Multi Crew Communication - What Needs To Happen And How Do We Handle It

[Friar]

Salute

We have run a couple of events recently where some of us have multi crewed the same tank. This may not be for everyone but for those that have done it they have reported that it has added to their enjoyment.

Now, in the sessions where they have taken the same tank they have stayed in the same TeamSpeak channel as the rest of us.

For the Battle of the Bulge it is looking like Sid, Painless and Parts will man one tank, myself, FT and Perfesser another.

I think the communication will be too messy and confusing if the Multi crew tanks stay in the same channel as everyone else. The usual comms can be quite chaotic without adding another layer of crews trying to talk to each other. The idea was that we move to separate tank channels, eg Tank 3 and Tank 4.

Tank 3 channel would have Sid, Painless and Parts, Tank 4 channel would have myself, FT and Perf.

Now lets say Perf and Parts are the Commanders for the two tanks. They will need a method to be able to communicate with each other and with all the other players who have chosen to go alone (no problem with that, there is no pressure to multi crew for this event). The single players will also need a way to communicate with Perf and Parts (so they can relay orders to their crew).

Can anyone suggest how we set this up in TeamSpeak the easiest way so that we can all communicate correctly?

Would be good to have a try out evening to test before the event.

 

[FoolTrottel]

Well, they are the commanders! Let them sort it out themselves!

[Sid]

I see that someone has kindly set up some tank channels in Teamspeak...1 to 5

How about Tank 1 is all of those that are individual tankers ie. not part of a crew. That leaves tanks 2 - 5 free for multi crews.

Someone, or a few in Tank 1, in each Tank channel sets up a whisper to the other tank channels. In the multicrew tanks you only need one with a whisper because if they swap roles they will still be in contact with the other tank channels. Those doing individual tanking in Tank 1 will be talking together so will be able to communicate between themselves and also to those in multicrew tanks through the ones that have whispers set up.

Also, how about everyone getting set up with the use of flares.....could be very useful for position confirmation and thus avoiding Blue on Blue encounters. Don't think it will be a problem with the enemy seeing them.....

[FoolTrottel]

Good idea about the loose tankers in one channel ... just wondering whether whispering to all channels (and all of the crew in them) would be a smart thing to do.

All of the crews will hear all commanders - it works for us in the P38 campaign, but it's different there, as any pilot can always look around like 360 and kinda know and 'feel' what is around him, and thus select a proper level of panicking... In a tank that's so different - A commander whisper 'Right guys, there are some guns left' so all drivers turn right, then left, and gunners move ... in the opposite direction ... 

Meaning, it may just be too much ...

 

 

[Sid]

1 hour ago, FoolTrottel said:

Good idea about the loose tankers in one channel ... just wondering whether whispering to all channels (and all of the crew in them) would be a smart thing to do.

Isn't it possible for just the whisperers to talk to eachother by setting up whispers to individuals in the channel?

[Friar]

Rather than the individuals in "Tank 1" (that is APHILL's number, in case he wanted to have a multi crew) I would rather have a channel called something else, like "Tank Squad" or "Tank Individuals"

[Friar]

I am going to run another instance of TeamSpeak on the laptop I use for hosting so I can see who is where

[FoolTrottel]

3 hours ago, Sid said:

Isn't it possible for just the whisperers to talk to eachother by setting up whispers to individuals in the channel?

It sure is... but it's a lot of work to set it up for each and every commander, to each and every commander... and then, when one swaps roles within a tank... have to change it all again... 

 

[Sid]

31 minutes ago, FoolTrottel said:

It sure is... but it's a lot of work to set it up for each and every commander, to each and every commander... and then, when one swaps roles within a tank... have to change it all again... 

 

But there would only be one less whisper to set up as there are channels...if there are 2 multicrewed tanks then there are only 2 whispers for a person to set up as all loose tankers are together in one channel talking to eachother as are those in a multicrewed tank.

eg. Painless's multicrew tank would need a whisper to 1) Friar's multicrew tank channel and 2) the loose tankers channel

      Friar's multicrew tank would need a whisper to 1) Painless's multicrew tank channel and 2) the loose tankers channel

      One person in the loose tankers channel would need a whisper to 1) Painless's multicrew tank channel and 2) Friar's multicrew tank channel

Also, anyone changing roles in a multicrew tank can still be the comms person in that tank to the other channels, that doesn't need to change.

[Perfesser]

I would have everyone in the same channel and each crew sets up a whisper key to their own crew.

You'll want to hear all the chatter and especially when the first person calls out "I'm taking hits"

[Parts]

Given I do not have a clue what TS can offer in this type of setup, I am just going to throw. Can we all go in one channel (comms silent except for when in contact, and have two whispers. One for chit chat and one for multi crew. 

It is obvious now that multi crewed tanks need to comms chatter with each other way more than single crew. 

Just wondering. 

Why is it always the 'C' word!?

[Parts]

I really enjoyed the multi crew and comms set up tonight chaps. Thank you all.