we're going to focus your energy toward the components we have decided to implement.  We need to all know the same things.  Gatekeepers doctrine is well developed, though of course for any strategy there is a counter.  The principles will carry us, once we all learn them and begin to "think" in terms of this nomenclature.

Unfortunately, it appears we have to resort to drastic measures to get people to get on board the Pain Train.  We're going to weed out everyone that doesn't really want to be training with us.  We're going to spend a lot of time and money promoting this unit.  We have our eyes on a lofty prize indeed, and anyone not on board by February 1 is subject to dismissal without warning.  Yes, it's finally time (to the great elation of the vast majority of Gatekeepers) to get this Pain Train rolling.  Get on board, or get out of the way.

Our methods have carried the day more than they lose them - at least when the drop company are experienced Gatekeepers.  It doesn't matter how "good" you think you are, if you have no idea what the company is doing and what it's been preparing for you cannot operate as part of a group.  We don't need mavericks.  We don't want special snowflakes who think that we should overturn a doctrine just for them.

In short, I'm tired of dealing with a lot of these issues daily.  It's a good thing that we actually know what the issues are and how to deal with them.  The decisions we made were easy to make - but it might rattle your cage to hear how we're going to deal with these things.  Remember, you're in the Military (Simulation) now.

We have an estimated number of members that will either elect to leave the unit or will be removed from the unit for not participating.  We will still have more than 4 entire companies, even if 50% more than estimated decide they are not worthy - and we are mobilizing them ALL.

What did you expect?  I assume you came here to play soldier, since that's what we do.  If you find this isn't to your taste or it's too demanding, you are free to leave with no hard feelings (unless you want to carry them around).

"SRS Moad" has been engaged - and it's pretty much stuck there permanently.  We are changing policies, but we're not relaxing anything.  Oh, no no no no.

Instead, we're ramping it up into full blown Inner Sphere lunacy, and like proper Capellans we will no longer tolerate what passes for inclusion in the unit.  You will at all times appear as a proper Capellan warrior in accordance with all strategic principles and battalion disciplines.  If you are not so motivated as to do so (without endless prompting from another officer), then you fail the RP criteria and will be removed.

We know that most of you have been aching for this, so you may rejoice.  Whatever you do, don't panic.  We've already set up the chopping block, and this will be over fairly quick.

The following list of changes to Battalion Practices are now in effect.

• The Zhong-Shao will be personally seeing every single Gatekeeper in a one-on-one interview to collect the data for the new Community Manager.  None of the old data will be used, requiring the player to actually present his character. 
• Failure to do so will result in your traits being chosen by the Zhong-Shao and a MechWarrior assignment.

• All training classes have been revised. Instructors are to be retrained Tue-Thurs, and all active duty Gatekeepers must attend remedial training for certification in all current Tactical Manual entries.
• Blackhand will be conducting re-training during the normal practice times this week.

• All active-duty Gatekeepers are required to be fully certified by no later than the end of the month (January, 2015) in all current combat certifications.  Failure to do so will indicate that you are not sufficiently motivated to belong to the Gatekeepers.

• We have created and are implementing a new set of tools that will allow us to better manage all aspects of the community.  The player information collected by the Zhong-Shao during interviews will be shared with the unit so progress can be easily determined.

• The Certification System will be fully unveiled in the near future.  For now, know that participation is key, and there is a LOT of certifications.  We have a robust plan, so have faith.
• Certification is absolutely required of all members.  It is not optional - we're going to get everyone on the same page.  After next month, Certification Prerequisites for participation will be implemented and strictly enforced.  
• If you are not certified in the minimum requisite doctrines practiced during combat operations, you will not be joining until you are certified.  This will prevent many of the issues we are having with confusion by eliminating it all together.  
• Failure to obtain certification after a certain period will indicate a lack of motivation unbecoming a Capellan warrior.  DO NOT make us enforce this.

• We will be updating the Gatekeepers Ranks entry of the Tactical Manual with a new set of responsibilities and requirements.  Rank limits, expectations of duty and general practices will be delineated and officers are expected to uphold this standard at all times.
• Any officer found operating outside his purview will be censured.
• Any officer found to be lacking in performing his duty will be censured.  

