Well, the game I loved is dead and gone.

[Toad]

Originally posted by gofaster
 Still, I think any map where a fully-loaded Mustang on auto climb, straight in, is at 25k by the time it reaches an enemy base, means the map is too big and the bases too far away.

This bit of wisdom should be engraved on a brass plaque and given to HT at the next con.

Don't hate me HT, but Go nailed it here.

Originally posted by SKurj

Dunno how or if this ever can be resolved...  

Mebbe smaller servers... i have no clue

SKurj

I'd be ecstatic if one of the unused arenas was set up with a decent map, one of the better small ones perhaps, and the early beta "strat" system was installed. In short, I enjoyed the first year (beta) or so of AH "strat" far more than the present system. It promoted good fights and the landgrabbing was a minimized sideshow that merely helped generate fights instead of being the "goal" of the "gameplay".

Won't happen though, as I think HT still believes "splitting the community" is a bad thing.
 
With 500+ in an arena, I'd think we could afford to split a few off.

Just my .02.

[Oldman731]

Originally posted by Urchin
When I first started playing this game, the emphasis was on air to air combat.  

You just fail to grasp the beauty of strategerizing, Urchin.  How sad.  You are missing all the fun you could have by driving a halftrack around, or sailing a boat.  And do you get no rush from watching your forty comrades pulverize an enemy base?

Honestly.  Kids these days.  No appreciation of glory.

- oldman

[Tarmac]

I actually had a great night of finding fights on Pizza last weekend.  By fights, I mean 1v1 fights.  If you just make a conscious effort to avoid the hordes, and up where there's a small enemy darbar (or red dar dot) and no friendlies, you can get some good fights.  Although most of the time, I was probably upping to go bounce someone who wanted to pork a VH or a strat target.  After they died, they'd usually up again and come looking for me -- good fights there too, even though they were usually in lalas or spits when they came back.  

Just bring a lot of gas.

[Batz]

...but who was there to protect the Many against the Many? The mob became the tyrant...

[Blammo]

So, it is no longer a dueling game.  So, there are no longer P-47 squadrons.  So people run.  I don't get the great disappointment.

Everyone is here for there own reasons.  Everyone that is here is ponying up the 15 bucks a month to play.  I guess, if someone wants to pay to play then they get to decide how they play.  However, hitech can't control how people decide to spend their time while playing the game.

There are things I don't like as well.

Getting ganged
Boom n zoom ponies
Running LA-7s
Kill-shooter
Small maps
etc.

But I still play for those golden moments when it all comes together.

I still find fights with 1 v 1, 1 v 2, 2 v 1 or 2 v 2.  However, you can't find those by going to where the action is.  You have to hang on the fringes or along the routes between bases.  It doesn't take that long, though.  If I am anywhere except deep in the rear of friendly territory I can usually find a bandit out there.  Lone ones?  Well, "fly alone, die alone" so I am not surprised I don't find them all the time.  But they are there.

You seem to be looking for some sort of chivalric scenario where two opponents face each other on their trusted steed.  That's neat, but you are correct, that is not AH.  At least, that is not AH in the MA.  But that also wasn't the way WW2 was, so I deal with it.

Still, people fly what they fly or what the mission they are in calls for.  They fly what they are comfortable with and can use effectively.  Occassionally, they fly something new or different (I do).  But you can't fault them because they fly what is popular, what works or whatever the situation calls for.

It isn't the machine, it's the man.  Put me in Superman's costume and I am still just plane old me.  Sure, some planes perform better that others.  But if I guy (or gal) doesn't know how to use is, it won't help.  There are no uber planes, just different planes.  I get shot down by LA-7s and I get shot done by F4Fs.  Vastly different planes, but they still do the job. It's the man (or woman), no matter how you look at it, and it is the man or both ends of the equation to (attack and defender).

I think your problem is with the people in AH, and not AH itself.  People don't play the way you think they should and so you are getting upset and taking your toys home.  I really can't sympathize with that.  But, that is your right and if you are looking for something other than what is being offerred here, I wish you luck.

Please don't take this as a flame, it isn't intended that way.  Just observations and opinions

[Steve]

Pizza map Sux. This map above all others caters to the building battlers and steamrollers.  Every time I log in I feel a twinge of embarrassment and disappointment to see all three sides have their steamroller in gear at 3 different points on the map. It's frustrating yet at once amusing when a couple or 3 planes stem the tide of the steamroller only to see it pop up somehwere else where there is no resistance.  It's why I love the small maps, there is nowhere for these timid people to hide from me.

[Blammo]

Originally posted by gofaster
Still, I think any map where a fully-loaded Mustang on auto climb, straight in, is at 25k by the time it reaches an enemy base, means the map is too big and the bases too far away.

