This first post is mostly going to be directed at players below 250k in power rating. The second post will be able how to make a decision on which troop might be good for you, considering practicalities and personalities. (The very experienced will have already found a troop they love, or know how to find one when they want to.)
At the start of playing BC, you'll be encouraged to join a troop, and a troop search function will become available for you to scroll through and select a troop. The reasons why players choose their first troop is extremely variable and often random. However, the reasons why players leave their first troop tends to be consistent: other players are less active than you; the troop may not talk to each other; admins may not be starting events or raids; your power rating becomes much higher than the other players; or you're looking for the next stage in the game. It's these players that I'm aiming my post at: you've already tried one (or more troops) and it didn't work out for you, and now you'd like to find a better fit for yourself.
How to find a troop?
There are three main ways to find yourself a new troop and they'll be discussed here in turn: running a troop search; asking a player/troop in game directly; being directly invited to join a troop; or posting/looking on various facebook groups for a troop. Once you've found a troop you can either join directly, or if that troop has placed limitations you can place a request to join. (It's usually best to send a private message to an admin if you do this so that they know that you're genuinely interested in joining them).
Troop Search
To run a troop search, you'll need to quit your current troop. Be aware that you can only leave one troop during an event, and will be stuck in the next troop you join until all event prizes are distributed. (Open your troop screen and click the setting button at the top right of the screen - it looks like a gear. Then click the "quit troop" button. It's harder to find if you're an admin - click the settings button and then "edit troop" and then the "quit troop" button will appear next to the "done editing" button).
Open your troop screen and click the gear shaped button in the top right corner of the screen to open Settings. If you're not an admin, you'll see a "Quit Troop" button listed on the pop-up. If you are an admin, click "Edit Troop", scroll to the bottom of your troop description and click the "Quit Troop" button there.
When you're not in a troop, the troop flag button is blank and when clicked will open up a troop finding opportunity.
Click where this used to be and the troop search will open up. From here you can either search for a troop name that you know of (make sure to have all the correct capitalization and any symbols they use), or you can browse through the list of available troops. Click on a listed troop to have a look at their troop description and the players in the troop to see if it's a good fit for you. Note that a troop can only have 25 players, and troops that are full won't be able to be clicked on in this list for more information.
Clicking on the Troop button will bring up the screen on the left. From here you can start your own troop, click on the search bar to search for a specific troop (as per the right screen shot), or scroll through available troops.
The advantage to this method is that you can search through a lot of troops quickly. The disadvantage is that it can feel overwhelming to find and pick the right one for you. (See post 2 on finding a good troop to fit you)
Asking a troop/player in game
Access to each map area in the game is granted as you move along the storyline in the game, until you reach the final Lost Temple area. This means that the players that you see around you in each map area are either close to your progress, or beyond your progress but returning to that area for a different reason. Clicking on a player in the map will bring you up information about that player, and you'll be able to see the troop they're in as well as their Ranger badge indicating where they're up to in the game. Click on their troop flag and you'll be able to read the troop description and look at their player list.
The advantage to this method is that a good troop fit is one that's at a similar place to where you are in the game (especially if you're still opening map areas through the storyline), and searching in this manner may help you find one. The disadvantage is that it's likely to be entirely random who you come across in the game!
Check your troop invites
Just as you can look for a troop by clicking on players in your map area as you play, those players can also do the same to your avatar. If they like what they see, and they're an admin in their troop, you may find that you receive a troop invitation.
These can be found by looking in your notifications in the game. Click on "Social", then "News Feed", then choose the "Requests" tab. At the top of this page will be Troop Request, if you currently have any waiting for you. Clicking on a troop request will bring up their troop description, and you can also look at their Ranger list to see more information about the players (power rating, last online, etc). If you like the sound of any of these troops, you can click to "accept invite" if they have room (and after you've left your current troop). If you'd prefer to turn down the opportunity to join them, you can click decline. You're also able to click on the back "<" button in the top left corner and leave the request waiting for a later time.
Clicking on any troop request will bring up their troop description and ranger tab (right).
Posts on Facebook
The largest group you can post to for finding a troop is the official game group "Battle Camp Global", however there are others like "Battle Camp Troop Recruitment" as well that are run by players themselves.
Official BC groups and player run groups are available on Facebook to help you to connect with other players in your search for a troop.
You can find posts from troops who are looking for new players, and also make a post about yourself and what you're looking for. It's best to include pertinent information about yourself: your in game name (so players can look up your event history on bcrank.us), your power rating, your timezone and the team you play with (plus any event teams/monsters you may have).
The advantage to this method is that you'll be connected to a player/troop who is active on facebook and likely to know all of the recent announcements and knowledge about the game. The disadvantage is that you may be turned down from troops you'd like to join, and unfortunately sometimes you'll face what feels like criticism about your team/progress from players who are (hopefully!) only trying to help you become stronger.
What to look for in a Troop?
There are many considerations to take into account when choosing a troop, such as:
- which language is spoken?
- which timezone are they in?
- how active are they?
- do they play all events?
- how successful are they?
- how strong are the players?
- what is their focus?
- are there requirements to join?
- are their rules to meet so you're not kicked?
- will you enjoy playing with them?
These topics will be considered in the second post that will be coming soon!