• Questions about changing doctrine will only be fielded by the Zhong-Shao during training and other non-combat operations.  In all cases we have encountered, your inquiries regarding doctrine are best answered by actually studying the material we have provided.  Fridays & Saturdays will no longer be training the unit - it's simply too big to do in this manner.  Instead, the Zhong-Shao will be coordinating various activities to keep you occupied and entertained - events, campaigns, leagues and other tournament.
• We understand that many of the questions you have regard the doctrine's implementation.  This is the point of the certification system - there is now a time and place for these conversations.
• We are no longer entertaining ideas for implementing non-doctrinal tactics, strategies or meta-game ideas from Sang-Wei or lower.  In order to spare ourselves from shooting down every half-thought out strategy we will simply not acknowledge these.
• Do not attempt to convince us of the validity of your proposed change.  Whatever it is, whatever you've seen, it's not something we will be implementing any time soon.  It is HIGHLY unlikely that you will come up with something that we have not encountered, discussed and dealt with in the past.
• Instead of wasting precious time and breath bringing up a tactic or 'mech you want us to make official doctrine, focus on what we are training that week and MASTER that.  By veering off company doctrine during times when there is a low pilot count on you are doing more harm than good.

• [HLGK]  RPG Roles are now known as Assignments.  Many Assignments come with a set of duties and priveleges all their own.  For example, Tactical Researchers may present new potential additions to doctrine during company strategy meetings.  These are held in the Command Tower and are announced a few days ahead of time.
• If you wish to change company doctrine, you only have three options.  
• 1)  Become a Tactical Researcher and follow protocol to develop a doctrine usable by the entire company.   
• 2)  Submit your theory in writing to a Tactical Researcher or Sao-Shao, and they will follow protocol.
• 3)  Become an officer and attend strategy meetings so your ideas can be heard.

• Wanton apathy toward engaging the community and / or regarding unit activities is unbecoming a Gatekeeper.  Intensely distasteful to many of us, warriors expressing such honorless despair will be warned exactly once.
• Insisting that our doctrine is somehow flawed falls under this category.

• When Faction Grouping is implemented, Gatekeepers will only be allowed to group with other units when that unit has a working arrangement with us and only when there is no officer online.   
• Just because they add a feature to the game to help the solo public drop kids does NOT MEAN anything other than the child soldiers won't bother us anymore on TeamSpeak.
• This is simply a stronger continuation of our current policy.  If this bothers you, you might have been in the wrong place this whole time.

• Gatekeepers will be required to focus on the doctrines currently being trained.  New certifications will be rolled out each week.  Gatekeepers should always be grouped together instead of untrained subversives to develop and maintain combat synergy.  Failure to do so repeatedly and without concern will result in censure.
• We will be double checking your understanding of all principles, disciplinese, strategies and certifications in a variety of unexpected ways.
• Gatekeepers will be enforcing an attendance policy starting at the beginning of February.  Our Community Manager tool (accessible to Sao-Shao and higher) will indicate when a player is in danger of being removed due to inactivity.
•  "Inactive" indicated after 14 days of absence.  Absence is defined by lack of communication.  Not answering communications will be considered tacit indication of your desire to leave the unit - at which point your wish will be granted.

• Practice the components as you are certified.  If you're only practicing while we're physically watching you (during operations) and then hop in your Timber Wolf to run pubs as soon as the officer is gone, you have completely missed the point.  You'll show up and be back in the dark.  We will be watching for red flags like this, and you will find that the heartless Zhong-Shao (the bastard!) does not care that you spent $500 on a gold 'mech.
• One step at a time, you will learn the entirety of the battalion doctrine.  Instructors are available at almost any time of the day, to say nothing of scheduled training periods.  In addition, reference material is provided on this site.  Everything you need is here.
•  Do not worry about the higher level components of the doctrine - you'll make it there eventually.  Or you won't and you'll be dismissed.  
• People who cannot learn this way are of no use to us and will be censured.

More detailed versions of these policies will be made available in the Tactical Manual for reference as they are finalized.  We are finished with putting up with silly assertions that slow us down.  We will no longer tolerate "casual" players masquerading as Gatekeepers.

We've said all this before.  Many times.  The point of this long admonition is to let everyone know we are on top of the discipline now that we've completed the massive Community Manager.

Frankly, I'm tired of spending six hours on drop nights repeating basically the same thing over and over and over and over again - and I know you hate it as much as I do.  You knew this was a military unit, but orders make you mad / uncomfortable / sad?

If you come to Gatekeepers TS and you're one of those ADD solo players who think they are good because you score damage / kills in the solo pub, I've got news, bro.

We are tired of being ignored by a small fringe element in our unit.  No more - only active participants in our unit will be allowed to wear that tag and ride with us.  There are still more issues that people are complaining about - but again, it's because they are ignoring major points that form the basis for our operation as a unit.

So, we will provide a few reminder here about Comms Discipline - a thing that most of the new players don't know we have and some of the other players just ignore.  Done with this - we've seen issues arise every day because someoone ignored this discipline.

 Comms Discipline will be STRICTLY ENFORCED from this point on, as will the other Disciplines that form the basic tenets of our conduct.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should just wait until training.  After that, don't forget - you won't like the reaction you get.

