I know this conversation has been had many a time, and I considered just forgetting it, but decided I'd post on it after my experience in AvA last night.
When I think of AvA, I think of Oldman, and I think of JG54. They represent the AvA to me.
Oldman is one of the class acts in the game and approaches it from much the same perspective as I do. All he's looking for is a fair fight. Living or dying doesn't matter nearly as much as the chance to test his skills against someone else.
TrueKill describes JG54 as the "Blacksheep" of the AvA, and I think that's said with a bit of pride for a lack of a better word. Again, they are a very visible presence in regards to that arena.
I know my time in the AvA is very limited, but it's limited for a reason. I keep being given reasons not to come back.
Two nights ago we had some decent fights for a time, before it became the race for alt and who could mug and pick the fastest. The Spitaly comments when maybe 1 Spit was up while the rest were 38s and 40s. The idea that "I'm gonna HO because of this" was the other bit that I just didn't get.
Last night I flew four flights in the AvA. I got HO'd and then collided with by Storch. No biggie, it happens. But it was a sign of things to come. The 109s all were perched at alt. This was ironic to me because the excuse was because someone had done it to them before.
Flight two was a 1 v 2 only to get HO'd by a 110 that dropped in while i was in with 2 109s.
Third flight same thing. HO shot by a guy coming into the fight from on high.
Fourth was the kicker for me though. 1Duke! was 5K out front of me. We were 3K tops and headed towards the other base. I said to him, lets let them come out and not mess around in the ack. Silly me. As I said it, 3 planes dropped on Duke from on high. They'd clearly been grabbing over their base. I was too far to help and he got nailed by all three. 2 109s and a 110 vs his 38G.
I then had to deal with those three who had alt, E and numbers. OK so be it. If it's a decent fight, that's all good. I don't mind dying. But two more 109s came in with the lead guy HO'ing me and taking out my Ailerons. I just sighed and waited for the 3 behind me to finish the job.
As 1Duke1 said, "Forget this. It's just a mini-MA", which was true. It wasn't about a good fight, it was about winning the fight as easily and quickly as possible.
All that being said, I understand it's their dime and they can fly as they choose. I said on 200 that "I give. If that's what the fight is in here, I might as well go back to LW".
Storch asked me what I was giving. I explained the above and got the same story about someone had done it to them earlier so they were just doing it back.
Then its the excuse of getting picked, Spitfires or whatever.
Again. it's their dime, so be it.
But understand, the AvA will remain what it is, a sparsely populated arena as long as that's the attitude. The guys who are there set the tone. As long as it is what it is, folks might as well keep flying the other arenas where the numbers are better.
Personally I think it's too bad, as I do believe there are a lot of us who'd love to have a place to fly where it's about the fight, not always winning. And I'm not talking about the perfect 1 v 1. I like 1 v 2s etc, just for the challenge. But to always have to fight higher, and numerically superior numbers, along with the HO shots at every turn, makes it kind of futile.
And to clarify the HO shots. When you are getting bounced by a higher, faster plane, all you can do is turn your nose up to face the threat. They control the fight as they have alt and E. All the lower guy can do is try and counter it. Getting HO'd that way gets real old fast.
Now, as I've said, my experience is limited in AvA so obviously my comments reflect that limited experience. I don't think the JG54 guys are bad guys, or black sheep. I do believe they could really change the tone in there if they chose to however.
Do with it what you will.
I hope it changes someday so folks like myself can find a reason to come back.
