Ranking system...... funny business or fact....

[Dadsguns]

Here are some things that seem odd about the ranking system in this game.

1. Its been said that the Rank system is used to track your individual progress which I would agree but it leaves questions as to why its:
   a. Made public in a way that its numbered 1-50 for top pilots
   b. Promoted on your main page for significance to new prospects
   c. Given credibility by allowing only highest ranked players to control cv's

2. All the higher ranked players usually only play for the first couple of weeks and maximize padding score as quickly as they can during that time.  Some only play for the first week only.  Nothing the rest of the month, no activity for 3 of the 4 weeks.
   a. Inactivity from these players are not considered in their score like detracting from their score?
   b. Players that DO play the entire month get no credit for doing so, knowing that by playing they are risking their rank?
   c. I would think this would promote less fighting than what the intent is wouldn't you?

I consider myself an average player, good looking, but average.    
I have experimented with rank and have noticed that a player like me will never achieve the rank of #1 due to playing the entire month, not based upon any particular skill set compared to another, but merely because I play more often than another.  

Why not add a time that a player must play each week before it can be scored. ......?

Please feel free to correct me in my assessment, or if you take it personally flame away.

[Beefcake]

Dadsguns my best advice is to never bother with the ranking system. Over the years I've found the less you pay attention to your score the more fun you have in the game. Personally, score means nothing to me when it comes to how good a pilot actually is since the system can be falsely manipulated.

[Dichotomy]

Rankings are like my ex wives.  Fairly irrelevant to me.  I prefer character or at least characters

[Vudak]

I agree with Beefcake, though I suppose if you keep your head, you can have fun doing just about anything in this game.

I would suggest asking yourself if you would like a better rank (if you would), do you want it so that YOU can feel a sense of accomplishment, or do you want it so WE will think you accomplished something?

If you're looking for the latter, rank is not the way to go...  If you want the former, then have at it

[WWhiskey]

the only legitimate issue with rank is CV control, those with better rank (although no more qualified)  can take control of a CV,  this could be modified to add the fact that the player in control of the CV has to be on the CV!
 other than that,, why would anyone care if someone wants to play for score or just play to have fun?  

[Dadsguns]

I agree with each of you.  I am not going to stoop to that level for score, that was my point, in order for that to happen I would have to give up what I consider to be fun, not going to happen for something that carries no merit.

However, the CV control is a very valid point.   

[warhed]

One of the top ranked guys, SHawk, I can vouch he flies almost every day of the tour.  If score doesn't matter to you, why care so much?

[Flench]

Dadsguns my best advice is to never bother with the ranking system. Over the years I've found the less you pay attention to your score the more fun you have in the game. Personally, score means nothing to me when it comes to how good a pilot actually is since the system can be falsely manipulated.

I agree . I think in order to have fun in this game you have to forget about the ranking system and just have fun  ..

[zack1234]

rank lol to get a good rank don't play the game for fun  

[DaCoon]

Hey Dads,  good looking??????   J/K

As far as rank goes, I don't even look at look at my overall rank as important anymore. Since joining the 412th I really don't do anything but fighters. I'll probably never see my name on the home page, but as long as I have fun with my squaddies and some good fights I'm happy enough to pay my $14.95/month.

If you wanna go Rook and hang with some really class acts, we'd be glad to have ya.     

[FiLtH]

  I think CV control should goto the folks with the best CV defense score. 8" and 5" gun scores and LVT captures.

[redman555]

When I Used to play I never paid attention to scoring system.  If you get BnZed 5 times in a row, or vulched on take off, that doesn't show how good of a pilot you are.

-BigBOBCH

[grizz441]

1. Its been said that the Rank system is used to track your individual progress which I would agree but it leaves questions as to why its:
   a. Made public in a way that its numbered 1-50 for top pilots
   b. Promoted on your main page for significance to new prospects
   c. Given credibility by allowing only highest ranked players to control cv's

What's wrong with it being public?  Every game I have ever played in my entire life has some sort of leaderboard, why would this be any different?  Us humans are competitive and most enjoy taking a gaze at how they stack up compared to everybody else, even if they will not admit it on the bbs.

2. All the higher ranked players usually only play for the first couple of weeks and maximize padding score as quickly as they can during that time.  Some only play for the first week only.  Nothing the rest of the month, no activity for 3 of the 4 weeks.
   a. Inactivity from these players are not considered in their score like detracting from their score?
   b. Players that DO play the entire month get no credit for doing so, knowing that by playing they are risking their rank?
   c. I would think this would promote less fighting than what the intent is wouldn't you?

These observations are completely unfounded. If you only play for part of the month you will not accrue enough points and your rank will drop off.  Even if someone playing in a particular category shows a good rank early on, by the end of the month his rank will be dropping off due to points.  When I play i typically play the entire month, tally all of my couple hundred sorties in fighter and let the chips fall where they may.

Not sure about the less fighting...Timid players are timid regardless.

[grizz441]

When I Used to play I never paid attention to scoring system.  If you get BnZed 5 times in a row, or vulched on take off, that doesn't show how good of a pilot you are.

-BigBOBCH

No, but it shows that you have a nervous tick and can't stop taking off from a base that is capped.  OR, that you have poor SA or let yourself get BNZ'd.  I could do the same thing when I fly.  I could let myself get killed every single time due to my own negligence and say that it all means nothing because "I'm really good and u all know that so this all means squat" or I can fly smart with a sense of purpose and rank high as a result.

[Lusche]

Here are some things that seem odd about the ranking system in this game.

2. All the higher ranked players usually only play for the first couple of weeks and maximize padding score as quickly as they can during that time.  Some only play for the first week only.  Nothing the rest of the month, no activity for 3 of the 4 weeks.
   a. Inactivity from these players are not considered in their score like detracting from their score?
   b. Players that DO play the entire month get no credit for doing so, knowing that by playing they are risking their rank?

For the LW main arnea, your assessment is wrong.

Most players "up there" do play the whole month. Actually almost all of them do play much more than the average AH player. You can get into the top 50 with relatively little total effort, but if you want to get to overall #1, you have to play a lot:




I doubt there has been any overall #1 in the last years who did not play way more than the average cartoon pilot.


Because in fact inactivity does detract from your score. If you are not playing, you can't get the necessary points to stay ip there. Kill Points make up 20% of your fighter score for example. This doesn't play much of a role in an underpopulated, low-action arena like EW (with only 553(!) total kiss for the whole arena in last tour), but in the LW it starts to "hurt" score.


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Oh, and a general observation (NOT directed toward any previous poster in this thread!):

The ones who keep talking most about rank & score are those claiming not to care about it. 

(And most of the time, the things they say about aren't very correct either