There are a few things I would urge newer players to do or not to do.
1) Don't tune to channel 200. I rarely tune 200 as I don't care one whit about what anyone has to say beyond a salute. If it's something worthwhile, they can PM me. If they PM me with a whine or otherwise impolite nonsense, I just squelch them. A buddy recently told me that some jerk was badmouthing me on 200. Must have been someone I had just dispatched... Who cares? He's dead and his ego won't let him rest in peace. I won't waste 2 seconds of my life discussing issues with these folks. Don't waste your time either.
2) If you have ammo and your plane is flyable, don't run away from a lone enemy. You will never learn if you don't accept even-up fights. Practice in the TA and DA. Build some skills and self-confidence. If I see a lone enemy, I grin from ear to ear. It's an opportunity to have some fun. You may win, you may lose. However, you'll never know until you actually engage. Besides, your self-image should not hinge on the outcome of a game. Relax, have fun. If you are living in terror of being shot down, you can't be having much fun.
3) If you're new to the game, avoid flying the so-called "easy mode" fighters. Sure, you'll have better stats, but your abilities are not challenged very much. Take a Spit IX instead of the Spit XVI. Fly the La-5 instead of the La-7. Give the P-51B a try and leave the D model in the hanger. Try the 190A-5 rather than the Dora. Fly a P-47 some. Learn the aircraft, discover your skill level and then go find those folks who will help you raise that level.
4) Set realistic goals. No one ever became a top stick overnight. If you set your goals too high, you'll start getting timid or simply find yourself not having fun. Guys who aren't having fun are easy to find. They're the ones bellyaching the most on 200.
5) Many whine about HOs... If your dogfighting ability is limited to flying straight at the enemy with guns blazing, then it's time to get some help with both BFM and ACM. On the other hand, a true HO means that both pilots brought guns to bear.. If only one does, than it's a different story. 90% of the whines associated with HOs are due to the fact that the whiner lost. You don't hear the winner whining about the HO, do you?
Folks, Aces High has steep learning curve. If you want to build good flying skills, you must commit the time to it. It also requires a major change in the way many think. When you see an enemy, do you worry about what they may do to you? Do you think, "how do I avoid getting killed by that guy?" Don't think that way. Think, "what must I do to kill that guy?" Think attack, attack, always attack. Do that and you'll stop being a target and start becoming a dangerous adversary.
My regards,
Widewing