Problem is, with 500 + people online, if you have a map with bases close to each other, you end up with nothing but front line furballing.  This might give some people kicks, but not me...at least, not all the time.

I personally think I 1 sector range from one field to the next is reasonable.  I don't know if I have ever seen any baes farther apart that one sector.  Maybe there are, but I don't remember seeing them.

I just hate with a passion the small maps.  Control of the reset very quickly falls into the hands of the side with the greatest numbers on at the time the map comes up.  It is nothing but steam-rolling and furballing.  No tactis at all, just: up-kill-die.  They get reset in a day or two.  And 40 to 50 people furballing over a stinking small field in a stinking small map.

Now, it might be good to make one or two low capacity areana, but leave the MA.  Make the low capacity aren have a max capacity of, say 150 to 200.  Let all the small maps cycle in there.  Low capacity also means low requirements so it wouldn't cost HTC as much to build/maintain.  It is unlikely they will do it, but it might be a neat idea.  Unfortunately, I think most people will still gravitate to the MA.

Oh well....

[kj714]

hmmm, well I wasn't around in the good old days. I used to spend this time in the garage working on the toys, but since I got hooked, now everything's falling apart.

But back to the subject at hand.

Yep hordes rule on the big maps. I still find enough fights to make me happy though.

I don't really dig the big missions, everyone fighting for the same scraps.

I still manage to find good fights on the big maps, I just have to look a little harder.

The small maps are much better for the 1v1 and in-duh-vidual stuff. I think as long as the maps are rotated with some thought to this subject, everybody should be reasonably satisfied.

I'd say my favorite map for 1v1 is the Mickey Mouse one, can't remember the name.

[lasersailor184]

No one ever said you have to fight on the front line...


Many fighters on the front line?  Fine, go around!

It worked on the french... twice...

[bozon]

I know how you feel Urchin.
I too liked it when you knew a lot of the people flying here and having the dedicated squadrons added a lot of character. I was seriously disappointed to hear that the 56th FG disbanded.

I left the game for 4 months and returned this tour, just because AHII is becoming playable.
CT can be fun sometimes, when there's enough people and a plane set I like. The MA is a mess - just a place too pass the time till the great hope of AHII.

Perhaps now, that there are more then 500 players at times, and AHI is about to end, is the right time to try an early-mid war areana. MA is best with the small maps and no more then 200 people.

Bozon

[Mini D]

The good fights are still there, they're just obscured by the mountains of dweebery completely surrounding them.

I've had a few fights with Urchin.  All of them were pretty fun.  He get's down low and fights regardless of what he's flying.  He definately improved from the flappy flying he used when he first showed up (classic LW pitfall).  There just have never been many people that fight that way.  Now, when there's even more people on, you can barely find them at all.

There's fun to be had, but the really good fights are just hard to find these days.

MiniD

[gofaster]

Maybe Air Warrior had it right all along - make some bases captureable, but not all of them.  That way, somebody always has a shot to enter a dogfight somewhere.

Maybe its time to create a 4th country and make it completely neutral.

[Hooligan]

Urchin:

The situation is a lot worse when the "Pizza Sucks" (TM) map is up, as it has been for the last few horrible days.  You are much more likely to find decent fights when the smaller maps are up and particularly when the evil-fester maps are up.  Message me online sometime when one of the good maps is up and we can get in some good furballs together, either as friends or enemies .

Hooligan

[humble]

When I first started playing this game, the emphasis was on air to air combat. New players died, learned how to fight, then fought and won (or lost, what matters is they fought). Yes, you had a few extra-timid people that typically bore n zoomed, but it wasn't very many. As time went by, and the population increased, the average "skill" of the arena went down. As time continues to pass, the problem (as I see it), continues to get much worse.

You hit nail on the head Urchin...the overall skill level within the game has diminished tremendously overall...obviously there are still some truely outstanding sticks...but not 1 of the "top 100" even bother with this garbage anymore...all of em have signed up at one time or another and quietly gone there own way....

The "game" I fell in love with 10 years ago simply doesn't exist anymore. It's reaching a point the $150/hr (cost of my time) simply doesnt wash anymore...almost rather go make money then goof off...sigh...

[Chortle]

It seems there is a choice of sorts. You can either have this -



where you watch the guy 'extend' through 3 sectors in a big U turn so he can rejoin the horde vulching the base he just dropped his ord on, or you can have this -



where the P51 and 190 call for reinforcements when the A20 wont stay still for them.

I really cant see this pattern changing, as this is 'flying smart' or 'my bad SA' or 'do you want some cheese with that whine' when I vent on chan 1, people genuinely
think this is fun I guess.

Shame the 2nd pic hasn't got a spit in it as then it would be a perfect snap shot of crappiness.