Perk Planes...how do you feel about them?

[iculus]

If it is based on flying time, all you need to do is grab a B-17, fully fueled of course, and take off, then point it away from the map, set auto-pilot...then go to work, or run errands, etc.  

Sorry....but I am getting hooked on the idea of perk planes! Ta-152....hmmmmm....yep!

IC

[eskimo]

How about if the uberest of planes are always available to everyone, but only at the most remote bases?  You earn them by flying them 1/2 way across the map before you can do anything with them.

eskimo

[lemur]

Ehn. The only complaint I have with the perk system is that it basically hoses the occational player.

Everyone should get enough perk points to fly an uber plane at least once every two weeks. No matter how badly they suck or how little they play.

I think it's an interesting idea to give out the perk planes only occationally, and it's interesting that flying a perk plane will actually earn you perk points slower than in another plane. But what worries me are the poor folks who just don't fly enough to get the points.

Still, I *am* very interested on how this is going to affect tactics.

Plus the chute shootees are really going to start howling   MWAHAHAHA <cough>

~Lemur

[gatt]

Stop the perk project and build a decent rollin plane set. I cant imagine anything different for a good WWII air-combat simulation.

   



[This message has been edited by gatt (edited 12-21-2000).]

[Fatty]

I kind of like that Eskimo, would also help the losing side in a gangbang.  Bombers would be a downside though since they take off the back base a lot already.

[Wlfgng]

I used to think perk planes were a bad idea... lately my thinking is that it'll mean more early war planes in the arena and that's a great idea.  Flying 'uber' planes result in lower perk points..
Finally there is a reward for flying less 'uber' planes.  I think we'll see more and more of the planeset being flown.. and fewer chogs, ponies, etc.

Besides,,, perk planes are not invincible.

[Westy]

Gatt, go here:
 http://flightsim.thrustmaster.com/articles/read.php3?id=130  
 
 and read this article. about 2/3rds of the way down Pyro describes the perk system which will HELP put people in the lesser used aircraft like 202's 109F's Spit V's etc.

 Pyro also stats that once 1.05 is done they will be concentrating on adding aricraft; "For the next version we're really going to work hard on getting more planes into the game. We'll need some perk planes to go with the new system, but we have a huge number of planes to do to cover all the things people want to do, escpecially when it comes to events."

 Now I hope this can satisfy you folks who have endlessly been insisting HTC is focusing ONLY on late war uber birds.

  -Westy

[gatt]

Thx Westy  , but to be honest again, I'd like to see a/c of 1943 against a/c of 1943, then the same for 1944, then the same for 1945 and yes, even for a "1946?"

I'm very curious to see how the perk system will work but, IMHO, realism calls for a good rollin plane set, a balanced arena and a/c that really fought each other in the Real Thing.

I'm afraid, and I'd like to be wrong, that everything else will turn the MA into a "what-if?" environment. Yes, yes, I should not rant before seeing how it will work, but the Real Thing is very hard to beat.

I hope you'll be right and me wrong. To dismount the perk system and estinguish all the flames wont be easy  

[janjan]

Hi,

I'd like see the date threshold for perk planes lowered to some allies/axis equilibrium point, maybe fall '43.

Later planes / rare planes requires various perk points...not a lot for spring '44 planes...more for fall '44 etc and ultimate to '45 planes.

Or the perk plane values could be polularity driven as well. More people buy one drives for the plane...more it will cost later.

Just my 2 penniä.

[Nuku]

With all this hoopla about perk planes, real-life availability, and balance in the main arena, it gives me hope that the offline  boxed sim will find a niche there.  

Without the need for "game play balance", an offline boxed sim could offer the ability to use the "uber" planes without anyone squeaking about its "uberness".

The heated debate over the late war planes tells me that it will be impossible for us to  fly late-war planes in a "hardcore" sim that's multiplayer.  

We need another "Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe"... hmm... I smell business opportunity...  The flight sim biz needs a good shot in the arm right about now...

[LaVa]

Well, i personally love the idea of the "perk."  First, you simply cannot add planes like the 262 to the plane set.  Every one would fly them, call it 262 high.  Ok, so how can we include planes such as these?  PERK EM.  The guys that dont fly much prolly dont care about the perk system and they dont care if they have to fight em, they just log on for an hour of 2 of fun.  Besides, the perk system will justify the use of the ENTIRE plane set, want a chance to get that 262, learn a plane that no one is using..ie zeke, 202, p47...whatever is not popular.  I am so tired of seeing the same planes nikis, chogs blah blah. I love the idea of getting rewarded for working som eone over in a plane that has half the guts the other joe is flying.  

Also, HT mentioned "winning the war?"  Just how does one country win the war??  

Anyway, i love it...love it!...bring it on!

[Hans]

Lava is right.

Perked planes will greatly widen up the range of airplanes that are worth modeling.

Right now, anything sub-standard to the three or four best airplanes are not worth adding to the game.  Period.  This is a FACT.

Look at the Zero or the C.202 for instance.  Do they EVER get used?

You need a system that allows more range to it if we ever want to get anywhere from what we have now.  We ARE stuck with 1944 airplanes if nothing is changed.

The perk plane system adds alot more advantages to the game than an Rolling Plane Set.  You never have to take somebody's favorite plane away from them for weeks at a time like the RPS did for instance.

I would have liked the perk planes being one time use weapons, though.  Even if you survive, any time you exit the field, you should loose the plane/points.  It would be like buying a ticket for a super ride, but when its over...its over.  It would also make those rearm/refuel points have a main arena use.

Hans.