Be wary.  All the rules we have not been enforcing should be considered ONLINE.

A final admonition before I begin terrorizing you in person:

I do not want to hear any more talk challenging the validity of the doctrine.  We have already proven these to be quite effective.  You will not be altering the battle plan, instead, you will conform to it.

More the issue is the sheer presumption that you have somehow stumbled on something we didn't think about.  Literally we are thousands of hours on this.  So let it be said...

It is not the doctrine, strategy, plan or which 'mechs  weve chosen as mandatory that are the issue.  It is your ability to execute that strategy or maneuver, coordinated through the Drop Commander. and the rest of your team.

I have yet to field a question from a member that was an actual conundrum.  In most cases, the pilot did not understand what they were reading because the Basic Principles have been completely ignored for quite some time.  In addition, any snarky comment about how you think the unit is doing something wrong will cause the commenter to be accosted immediately on his knowledge of company doctrine.  Should he be found wanting, we'll have a caning.

In short, unless you're wearing a rank badge of a Sao-Shao or have the Tactical Researcher assignment (which requires an officer rank, has a high number of minimum certifications and has a high minimum [HLGK] XP threshold) you are not qualified to attempt any "schooling" here.  There is a chain of command, and by joining you tacitly agreed to abide by it.  So stow it, and get with the company doctrine.  The program works - but you will now be required to use it.

That said, we will welcome discussion about how to use our repertoire of tricks to turn an enemy strategy.  However, the answer is seldom as complicated as people want to believe it is, and usually turns on the right command given at the right time.  Response time is critical, once again.

The Gatekeepers blog is no longer an optional place to visit.  We expect you to keep up with operations, as this unit is ACTIVE and DEPLOYED.  Players unwilling to explore the wealth of information on doctrines contained here will be censured.  Further recalcitrance will indicate you are in the wrong place.  

Facebook is highly recommended, but  as yet not required of members.  It is by far one of the most useful tools we possess, and communication on the House Liao Gatekeepers Facebook is the easiest and quickest way to get ahold of the Command Tower.

So what prompted this?

Orders given by a member of the Command Staff or the elected / appointed Drop Commander are not mere suggestions you can take or leave.  It apalls me that we are having to say this so far into this.  Response time is critical.  We have a clear and shared vision about what we want from this unit and from this game.  If you fail to obey orders (for whatever reason) you will be censured.

This last weekend was really a record for the number of people challenging battalion doctrine.  People definitely had something to say about several things.  Now, under normal circumstances we'd hear the player out and discuss his concerns.  However,

In every single account, the player was either completely ignoring the core sections of the doctrine or had not been present during the strategy briefing.  

In some cases, the assertions were so off-base we couldn't really figure out why it had been brought up in the first place.  In others, a short sentence in the principles or disciplines provided an obvious answer.  Either way, indignant assertions will (as above) incite an interrogation about battalion doctrine.  

Seriously.

Enough.  No more fence sitters.  Some of you have been Gatekeepers for a year or more, but are completely in the dark about everything we're doing.  Since we have so many things popping off lately on all media - the clear message is that you don't care enough to keep up with it.

All that was fine when  we were casual, but we had a rocky weekend organizing the Lance Commander Challenge.  We're going to snap this into shape, or we're gonna snap your neck.  Either way, we won't have to waste time and energy on training what is essentially a liability in combat.

If you want to be part of a unit that's ACTUALLY TRAINED for ARMORED COMBAT, then you've come to the right place...but we still have several members who simply don't pay attention to anything we're doing, and show up randomly to drop with us.  No visit to anywhere other than TS.  We will no longer tolerate this sort of player, and will remove them from the unit should they display aversity to any Gatekeeper policies.

So many things are set to happen in the near future it's literally taking up all our time trying to coordinate with all the non-Liao people in the competition scene.  We want to have something really cool, really special for our entire House...a nasty, hard military unit that is a well-oiled machine of destruction.  This is how we earn glory, my friends...not sitting in an empty CW queue.

You need to decide for yourself if you're supposed to be here.  If you believe that these rules are too restrictive for you to play competitive, you are in the wrong place.  If you believe that you can show up once a month for battalion combat operations while ignoring all the things we expect you to know when you do show up, you are in the wrong place. If you don't like to play MWO with your team at all times, you're in the wrong place.  We will be removing non-participants to make time for new players that are pouring in.

However...you'll be relieve to note that most of us are, in fact, in the right place.  Glory is in our grasp, and it's time to show the world how a trained and determined unit of Capellan pilots can fight.

We'll see how many are worthy enough to make it through the night.  I know every single one of you is up to the task, should you decide it's worth your effort.  If it's not, then neither you nor the unit will lose much in the way of happiness or life by your dismissal.

Good Hunting, Gatekeepers.