Thankyou all for your responses!  They indeed have been most helpful

So Zyth, you have more fun without droids,gadgets and the extra spawn point? Specifically because they are not there?

And I only said that you could just make one and lock it for the hardcore lone wolfers that MUST be by themselves. I didn't say everyone would do it.

WIth a regular kit you have access to Everything when you are not in a squad.   When you join a squad of less then 3 people you are denied your droid.

Forcing someone into a one man squad and taking away their droid is just stupid.   

The droids not working in 1-2 man squads also leads to problems making a squad sometimes, as players don't want to risk not having a large enough squad to get their stuff, so they don't join.

And on Forcing officer kits, also an amazingly bad Idea.    Im a good squad leader, put beacons up and when one is not up, stay alive long enough for my squad to get a few spawns in on me.   However im also really good at killing.   Keeping me in an officer kit would hurt the team alot more then it would help it

On joining a server you are automatically assigned a squad by default.

Those that wish  to leave may do so without penalty.

this way everyones in a squa when they join, so teamwork is set to default, and lone wolfing become a choice, not the other way around imo.

It's better to play in a squad, but forcing it will hurt the mod and put new players off, a reminder script should do the trick and commander hurling yellow abuse every few seconds. try also inviting people. Some won't join squads becuase they think it's just for clans or people taht play together often. It's also off putting when people kick you because you did something or had the wrong kit.

So how about a reminder script ?
Parts of the kick script could be used to send squad less players a message tell 'em:
"Join a squad to..."
"...get access of your full equipment"
"...spawn by your Squad leader at the frontline"
...

About forcing the officer Class:
I like the officer class. But after i set up the Spawn beacon and the Heavy Blaster, i tend to respawn the next time as Assault, Medic and support my Squad in the assault or as Support or Heavy to secure the spawn beacon with mines, ammunition or a shield.

IMHO it's the benefit of the Spawn beacon what you can fight as Squad leader after it's deployment and must not hide you.
Forcing the Squad leader to stay away from the fight and hide because he has only a pistol would IMHO embrace more players than a kick script for squad less people.

(One of the things i dislike in Forgotten Hope 2 is what you must hide as Squad leader... it's one of the reasons i don't play this mod.)

I don't think there is really any point to this thread continuing. I'm positive we'll not be moving forward with this Forcing Squads idea, the negative feedback is pretty conclusive.

I stand by my opinion that forcibly kicking someone from a map for doing nothing wrong is phucking retarded.

And I only said that you could just make one and lock it for the hardcore lone wolfers that MUST be by themselves. I didn't say everyone would do it.

I agree with Talon, Canadians, and Zyth, in that players SHOULD NOT be forced into squads. You can make them join, but you can't make them listen. And we don't need people leaving cause they don't like being in a squad. Noobs are better then no one. But I do agree we need to focus toward a teamwork orientated audience. Since this is a star wars mod, a majority of the people are just going to want to play around in the SW Universe and be a Jedi. Those ind of people wont really understand this mod. Bottom line, no forcing playing into squads.

And yes, pistols are truly awesome, I use them more then my main weapon. I like putting E-Webs everywhere too.

You can easily make your own squad and lock it. It would not be forcing you to play a certain way, you wouldn't be forced to listen to your squad leader... You could even make a lone wolf squad.

This makes a lot of sense.  Make a squad only to lock it.  Why force squads in the first place?

I like how you assume to know, better than I, what I can and cannot enjoy.  You'd be wrong of course.  This is a game, a very good one, that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.  I play in squads and I play out of them.  I like having the choice.

Playing FS as a lone wolf only hurts yourself and your team. You can't possibly have less fun in a squad than out of one.

Brute-forcing teamwork like this is a horrible idea.  The mod is already set up to encourage (heavily encourage) teamwork, and most people fall in with the squad idea.

I'm in agreement with Canadiens about this and I'm glad he's so focused about the issue.  In all honesty, reading this thread almost had me seeing red with steam coming out of my ears. 

Why is it that you have to force anyone to do anything in a GAME?  Force people into squads?  Auto-kick after a certain amount of time squadless?  B.S.

I play this game to have fun.  Sometimes I'm in the mood for the great teamwork of a squad.  Sometimes, after a long day of work, I only want to worry about myself and go the lone-wolf route.  You start putting restrictions on how I can play and its going to really turn me off.

Joining a squad just for the sake of joining doesn't work for me.  Then I have to make myself useful(i.e., be burdened when I'm not in the mood).  I can't play in a squad any other way and I'm sure my squadmates wouldn't appreciate me going off and doing my own thing. 

I don't see why someone in a squad should earn more points either.  The game, as stated numerous times, is built to encourage teamwork.  This is just another contrived way to get people to squad up.  If people want to, they will.

Brute-forcing teamwork like this is a horrible idea.  The mod is already set up to encourage (heavily encourage) teamwork, and most people fall in with the squad idea.

Give a softer bonus, such as what was mentioned before:  give players a points bonus for playing in a squad for X number of minutes in a round.

My feelings exactly.  When I played 2142 I never played on servers that would kick me for not being in a squad.  I can't stand that crap.   This entire thread has me seeing red.

Give a softer bonus, such as what was mentioned before:  give players a points bonus for playing in a squad for X number of minutes in a round.