is side equalization working?

[Dastrdly]

A few months back when I was flying with the Rooks there were times when the restrictions on planes was no lower value than 29. Since I have become a Knight there are times (usually most) we are out numbered, this especially occurs in the late hours when overall numbers are low. Yet, it seems that we are still flying against large numbers of spit XVI's, LA's, etc. Ive heard a few different explanations for this. What is the proper explanation? How does it work? Does it work? Can it be adjusted, if so should it be set differently? How are the rest of the Knights finding the situation? Any feed back will be appreciated.

[SuperDud]

A horde of early model P47's are just as deadly as a horde of La7's. It's the horde mentality, not the planes. If you are in a 7vs1 it don't matter much what they are flying.

What I said may not answer your questions. But from my perspective, those questions are unimportant when you are getting steam rolled.

Oh... and welcome to the boards. Be sure to purchase a flak vest:D

[Kev367th]

Works like this, simply put -

Once the total number of players in the MA exceeds 200, it starts looking at the individual country numbers.

When a large enough disparity exists ENY limits start kicking in.

At present it seems to be around 50-60 more players than the lowest for it to start working.

It used to start with less of a difference and kick in less harsh than it does now. But enough complaints got HT to change it to the current "more of a difference and kicks in harder".

I only think one change is maybe needed -
ENY limits up to 5 are pointless, why not just make any number less than 5 equal 5.

[Stang]

I think it worked well when HT implemented it.  You rarely see ENY kick in now that he went soft on it though...  People would rather whine and moan about ENY than be a "traitor" and be able to fly whatever they want.

[Hoarach]

I dont know, I think #s have equaled out in the past few months.  Yea there are some nights where 1 country has more #s than another but usually they are pretty equal now.

[hubsonfire]

I would like to see stiffer ENY restrictions, and allow people to change countries to the side with lowest numbers, without being restricted by the timer built in currently.

HiTech's posted the formula and exact numbers in the past, but Kev's description is close enough for the purposes of this discussion. It does work to some extent, since it offers some encourage in the way of perk multipliers and ENY restrictions, but I think there's still a little room for tweaking.

FWIW, last night was as bad as I've seen it in a few weeks. Granted, numbers were horribly skewed a while back, but the influx of newer players (who weren't much more than gun fodder for a bit) somewhat offset that imbalance. Despite logging on last night to find the rooks with nearly double the numbers the knits had, and the bish with 50 or 60 more players, within a few hours, the knits outnumbered the bish by a similar margin, and the rooks numbers had also dropped dramatically.

I don't know if that's due to sidebalancing or not, but it's nice to see the numbers reach some sort of balance, as opposed to facing a horde perpetually.

[Mr No Name]

Limiting the sides is pointless...  Kinda like the welfare perk system...  The purpose of the game is to have the war won or lost... The side balancing only encourages a stalemate... kinda like the way congress works when you think about it...

[cav58d]

Originally posted by Kev367th
I only think one change is maybe needed -
ENY limits up to 5 are pointless, why not just make any number less than 5 equal 5.

That is an excellent idea...never thought of that

[Brenjen]

The knights are almost always outnumbered. But it is better than it was...much better.

[hubsonfire]

Originally posted by Mr No Name
Limiting the sides is pointless...  Kinda like the welfare perk system...  The purpose of the game is to have the war won or lost... The side balancing only encourages a stalemate... kinda like the way congress works when you think about it...

The purpose of the game is for people to be entertained, and pay HTC for that entertainment. Don't confuse the game with the real world. Saying that "one side has to be in the barrel all the time because that's how real war is", is well, stupid.

[SFCHONDO]

Originally posted by hubsonfire
I would like to see stiffer ENY restrictions, and allow people to change countries to the side with lowest numbers, without being restricted by the timer built in currently.

HiTech's posted the formula and exact numbers in the past, but Kev's description is close enough for the purposes of this discussion. It does work to some extent, since it offers some encourage in the way of perk multipliers and ENY restrictions, but I think there's still a little room for tweaking.

FWIW, last night was as bad as I've seen it in a few weeks. Granted, numbers were horribly skewed a while back, but the influx of newer players (who weren't much more than gun fodder for a bit) somewhat offset that imbalance. Despite logging on last night to find the rooks with nearly double the numbers the knits had, and the bish with 50 or 60 more players, within a few hours, the knits outnumbered the bish by a similar margin, and the rooks numbers had also dropped dramatically.

