Excellent points all mate. They used what they could quite nicely, but an isolated corner of each map dedicated to tanks would be great for the groundsmen, but can it be changed enough within the existing game to make it a true tank experience?
Without artillery and infantry, it's doubtful and at that point it simply becomes WWII Online lite.
Not isolation - but total integration.
WW2OL has a lot of problems. I don't know how it is coming up recently but according to its first few versions it was plagued by numerous systematical problems. However, when it was first announced it created a sizeable response from all the simulation enthusiasts because the concept they had was great. Ultimately, to a certain extent the ideal WW2OL held would probably become a destination for all games involving WW2 era combat.
I believe that any solution that involves creating a separate 'pocket zone' for 'fighters only' or 'tanks only' is like a surrender - it represents a failure for the developers to create a system which integrates the various parts of WW2 warfare into the game to create a full experience.
AH isn't a recreation of WW2, and HT hates people saying that AH attempts to do any thing of that sort. But regardless of what he hates or likes, the truth is we have WW2 planes with WW2 performances fighting with WW2 style tactics, against WW2-era ground defenses and airbases. Under these circumstances, it is only natural that the warring environment of the MA becomes more and more resembling WW2 conditions, not to mention the people expecting that more and more.
AH doesn't necessarily have to be like WW2OL. It just needs a more integrated ground warfare system that is designed to function more or less separately from the aerial warfare. What I mean by this is,
essentially Aces High Main Arena is like a ground battle being fought by pilots. Storming the fronts, attacking en masse like a mass of troops. Thinning out enemy defenses by attrition.. capturing individual air bases;; something like this is what ground forces are supposed to do, not planes and their pilots.
What if the MA terrains looked more like the real thing? Roads, bridges, many towns spread around, important cities being the collective point for supplies and transportation? Capturing individual fields directly would be impossible, but individual towns and cities may be attacked, so when a certain amount of territory is conquered the airfield that is attached with it is captured.
A part of the Combat Tour-ish AI mission planning system can be integrated into the MA system, with the system creating a ground assault mission every once in a while. Players are invited to participate, and the empty spots would be filled by AI. The GV assault is launched. The enemy will also launch their defenses - the response time and such being effected by how much destruction the planes have done against various terrain objects.. such as radar relay stations, railways, bridges, and etc etc..
The point is, the GV warfare doesn't have to be as detailed and player-consuming as WW2OL. All we need is a basic system of ground warfare that is logical. If the AI/system functions like described above, it could actually create a lot more stuff for even the plane pilots to play with.
