Perk Idea – Usage Based + Attack or Fighter

[Midnight]

The current static perk model does little to add variation to the plane types we see in the MA. End of tour usage stats frequently show the same planes in the top ten kill percentage tour after tour.

There have been several perk discussions about why certain planes should be perked at certain values based on the overall performance of the aircraft. What I don’t think has been suggested is to make the perk values based not only on usage, but also on the roll (fighter or attack) that the aircraft will be used in for the sortie.

So, this perk suggestion has two parts. One to make perk values based on usage, but also to add a second perk value to the planes which will be tied to the roll choice.

Example 1 Current Perk Value
La7: Fighter = 3 perks, Attack = 1 perks
P-47D-40: Fighter = 0 perks, Attack = 2 perks
P-51D: Fighter = 2 perks, Attack = 2 perks

Perk points are then awarded normally for targets that are scored for the particular roll that the player chose and scored at one half for targets that are scored outside of the roll.

Example 2
If a player took off in an La7 under the fighter roll, it would cost 3 perk points. Shooting down other aircraft would earn perks at the normal rate based on ENY. Killing ground targets and GVs would earn perks at half the normal rate.

To add a dynamic factor on the perk values, and in an effort to promote more diversity in the plane set, why not calculate the perk value for a plane based on its rolling average usage from previous tours?

First, give all planes a base perk value.
1.   Early War (Pre 1942 models) 0 perks
2.   Early War (1942 models) 1 perks
3.   Mid-War (1943 models) 2 perks
4.   Mid-War (1944 models) 3 perks
5.   Late-War (1945 models) 4 perks

Certain planes, such as the Me-262, Me-163, Tempest would need higher base values.

At the end of the tour, the kill percentages from all planes would be calculated in both fighter and attack roles, and then their perk values for each roll would be updated. For each percent above 1 (rounded to the nearest whole number) the perk value is increased by 1 perk point from the base perk value. If the percentage is less than 0.5%, then the perk value is decreased by 1 point.

Example 3
La7: Fighter kills = 5%, Attack kills = 0.25%
P-47D-40: Fighter kills = 1%, Attack kills = 2%
P-51D: Fighter kills = 2.6%, Attack kills = 1%

Starting the next tour, the perk values would be adjusted to new values (using initial values from Example 1)

Example 4 New Perk Value
La7: Fighter = 7 perks, Attack = 0 perks (+4 perks in fighter, -1 perk in attack)
P-47D-40: Fighter = 0 perks, Attack = 3 perks (UNC in fighter, +1 in attack)
P-51D: Fighter = 4 perks, Attack = 2 perks (+3 in fighter, UNC in attack)
As each tour is completed, the perk values are updated again, following the same examples. Initially, it could be expected that the perk values would fluctuate, but eventually, the usage of most types of planes would balance out, as some planes become too expensive and others are used in their place.

[Geary420]

Interesting idea, but in attack mode air kills count the as well as ground, so there is nothing stopping someone from upping an la7 or anyother plane as attack and using it as a fighter.  Even if it was required to load ord for attack mode all they would do is pickle them off on the runway.

[Midnight]

Originally posted by Geary420
Interesting idea, but in attack mode air kills count the as well as ground, so there is nothing stopping someone from upping an la7 or anyother plane as attack and using it as a fighter.  Even if it was required to load ord for attack mode all they would do is pickle them off on the runway.

Yes, but if too many do that, then the attack kills % for that plane will be higher, causing the perk value to rise on the next tour. So eventually, it evens itself out again.

[Tilt]

I think I read the maths such as if the La7 continued to earn 5% of tour kills then it would continue to acrue perkage penalties.

ie 7 then 12 then 17 etc etc.

Effectively you propose to perk everything that is popular until the kill share is in total balance. when perked into unpopularity (less than 0.5%) perk values will slowly float down.

If this is so self balancing I do not see the need to introduce "starter perks" based upon year of use the same end will occur with or without them.

