Ping Pirates!

Alright for our next Victim....errr I mean interviewee, we have Christopher of Dragoons! He was kind enough to step up to the plate for some 10 questions fun fun fun! ~Arzhou

1) Brief description of yourself, be creative

Well, hi I'm Christopher Hueston. I'm from Canada. I love video games. I have a pilot’s liscence and I enjoy flying. I'm a mechanic and I also enjoy fixing, modifying and driving cars. I despise Microsoft and refuse to buy their products. If you ask my regular clan members they’ll tell you that I also hate snow. Regularily during chat I am leaving to go shovel the driveway. I guess that I like to think that I am an honourable person who tries to allow everyone to enjoy the game even if it leads to personal sacrifices.

2) How in the world did you come up with the name for Dragoons, its really a mouth full.

Well it began when the devs indicated they were going to make a clan system. We were part of the initial four clans to be created (Gambler (now EVA), Temasek (now CREED) FEAT and us, sorry I am omitting MW as a clan). The devs had big ambitions back then and there were a lot of things that were lost during the creation of the clan system (not that I blame them, they started with MANY ideas). Temasek started with a role-playing style of clan message and I was influenced heavily by it. I wanted something military oriented, so I created a back-story (which is still on our main clan page as a description) and then needed to make a name. The phoenix is one of my favorite mythical creatures, so I chose it as the name for the parent corporation which funded our military unit. I am Canadian so I gravitated towards the Royal Canadian Dragoons and chose my favorite number thirteen as the unit number. Thus the Phoenix Corporation 13th Dragoons were born.

3) In 1 word tell me your clan leadership style

Hmm… let’s go with something that has caused some controversy in the past:
Chivalrous

4) How do you think Dragoons stands up to the other clans in Battlestations

We really have a different approach to the game. I created the group with the intention of being honourable and sticking to fair play. Even before the devs put in incentives we were not sinking the less capable clans. I remember you and I had a converstion after a war about how we did not attack you until it was just Ping and the Dragoons left. So, the Dragoons have never been obsessed with clan points and sometimes our ranking suffers for it. However my members and I believe that we need to make an effort to allow everyone to play the game so we stick to our ideals. We also want to be a source of info for newer players so we take lower levels and mold them into players. Some might consider that an excuse, so to break it down, I think that we have a tough time with CREED and EVA and match up well with Kusanagi and VENGEANCE. Why do so many clans use capitals in their tags? Does it make them feel better about themselves?

5) What is your best pickup line at the bar or club?

I don’t use pickup lines but I’ll give you my favorite line from my roommate: “My doctor says I have an ear fetish… and you have nice tits.” He was promptly kicked in the balls by the girl.

6) Using Porter's 5 forces model, how would you apply it to Dragoons?

Wow, I am a mechanic, I was accepted to several universities for engineering, but changed my mind, so let’s just say that I am not into the whole marketing thing.
However I am reasonably intelligent and after some reading this is what I have come up with. I think it most applies to our membership. The “threat of substitute products” most closely represents clans with similar ideals. The Dragoons have a very distinct identity and I think that a player who shares the same ideals really doesn’t have an alternative to the Dragoons. If they want a Chivalrous and Honourable clan ideal, at least as far as it pertains to fairplay, or the player wants a good environment to learn in, then the Dragoons are the clan to go to.
“Threat of entry of new competitors”. As in the business world we cannot stop other clans from popping up. At one point I complained that there were too many clans, but I now believe that we just need to stick to our guns and keep our identity and we will get the right kind of people and continue to prosper.
“Intensity of rivalry” obviously is the great clan wars. We stack up well against most clans. Our clan points are not at the top but we are in good shape. As long as my members can still score clan points, yet play fair we will be competitive in the clan system.
We look to a certain type of person for the Dragoons so the “bargaining power of customers” is both high and low. On one hand we have a set of ideals that are set in stone and will not change but we still need to look at what people want. Our existing “customers” or members have a great say in clan decisions and I try my best to make sure that high and low level members can have fun.
Finally comes the “bargaining power of suppliers”. The great game Battle Stations supplies all of our members so there is only one supplier. The in game clan system revolves around war. So the Dragoons war to stay competitive and to please the large portion of our member base who join clans so that they can participate in the war system.
I’m sorry for the length of that answer but if you ask a complicated question you get a complicated answer.

*Arzhou - I love to ask indepth question and see how typical management tools are used in a gamer's settings*

7) Which is your favorite superbowl ad from Superbowl 42 (the most current)?

WHAT!!! There was a Superbowl? Seriously though, I watched the Superbowl with little interest. I expected the Patriots to win, so way to go Giants. In the end I didn’t watch the ads this year. I was too busy, probably playing BS and running the clan. Lol.

8) Do you prefer to be on TOP or BELOW? WHY?

I prefer the bottom. I’m kinda lazy and it gives the greatest view of the girl. I’m a visual kind of guy so the view is of paramount importance. I can’t have her doing all the work all the time so I’ll do the deed either way.

9) Would you rather SPIT or SWALLOW?

Swallowing is just easier. No leaving the room to spit in the sink or toilet. When I am finished I just want to swallow it down and have a nap. Plus it doesn’t taste that bad anyway. So there you go, bring on the gay jokes. Some people really need to be able to take a joke.

*Note to self - ask Chris about how it tastes like*

10) What would the theme song for your clan be?

I really like Hell March from Command and Conquer: Red Alert but it doesn’t exactly fit the Dragoons. Star Wars: Imperial March, lol, I should create an album. I’ll take some liberty here:
Hell March: C&C RA
Imperial March: Star Wars
Keep Hope Alive: Chrystal Method
Push the Tempo: Fat Boy Slim
Mindfields: Prodigy
Ready Steady Go: Paul Oakenfold
Calm Before the Storm: Darude
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Daft Funk
Hand in Hand: Dune
Posse: Scooter
Prepare: Neo Cortex
Hymn To Red October - Basil Poledouris (I love Russian Music)

But to finally get to the point:
Mission Fuga is by Angels origional by JS Bach
It’s the theme song from Area 88. Area 88 is a great anime and the comraderie between the military base members is similar to our own. All the members of the Dragoons have come to me from all over the world. I do not have a single friend from before Battle Stations in the clan but I would consider my members my friends now.

Thanks to Adrian Zhou and the Ping Pirates for honouring me with this interview. Thanks to the TYLER Team for such a great game. Thanks to all my members and my clan masters for making the Dragoons what they are today.