New players

[Bubbajj]

Just a word from a newb target like yourself. I say forget the Training Arena for now unless  you just have no clue about aircraft control. Just understand that you are going to get shot down A LOT. It doesn't matter, you get a new plane every time and if your paying attention, you learn from watching other and the mistakes you make. Pay attention, ask questions, search the Help and Training threads then apply what you learn. Unless your a complete monkey you will get better as a result of just mixing it up.

[Murdr]

Originally posted by Bubbajj
Just a word from a newb target like yourself. I say forget the Training Arena for now unless  you just have no clue about aircraft control.

I don't know about that.  Ive had many training sessions with experienced real life pilots that needed to learn some basics of ACM to help jump start their AH experience.  You really don't need to know about immelmans, yo-yo's and split-s's to fly from point A to point B.  Id say the majority of new players I work with just need to confirm "what not to do" in two or three sessions with a trainer, rather than going off in the MA for 6 months to a year to learn the same things.

[WMLute]

Murdr is spot on here.

Three or four training sessions with a trainer is worth months of flying in the MA.

(and I AM a 10yr vet who's butt was whooped in the DA by Sonic23 who has flown less than a year.  So it IS possible)

[Blagard]

I have had some work with Trainers a long time ago.  At the time I had no trouble at all flying around. I had reached a threshold over which I did not seem to advance and it helped a lot.

What the Trainers can show you is how to fly those ACM better rather than using trial and error or attempting to learn just by watching. Of course you need to fly in the Main Arena to get experience as well. In the end most of time will be in the MA trying out the training moves to get some kills.

These last few days as its Xmas the Training Arena has been a bit of a playground so don't think it's always like that if you drop in! Even the Trainers want some time for themselves at this time of year.

You will eventually get better with "mixing it" but not as fast as when you get real help on your particular weakness's. So I would say do use the trainers if you want to progress more quickly. While people like myself can help sometimes with basics, the trainers really do a far better job especially on the advanced stuff. If you see me in the training arena you can always ask for me to be a target drone! - believe me even that can be useful because you live as long as your flying and get plenty of gunnery practice on a twisting and turning target!

[Reynolds]

Trust me. I am the WORST fighter pilot in the game. Even YOU could probably beat me in a fight. But stick with it! Youll learn with dedication, and it will definately be worth it in the end!

[Rollins]

Wow, the volume of positive responses to the post is enough to keep me flying!  Thanks to all for the help and encouragement, I'll see you out there!
Like it says in my sig, I'm Rollins in the air. Thanks again.

[lagger86]

endofsilence...Rollins...I see the connection. Stick around because this game is as fun as it is frustrating.

[Traveler]

Originally posted by EndofSilence
All,
Would someone please just let me know if there is another game that is as cool as AH but where maybe everyone hasn't played for 10 years + ??? Fun flying but what is fun about getting shot down whenever you up?  Yeah I know all the vets are clutchin' their junk and sayin'-noob.  But think about when you first played?  When u last got... a kill.   Someone up to train me or am I hopeless?
D

Join a squad, have fun.  drink a beer.

Come fly with the 113th Lucky Strikes in the LW vox 113, CO is Gunston, XO is Traveler.  We were all new and went through the same ups and downs that you are experiencing.   I still stink, but I'm having fun.

[vizwhiz]

Originally posted by Reynolds
Trust me. I am the WORST fighter pilot in the game. Even YOU could probably beat me in a fight. But stick with it! Youll learn with dedication, and it will definately be worth it in the end!

I don't know about that...I think I'm the worst!  

But really, just more encouragement from another newb...

When I started, I FELL out of the sky more than I got shot down!

Now, I get SHOT DOWN more times than I spin.

BUT, as my wife will attest to, I am somewhere in between addicted and...and...addicted.  

SOMETHING ELSE TO REMEMBER...if you get tired of getting blasted out of the sky every time you're in the air, take a break and drive a tank...or a PT boat...or get on a big gun on one of the CV's...just do something different to break up the cycle of up/bang/down... that can be just as fun for a little while till things calm down and you can get in the air again.

