Suggestions...

[Cheese]

Newbie here, not just to AvA, but AH in general, also I am an Fighter Ace refugee - been flying FA for 10+ yrs, the last 3 primarily in our Historical Arenas as AH_Cheese^TO. 

I flew in AvA for quite a while this afternoon, and my first impression is that I like the country vs country matchups.  I have always been particulary fond of the BoB 109/190 vs Spit matchups.  The all planes for all countries in the MA just doesn't quite 'feel' right for a sim.  It's great for learning AH and how it's played, but IMO the immersion isn't quite there.   I think that was one of the strengths of FA - the country vs country matchups.

My squad and several others primarily flew in our Historical arenas, and we even had a player development team that worked with one of the Ketsujin employees to plan the rooms and also what you would call the Scenarios and Snapshots.  I think we would definitely be interested in the AvA rooms.   We struggled with the same problems you guys currently are - great rooms, fun, but we couldn't get the players 'away' from the MA.  We struggled and tweaked victory conditions, plane matchups, GV/Tank objectives, etc.

Then we started adding in smaller maps to concetrate the battles, and that really helped draw in some folks.  On some nights we might have 20 vs 20 on a small map and the battles were incredible.  Also, in some of the rooms, we added some 'helps' back in, which in AH might be icons or distance.  What I would often find, is that if I just entered a room with only 1 or 2 other pilots, within 15 minutes, there would 10 or more.  Most folks want action, and they don't want to fly around for 20 minutes, run out of gas and bail w/o seeing another plane.

Which brings me to my suggestion - I think a lot of ex-FA types might be interested in the AvA for the same reasons I stated, but won't because of low numbers, and no icons.  We are struggling to learn AH as it is - to remove the enemy icons makes it even more discouraging.  Is there any way to have 'Daily' room setups vs weekly?  Then you could have one room one day with icons, the next w/o?  I know I would fly it more often, and maybe you would pull some folks from the MA.

I understand it's fairly new, and you guys are still working out pros and cons, and I don't want to come in here and start crabbing about stuff. I just wanted to offer up my suggestions.  As a matter of fact, everyone I have met, both in the TA, MA and in AvA have been very helpful.

Thanks for all the help so far,

Cheese

[gyrene81]

Hi Cheese...suggestions are always good although you may not get the answers you're hoping for. Work is being done to bring some smaller maps to the AvA arena (there is just one)...in the mean time what has to be done is limiting active bases to concentrate the action in a specific area. Usually the active fields will be posted in the setup announcements you find in here and in the arena message when you get on the server...sometimes the ball gets dropped but whoever is on will usually tell you what bases are active.

All setups run for a week...unless one of the admins gets a wild hair and decides to ad lib something while a setup is on the server...and most of the time it's historical operations, sometimes it's fantasy setups. Things are getting tuned to try and ensure every setup used has the capacity for a lot of action withouth having to spend an hour trying to find it.

Keep your eyes out for smaller maps...it's very tedious work and requires attention to details then the maps have to go through an approval process to have HTC put them on the server.

As for the no enemy icons thing...it is one setting that will not change any time soon since it is what truly sets the AvA apart from the rest of the arenas.
I know you would be surprised at how easily it is to adapt. Situational awareness and a good setup of your views is essential...we have people playing in the AvA on laptops of varying sizes and desktops with large monitors...it's not that difficult and I'm a noob to AH. If you're worried about scores, there are none in the AvA. Whatever trepidation you have about no enemy icons and short friendly icons...will pass once you put some time in the environment.

[jimson]

Hi Cheese, was fun flying with you.

The no enemy icons setting was put in a couple of months ago and has believe it or not created some interest in the arena that wasn't there before.

Yes, before there were usually zero in the arena.

I don't believe there will be support to put them back in for general game play.

It is in fact one of the reasons most cited by people who enjoy playing in the arena.

One of the staffers may be able to work with you on a certain night but we will have to see what they have to say here.

 

[Chilli]

Welcome Cheese,

Whenever you bring up icons in the AvA you will hear SA (situational awareness)    You have hit the nail on the head, and not everyone is in agreement with icon settings.  The lack of enemy icons will have more appeal with players that are flying together and comfortable with communicating.  Convincing players that it is going to be fun, while his 6 is being lit  by a menace the size of a mosquito (the insect kind) that disappears just as quickly as the tracers which punctured his fuel tank, and destroyed his control surfaces is a hard sell.

The kicker is, that actually if he is able to find the humor in his own cartoon demise  and learn to check the clipboard map often and assume that every speck of dust on his screen is about to  toss hot lead his way, soon it will be his turn to hose the other guy. 

Your suggestions are welcomed.  I just hope that you found more fun things there than not.  The guys there a really a great bunch and have a wealth of AH2 and historical knowledge.  To me, it sounds like a natural fit for someone with y(our) interests.

Good advice from one of them:

1. Your range radio is your friend.  Establish your presence in the area by making a general announcement call over the range radio. I.E

This is Forkster flying a F4F in 10-10-5 at Angels 10.  Any friendlies in the arena?

