If HTC had an issue with NOE then he could simply enable radar at all heights, if he had an issue with missions, he could delete the mission editor. I seem to remember that he isn't backwards in going forwards and will make changes as he sees fit.
The problem is not NOE's. They have their time and place and are legitimate tactics. What people complain about are not NOE missions per. se. NOE is there for a reason, and is a wonderfull addition to the game. It has it's place.
As do large groups of planes (i.e. hordes). I have no problem with large groups of players getting together to accomplish a goal. In fact, I both applaud and encourage it.
Nor does anybody have an issue with missions. Missions are wonderfull things that should be encouraged and we should have more of.
What people ARE debating are tactics and gameplay style. If your normal modus operandi is running large NOE horde missions to attack bases that have nobody defending, then I am talking about, and to you, in this post.
(liken it to candy, ice cream, and doughnuts. all three are wonderfull things, but if ALL you eat is candy, ice cream, and doughnuts... well, you tell me... would that be healthy?)
which brings me to........
All I see is whining from certain minority sections of the community about the way other sections of the community want to play. The players don't own the game and have no rights at all, none what so ever. HTC sets the rules and we play our game according to them, Period.
I would be curious as to how you came up with the concept that the majority of AcesHighs player base are in favor of avoiding conflict. (which is what this debate is about when all is said and done, avoiding fights). I firmly believe that most people that fly AcesHigh enjoy Aerial Combat (the point of the game). The LAST thing a noe hoard mission does is encourage combat. The players in the mission don't get to fight (no nme to fight) and the defenders (if there are any) don't typically fight back much because let's face it, who wants to go up against 20 to 1 odds?
The base got captured sure, that did happen.
But if you are playing AcesHigh to only capture bases that are undefended, heck, just play offline and capture all the bases you want. I am sure we could even talk the CM team into setting up the SEA during off peak hours so you can attack and capture all the ghost towns y'all want. Possible talk HTC into creating a Weenie Arena. Set it so only one country has planes, and let large groups of toolshedders swarm undefended base after undefended base and "Win da' War!" for the Weeine side. (this is actually not a bad idea come to think of it)
As has allready been stated (by the games creators on the BBS), the point of the game is Aerial Combat. Base captures, bombers, ground vehicles, task groups, are all in the game to promote and facilitate Aerial Combat. Why anybody would pay $14.95 for a game based on combat and then do everything that they could to AVOID combat is beyond me. Seems a bit silly.
Not that I am saying that those types of missions don't have their place in the game. Nor am I saying that everybody should just furball all day long. It is taking such things to an extreme that is detrimental. (please see the candy, ice cream and doughnut example above) I would write a huge wall o' text post in a thread about how we should all only Furball. (against it of course)
I would also point out that the games creator HAS chimed in on this issue and he feels that the style of gameplay we are discussing is detrimental to the game. He flat out said that. He even said it in reference to the BoPs in a thread about their gameplay style IIRC. (i'm sure Murdr will be along to post the quotes for me) Why do you think the arenas were split in the first place? It is this exact same unhealthy behavior that caused it.
Are you REALLY saying that it is ok to abuse NOE's, missions, and hoards until HTC finally removes them from the game?
I GUESS you could keep chucking gameplay down the toilet and wait for HiTech to change the rules and setup (AGAIN). I suppose we COULD all wait for HTC to have to step in, but to be honest, we shouldn't have to.
Some stuff is just "obvious". Maybe not to you, but it is to most. This is something that the community should deal with and fix.
And the "fix" is quite simple actually, and is a whole heck of a lot more fun that toolshedding bases.
Run that huge hoard NOE raid, just do it at a base being defended, or has a chance at being defended. Don't find the most out of the way isolated field to attack.
Horde up. Throw 20-30 planes at an opponents field. Just do it vs. one that has a large enemy dar bar over it.
I fully understand that it is much more difficult to capture a defended base, but at the same time, it is sooooooooo much more rewarding when you do finally achieve that goal. As was stated by TRALFZ, you earn that capture. EVERYBODY has more fun because of this tactic. The defenders have a blast, as do the attackers. It is much more satisfying in the end and it promotes a healthy game and community.
In closing I am NOT saying hordes, missions, NOE, or NOE horde missions are bad things. I AM saying that they can be detrimental to the game if they become the "norm" as opposed to the exception.
(edit: I would also like to add that the large "noe undefended base hoard" types use arguments such as "tactics" and "working together" to try and legitimize this style of gameplay. I want to point out that those SAME "tactics" and "working together" are what is used when you attack fields that have enemy at them. It is just HARDER to do, and most of these squads lack the actual grasp on "tactics" and ability to "work together" to be able to pull off this type of capture with any degree of success and frequency. (which I find ironic) I am 100% positive they do it occasionally, and I am also sure that they have had some small success at it. I also know they have had 100x more failures than success. Which is why they end up attacking undefended bases more times than not because they are really not very good at all capturing a field that has even odds at it and when all is said and done they really don't have a grasp on how to use tactics or work well together to achieve victory conditions when the odds are not stacked in their favor)