I don't know if that's due to sidebalancing or not, but it's nice to see the numbers reach some sort of balance, as opposed to facing a horde perpetually.

Think alot of the numbers change you saw last night was due to FSO starting. Alot of guys left to go and do that. I may be wrong, you may be talking about a different time of night.
As for the ENY helping balance sides. I personnaly don't see to many going to the lower sides. I do see a lot log off because of it. which in turn helps a little i guess.
I agree with hub on the part obout the side switching time. I would switch more often if I knew I could come back to my original side my squad flies any time I wanted. I know the main arguement for not allowing this is the big SPY controversy. Pop over the the other side see what there doing and pop back to counter them.
No real easy answer i guess

[uvwpvW]

Originally posted by Mr No Name
Limiting the sides is pointless...  Kinda like the welfare perk system...  The purpose of the game is to have the war won or lost... The side balancing only encourages a stalemate... kinda like the way congress works when you think about it...

I beg to differ. The purpose of the game is to entertain the paying customer. There is no war to be won or lost.

[ALF]

       

Originally posted by Mr No Name
    Limiting the sides is pointless... Kinda like the welfare perk system... The purpose of the game is to have the war won or lost... The side balancing only encourages a stalemate... kinda like the way congress works when you think about it...

The purpose of the game is for people to be entertained, and pay HTC for that entertainment. Don't confuse the game with the real world. Saying that "one side has to be in the barrel all the time because that's how real war is", is well, stupid.

The issue is you are now punishing cooperative play

Success is rewarded with punative restrictions as the less able get cheaper and cheaper perk planes, while those who strive for success, are not only penalized with higher costing perk planes, but the outright removal of reasonably preforming aircraft from their hangers.

Tactical, strategic gameplay has gone away.  There is little use for the cooperation and multi-squad opps that made the game such a great community even in the past.   All we have at the moment is an ongoing attempt to find the most active enemy base, and vulch it.

Socialism at its finest represented by in game ENY restrictions.

[Bronk]

Originally posted by ALF


The issue is you are now punishing cooperative play

Success is rewarded with punative restrictions as the less able get cheaper and cheaper perk planes, while those who strive for success, are not only penalized with higher costing perk planes, but the outright removal of reasonably preforming aircraft from their hangers.

Tactical, strategic gameplay has gone away.  There is little use for the cooperation and multi-squad opps that made the game such a great community even in the past.   All we have at the moment is an ongoing attempt to find the most active enemy base, and vulch it.

Socialism at its finest represented by in game ENY restrictions.

hahahaha


So take your whole squad to the side with the low numbers and see how SUCCESSFUL you are against superior numbers.
Ohh I agree with Hub the ENY should be more aggressive.


Bronk

EDIT: Had to fix the mess I quoted. It had part of the post alf had quoted also.

[Kev367th]

Originally posted by Bronk
The issue is you are now punishing cooperative play

Success is rewarded with punative restrictions as the less able get cheaper and cheaper perk planes, while those who strive for success, are not only penalized with higher costing perk planes, but the outright removal of reasonably preforming aircraft from their hangers.

Tactical, strategic gameplay has gone away.  There is little use for the cooperation and multi-squad opps that made the game such a great community even in the past.   All we have at the moment is an ongoing attempt to find the most active enemy base, and vulch it.

Socialism at its finest represented by in game ENY restrictions.

hahahaha

So take your whole squad to the side with the low numbers and see how SUCCESSFUL you are against superior numbers.
Ohh I agree with Hub the ENY should be more aggressive.


Bronk [/B][/QUOTE]

It used to be (first introduced), and was changed to its current settings because of all the complaints.
A big difference could be made by doing away with ENY numbers from 0.1 to 4.99, theres no planes in that range anyway.
Just make any ENY limit less than 5, equal 5.
Result ENY limits cut in earlier and at current scalings.

I think at the moment on average one side has to outnumber the lowest side by 50-60 people before ENY 5 is reached, thats a big difference.

Plus reduce the change sides time from current 5 or 6hrs? to 3hrs.