Add .Duel <Player Name> Command

[rkanjl]

Add a .duel <player name> command to allow private duels.  Icons for dueling aircraft could be changed to identify them as being in a private duel.  Guns from planes outside the duel would be unable to fire on the privately dueling aircraft and vice verse.  Could possibly be able to set dueling parameters such as 2 out of 3 or best of seven.

[Murdr]

• Some sort of Duel Mode system.  Explained what I mean by that numerous times, so I guess that one is a dead end.

Originally posted by NoBaddy
What could work is to have an AW style "duel mode" available ONLY in the DA.

 Been asking for such a thing for years.  Even suggested alternative spins on it, like using the radio channels to set up an "instance only" killshooter_off.

By the way, as Ive been saying since last June if we had a "duel mode" similar to what was in that other game, then I could happily continue my uses of the DA, without regard to what the rest of you socially challenged idiots want to use it for.

• Considering the arena cap system, it would be cool to have a CM .ann command to announce the impending start of an special event in the TA or SEA.
• A duel mode system that would allow concenting players who join the duel mode to be subject to Killshooter=0 & PlaneGunLethality=1.0 between the dueling players.

I was thinking of a way there could be a self policing DA, but I just couldnt see it without some new coad.  So here goes.

Arena setup
KillShooter ON
Duelmode ON (new parameter)
All airfields are country 1 (doesnt include V bases)

How it would work
To disable killshooter with another player, just tune to the same number vox channel.  There is already a game function in place to change the icon color of the person you are tuned with giving you a visual confirmation of who is able to engage you.  For more flexible functionality, a 'duel' icon type would be a nice touch.  To close an obvious loop hole, there would be a delay between the time a player de-tuned, and when they are disengaged from 'duel mode' (ie. you cant just retune in the middle of a fight to keep from being shot).  Another nice touch would be a request/accept command to automatically tune you both to a random channel.

Pros

Materially uninterupted:
1v1's
KoTH's
2v2's (with the use of .wingman to hilight 'friendly' icon)(another nice touch would be multiple wingmen for larger duels)
Round robin dueling
Private lessons
Private squad functions (especially if squad channel counts as duel mode)

No vulching (if you take off in duel mode in front of someone that will vulch its your bad)
All loopholes left by using 2 or more countries are closed.
If someone is bothering you or your party, retune, there are many channels.
You always know who is able to engage you.

Cons
Other than valued coad time, I cant think of any.
Feel free to make a cons list.

Been asking for some type of "duel mode" since march '06 with suggestions along the lines mentioned here. 

Now that there is no HTH option, a stronger argument might be made for it.  A tool specific to the DA like this would reopen the door for inpromptu private "events" without uninvited interference.

That was the nice thing about AW duel mode.

add 'duel mode' ala airwarrior (meaning those locked in duel mode are in their own little paralell universe, and immune to outside interference) and I like it

Between the elimination of HTH, and the current settings in the open arenas, it is impractical to arrange private events for small groups.  There are plenty of instances where groups of players would like to get together in an environment where they are not subject to griefing.  These instances do not always rise to the level of trying to vie for an SEA time slot that does not conflict with its normal uses, and still align with a time that both a CM and attendees can make.

One versatile solution would be some sort of player initiated duel mode.  The Air Warrior example comes to mind.  In that example, when two players entered duel mode and spawned,  they were effectively in a parallel virtual reality.  They could not see or interact with others in the arena beyond text, nor could the rest of the arena see or interact with them.  They were immune to griefing.  Furthermore if several players entered duel mode with one individual, all those players could see and engage each other.  I know this instance had been frequently used in AW for tournaments, and private koths.  Understandably, the AH game architecture may not be conducive to doing something exactly like the AW example, but surely there is some way to enable players to initiate an instance that will exclude unwanted interference in at least the dueling arena?

Another option that comes to mind is enabling a form of HTH with a higher roster cap that would be available to paying subscribers.

It appears they are going with the last quoted sentence above...

by Pyro   RE:  Development Update October 28, 2008
We want to bring back the old 8 player H2H but expand it both in the number of players and with additional gameplay capabilities.

[phatzo]

I've got my guitar. now who's got a banjo