What do you consider 'skill'?

[kilo2]

I think it plays a part but not really a large part. I just upgraded from a laptop that could hardly push the game to a desktop that plays at full settings and I have to say that it does have some effect.

[mtnman]

Am I the only one that thinks computer performance plays a big part in "skill"? 

No, there are swarms of folks who think it matter a whole lot!

I don't see it as playing a part in actual skill at all.  I think someone with a cruddy joystick can move it just as skillfully as someone with a top-o-the-line stick.  I've seen guys play basketball in sneakers, and they whupped the heck outta guys with Nike Airs.

Now, as far as perceived skill, sure it could make a difference.  Someone flying with an old, spiky stick won't fly as smoothly as someone with a brand-new top-o-the-line stick.  But then again, depending on skill, the guy with the old, cruddy stick could easily whip the snot outta the guy with the entirely new, top-o-the-line rig, let alone the guy with the better stick...

Personally, I switched over from a piece-of-junk computer, and switched from 28K (yes, 28K, not 56K...) dial-up to high-speed about a year ago.  My skills didn't change, and my overall performance in the game is the same.  As a matter of fact, from a "stats" perspective, the switch was seamless.  The scenery just looks a whole lot better...

So in the end, I feel that if you have "adequate" equipment, then it (equipment quality) doesn't matter much at all.  Inadequate equipment may "hide" your skill level, but top-o-the-line equipment won't "improve" your skill at all.

[mtnman]

Imo, some players think 1v1 skill is the end all be all and negate other very important factors.  Here are the most important skills that will dictate 'success' which in itself is a subjective term:

1v1 Ability:
Practicing 1v1s will obviously teach you ACM in a very controlled environment which can then be applied to more dynamic MA situations.  Imo 1v1 takes the most fundamental ACM knowledge to be successful at, but isn't necessarily the most important skill in the MA in being successful.  Being a 1v1 artist doesn't necessarily mean you can handle a 1vX, since a 1v1 requires no global awareness other than the fight at hand.

Aiming:
Probably just as important as ones ability to 1v1 is how well you can aim.  Think of situations where you start off in a 1v1 with an enemy on the fray of icon range.  You miss a couple easy shots and all of a sudden it's a 2v1.  You kill the first guy on your third try but now the other con has you saddled and dead to rights.  Had you killed that bogey on the first try, you would have been able to engage the 2nd con when he was 3k out.  Getting ganged in the MA is directly correlative to one's failure to dispose of threats in a situation they deemed safe.  The speed at which you eliminate threats in the MA will ultimately dictate if you get ganged.

Situation Awareness:
(a)
This is the most instinctual and experience based skill set of them all.  Decision making in a multi plane environment.  With every decision made comes Risk/Reward.  Reward can be defined as a kill, risk defined as death.  Accurate risk/reward assessment is something that can only come with experience.  Aggression can also be defined as ones decision based on their risk/reward assessment.  For example, if one engages four cons despite deciding he has less than a 10% chance of survival, this would be insanely aggressive.  On the other side of the coin, if one avoids an engagement because he has a 10% chance of death, this would be insanely passive.  All of these variables can be juggled into maximizing an individuals killing efficiency.
(b)
Another important aspect of SA, the rate at which you check your views.  How many times/minute do you check all your views?  This number is directly correlative to how clear your understanding of your surrounding is.  You can never check your views too often and if you consistently are missing threats, you need to increase the rate at which you check your views.

Teamwork:
How well does one set up bogeys for his allies and how well does he use his allies for easy kills?  You could call this being an 'opportunist', knowing the exact time to engage a con when he is clearly preoccupied or in an very unfavorable position, but this is actually a skill, being able to see this stuff.  

Boom and Zoom:
How well does one retain advantage against overwhelming odds below him?  Anybody can dive in and kill someone, but I evaluate one's B&Z ability in being able to kill bogeys below while being able to keep an advantage over the swarm.  Diving in, turning, and getting ganged would be an extremely poor use of this altitude advantage.

Dogfighting:
Being able to stay alive in a dogfight where multiple cons are trying to turn/B&z you.  I would argue this skill is actually the pinnacle of being versatile in all other sets, 1v1, Aiming, SA, all of which are equally important to being adequate in this skill.  You can be a great 1v1 pilot but end up ultimately being inadequate in a dogfight due to lack of SA or aim.  There's nothing great about saddling up a bogey just to get picked by one you didn't see.


