Originally posted by Kweassa
... sometimes, they will survive an engagement they should have died in, due to the sheer speed of their planes. This as a direct result motivate them to fly exclusively those fast planes, instead of try to get better in overall flying skill so they don't die always and instantly.
Wrong. This result does motivate them to fly fast uber planes, but it doesn't mean that they don't get better and don't get more skilled. Where you can get more skills: in 10 seconds fight or in 1 minute fight? If La-7 gives them few additional seconds of fighting experience it is enough to leave La-7 unperked.
Many, many MMOGs take on the form of "practice to get better, get better to collect money, collect money to buy better weapons" type of gameplay. In fact, in this perspective AH is a rare exception rather than the norm.
The main difference between AH and other games is the length of learning curve. It takes couple of days to become average and few weeks to become the best in Quake. After more than half a year of everyday flying I am still suprised if I landed. So, the norm you are talking about is unacceptable for AH.
Low price you suggest will not affect set of planes average player is flying now. Even average pilot has enough perks to do not worry about 1-2 perks. But even low perk cost will lead to much more timid flying, this is human mentality. Yes, 2 weeks newbies will not fly La-7 and P-51, they will instantly die in Hurri. And will give up and quit after couple of days. But the majority of average players will fly the same La-7 and P51 but they will fly them high and in hordes and run away in sight of any danger.
Ok, let be honest. I don't understand this whine about lalas (I don't mean you, I am talking in general).
1. I rarely see La-7 running, almost always La-7s fight regardless of how good or bad their pilots. P51 and 190s run almost always. If La-7 is so uber plane that even newbies feel confident and don't fear to jump into furball what else do you need? Perk cost for the most of the late-war planes just drops the number of good fights.
2. Now we can find nonperked planes in all categories for every type of fight: TnB planes, BnZ planes, fast planes, cannon planes, low alt and high alt planes, etc. Perk one of the categories and you will defenitely change this game. For example, if you will perk La-7 I predict the great increase of low alt bombing sorties.
3. The majority of the new players don't fly uber late-war planes. They fly everything, they just want to try all toys they got. The problem with La-7 is that this toy is more dangerous even in hands of complete idiot.
4. La-7 is not easy plane to fly, it is unforgiving on low speeds, has terrible cannons, has low range, etc. I, for example, first couple of days in AH flew everything, next two months flew Spit9, and the next was 190D. So, I am sure that the number of newbies flying La-7 is overestimated. Yes, average pilot with some skills and experience will prefer La-7. It gives him some confidence, allows to improve his score, etc. But after some time he will switch to another plane anyway because it is just boring to fly only one type of missions - base defence.
