Originally posted by Simaril
There may be more to the problem than just cyclic change, though, and as a realtively new member I may have a little insight into current forces.
Unlikely.
I found myself continually frustrated because the Rooks seemed to roll over everyone and my countrymen didn't seem to do the things obviously necessary to counter the Rook moves. Even as a newbie it seemed that too many bish just flew around like headless chickens. I'd meekly call out, "that looks like bombers inbound, shouldn't we intercept?" and nobody would do anything. If I tried to do it alone, I naturally fell to earth surrrounded by flaming aluminum (an end that occurs now only slightly less often, but that's beside the point).
There's a reason for the headless chicken act. Prior to AH2, when the number were 200:140:100, that meant serious trouble was on the way. It meant that either the 140 or 100 man country was about be rolled over by superior numbers.
It meant that you, as a new person, shouting that "hey, there are bombers inbound" had incorrectly priortized the available tasks and the wiser heads than you had to decided to attack another threat. Like all countries, there are only so many guys available who wish to play the 'strat game' and therefore, reduced numbers means a reduced number of guys who will respond to country threats. Each country has a certain fraction of guys who participate because they like 1) the strat game, 2) to furball, 3) vulch or whatever.
The true nastiness of superior numbers is that it permits all three behaviors as the front of the hoarde progresses. The process feeds on itself.
Now that AH2 is here, 200:140:100 means very little (so far as strat goes) *IF* the 200 man country has the SE corner of Ndisles or Mindanao. HTC has modified the strat to the extent that numbers don't always prevail (given the indicated positioning of the countries.) Of course, in AH1, number were far more important.
In short, I had more FUN as a rook. And, since it's my $15, don't expect me to have a less enjoyable experience just because you don't like the looks of the roster.
Since we are talking about chess pieces and not culture, it's safe to assume the above paragraph means one thing: You prefer to be with the country who has the largest numbers. You should remember the old adage "what goes around, comes around." The wheel will indeed turn and then I'll get to watch Simaril scurry to the side with the advantage and spout similar self-serving garbage as the post I just read about his new side.
It's been said many times, but a good part of the apparent imbalance is rganization rather than total mass. I've been ountnumbered as a rook in the mornings fairly frequently, but I haven't yet had the chutzpah to post the grid on the BBS.
Given the current strat model, very little happens in the morning that changes country base captures.
I now know what I couldnt see as a newly minted AH'er -- that there are many truly excellent pilots with the Bish and Nits. (And they all seem to find my icon strangely attracts their shells.) However, my experience with the swarm of less capable, less strategically minded, adn probably nonBBS posting Bish pilots drove me to leave that team.
If I'm here to talk about it, how many others silently have the same experience?
You simply lack the perspective that time provides. Prior to November 2002 (for about a year), Knights had superior numbers and yes, we were blessed with numerous postings such as yours about the quality of Knight strategy/skill/whatever. Prior to November 2001 (approximately), Bishops had superior numbers, and again, we got to listen to the same sort of crap from them.
I know because we were rotating among all three countries. We ended up Bishop semi-permanently simply because they had the smallest numbers.
There are no advantages to one country, all things equal. If you'll stick around for awhile, you will find that each country has a few characters that you enjoy gaming with. Gaming consists of doing whatever you enjoy (strat/furballing/whatever.)
It would be difficult for me to give up the pleasure of my bishop friends (and a relief to give up my bishop idiots - both groups have sizable numbers) if suddenly the the Rooks or Knights found themselves consistently and grossly outnumbered, but I would do it in a heartbeat to enhance the gaming experience. Been there, done it.
It is amusing to read posts like this. There's very little that can occur in Aces High that I haven't seen, but it's always interesting to watch folks justify their reasons for inappropriate behavior. Since you are a newcomer, I'll simply mark your reaction down to ignorance rather than anti-social behavior.
curly
