Question to the furballers.

[hubsonfire]

ENY is more a measure of how much a plane is used, than it is a measure of how good a plane is.

[Redd]

I enjoy the fights in AvA when there's 20 + on , seems to need that many for the fights to gain momentum.


MA in my time zone has around 100-150 usually (never more than 200) , at that time of day, a good fight can actually be found most of the time. The smaller maps work better with that number. Also seems to be a fairly regular crew of vets or longer term players who are hardcore enough to play at that time, which also increases the quality of the fights


The MA with 500+ is just pretty much a gang banging no-skill debacle it seems to me, so I tend to either go to the AvA or DA when there's that many in the MA


I can see the dilemna of the MA for you guys in US time-zone , but not sure what the answer is. I like Hajo's idea of an overflow furballish type arena using the beta terrain though , it would give you folks another option when the MA is at it's worst  I'd go in there for sure. It'd only need 20-40 ppl to function fine , and it would operate all times of the day. Be fun to have the choice available though

[Hajo]

Some golfers like to pitch and run....some like to lob or hit a flop shot.

Having a variety of choices is a plus.  Most of us that have been participating in Aces High for about 7 years seem to like to dogfight. Others like to defend, some like to obtain the reset. I would venture to say that those who participated in Betas 1 and 2 liked and still like the gut wrenching hands trembling dogfight against a good opponent.

It's good to see new people enjoying the game....and there seems to be a good number of them.  I and most others offer help when asked and encourage them when they don't become Dick Bong on their first sortie.

I would venture to say that the majoirty of Vets could care less about points.  Most just look for a good fight.  Not 40 on 2 mind you but something near a equal battle.  I would also say that most that have been playing for a good percentage of 7 years are less likely to HO....yes it is a legitimate shot, Divebomb Lancasters,  B17s flying with seeming impunity 4K over a field and drop.  I would assume also that most wouldn't be in a 30 plane horde taking a base......nothing wrong with that mind you but that's just not our style.  Variations in gameplay a great thing!  And who is anyone here to tell someone how they should play the game?

New Players?  I don't blame them for flying in good numbers.  They are more secure that way!  They have more of a chance to be successful that way and it's not a bad idea!  Builds confidence and educates at the same time.  I would surmise that all of us did the same when we were first introduced to online flight sims for the first time actually battling another human being.

What I guess I'm trying to say is with maybe age and experience being a factor most Vets look for the good fight....winging with a squaddie setting up a shot....making an opponent fight your fight and not his.  There's something more to it for us I guess.  It's the fight...the thrill...the not being angry when you get shot down because we realize It's our fault and not our opponents.

Variations of gameplay.  Choices......when they become limited it becomes difficult to sometimes enjoy the game......but it's like that perfect 320 yard drive you hit on the last hole.....no matter you hit the next one 200 yards sideways......it's that 320 yard drive you remember and what keeps you coming back for the game.

[Edbert1]

Originally posted by Hajo

I would venture to say that the majoirty of Vets could care less about points.  Most just look for a good fight.  Not 40 on 2 mind you but something near a equal battle.  I would also say that most that have been playing for a good percentage of 7 years are less likely to HO....yes it is a legitimate shot, Divebomb Lancasters,  B17s flying with seeming impunity 4K over a field and drop.

That is not a venture sir, that is a sure thing.

The problem most of us who love the older style of gameplay have is that there are 5,000 + (or so) CPIDs logged into the MA every tour. I know not every one of them is a paying subscriber, there are trial-guys with zip-code-IDs and folks who get their accounts for free. But I'd wager there's a roughly equivalent number (maybe higher) of folks who pay but cannot log in during a tour or three due to RL constraints. So you do the math...$15/month X 5,000 X 12...hard to make the business-case that the old gameplay was a better idea than the new gameplay.

Folks, at least the masses, obviously prefer a MA with 500+ players smashing bases to dust with 15:1 odds and having 4 to 6 hordes roaming around while  avoiding contact each other, to the 2-hour long 30v30 furballs of old. You cannot blame HTC for catering to the majority, this is a business.

[Grits]

Originally posted by Kev367th
I'd like to see it with 50cal or .303 options (i.e LF IXc. LF IXe), then see the excuses for leaving it out of mid 43 scenarios.

You dont read well do you? I told you why its left out. No LW=no arena. There isnt much point in adding a plane (for a person I have never even seen in the Arena in question) when it will clear the arena of folks who play LW.

I've told you before, it is not a matter of dates, its a matter of performance.

[lazs2]

I never seen the non AvA in the CT (AvA arena).   It should have been cool.

I also agree tho that you don't need 500 people in that arena to have fun... I like it when there are only 20 or so but they are dedicated furballers... in this case... they don't fly fluffs and they don't horde and they don't go anywhere on the map except the two closest fields.

The AvA planesets are boring to me... I don't even care if they have my "favorite" plane.... what I want is to have one of my "favorite" planes and to be able to fight against it at the same time.

one fin rus setup had FM2 substitute for a buffalo... weird but hey...  I flew La5 just to fight the FM2... I would much rather have upped a FM2 and fought the FM2.

Seems to me that the only thing that keeps the AvA afloat is a few dedicated squads that go there a lot... they want AvA planesets and they keep the nuimbers at from 4-20 I don't see how non AvA planeset could have less numbers.... you say you tried it for a few days?  

How so?  one time period?   if so... I see some of the AvA setups that get a few the first days and then drop to zero on other nights.

lazs
Public Relations Officer for the BK's

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Grits
You dont read well do you? I told you why its left out. No LW=no arena. There isnt much point in adding a plane (for a person I have never even seen in the Arena in question) when it will clear the arena of folks who play LW.

I've told you before, it is not a matter of dates, its a matter of performance.