Further the attempt to differentiate between fighter and attack roles creates a loop hole for abuse even if it is eventually self balancing. It will also mean that poor attack ac (ac not really designed for attack) become the preferred attack ride.

Indeed you could even end up with dog fighting Il2's as the only cannon based ride that is free to fly.


I assume that the object is to achieve a greater mix of ac in the arena.

The problem may become the exponential dynamic................. as the reduced numbers flying uber ac may now still be farming a high kill % because the bulk of their opponents are flying much less capable (0 perk) ac.

This would then force the dynamic away from balance into a peculiar miss balance where the rare La7 "unfairly" makes hay across a group of  Spit 1's or some other typical example of the same vien.


I wonder what is so attractive about a greater mix of ac beyond the one we have now?  or is it a wish to promote a game play consisting of more mediocre aircraft?

[Urchin]

It is attractive because one of the bigger causes of burnout is seeing the exact same planes month after month after month, etc.  

At least it was for me, and I can only assume I'm not unique.

[BigGun]

Sounds complicated. I don't see reason to try fix something that isn't broken. Of course, i haven't been flying much lately so haven't seen to many la7s. Did up few hours in Dec, was amazed at amount of spit16s.

My view is little less complex i guess. I just up what I want & like to fly, perk or no perk, and really don't care what other guy is flying. Just try to figure out how to adapt the plane I am flying to what the other guy is flying on a case by case basis. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[Tilt]

Originally posted by Urchin
It is attractive because one of the bigger causes of burnout is seeing the exact same planes month after month after month, etc.  

If that is the case then any solution will just introduce a similar stasis with a different mix to now but one that remains the same month after month................

to vary the mix you would have to add a dynamic either by fluctuting the above rules in someway to prevent "a settling" of the perk price or by inflicting a rolling set....................

I think the first would create chaos and the 2nd just does not seem popular when used or attempted elsewhere......

[Midnight]

The idea is to just spread out the plane set usage a little more. For some, the perk price won't matter all that much, like for me, I will still fly the P-51D as long as I can afford to fly it (if it were perked). But some of the people may just move on to the next un-perked plane either because they have no perks to spend, or they don't want to spend them.

I don't think this would really ever balance accross the entire set, but we may at least see fluctuations in what aircraft are the top killers each month, which may, also add in a little difference in how the overall fight looks throughout the MA.

[bozon]

Diversity doesn't bother me much. What does bother me is that I'd like to fly P40s or c202 or hurri1 or 109E and actualy fight someone. In the current areana the only way to do it is to climb high and dive on someone with poor SA in order to catch him. The rest of the time you have to dodge planes 50+ mph faster than you who BNZ you and will not stick for the fight since they can't turn with you. 109K4 and Hurri1 are too different beasts not ment to fight each other.

The AH planeset is too diverse. Perks will not solve the problem as they'll hurt the late war crowd. Planes need to fight planes of about their own era. Then no perks are needed.

Bozon

[Sandman]

Originally posted by bozon


The AH planeset is too diverse. Perks will not solve the problem as they'll hurt the late war crowd. Planes need to fight planes of about their own era. Then no perks are needed.

Bozon

In other words... Rolling Plane Set.

[Urchin]

Originally posted by Tilt
If that is the case then any solution will just introduce a similar stasis with a different mix to now but one that remains the same month after month................

to vary the mix you would have to add a dynamic either by fluctuting the above rules in someway to prevent "a settling" of the perk price or by inflicting a rolling set....................

I think the first would create chaos and the 2nd just does not seem popular when used or attempted elsewhere......

Which is why I expect that there will not be any significant changes in the "perk plane" set.  I would actually like to see everything but the jets unperked, in my opinion the performance gap between the current 1st tier (Spit 16, La-7, P-51) and the perk planes (Ta-152, F4U-4, -1C, Spit 14, Tempest) is smaller than the performance gap between the first tier planes and the best of the rest of the free planes.  I think that would do more to "improve diversity" in the MA than trying to perk the current top tier planes.

However, I don't really think any change is going to happen, because lets face it, the current system isn't really "broken".