Author Topic: MA For Advanced Players (Read 999 times)

Skilless · « **on:** November 01, 2005, 12:25:40 AM »

This is something I've been thinking about for some time. A seperate arena for advanced players. No icons, no in-cockpit radar, no map, no magic supply lines, no side jumpers.

No icons.
This would force each country to use recognizable planes and skins. It would probably end up being Axis against Allies with traditional unit markings that are easily identifiable.

No in-cockpit radar.
This would force squads to have members take turns staying on the ground to be a "radar officer". He would relay by radio to the people in the air where the cons are in relationship to them.

No map.
This would create a whole new aspect to the game which is recon. When a new war is started, the map is completely blank except for friendy bases. As it is recon'd the area that has been flown over becomes visible on the map-but only if the sortie is landed. Perk it appropriately and add some historically accurate recon planes and this could be a fun addition.

No magic supply lines.
If a base is cut off, it should not be able to resupply except by C47 or GV or LVT. It should continue to deteriorate until it cannot defend itself and falls to the enemy.

No side jumpers.
With the recon aspect of this idea the best way to keep spying to a minimum would be to allow changing sides only at the start of a war. When you log on you would be greeted with a message stating a new war has started and which side would you like to be on. After you choose you have to stay there until the war is over.

Krusty · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2005, 12:42:39 AM »

No icons: That would never work in the MA... But with TOD you get strict sides (axis vs USAAF, for example) and could actually work!

What about a TOD option with no icons?

Karnak · « **Reply #2 on:** November 01, 2005, 12:48:39 AM »

So you want to play as a blind pilot being directed to the target by an incompetent air control officer?

Good intentions, poor execution.

Oleg · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2005, 02:11:15 AM »

MA without icons and with killshoter on will be fun

Have · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2005, 03:29:29 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Oleg
MA without icons and with killshoter on will be fun

We've flown few times with this kind of setup and rules with our squad in the SEA and CT when those arenas have been empty. It's really great fun and brings a whole new dimension to the gameplay.
Without icons it is really easy to lose sight of an enemy in an dogfight and a dive to low alt offers an realistic escape option even to the slower planes. But the best part is sneaking into someones 6 without detection

Skilless · « **Reply #5 on:** November 01, 2005, 08:42:10 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Karnak
So you want to play as a blind pilot being directed to the target by an incompetent air control officer?

Good intentions, poor execution.

The intention is to make an arena that is more realistic and tactically challenging. The execution is all up to you...

Karnak · « **Reply #6 on:** November 01, 2005, 10:15:41 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skilless
The intention is to make an arena that is more realistic and tactically challenging. The execution is all up to you...

No it isn't. AH lacts the tools and the 64,000x48,000 resolution monitors needed to make it realistic like you are thinking. What you are thinking of is artificial dificulty masquarading as "realism".

Your ground control officers, doing a boring job in game terms, would be providing the guys flyiong with much less information than the pilots in WWII were provided.

The guys flying would be flying as simulated people that needed coke bottle lenses, but had forgotten to take them.

What you would get:

Nobody would sit in the tower to be *****ed at for not providing enough information to generate an intercept after one or two tries.

People whould chase, and run from, little black dots.

There would be very little combat.

Have · « **Reply #7 on:** November 02, 2005, 12:52:18 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Karnak
People whould chase, and run from, little black dots.

There would be very little combat.

Last night we (our squad) flew again without icons in the DA. Few KoTHs and few team deathmatches with SpitV and 109F4 (total of 6 pilots). Fun factor was at least tenfold to what it is with icons. Just the chaos and fog of war is something completely different than what you can experience in MA and generally with icons.
The planes are completely reconizable within reasonable range (say below 600-800), atleast i had no problems with 1280 resolution and my computer is built from budget parts. With no icons you really have to look for those distinctive features of planes to see which is which and the plane skins that have camouflage pattern are really effective against ground. It takes a while to get used to but when you do, the old way is just so boring

I suggest that you guys give it a try, it really gets your adrenaline flowing like nothing else in this game

Karnak · « **Reply #8 on:** November 02, 2005, 02:00:55 AM »

What makes you think that 600-800 is a reasonable range?

600-800 is insanely short range compared to reality.

I agree that icons are overly revealing, but getting rid of them is worse. You had a whopping 6 guys who all wanted to fight. When you get mas numbers you get many who don't want to fight and just run from any contact. Result: La-7s with a smattering of Typhoons, Fw190D-9s, P-51Ds and Bf109G-10s (soon to be Bf109K-4s).

And I have tried it in an arena that was not custom for a few guys to fight in. It involved lots of dot chasing and nearly no combat.

Have · « **Reply #9 on:** November 02, 2005, 02:16:15 AM »

Yep, you're right. No icons would not work in an MA kind of environment where almost anykind of plane is available. But with a limited planeset, like in CT, it would be possible. Perhaps.

Anyways, in my opinion those iconless fights have always been the best and most intense. If you have the chance, i suggest that you give it a try with your friends.