Ackstarring and Vulching

[iculus]

Here are some observations made while pulling C-47 duty...so, they are little biased

It seems that most whining happens when a field is on it's last legs.  The offense has numbers overhead, and the defense is desperately trying to get off the ground from this CAPed field.  

Vulching:

The defense will cry "vulching!" as the CAP swoops down and opens up at planes on the runway.  What else is the CAP going to do?  They're trying to clear the way for the C-47!  The defense really should take off from an unCAPed field, grab alt, and come in numbers.  Try and attack the bad guys over your helpless field from a position of advantage, instead of from a position of extreme disadvantage (like on the ground )  Although...I will admit, it was neat when Anakin hopped in the fighter and blasted the robots in the hanger in the Phantom Menace

Ackstarring:

Don't I've repeatedly seen people take off in a B-17, hop in the tail the second the wheels leave the ground, and open up on the troops that were just dropped. Ackstarring is silly, you can do much more defending in a fighter with energy.  

What do you guys think? Please comment!
(in a friendly manner)

IC

[popeye]

Anyone who takes off from a capped field deserves what he gets.  As you say, the best way to defend a field that is under heavy attack is to take off from a different field, and come in with altitude over the ATTACKERS' field.

On the other hand, a lot of people LIKE furballing over a capped field, which is just fine as long as they don't complain about being vultched.

Ackstars suck.  

popeye

[Phantom121]

I often defend a "capped" field to the bitter end.  I guess I get some perverse pleasure out of being killed(probably 80% of my deaths come from trying to take off from a capped field), but there is no thrill like getting off against extreme odds and downing 3 or 4 of the attackers even though they hold all the advantages (numbers, speed, alt).  But I do agree with your comments, DON'T squeak about it. If you don't like being vulched, don't takeoff from a base under heavy attack.  It is much more effective to come in with alt and speed from another base (just not as much fun).

[Wimp]

I'm 1 of those Dumb prettythang people who take off from a capped base.

I do it so they won't get the base..period.
I don't care how many times I die I refuse to give up a base I'm defending.

Take last night..I was defending 19(I think it was 19) and was vulched by Handy and 1 other pilot. They killed me about a dozen times but they didn't get the base so in my eyes I won. I didn't get pissed at them or yell at them for vulching because it was my own fault. Was fun....sorta.


By the way Salute Handy and the other pilot(sorry can't remember his name) for the best tag team vulch I've seen so far. You guys never gave me a chance to take off. I was lucky a c47 never came.

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Dewey
Wimp
Mighty1

Baby Harp Seals


[This message has been edited by Wimp (edited 01-07-2000).]

[robclark]

Remember that a capped field is just target rich for the deffenders.  
And i agree the feeling of scratching 3 cappeers is outstanding.  
RC

[dolomite]

The only thing to me that is of minor annoyance is watching 5 B17's roll from a CAP'd field. It bothers me not so much because it is effective (and to a point it is) but more because no pilot in real life would even think of such a trick (if only we could have gotten a few more B17's in the air at Pearl Harbor...  ). Just jars my suspension of disbelief!

Of course, most of 'em die ugly, but still...

[Minotaur]

Icculus,

The player launching from a "Capped" base gets what they deserve.  Many don't complain.  Ones that do complain, often do so by the use profuse insults and/or profanity.  

There is nothing too realistic about shooting the same player down 6 times as you cap a base for C-47 arrival.   Even more so, by vulching a B-17 that is launching for "Point Defense", to defend that same base.

IMO, there is something very disturbingly un-realistic about vulching B-17's at a capped base.  I often wish there were some base component, that could be destroyed to prevent this "Ackstar Shuffle".  

The "Ackstar Shuffle" makes the difficult task of base capture much harder, because B-17's can shoot in all directions.  They can devastate a C-47's "Drunk Drop".  

Under the definition of "Gaming the Game" this is one very good option for "Point Defense".  I find no fault in anyone doing it.  It certainly must be a alot of fun for the players who do the "Ackstar Shuffle", knowing they can frustrate their opponents so easily.

