Ignore this post.
Aces High has become chaotic from what I've seen. With so many squads, and solo pilots, most pilots just go around, looking for a huge furball to get into, just to score a couple of cheap kills over and over again. Most days their is no attempt to defend, capture, or take control of the maps. Even though we have squads, their is no use of team work between squads, or the use of strategy in the game. I am submitting a request for the Idea of a command structure. My idea is to have one person in charge of a country with Generals in charge of the Theater of War (Zone system). Next a lower ranked individual in charge of a smaller section of the zone, followed by Base commanders, to squads. ((this idea can be changed to better the use of command.)) This is just a idea that right now isn't fully developed. I would like your opinions on the idea, and how it can be better, and Please leave smart bellybutton remarks out.
As others have alluded and you may have started to realize, the MA is not a singularity of strategies. The MA, itself, is comprised of several different sub-cultures that co-exist in the same arena. Some co-existing a little better than others.
If your BBS login is an indication of how long you've been playing, then you have several phases of game to endure before really getting a good picture of what Aces High is all about. Some learn it faster than others.. some may never learn.
GhostH commented in another thread about observing the 'life cycle' of the AH player.. I wonder how his breaks out...
I had been playing a couple years, myself, before I understood that people intentionally seek out furballs to play in them. A quality that still escapes me, but I respect their desire to partake in that practice.
Others are content with living to camp a V-spawn. Again, not my cup of tea, in general, but another facet of the game. Now.. if you're camping a spawn point a squaddie is upping, prepare to be egged..
Others go off and bomb strats for no real good reason other than it's cool to blow up buildings.. and do so with other squaddies that are there to protect you or help in the cause.
Same goes for base capture. Crippling hangars and defenders to gain virtual real estate. ( is that a paradox? )
CV hunting
Puffy Ack target practice
HQ busting
Picking
And those who search for the one vs. one fights.
I'm sure there are others, but I think you may start to get the point.
Some days things click. A group gets together and starts some good momentum. Missions are built, filled, and succeed. The wave rolls and all those involved have a great time.
Other nights, not so much.
Some days it happens early, other days late.. you may not be present when it happens.. it may not happen that day at all.
About all you can do is increase your odds of being there when it happens.. or be involved in making it happen when you are there.
Get in a squad that has the same values you do, or start your own. Respect other squads and work with them to form comraderies ( sandbox 101 here ) and a good repertoire.
Be patient. A good system will take a few weeks to get in place.. it's very likely it won't happen overnight.
But you can do it. It just takes work.
In the meantime, learn to recognize the different sub cultures and respect them. If you build friendships with them, maybe they'll respond when you call out for help later.