Sorry grits then the AvA is a farce. If they don't want to be historically correct call it something else. Call it : What if arena


From now on all whine from the we want historical accuracy in the AVA and we strive for accuracy should be Ignored. I don't want to hear a peep about the FM2 subbing for the Brewster.... and the list goes on.



Bronk

[Krusty]

Bronk,

Do you remember when the CT almost died? Literally and fully died? And then it staggered a step for one more gasp at life. Then do you remember how it almost died again, right after that?

The AvA is on life support. It's stable but it is on life support. Just as you don't feed a heart attack patient a cheeseburger, you don't enable the spit16 in most AvA setups. Why?

If you do you will 100% kill off the arena. No more players. Bye-bye.

That is a fact.

The reason the spit16 is withheld most of the time is becuase this arena is so sparsely populated. It's not like AH1 times. You don't tell liver transplant patients to go on a drinking binge, you don't tell people with shattered hip bones to "walk it off," and you don't enable spit16s in the AvA.

When the AvA has *STEADY* 40+ numbers, then enable it. Until then, your argument seems more the whine than theirs is.

[Grits]

Originally posted by Bronk
Sorry grits then the AvA is a farce. If they don't want to be historically correct call it something else. Call it : What if arena

Bronk,

I a perfect world all planes would be included, the fact is like it or not, if included the Spit16 would leave the arena vacant and that is why it is left out.

[Oldman731]

Originally posted by lazs2
I never seen the non AvA in the CT (AvA arena).   It should have been cool.s

Oddly enough, I don't think it pleased anyone (these were the two fightertown weeks we ran almost a year ago).  The regular AvA crowd was distressed to see FM2s fighting FM2s.  The MA regulars thought it was fun for a night or two, and then disappeared, for the reasons I guessed at earlier.

AvA never had, and probably never will have the mass appeal that the MA holds.  Still, it gives you a variety of plane sets and a dedicated crew of people who like to fight for the sake of fighting (if only because there's no other reason to go there).  If you tire of flying the same old plane, then just stop in once or twice a week (and, btw, don't you find that you fly the FM2 quite a lot already?).  We'd love to have you.

- oldman

[Kev367th]

Originally posted by Grits
You dont read well do you? I told you why its left out. No LW=no arena. There isnt much point in adding a plane (for a person I have never even seen in the Arena in question) when it will clear the arena of folks who play LW.

I've told you before, it is not a matter of dates, its a matter of performance.

So like I said, it's not Axis v Allies, it's a handpicked planeset to ensure the LW have at least parity, preferably an advantage.
Late 41 to mid 42 a PRIME example, they have adv and rightly so, Vb's v 190's.
Yet in 1944 to even/balance things out the 190D9 HAS to be introduced 3 months ahead of time....does double standards and hypocrasy leap to mind, IT SHOULD.

Wouldn't say never, but I have popped in to the A v A a few times.

One of the reasons I didn't bother going back was the 'handpicked' planeset. It's fine for the LW to have their advantage, but no-way can the Allies have theirs when ITS APPROPRIATE.

As long as it's continued to be run on the LW must have parity or an advantage at all times (even if it means introducing them months ahead of when historically accurate), can't see me bothering.
A v A was a good idea, skewed by the LW fans.

Dam hilarious how a 1943 LF IX with a Merlin 266 and 50cals causes people to wet their pants in their late war rides.

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Grits
Bronk,

I a perfect world all planes would be included, the fact is like it or not, if included the Spit16 would leave the arena vacant and that is why it is left out.

Grits sorry I don't buy it . Either you strive for accuracy or you don't. It's that simple. All I read on this board is the whine about the XVI. Then come the corresponding chest thumping aww they aint that hard to kill crap.  Well which one is it?


 Shame the Germans couldn't make the Brits stop flying it so the AvA could be more accurate.

Bronk

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Kev367th
So like I said, it's not Axis v Allies, it's a handpicked planeset to ensure the LW have at least parity, preferably an advantage.
Late 41 to mid 42 a PRIME example, they have adv and rightly so, Vb's v 190's.
Yet in 1944 to even/balance things out the 190D9 HAS to be introduced 3 months ahead of time....does double standards and hypocrasy leap to mind, IT SHOULD.

Wouldn't say never, but I have popped in to the A v A a few times.

One of the reasons I didn't bother going back was the 'handpicked' planeset. It's fine for the LW to have their advantage, but no-way can the Allies have theirs when ITS APPROPRIATE.

As long as it's continued to be run on the LW must have parity or an advantage at all times (even if it means introducing them months ahead of when historically accurate), can't see me bothering.
A v A was a good idea, skewed by the LW fans.

Dam hilarious how a 1943 LF IX with a Merlin 266 and 50cals causes people to wet their pants in their late war rides.

Donn't forget underboosted there Kev.


Bronk

[lazs2]

oldman... you had the non ava ct running for a couple of weeks?  with different planesets?

What planes did you use?

I don't care that much which planes are in the set so long as it is not AvA limited... that gets old really fast for me.   In the MA I fly the FM2 allmost exclusively because I really don't like the fast planes.... there is never a worthwhile fight in em it seems.   My experiance is that in late war planes you either die to a group of 6 of em or run from a group of six of em or... if you find one alone you chase him till he gets away or you catch him and he dies without a fight.

I have used the CT.  with mixed results.  

I think that the reason it is on life support is also the reason it can't change.... a couple of dedicated axis squads who want it as a personal playground.

lazs
Public Relations Officer for the BK's

[Kev367th]

Originally posted by lazs2

I think that the reason it is on life support is also the reason it can't change.... a couple of dedicated axis squads who want it as a personal playground.

lazs
Public Relations Officer for the BK's

Ding ding, give the man a ceeeeegaaar.