Storch, you're point's well taken...you guys know these planes backwards and forwards.
I (almost) never HO, since it loses way too much in angles. I also practically never get HO'd, since a lead turn or immel gets you off guns way too easily.
But I also logged "from the lameness of it all" -- but because of the other side, the AvA regulars.
There is absolutely no reason for experten to gang. I did four sorties, with 4 different tactical approaches, always taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of the matchups. Only the 4th sortie had any semblance of a fight, since on each of the other ones I got ganged. My lone spit V headed north enroute to what should have been a furball, got jumped by 2-3 zekes that had already climbed 2K above. Capable opposition and big E disadvantage made that essentially hopeless, since the Zeke does everything the V does, but better. Next sortie, P-40, wider spwing to grab a bit more E before engagement... juimped from WEST by 2 Ki-61s with 4-5K alt advantage. Again, no chance, Ki MUCH faster and these guys already with E. Third sortie plain old gang attack.
Only time I made it to the main fight was when I upped from another base and came from the east. As I flew over the "fight" [lol] I saw 2-3 red "vets" on each allied plane. I went to the far side of the axis base, and found a zeke coming in co-alt. We had a nice, indeterminate fight (energy vs turnfighter) until I messed up the envelope, stalled, and had to dive out...but without enough alt to overcome the zeke-5's nearly equal speed ability. My mistake, but annoying matchup when the allied "E-plane" is barely faster than the axis TnBer.
Honestly, I fly for the fight and I do what I can to learn more as I go. I've given the CT/AvA 2-3 meningful tries over the 2.5 years I've played, and each time I've come to the same conclusion: It's a tiny MA, nothing more. The casual AvA'ers have all the annoying tendencies of the MA'er, including ganging, vulching, etc. The AvA regulars are often excellent pilots, but they tend to be "clubby" -- more interested in their group than anything or anyone else.* The 332nd arent in the club, so it was us against them....and for some reason the regulars took the better planeset instead of taking a handicap for the new guys.
Honestly, its no surprise to me that the arena is usually near empty. You had a big influx with the name change, and I can guess why they left.
*(Oldman is and always has been a gentleman and an excellent host, welcoming new guys and going out of his way to make the experience good. But, there's only so much he can do since the gameplay is the sum of the players present.)
