The last couple days I've noticed a few times when countries have been highly unbalanced, but the arena cap has not allowed any new people to enter to balance the sides, creating ENY issues, as well as a general unbalance. As a Knight I've been on both sides of this the last two days, so I've given it some thought.
Now, the important thing to remember about this suggestion is that it is unlikely to even be capable of implementing in the current Aces High, but perhaps it is worthwhile to consider for future editions.
Currently, a pilot is associated with 1 country in each arena. When a pilot joins, an arena (or this might be client side) could check to see if they are joining on the side of a country that has insufficient numbers. If they are, then they are allowed in. Note this is only when an imbalance is in effect, otherwise, normal arena limitations are in effect. Also useful in this would be if the arena login screen displayed the current division of people by country. But now for an example that might explain my suggestion better.
Example: (actual numbers seen)
- Orange LW Arena has 229 pilots split up 45bish/106knight/78rook and is limited to 100 pilots by arena balancing.
- Blue LW Arena has 84 pilots split up 27bish/19knight/38rook and is limited to 150 pilots by arena balancing.
The definition of balance I am using in this case is so long as each country holds ~33% +/- 7% of the total pilots, its balanced.
We have three people,
Barry (Bishop),
Noel (Knight),
Ronnie (Rook).
Noel decides he wants to enter Orange Arena, but is not allowed because the arena is above its arena balancing number (due to more in Orange than Blue) AND because he is a knight who currently hold almost 50% of the numbers.
Barry decides he too wants to enter Orange. Barry is allowed because the Bishops are currently the team with the fewest people, and the numbers are heavily unbalanced (Bishops holding only 19.5% of total pilots in the arena).
Ronnie decides he wants to enter Orange, but is barred because the Rooks, although at a numbers disadvantage, are not considered imbalanced at 34% of the pilots.
Now
Ronnie enters Blue arena. He is allowed in because the arena balancing limit has not yet been reached, even though the Rooks currently have the highest numbers.
Noel can also enter Blue arena, but he logs instead because he wanted good furballs and doesn't expect to find it in Blue.
Orange Arena remains closed to Rooks and Knights until the arena balancing number is increased (because Blue arena has filled up) OR until their country has the fewest numbers AND an imbalance still exists.
The Orange arena presented has Bishops at ~19.5% of total numbers. This means up to 20 Bishop pilots could log on to the arena (if no Knights or Rooks log off). This would give them 65/249 pilots -OR- 26%, meeting the 33+/-7% criteria. Once the countries all meet that criteria, the regular arena balancing number kicks in and NOBODY will be allowed in until Blue arena fills up or enough from Orange arena log off.
I know that is a bit complicated and convoluted, but if there are any questions about it, I can try to explain it better. Keep in mind, I'm still limiting the size of the arena, its just getting relaxed in order to balance out the sides a bit in cases of extreme unbalance. Also, my balance criteria of 33% +/-7% was somewhat arbitrary, and could be set to whatever HTC wanted.
~Swatch
