New type training arena.

[bushaxe]

Just an idea. A second training arena with a relaxed realism setting. Keep g effects in but no stalls or spins, and the aim assist thing on at all times. Maybe throw in a couple of "missions" and some drones. Call it Basic training, and make the existing training arena Advanced training.
Reason for this is to introduce people a little easier to the pool instead of throwing them in the deep end.
If this is a bad idea or has been talked about and beat to death please forgive me as I have been gone from game for over 4 years due to WoW sucking me in.
I know a few folks who would probably like the easier transition to flight sims, but then again I understand the "don't teach them bad habits" line of thinking also.
Just an idea. 

[Noir]

stall limiter ?

[Ghosth]

I'm sorry but I don't see how that helps you learn to swim.

Granted you can splash around in the kiddie pool without drowning, but your not learning to swim at all.
Your just splashing around in the kiddie pool.

While the way AH does it may be a shock to the system, you either learn to swim, or you leave the pool.

Granted the learning curve is steep, but there really is no effective way to make it less steep.

AH already has stall limiter, autotakeoff, etc to help people get started.
The single biggest thing I've seen that people need at start is a good controller.

Those that come into the game with a positive attitude and a joystick are quickly out of the TA and learning.

[Dichotomy]

I have been gone from game for over 4 years due to WoW sucking me in.

Ewwwww... take a bleach bath

[DeadStik]

I understand the "don't teach them bad habits" line of thinking also.

This is where I stand and you even said it yourself! 

[Krusty]

I strongly recommend everybody play offline for a month or two to get the basics of flight.

There you can enable stall limiter in your flight settings.

There you can carefully learn the proper way of taking off, level flight, basic turns, etc... all without interrupting anybody else trying to "fly for fun" -- and you get the basics before you head in to the real training arena.


(*a month being on-and-off, a session or two a week, not like I mean 4 weeks solid flight time*)

[SectorNine50]

I was about to say, "oh my, a month is a rather long time...!"

In my case, I actually jumped straight into the online arena.  However I had previous experience from flight sims, so it wasn't a huge transition for me, but I'm proud to say that my first flight was off a carrier, and my first landing was on a carrier.   All done in an F6F (thanks to the TV show dogfights... lol).

While I think practicing before you join is probably wise for keeping a good score, I have to say the most fun I had when I was just figuring out the game was flying with other people.  I got quickly picked up by a squad (which was very nice of TUK, considering I was no good... haha) early-on and flying with them allowed me to learn SO much SO quickly.  Flew with them for about 3 or 4 years and learned something new all the time.

[Dahl]

I agree with Krusty and SectorNine50 on both counts...
 1.) learn the basic skills off-line for awhile  WWI 'Longbow' <splash>   
 2.) go on-line to learn the personal interaction skills <float>   
 3.) get accepted into a quality squad to fine-tune these skills <swim>   

disclaimer: still a newbie myself. lol


   

[LLogann]

BEST ADVICE EVER!!!

I strongly recommend everybody play offline for a month or two to get the basics of flight.

[guncrasher]

Play a month or two off line and if you have any questions tough luck. There's people that have been here for years and they have no idea how to fly a plane but they have fun. With ideas like this ah would not last long.

Semp

[The Fugitive]

Play a month or two off line and if you have any questions tough luck. There's people that have been here for years and they have no idea how to fly a plane but they have fun. With ideas like this ah would not last long.

Semp

...and some people find it hard to have fun when they can't get a plane to run down a runway strait so that they can take off. Some people find it hard to have fun when they fire all of their bullets at a bunch of planes that ALL seem to move much faster than theirs. Some people find it hard to have fun when they can't dodge a plane and get shot down everytime someone wizzes past them.

There is a lot to be said for flying off line for awhile to get the hang of the basics BEFORE you fly in the horde. Also, it is easy enough to get help here on the message boards for any question or problem you might be having. Fun is the number one idea of the game, but it's hard to have fun with the training wheels on.

[321BAR]

Ewwwww... take a bleach bath

LEEEERRRRROOOOYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

[guncrasher]

...and some people find it hard to have fun when they can't get a plane to run down a runway strait so that they can take off. Some people find it hard to have fun when they fire all of their bullets at a bunch of planes that ALL seem to move much faster than theirs. Some people find it hard to have fun when they can't dodge a plane and get shot down everytime someone wizzes past them.

There is a lot to be said for flying off line for awhile to get the hang of the basics BEFORE you fly in the horde. Also, it is easy enough to get help here on the message boards for any question or problem you might be having. Fun is the number one idea of the game, but it's hard to have fun with the training wheels on.

last year somebody told me there was a game similar to the old aw.  I d/l'd the game and started with their built-in tutorial, after about 2 hours of trying to fly from an airfield and a cv i finally quit and deleted the game.  I wanted to now what the game was like, but I never found out because i couldnt get past the tutorial to get into the main arena.  people who come to play the game just want to check it out first.  tell them that they have to spend 1 or 2 months off-line first and they wont even bother to d/l.

You play late at night, so you understand that late at night the main attraction is not the game itself, but the bs and kidding that goes around among all the players.  When that stops most people will log even if they're racking up kills.  and that is something you will never experience offline.

semp

[L0nGb0w]

I started out flying only bombers.  It was cool to be in control of that much firepower.  Bombers are a relatively easy way to learn how to take off, do gentle turns, navigate, and come back to base and land.  You also start learning about aerial gunnery from a stable platform.  Once I made the jump to fighters I never looked back but I'm glad I spent the time I did trolling the skies in a bus.

[Silat]

TURN OFF STALL LIMITER THE MINUTE YOU GET INTO AN ARENA FOR THE FIRST TIME.......