Response:Forkster, this is Oldman, hey I'm at 10-10-3 in a TBM Oscar Tango Delta. I see an enemy aircraft heading your way - maybe angels 5

2. When you see another aircraft, challenge their identity if you cannot make out its type or nationality.

This is Forkster flying 10-10-5 in F4F. Aircraft 10-10-2 please identify.

Response: This is Jaeger in a Zero, I need help - have a bogey high at 10-10-5.  Must be one of those moron Gunfighters again
(Of course, as an enemy, I cannot hear him - but he does let his peers know he's being engaged)

3. If player doesn't respond, do a check-6 to see if they light up and for the pilot to 'wake up'.
(I'm making the assumption that icon settings and check-6 functions are decoupled from one another).

4. If check-6 is negative, announce that you're engaging an enemy and location (you may need help/backup)

Forkster is engaging enemy fighter at 10-10-2

Response: This is Jaeger. Fighter is in - I'm at 10-10-2 angels 5.  I don't need help - it must be Oldman.

5. If you see fighters mixing it up, use your radio to determine what is going on.

This is Tank in sector 10-10-1 - any friendlies in the area need assistance. Cancel that - engaging target at 10-10-2



What you're noticing is that the more you talk - the more info you share with one another.  Range is great for helping coordinate efforts with no icons. 

[Dawger]

While it may seem contradictory, no icons is actually helpful to the new guy. It really levels the playing field in several ways.

The first is that it makes it possible to get the jump on an inattentive pilot. Here is where new guy usually have an advantage. Normally they are paying a lot more attention.

No icons also make it possible to disengage from most fights. If you realize you are in over your head soon enough there are some simple techniques to create enough space to disengage that just don't work with icons on.

No icons makes the size and type of aircraft you fly important. Learning what the enemy looks like can become another easily acquired advantage for the new guy, especially if you take time to review the skins available for your opponents.

[321BAR]

not only is no icons helpful by leveling the playing field, it can also help the aging MA pilots to relearn situational awareness...I use the AvA to help my SA for the MA. I've racked up alot of kills i wouldnt have noticed in the MA now thanks to the AvA. I just wish i could login to the AvA more often without seeing nobody there

[captain1ma]

can someone recommend a good dry cleaner, i need to get these bus tire tracks off my back!

[jimson]

can someone recommend a good dry cleaner, i need to get these bus tire tracks off my back!

I don't get it, how were you thrown under the bus?

[TheBug]

I'm just disappointed it wasn't me.


I guess I owe somebody a drink. 

[Cheese]

Update...

I just spent a couple hours in AvA and absolutely loved it.  Historic plane sets, knucklebiting action, and good sticks and good folks.  At tops there were only about 8 or 9, but it was more than enough for some intense action.   

One thing I did notice - is that padlock wasn't working.  I would eyeball a bad guy, then I'd lose him when I would switch views...not very realistic.  This definitely gives the IR guys an advantage.   Any way to enable padlock so my 'eyeballs' can follow him?

Thanks, and i'm definitely looking forward to more of the same.

Cheese

[USRanger]

Was fun flying with ya Cheese.

[gyrene81]

Update...

I just spent a couple hours in AvA and absolutely loved it.  Historic plane sets, knucklebiting action, and good sticks and good folks.  At tops there were only about 8 or 9, but it was more than enough for some intense action.   

One thing I did notice - is that padlock wasn't working.  I would eyeball a bad guy, then I'd lose him when I would switch views...not very realistic.  This definitely gives the IR guys an advantage.   Any way to enable padlock so my 'eyeballs' can follow him?

Thanks, and i'm definitely looking forward to more of the same.

Cheese

Those padlock views are offline mode. If you're talking about switching views in a bomber, it's not realistic to be outside the airplane. Track IR only gives you more of a panning system of looking around, no advantage when switching between inside and outside views on a bomber.

[Cheese]

Gyrene - I'm not talking about the targets..err...bombers, I'm talking about the standard padlock views available in every other arena except AvA.  Very useful in 1v1's or 1v2's.   

Cheese
AH Fighter Pilot in Training

[gyrene81]

Gyrene - I'm not talking about the targets..err...bombers, I'm talking about the standard padlock views available in every other arena except AvA.  Very useful in 1v1's or 1v2's.   

Cheese
AH Fighter Pilot in Training

ooooo k...  I use the hatswitch on my stick...it has 8 directions that it can change the direction I'm looking at...I also have a button on my stick that adds another 4 angles of viewing when I use it with the hatswitch...and I don't use the panning or snap to settings. In options/preferences/map keys/view there are several "padlock view" settings that are not active on any online servers...so I guess I'm somewhat confused by your use of the word "padlock".

[Cheese]

Gyrene - thanks for replying and the help.

This is not the hat views.  From the Quick Reference....

Padlock………………………………………F11
Padlock Center Target…………….SHIFT TAB
Padlock Next Target…………………….....TAB
Padlock Toggle Friendly………..….CTRL TAB

Using the hat views makes me 'lose' lock on the bogey when you switch views.  I would like to the try the Padlock view in AvA to see if helps me keep my eyes on the target.   It's a smoother transitision (like IR) and you would not have to 're-acquire' the target everytime you switch views.

Cheese