However, the "Ackstar Shuffle" seems to push me out of my own "Personal Game Immersion".  Instead of "Living the Game Experience", by being immersed in it.  I am at my desk, playing a game, and thinking to myself "GeeWhiz".  

Mino

[jarbo]

Until there is a posted "rules of ettiquette" by HiTech, I really think just about anything goes, with one exception.  If there is a known bug (i.e. ack chuting) and it is used to stop a field capture that is wrong. In my opinion that is cheating!

Thats my take!
Jarbo
of the Buccaneers

 

[wabbit]

I have no problems with being vuched on takeoff while defending a base. That's perfectly fair.
I do however have a problem with ackstarring B17s taking off and going to guns immediately.  This is CRAP! and totally unrealistic. I play for realism not for "Game" play. that's for kids.
The same thing goes for an attacker flying low over a base and using his guns to kill pilots taking off. In my opinion, this is as bad as the ackstarring B17.
However, if the attacking side uses low-flying B17 ackstars, then I don't have any problem with taking of in a B17 ackstar.
As long as the attackers never use ackstars, I won't take off in one. If they do, then I will, every time.  I will also never protect or support any ackstarring B17 from my side, unless their use has been justified by the other side's use of ackstars.

There, now I'll get off my soap box and go back to my small burrow :-)

wabbit

[Brethon]

Guys, don't forget, when the full game ships with charges, alot of the guys on now who just play to goof-off, (and some just to piss-off) will leave, they dont wanna pay $360 a year just so they can make a guy mad.  That's really the only downside to open-beta, you get a whole bunch of people who dont want to play properly.  So not all of it will go away when it ships, so what?  I take off (or try to  ) from CAPed feilds, I think it is a cool challenge, that's why I'm thankful for planes like the 205 which accelerate fast, and are nice and manouverable.  You don't have a big chance of living, but that just adds more incentive to survive take-off  

But Ackstarring....Well from my understanding, that's when OTTO is doing your gunning for you.  Besides, you can kill a 17 pretty easily before it gets airborne, and if not, so what, just stay clear of it.  S/he wants you to chase..dont, besides, they'll probably be in the tail or mid-upper positions, wont be looking ahead.  So you just make a nice HO pass aimed at a wing or the tail.  Ever try flying a 17 100ft off the ground with no stab?  You can't.  Just get a few hits and he's toast.

But I must agree about the whining.  I'm sure people have heard me do it, and thinking back, I don't know why I did--I'm not talking just about vulching.  It was my fault whenever I died, so I should've lived with it.  But you'll never see me whining again, I realised I'm above that level of maturity.

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"Do unto others....and get your head blown off." -Brethon

[eskimo]

Not that I ackstar, but I don't have a problem with it.  The B-17 has the by far worst kill ratio of all armed planes in AH (about 0.7).  It also has a pretty long take off roll, allowing quite a bit of time for it to be killed before it can defend itself.  It does take more rounds to kill a B-17, but it is also is a big fat easy to hit target (My squadmates love to vulch B-17's that attempt to take off from a field that is being capped by the Buccaneers).  A good hot and cold 2 ship (or more) cap generally will prevent any plane from becoming airborn.  Generally a B-17 is a poor choice to defend a field with.  If a cap allows a B-17 to take off, they probably would have allowed that pilot to take off in a fighter, which can also shoot troops and shoot down other fighters.
In short, don't complain about ackstars, just kill them.

I also agree with Jarbo, HT needs to post rules and etiquette about issues like this.

eskimo of the Buccaneers.

[pzvg]

(checks header of browser,shakes head)
Nope this ain't the Warbirds BB,
but still playing the same sad tune
(kicks jukebox fondly)
yeah dying for your field has a weird sorta coolness, s'longs ya don't whine.
And ackstarring is plain Dweeby.
But IMHO, it won't stop when AH goes pay,
(didn't in WB)
Still, fly,die,have fun
(and to those who remember moi, I'm Baaaaack)

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pzvg- "5 years and I still can't shoot"