A few days ago, there was a rather intriguing announcement of the formation of a new clan in Division 1 that promised to shake the status-quo up a bit.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview some of those responsible to find their goals, views and plans to carry out this undertaking.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, we dived straight into it as the guys seemed very keen to get their ideas across.
Don Davis: As far as the game goes, I actually quit the game before Kris and Gary Allsop broached the subject of starting a new clan with me.
Kristopher Fleet: I have wanted to do this for a while, but didn't necessarily want to wreck the Brotherhood in the process, but it wrecked itself so I felt obligated to continue.
GG: Hmmm... the announcement was intriguing and I was trying to find more about it, when, lo, you guys turn up...so, lets start with a few basics... what is the idea behind Fusion?
Don Davis: Well, we are co-leaders in this, because that's the only way I'd do it, and it turned out to be what Kris had in mind anyway.
Kristopher Fleet: I work a lot, and couldn't do it all on my own, and I trust Don's judgement above just about any one else's in this game.
Don Davis: We wanted to build a competitive clan in Division one. We didn't want to just stack a clan. Top players have relaxed or stopped playing largely due to a lack of competitive parity in Division 1, and it has negatively impacted player development in all Divisions.
GG: OK, so bearing in mind I'm not a div 1 player myself, what have been the problems and how is the formation of Fusion going to change that?
Don Davis: I was clan leader of Northwind Highlanders for last Clan War and we got within one point of winning for the first time since Clan Wars XI. Since Faction Wars, there was a breakdown in the leadership process between the various Brotherhood Clan Leaders, so I left the game.
GG: Was that to do with players moving across to Storm for Faction wars?
We had seen a communication from Deborah to that effect..
Kristopher Fleet: Delving into mecha history, originally, murder bots were the dominant D1 clan, and then Verret, Beltran, and the founders of CS left murder bots to form Cyberstorm, then have dominated the division ever since. All the strongest players were always in CS. Everyone else would get frustrated as they could not compete. CS only lost once, Christmas a few years back. Anyway, we have long felt that there needed to be parity, and we think we can be competitive with them, and give players a choice when advancing.
Don Davis: Once we establish a clan that is just as likely to win in Division 1 as any other, we will see the top players in Division 2 and Division 3 looking to move up where they previously felt Division 1 was just a purgatory for high-level players in a division with no level cap and not enough of them to put together a real Clan War battle that wouldn't be a blowout.
Kristopher Fleet:There has been a leadership void in the brotherhood since Thodoris retired.
Deb is i guess quasi leader, but Joel does everything, and there is little organization or cooperation anymore
Don Davis: If I do say so myself, there was originally a military pedigree in NWHL, and now a lot of that has been lost. In the real military, we would call that being a victim of "mission creep".
GG: So where are the core players from Fusion being drawn from?
Kristopher Fleet: We hope to draw talented players from all other factions, hence the name Fusion, a collaboration of players ready to advance and take on the establishment.
Don Davis: The players who have joined us have all done so individually, in accordance with their own goals for their own playing experience in Mecha Galaxy and with respect to their own personal investment.
Kristopher Fleet: People avoided D1 as they knew they could not win against Cyberstorm, We intend to present a scenario where players can come to D1, and they can have a shot at winning.
GG: So would it be fair to say the the core mission for Fusion is to build over time to become the clan that breaks the stranglehold that Cyberstorm currently has? And are you approaching people directly or are you waiting for folk to approach you after your goals have been, for want of a better phrase, advertised?
Don Davis: We have indeed seen interest from a number of other top players in other top clans, however, some of those loyalties run deep and making the jump to Division 1 is a big step. We feel that a number of them would be very competitive, but some of them lack confidence. It's not something that will happen overnight.
Kristopher Fleet: We have approached a few people, but we feel that when we succeed at dethroning the Storm that people will be coming to us, and we eventually intend to incorporate a D2 clan for lower level seeking to join D1 eventually. We will permit direct challenges to advance. If a D2 player wants to join the D1 clan, they must simply out perform a current D1 member. It establishes an environment where people must continue improving to keep the seat they want, and achieve the goals they aspire to.
GG: So would you have time-frame by which you would hope to "lay down the challenge"?
Don Davis: Well of course we'd like to challenge in the next Clan Wars, but we've already decided that we aren't going to just go with whatever we have. We will mount a strong challenge or we will not register. At some level, it's up to the player base to decide what kind of competition and what kind of game they want to have.
Kristopher Fleet: Is there anything else you want to add Don?
Don Davis: Division 1 Clan Wars has been boring and a forgone conclusion for far too long. I'm not really sure why anyone would want to play there as it has been, whether playing for Cyberstorm or not. Gary and I were basically forced up due to level averages, but there is no level cap per clan in Division 1. Playing with others who have been forced up but aren't competitive for their level - much less their division - just doesn't make sense after a while. A drastic change is needed in Division 1 or the ENTIRE GAME will stagnate. The player base has been losing players and gaining too many "alternate" accounts from existing players who can't fully support them and stay competitive. Two years have gone by, and there are only just now enough competitive players to have two competitive clans in Division 1. It's not just the economy of the game that has been stifling competition.
GG: So would it be fair to say that you are hoping that the ambitious cream of the other clans will be drawn to you in the hope of finally being a part of a serious challenger?
Kristopher Fleet: Our biggest obstacle is going to be getting people to set aside current loyalties to join us, and create true D1 parity.