And like everybody says...$14.95 a month buys a LOT of planes!  

[macleod01]

Another bit of advice. Be curtyous (Spelling) to those who shoot you down. Dont start shouting and screaming on Channel 200. Give a salute, and a Good Fight, and ask them if they can tell you what you did wrong. Most people out there are nice really. They are, I promise, may not look it when they're zooming up on your tail guns blazing, but if you ask, they will probarbly be more than happy to help you improve. After all, improvement is only done by finding out what it is that you DID wrong, isnt it?

Asking a trainer is a brilliant idea. I didnt think I needed one, thought id beat my way up the bush by myself. However after meeting Schatzi in the MA one day, and getting my butt handed to me on a silver platter 5 times in quick succession, I changed my mind. I have probarbly improved as much in the past 2-3 months due to training with Schatzi as I did in 6-7 months on my own. That puts it into perspectave for you. Im still a bit of a Newb myself, Though as said, im gradually improving. If you see me in the MAs (my ID is Macleod1) feel free to give me a shout, and I'll pop to TA or DA and give ya a hand. I'll probarbly learn something new as well. I always do!

and always remember. Its a Game. I had someone say to me today. The objective of the game is to win the war. I disagree. The objective of the game is to have fun!

[nacho]

hi friend.
i  think i can give you the best suggestion to fly with no problems: SPEED AND ALT IS LIFE. If you take one of the fastest plane (190 d9) and never fly under 300mph you will be a dificult target for any enemy. if you have a enemy higher than you go until the ground and run run run. More speed means more dificult to destroy enemys but is your secure of life. nik also is a good plane to start because his fantastic power of cannons. Easy to get kills but difficult to land because is to slow to run away.
The most important thing. no fight with a enemy higher than you.
Good luck and good hunt!

[SAS_KID]

Originally posted by WMLute
Murdr is spot on here.

Three or four training sessions with a trainer is worth months of flying in the MA.

(and I AM a 10yr vet who's butt was whooped in the DA by Sonic23 who has flown less than a year.  So it IS possible)

But i can beat Sonic23 his spixteen to mine =D well at least half the time:p

[SkyChimp03]

Originally posted by SAS_KID
But i can beat Sonic23 his spixteen to mine =D well at least half the time:p

Lute teh liar:D Hes good but i belive lute spanks him even i killed him in my rusty          state  

[SlapShot]

Originally posted by nacho
hi friend.
i  think i can give you the best suggestion to fly with no problems: SPEED AND ALT IS LIFE. If you take one of the fastest plane (190 d9) and never fly under 300mph you will be a dificult target for any enemy. if you have a enemy higher than you go until the ground and run run run. More speed means more dificult to destroy enemys but is your secure of life. nik also is a good plane to start because his fantastic power of cannons. Easy to get kills but difficult to land because is to slow to run away.
The most important thing. no fight with a enemy higher than you.
Good luck and good hunt!

This is the wrong thing to teach a new player ... running from engagements will not teach you anything. You must first suffer loss after loss ... evaluate why you lost and then learn from it. Film your fights and watch them after .... Murdr and others have posted many films that show many different engagements and how to deal with them ... watching and understanding those films are key to success in the MA. Fighting is the key to overall success in this game. Running will keep you alive ... but for only so long.

You can run from all the possible engagments you can, but eventually someone will have more speed and/or alt on you and when you don't have the option to run ... you are simply an easy kill.

It would be better if when trying to exit a situation and it's not possible to do so, turn back into your opponent and try to duke it out ... you just might succeed, but if you have no skills outside of "swipe and run" you will be pwnd every time.

Rollins ... dieing in AH is not a bad thing ... think of it as a learning experience.

Here is my thinking ... Anyone can kill me in this game, but I'll be damned if I am going to make it easy for them. They are going to have to work real hard to get my pelt.