More set up options

[jimson]

For CM controlled arenas.

The ability for CM's to select a list of terrains that will rotate in a specific order with custom 2 country setups (tables) that can be pinned to the selected terrains and will hold during the reset.

The ability to select different criteria for winning the war. For example: number of enemy destroyed, percentage of strats destroyed, certain bases captured, combinations of these.

The ability to enable a finite number of certain plane models to model attrition. For example: 20 ME 262's enabled at base A1, once they are used up, no more are available.

I believe capabilities like this could really help an arena like Axis vs Allies find it's niche as something in between a Special Events arena and a 24/7 open arena.

[icepac]

Was there ever a "rolling planeset" in the axis vs allies arena with something like a "two week war"?

I would think tha the A vs A arena would have featured planes that faced each other.

As it stands......we now have two WWI arenas and both are near empty.

[jimson]

That sort of thing has been done many times, but it is all manual.

The problem with AvA is it can't be run like an MA because it can't have random rotation of maps and set ups, any win the war reset just screws things up.

It can't be run like an SEA because it is a 24/7 open arena.

It could really use some features like the above so there are some objectives, the maps can be rolled by meeting objectives and it could use some different war winning parameters for some flexibility in running campaigns.

[Nr_RaVeN]

+1000

[USRanger]

 

[jimson]

While the arena can never be expected to be a main focus of the player base, just by virtue of the fact that one cannot always fly his favorite plane there, I believe it is more than the limited two country planeset that keeps the arena from reaching it's full potential.

Of the two types of CM run arenas, the AvA needs more tools to be able to function correctly.

The SEA can operate with limited tools because it is only open for one night events that can be structured and overseen by CM's.

The AvA needs to be able to run on it's own as a 24/7 open arena.

By virtue of the fact that a win the war reset function cannot work within a system of custom arena tables and map usage, the arena has a tough time finding it's place in the community.

The AvA is and as far as I know always has been missing the one key element that allows an arena to function on a 24/7 basis. An automatic basic strategic objective.

With out that, it will always be one of two things, a limited planeset dueling arena or a quasi special events arena, no more.

While an objective of base capture may be the best strategic element in a densely populated arena, a smaller arena might benefit from some other parameters for winning the war.

Even designating number of enemy destroyed as one factor could allow the furball to contribute to an overall strategic game.

The arena could also benefit from a modified perk system. If the CM's could price their own perk rides on a setup by set up basis, the points awarded for war wins could sometimes be spent in the arena.

Some set-ups could not use perk rides, like Battle of Britain, unless the pure historical concept was modified to allow a perked Spit 5 or 109F, but on several mid to late war set-ups perk rides could often be added.

The question is how difficult and how much resources would it take to modify the code to allow these CM options?

I would contend that while CM run arenas will never be HTC's bread and butter there would be some benefit to the company in directing some development to it.

One would simply be customer retention. More options = more reasons to stay.

Another would be by coding more flexibility in arena game play set up, the creative use of such by CM's could serve as a beta test bed that could lead to ideas that could enhance the game overall.

[Nr_RaVeN]

I wonder what HTC would think of the Idea?

[trap78]

We all know that a 24/7 historically based arena is just one part in an overall combat flight simulation. It offers an additional style of game play that supplements the larger main arenas.

The AvA has a volunteer staff that puts a lot of time and effort into the day to day running of the arena and works along side the development group using player’s ideas to improve game play.

The tools Jimson mentions in his post would allow the CM’s to take game play into areas that they haven’t been able to before; expanding what the arena has to offer. The AvA also has a dedicated player base at least equal to if not larger than the early and mid war main arenas. All of these things combined make the case for the continued development of the arena.

Jimson has listed several items that he feels would further this development and would like to know which are feasible, which aren’t and why. Seems reasonable enough.

[Chilli]

   Nicely put Jimson.  The ONE thing standing in the way of a strategic advance in map progression, with the current objective / rewards (win the war) game engine, is the inability for CMs to have a predetermined map sequence (along with 2 country, limited planeset paramaters).

So, in effect, placing WW1 aircraft in the AvA for a ONE week setup, just highlighted a system that is handcuffed by holes in possible objective based play.  At least in the AvA WW2 ground equipment could be used to capture bases.  But that seems to go against everything that the AvA tries to offer in terms of historical accuracy. 

I believe that many players, not only the Special Events players, are looking for something new and different to rally their countrymen around.  I mean I played an event that had a base siren as one of the objects (objectives) to be "captured/ destroyed".  I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and that bugger was hard to locate, but one has to question whether or not we will always have this one system designed for a 3 sided war, or will new TOOLS be developed?