Don Davis: Well, that's all part of the same challenge.
GG: That is a very fair point regarding loyalties, and how do you feel that people leaving existing clans is going to benefit the player base as a whole?
Kristopher Fleet: Without D1 parity, people at some point camp as they do not want to get sucked into the slaughterhouse that is D1. As the competition filters down to lower divisions, it will add enjoyment to the game for all.
Don Davis: There needs to be some sort of check and balance on stacking clans, especially in Division 1, but we're seeing much of the same practice in Division 2 and 3. This is the opportunity for top players to shake things up and go for the challenge as opposed to the "sure-thing" limited prize package in lower divisions.
Kristopher Fleet: I've been basically in D2 or D3 constantly since CW2. I've been around a long time, and I just have never gone all out leveling because I would end up in D1. I dont even like camping. I want to advance, and advancing is detrimental due to the environment of D1. We intend to change that environment. I feel that as that environment changes, less people will camp, more people will level, and competition will be more fresh, and deeper throughout.
Don Davis: If this practice of stacking clans continues, the game will die, so it's either up to Nick to change the clan limitations in some way, or the players themselves can take charge of their own destiny.
GG: But surely that is not necessarily a factor of camping... I refer back to the instance of Zeon putting in a vary serious D1 challenge in Mechalympix, where they are in D3 purely because they don't have the requisite level to advance...
Don Davis: The Faction Wars and Mechalympix remain anomalies in a game where clans have formed around the monthly Clan War format.
But you are correct - there are competitive players in lower divisions who wish to STAY there because Division 1 sucks.
Kristopher Fleet: Many folks in Zeon could play in D1, but they camp lower divisions instead. That is part of the problem. People not leveling creates the same match ups, vs the same competition every month. Some people have got to want to break from the cycle. Our creation will allow folks from places like Zeon, or Toys, AFF, NWF, or wherever to have a competitive choice if and when they advance to a higher division. D1 has always had better prizes, but so many are hesitant to go after them. We hope people will get tired of D2 and D3 scraps, and go for the prime beef in a more even D1.
Don Davis: The competition, the real prospect of winning, has to be the reason to play. The prizes are just the spoils. Those who are just collecting their participation trophy every month might as well be playing sims or something,
GG: So how would a player hypothetically make an approach? By word or by seeking somebody out and beating the snot out of them?
Don Davis: YES! Either way would get our attention.
GG: OK, so challenges could be accepted by any who are strong enough... however, how are you looking to manage instances where lower levels successfully challenge, but including them is going to drop you (by level average) out of D1?
Kristopher Fleet: We intend to have a D2 sister clan, if level averages were to affect clan placement we would have to overrule or delay the challenge outcome until it is mathematically feasible.
Don Davis: One other thing. Without saying too much, the fact that Northwind Highlanders were competitive at all with mostly crystal players was no accident. Players who come to us can expect an increase in power just by associating with us. Most of the research and testing that was done for the Brotherhood was done by us. We don't just leave it to the player to figure out how to optimize what they have.
Here's a real mind-blower for you: Cyberstorm would be much better if they played for us!
GG: And what about specialists? Will this be mandatory for an applicant (knowing some folk who hate the concept), and would you be on the lookout for particularly good defensive players as well as those with a strong offensive lineup?
Kristopher Fleet: Specialties are a competitive necessity.
Don Davis: A true Division 1 player will be competitive in the specs before they get to us, but everybody has weaker areas that can be improved. That goes back to my earlier statement about our approach to improving our formations.
GG: So would you be prepared to accept a specialist challenge, just as an example, try taking a player on at 50 tonners?
Just so readers understand their options and the process.
Kristopher Fleet: Oh you mean how the challenge process works?
Don Davis: Well, you have to have a main formation that can attack with some success. For those who want to play in a spec, their main would still factor into our "power ranking" process.
Indeed, we currently have a few who will play specs.
Kristopher Fleet: Like say I intend to run a single rainbow. You must prove to have a more effective defensive spec then my single, and be able to win more offensive battles then me to succeed in your challenge. Basically a challenge is proving you are more of an asset to the team then a current member, then that member would go to D2 and you to D1
GG: Cool, thanks for clarifying that....
Don Davis: One of the main reasons Kris is here at his level is because he has a certain brand of genius in determining player strengths and roster development. He co-engineered the NWHL victory in Clan Wars XI, the AFFBros merger victory in Div 2 and 5 Golds in a row for Northwind Fusiliers.
GG: OK, so moving away from challenges and rosters for a moment, is the flashy graphic that was posted your new clan emblem or do you have another in the works?
Kristopher Fleet: That is it, credit goes to Gary Allsop for that.
Don Davis: Gary threw that together in about 45 min. He's a guru at that stuff. That's the logo for now, probably until he feels like making something else,
We wanted to do the interview to get the word out, and get people thinking about where the game is headed as a result of their own choices. We want to get back to playing for the win and the glory, and not just for the spoils.
GG: Not a problem, that's exactly what the media is for. And since you are plugging yourselves, is there anything you feel you want to add or emphasize that we may not have covered?
Don Davis: Just that Fusion already has some of the only people who ever took gold in Division 1 without joining Cyberstorm to do it, so the time to join is now for the kind of players who are ready to contribute to when that happens again - and it will!
Submitted by David McCallum #701548