why do “you” choose mercs BEFORE the map loads? And why is it like 15 seconds to do it (after the maps been voted)? This is a BIG problem and I have no clue how anyone thought this was a good idea… it´s really stuped and only causes problems… Course, to know what mecs you want to change to in order to get a balanced game, you actually has to know what map you gonna play and that doesn’t happens until the vote is over, if you want to balance you mercs against the objektives and you other temmates mercs (witch is also almost impossible in 15 secs). This function is stupid and only results in a quit and rejoin the game if you are a hardcore gamer and want the “right” mercs for the map, But often, nothing happens and the game goes on with unbalanced mercs, witch resoults in unbalanced teams, witch is a disaster for the gameplay. The squad function is also really meaningless, again, for a balanced game you have to match your mercs with the rest of the teams mercs. This is also very hard to do in that short amount of time you have.
The way it works now only contributes to unbalanced teams, when you don’t have the time to switch to the mercs needed for the objective of the map and to match it up with the teams mercs.
So my suggestion is that you choose mercs AFTER the map is loaded and WITHOUT time pressure but before you join the game (like choosing classes in ET when you join), that’s common sense… this time pressure, only results that players joining games with the “wrong” mercs, an example: If you are playing chapel and are on the attack team and you realize that no one has chosen an engineer merc. Then you have to quit the game and do it all over again. Only hardcore players does this and often the game goes on with a team that has all the wrong mercs, this is a direct problem that courses unbalanced games. And it´s really, really stupid…