Progressive Pane Set ?

[GooseAW]

Just a thought....

What would be the pros and cons in the minds of the opinionated of having a progressive plane set.

ie: the tour starts with only early war rides and progresses thru the tour on some predetermined timeline until, say in the last week, we have all planes available again.

I think the reason this came to my mind was that I think the noobs (and there seem to be a million of em) are hoppin in the the "uber" late war rides early on and finding that these planes give them some crutches to lean on, never try many of the others. Thus never really feeling the need to develop ACM and in my opinion causing them to miss out on a lot of the experience.

I know many will say "it's my 14.95 blah blah" but I say, "it's HTC's $14.95" and I think this might make the game more sustaineable and therefore more enjoyable for all for the longer term.

What do you think?

[Yeager]

Been there, done that.........Don't go there

[BaldEagl]

As much as I like flying EW planes in the LW arenas I think it's a bad idea.  I like taking on the LW planes in my EW rides.

And what about those who only get to play a few times a month?

I could see mass defections and the whining would reach a whole new level.

[Fulmar]

I agree with BaldEagl.  When AH used to be progressive like that I often missed the days when it was LW or EW whatever.  It was usually a surprise to find out what planes that I could fly when I logged on.

The trend I've found on the forums is that a lot of people want an emphasis more on EW planes, mainly because they are sick of the uber rides.  I can understand this and they make suggestions on the forums about this.  IMO these people would love to play the EW arena but won't because 20 people in an arena is generally not that fun and they enjoy the large scale furballs.

Honestly, to satisfy the quench for these people we would need a user based probably around 20-30k where enough players could form a 400 person EW arena.  Of course there would be probably 5-10k people in dozens of MA's.

[Mr No Name]

Even Warbirds gave up RPS because of its' unpopularity AND we have EW and MW arenas here.

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by BaldEagl
As much as I like flying EW planes in the LW arenas I think it's a bad idea.  I like taking on the LW planes in my EW rides.

And what about those who only get to play a few times a month?

I could see mass defections and the whining would reach a whole new level.

Amazing, you flew Tempests all last night.   Practice what you preach.

[hubsonfire]

An RPS in the MAs, IMO, would virtually guarantee the success of the horde, while limiting the chances of the underdog to up cheap tempests and jets, or the late war dragsters that are popular for hunting goons and NOE mishunz. I fly only the dweeb rides, and usually (not always) for the underdog side, so I'm kind of biased, mind you.

Forcing everyone out of whatever rides is already accomplished in part by ENY, and look at the shrieking when that happens.

Those 2 things come to mind immediately when I think RPS, and along with being an unpleasant surprise to those who don't fly every night, I just don't think it would add anything to the game.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

I gotta ask, we have an early war, mid war, and two late war arenas, so why would we need or want a rolling plane set?

[Kweassa]

As much as I personally would love to see a RPS, the dismayingly low participation numbers for EW, MW, and AvA theaters have sort of proved a point in what people want, and do not want.

 As lame and sucky the Lgay7-Spixteen addicted horde mob is, at least the arenas are populated in late-war.

[GooseAW]

in my mind this would be instead of the EW and MW arenas...which just aren't used. If there are 30 people in EWA or MWA 20 of em are milkrunning in GV leaving 8 in the air and 2 afk. It's just not working.

Just voicing a thought somewhat from the hip. Guess I'm gettin tired of the LA7, D9, P51, Spixteen set making one pass through a fight then running...er extending 1/2 a sector with no risk of being caught and forced to fight then when they see you engaged again slashing through once again. I typically just fight as the situation presents itself and like the challenge really.

I think it would be more fun for all of us if the noobs, and some ole timers, were exposed to the earlier planesets. I think given some practice/confidence it would be a different community. Perhaps if you had multiple MAs running on a different timeline....of course that could defeat the purpose. Obviously not thoroughly thought through, but then that's why I'm deferring to the smart people...

I know these are age old issues but thought I'd excersize my right to go here anyway. Since the thought has come to me more than once. Thanks for the continued feedback.

[Lusche]

Originally posted by GooseAW
i. Guess I'm gettin tired of the LA7, D9, P51, Spixteen set making one pass through a fight then running...er extending 1/2 a sector with no risk of being caught and forced to fight then when they see you engaged again slashing through once again. I typically just fight as the situation presents itself and like the challenge really.
 

A rolling planeset wouldn't change much. There is always a fastest plane, and people will use it the way you described.

[GooseAW]

Good point,

My counter would be that given the opportunity to fly some different birds, albeit forced, this might change. Optimistic? Yes surely. That is who I am though.

Heck, maybe just closing the LWAs one night, or one weekend a month would do it. This might be easy and worth a try! hmmmm

[Kweassa]

Well, typically the EW planes are much lighter in armament, which leads to prolonged engagements. Also the general 'margin' of difference between fighter specs are more rounded out and even in EW planes. It will have some effect in the manner Goose may want, and frankly I sympathize with his intentions.

 The problem is, the nature of the non-battling horde stuff is IMO a strat issue, or rather a game design issue. I believe people form hordes and run from fights not just because they are lame, but also because the game makes that kind of behavior rewardable. In other words, a RPS would have some effect in the direction you want AH to move on to, but it will cause more problems than solutions IMO.

[BaldEagl]

Originally posted by Masherbrum
Amazing, you flew Tempests all last night.   Practice what you preach.

Here's all of the planes and/or vehicles I've flown/driven over the past 3 months with total kills and deaths in each:

A6M2      11
Bf 109F-4      12
Bf 109G-14   5
Bf 109G-2      22
Bf 109K-4      14
Bf 110G-2      26
C-47A      3
C.205      24
Chute      4
F4F-4      23
F4U-1A      10
F4U-1C      35
F4U-1D      35
F4U-4      7
F6F-5      71
FM2      44
Fw 190A-5   34
Fw 190A-8   61
Fw 190D-9   23
Fw 190F-8   18
Hurricane Mk I   30
Hurricane Mk IIC   97
Hurricane Mk IID   8
Ki-61      12
Ki-84-Ia      20
La-5FN      19
La-7      9
Lancaster III   3
LVTA2      1
M-3      18
Me 163B      30
N1K2      19
Ostwind      190
P-38G      35
P-38J      4
P-38L      4
P-47-D11      3
P-47-D25      19
P-47-D40      4
P-51B      18
P-51D      33
Panzer IV H   73
PT Boat      9
SeaFire      18
Sherman VC   2
Ship Gunner   2
Spitfire Mk IX   25
Spitfire Mk V   130
Spitfire Mk VIII   21
Spitfire Mk XIV   9
Spitfire Mk XVI   144
T-34      18
Ta 152H      23
Tempest      46
Tiger I      53
Typhoon IB   39


Know of what you speak.

[Pudgie]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.