What's up with the Combat Theater??

[snafu]

Hi All,
 After another riveting night in the CT (At one time there were actually 7 of us).   I have to ask what is keeping people away? If HTC called it a TOD or a scenario and provided a limited plane set and a historical terrain they would have to shut the doors to keep people out but the poor old CT seems to spend most of it's time with a population less than my house. Is it Strategy? (OK, What Strategy) Is it the limited plane set (Presumably not, as TOD etc are a success). Is it the short Icons? (Can't think why).

I've seen some really good ideas by AKDejaVu, Skurj and many more about Strat ideas for the CT. I assume that the current set up is more a limitation of the Current AH scenario modifier than anything else. Any way I digress. Why is it empty?. Should it be a furball arena? (I've seen loads of "Radio Activity" - [Polite version] everytime someone bombs an airfield). I for one spend on average 90% of my online time in the CT (Which isn't a lot at the moment) but looking for 3-4 opponents is beginning to bore even me.

Sorry for posting it here and not in the CT forum but I assume (From the numbers in the CT) most don't even venture into the CT forum.

TTFN
snafu

[Creamo]

Because a scenario would be a actual HA, and what these guys think it should be.

Set amount of planes vs. a similar set, with a mission at hand etc...

Unfortunatly, I don't see how this is possible in a rotating player joining arena, but a compromise is feasable for sure, and for great gameplay.

However, Pyro has made effort to try diffrent things, backing it up by flying in there to check progress I assume, and a compromise to make a good player experience is in works you can only conclude. It's just early.

Be patient, it will come around.

[ 08-26-2001: Message edited by: Creamo ]

[Toad]

I miss the old Creamo.

[Creamo]

Piss off Toad.

If you ever fly into Reno with a need to make a quick turn to get back home for the holiday's, I'll ground your jet with a EPR split, #2 engine 4.5 breather tube oil seep, hydraulic leak, and low cockpit O2 so quick, you won't be able to say "Creamo, I know us pilots worship mechanics, without you we would be badly dressed passengers in the waiting lounge, not have safe aircraft to fly and impress the aisle donkey's with, and please give back my Yaht Unlimited magazine."

Plus, I'd defer the autopilot AND ACARS, then you would have to touch that grimey stick once...eeeewww. ( I can almost see you groan in pain)

There.    

[ 08-26-2001: Message edited by: Creamo ]

[brady]

Rank I play for RANK, I admit it I am consumed  by it. I live for It, must have It, NEEEEEED IT, I gota have it, nothing else is worth it, I nead a point behind it all ......whats the point in the CT?

   Give me Squad ranks piolet ranks somthing to meashure my own failures by somthing to set a mark at somthing to try and better my self by...then I will go in and probably stay in...

[Toad]

Like a Christmas card from an old friend.

I feel better now.


(BTW, I don't think my outfit takes the big jets into auxiliary fields like Reno. If you ever transfer to a manly hub station, let me know.   )

[LePaul]

Umm, I covered some of this just a few minutes ago...
 http://www.hitechcreations.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=000048

[Buzzbait]

S!

Actually on Sunday at 3pm - 6pm the Combat Theater averaged 25-30 pilots on.

Most times I go there, and that would be in peak hours, there are approx. 15 there.

Since most of the action is in the Calais/Dover area, you actually have just as much, if not more combat than you do in the MA.  In the MA there are 10 battles going on, in the CT there is usually at most 2.

These numbers are with an Arena with no Strat targets and no victory conditions.

Once we get those types of things sorted out, I think it will become a lot more popular.

[Maniac]

I think the numbers are quite good for being such an new arena... Things will only improve (number wise also) in the future.

Was 20 vs 20 at one time yesterday...

Regards.

[Fester']

CT needs:


smaller map with a whole lot more detailed ground targets strat etc.
no need for 500x500 miles of channel if your only using a small portion of it.
the rest is just excess that could be used to detail the main fighting area of the map.
i would remove 50 miles of border from all sides of the europe map and use that extra data to detal the rest of the map which is spartan as can be like all other maps in AH.

field capture but requiring 30 troops to capture: ie 3 goons ie teamwork

tower radar screen or some sort of ground control radar that players can use to vector friendly fighters to enemy fighters when inflight radar/sector bar info is turned off


more planes

more ground targets

more strat

[Maniac]

"field capture but requiring 30 troops to capture: ie 3 goons ie teamwork"

This would be great methinks.

Regards.

[stegor]

Rank in CT??? , no thanks, the best obj/reward is to take home my self/plane.
So hard!  

[popeye]

Hoping to see (tower only) dot dar there in 1.08.  As it is now, too much time wasted looking for a fight.

[streakeagle]

Time spent looking for a target is not exactly wasted... part of the simulation. Patiently searching empty space is a boring but necessary part of real combat. It is also very rewarding.

In the MA, I can be in a furball in seconds and do that all night long. But I have 10 times more fun flying around for 15 minutes in CT and finally either bouncing an unsuspecting enemy formation or getting bounced by them, then using the radio to redirect forces as necessary to respond to or ignore the threat. The fight seems so much more exciting and dangerous when you have to face the unknown and wait so long for it.

I realize it is a matter of personal preference, but one or two really good fights in a half hour is far more entertaining to me than mixing it up continuously in the MA. If the CT had even half the numbers of the MA, it would be awesome. I long to see huge formations of JU-87s and JU-88s escorted by 109s and 110s being intercepted by hurricanes and spits. Rowan's Battle of Britain gives a visual impression of this, but I can only imagine what it would be like without any AI flying all the planes. Likewise, I would love to see a huge formation of B-17s or B-24s with P-47/P-38/P-51 escorts tangling with 109s and 190s.

I could care less about rank. If my hands are shaking, my heart is pounding, and my breathing rate is increased from adrenaline and the stress and excitement of a hard fight, then I am getting what I am paying for. Whether I got shot down or not, I was immersed and had a ton of fun without the inherent dangers and costs posed by the extreme sports it otherwise takes to give me the same results ( i.e. I am on my 3rd Corvette and have a scar or two from high speed rollerblading accidents    ).

[LePaul]

Combat Room

LIKES:

No AWAC radar

Teamwork/communication almost essential.  Even the hardened "lone wolfs" break their silence and participate.

Limited aircraft on both sides, so you know they are just as limited as you are.

Extended down times for fules, hangars, etc.  If you let the buffs slip by, its a real hassle for more than 15 minutes.  In essence, there are severe consequences to not stopping em

DISLIKES

Lousy map that is difficult to read.  Have noted several errors on it, most prominently that A49 is a port, not an airfield.

The buff match-up is really weak right now.  B26s vs Ju88s.  50 cals totting guys versus slow, pokey, Daisy BB gun totting Ju88s.  Plus the lack of any real targets the buffs can hit without completely pissing off the fighter guys.  How many times have people complained of forward bases being fuel porked...I mean, its war, right?  Thats what buffs do, destroy bases....call me kooky...

Friendly refineries and such open fire on their own guys.  No sense hiding from an incoming buff, all those puffs of anti-aircraft all around you point you out really nicely.

Allies have CV aircraft, Axis have CVs, but no airplanes to roll from them.


Overall its a pretty challenging room and I applaud HTC for putting it up.  I'd like to see the strat factor expanded some for us Buff Dweebs who enjoy bombing, but are weary of folks complaining we made them fly longer to the fight.