These are the skills of a fighter as I see them in the MA.  Imo, the ones who are most versatile in all the skills listed are the better pilots, not just being great in any one category.  What do you consider in defining one's skill?

Nice summary Grizz.

[CrAcKeR]

As was pointed out to me by Drewster after I shot him and his 2 buddies down in a 3v1, I have no skill.  As such, whatever I consider to be skill is a moot point since I lack the basic qualifications to pontificate as to what I consider to be skill.  Maybe one day if I ever achieve such a level that can be considered to be 'skillful' will I be able to enter into this debate.  I have a feeling though that I will never achieve these heights in my lifetime.


ack-ack

Wow, that didn't take you long AKAk to hijack the tread and turn it into ALL about You
As I've said before you have nothing to contribute. This is lameness at it's greatest

[WMLute]

Am I the only one that thinks computer performance plays a big part in "skill"? 

Up until about a year ish ago I flew on a few diff. systems that were quite low end.

IIRC I have flown AH with 256 or 128 textures with most sliders set to performance for the bulk of my tenure here.  (think I hit 512 textures briefly until AH got updated and was back to 128)

So no...  I don't think equipment makes you "better" or has anything to do with "skill".

[Masherbrum]

Wow, that didn't take you long AKAk to hijack the tread and turn it into ALL about You
As I've said before you have nothing to contribute. This is lameness at it's greatest

1neverhung.   You're still making wine with your "you skipped over me tears".   I know, leave the forum for a couple of months, come back with another clown as an avatar.   No one would suspect a thing.

[uptown]

  that's it! I'm selling all this CH crap and going back to the etcho sketch moniter and mouse!  

[Masherbrum]

Grizz, excellent write up (summary) of ways to play AH.   

Most won't "get it" and choose not to develop a single thing "skill-set wise".  Instead, they'll join the amoebic, mindless whorde and "count on someone else to send them 6's, etc".   Or, some folks in "long time squads" will continue to run when 1 vs 1, because they're buddy dove to the deck or was shot down" (AOM not included, they will fight).   

Regardless, excellent OP and thread material.   

[uptown]

 

[BaldEagl]

Skill?  After 14 years I still haven't gotten past making stupid mistakes like stalling, augering, colliding, ripping parts off...

I guess I know I'll never have "skills" so instead I'll just try to have fun.

Off to join an "amoebic, mindless whorde".

[BiPoLaR]

If he is having fun, why should he have to take a step back from the game. He obviously enjoys what he's doing, otherwise he wouldn't have posted this thread.  Just because you needed to take as step away because it became more than just a game doesn't mean everyone suffers from the same thing.


ack-ack

How i love to read your baiting attempts. Ahhh AKAK your bait is starting to lack
Oh and when you try to bait, at least add truth to it. Then they'll bite
I still love you anyways <3

[SEraider]

I nominate Grizz for "Fighters" bootcamp.

Very true on the 1 v 1.  I do well in 1 v 1 situations but I developed tunnel-vision in the MA.  SA has improved for me but I need to improve that.  I still believe 1 v 1 DA training is a great place to start, the grow from there.

Very true on aiming as well.  BTW, the scaling did improve for me bud. Thanks.

TonyJoey, good add-on the E management part.  Is that part of SA argument though? Interesting.

[thndregg]

I'm not very "skillfull" in a fighter. I can hold my own in a bomber- for a while. Never had the time or the inclination to improve on much because there's real life to deal with.

[33Vortex]

Skill?  

How about this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNQCFk09Kho

 

[JunkyII]

I nominate Grizz for "Fighters" bootcamp.

Very true on the 1 v 1.  I do well in 1 v 1 situations but I developed tunnel-vision in the MA.  SA has improved for me but I need to improve that.  I still believe 1 v 1 DA training is a great place to start, the grow from there.

Very true on aiming as well.  BTW, the scaling did improve for me bud. Thanks.

TonyJoey, good add-on the E management part.  Is that part of SA argument though? Interesting.

I am surprised he isnt a trainer yet honestly.


Great write-up,
Having good SA can make anyone look good as far as numbers go. I changed my style of flying for a tour and my K/D K/S went up just by playing alittle more conservative and not upping at vulched bases .

When im in the MA trying to better my flying, I like to put myself at a disadvantage and try to fight my way back. I look to drag people away from the main furball to have some 1v1 time(especially higher cons) . My mindset is sort of like when Im training in the military or how I used to practice for Lacrosse "Train like your actually fighting a war" "Practice how you play". Make it hard, try to fly against people better then you, take on people from a disadvantage.