Originally posted by Wotan
I don't care what your reasons are. The fact is HT implemented this to force you to decide between you ride loyalty and/or side loyalty. He did it for a reason, to balance the numbers which is something a good number of folks in this community have called for over the years. If folks can't take it upon themselves to balance the arena then it forces HT to act.
HT did this to encourage folks to switch sides and balance the numbers. The fact some of you are so set against just high lights the problem of how ridiculous side loyalty is. Most of the ones complaining are rooks. It just happens they usually enjoy close to a 100 person advantage over the other 2 sides. If the situation were reversed you and your squad wouldn’t have zip to say about it. When rooks were down folks switched sides on their own. That’s not happening now.
We act as if this a new debate. This same debate took place in Air Warrior and that was how many years ago?
This and the debate about field capture, auger dweebs, etc. The two longest running debates.
In AW originally sides were limited by a numbers cap.... because an arena could only hold so many flyers. So at times folks couldn't fly in the country they wanted.
Also when a new account joined Air Warrior it used to default to Cz I think. So people postulated that caused lopsided numbers.
Different countries had their time when they were on top for months on end and then things just kind of shifted. Some squads, most notably IAF used to change countries each new camp. (The MOL do something similar now in AH). And of course there were always stateless beings that flew wherever they felt would even the numbers.
My point in this senseless ramble about AW is that no one corporately took any action to "fix" the problem. Folks just rolled with it.
The design of AH is what makes the numbers game have a bigger impact. Design a game where the winning country reaps perkies.. you built in the problem right there. But still how long has AH been going and the numbers issue while decried, has always existed. Certainly recent history would have the Rooks with more numbers... but think back 18 months... or more... and Rooks were the doormat and Bish were the most numerous. It just is kind of cyclic.
So suddenly this must be fixed because the drop in flyers is because of numbers imbalance? Of course I don't have HT's access to data, however, I would suggest the drop in numbers is more closely linked to AH2 and designing a game whose system requirements exceed the systems that a significant number of customers owned. I have a list of my squadmates that just couldn't drop the money to upgrade to stay in the game. Not to say they won't in the future but at the drop of a hat, it wasn't possible. It was HT's marketing decision, he made it, he lives with it. But I don't think the issue needs to be disquised as a numbers problem.
That is my opinion on the issue....
My opinion on your comments. Why do you use terms like rediculous? Why do you feel the need to denigrate another person's opinion? I don't think he is being unreasonable to state his case why he doesn't want to see a plane limit. He stated why he feels that way and stated why he wants to remain in one country. Your observation that HT has decided upon a course of action is spot on... but the rest of it?
If folks can't take it upon themselves to balance the arena then it forces HT to act. HT is forced to do nothing. If he was he would fix the bogus Strat problems etc. on the maps. HT has made a decision ( I believe, but HT can speak for himself) to adjust the design of the game, because the current design lends itself to a development of game play which he believes is undesirable based upon customer comments. If the change is well received then things get better.... if the changes are not well received, perhaps he loses more paying customers. His product, he can market it how he likes. But I certainly think his customers have every right to explain how they feel (on either side of the issue) and shouldn't be told their position is rediculous... or actually be told it is their fault that a game design problem exists.
Finally, the three country design was designed to take into account imbalances. It allows the two weaker countries to adjust their effort as required to balance against the strongest. If that isn't happening, shame on the two weaker countries... at any point. People can read the roster and see who has what numbers when and adjust accordingly. (happened in AW all the time) I personally don't think limiting plane selection is the answer. We already allow cheaper perk rides for the countries with fewer flyers. What is next? Only 50% gas for the largest country?
So my bottom line. I fly one country.... did in AW... here in AH... I fly it when it is the doormat... I fly when it has the numbers. Take the ups and downs.
Now if you would like to debate pork and auger dweebs... I would be more than willing to expound about how I feel every ride ought to be perked or a personal limit placed on the number of each type of airplane one can lose in a 24 hour period. But we need to start another thread for that one.
