Midwar player numbers and mass deffection from Bish to Nit

[grumpy37]

The number of Bish players in MW has gone down significantly in the last year or so.  Most have switched to Nits, a few to rook causing what was already an unbalanced arena to be so lopsidded there really is no point in playing anymore.  I dont play much anymore myself because of this and will actually be canceling my account next month because of it.  I have no desire to play in the MA.  Can anything be done to balance the numbers better in the smaller arenas? 

[Lusche]

The number of Bish players in MW has gone down significantly in the last year or so.  Most have switched to Nits, a few to rook causing what was already an unbalanced arena to be so lopsidded there really is no point in playing anymore.  I dont play much anymore myself because of this and will actually be canceling my account next month because of it.  I have no desire to play in the MA.  Can anything be done to balance the numbers better in the smaller arenas?  

I haven't played a lot in recent month in MW, so I can't comment directly on that - but in my experience, players are much less country loyal in the minor arenas anyway... for very different reasons...

But to answer the question: I doubt much could be done for a 'better' balance with arenas that are that sparsely populated in the first place, but still work under very the same 'landgrab' game mechanics as the LW arena. For example you could put in much more severe ENY limits, but that could easily cripple all activities /'battles' in a matter of minutes, just because two or three players a logging in or out.

[sparow]

Take my example: to find a fight in EW or MW, I must be on the lower number side or, at least close to some action. That means that it doesn't matter the chesspiece I'm playing for, I must look at the roster and choose what suits better my objective.

I was playing for Bishops for years. Yes, for years. Not because of any kind of loyalty to the chesspiece but just because... All my known foes where on the other sides, many players I knew were on my side. There was a habit. Also, I was more of an AvA regular, not visiting much the Main Arenas. Then, I got a bit tired of it and I started to visit EW and MW, leaving LW for tank mayhem or instant gratification...

What happened in EW and MW was that, as the numbers dwindled numbers got so low that it was very easy to get unbalanced. The 5 or 6 versus 2 is annoying but when the fight is on the other side of the map... it becomes obvious that you have only one option: you milk or you change sides.

Also, I have encountered more often the milk-runners and land-grabbers attacking the lowest number country - preferably with no opposition - for points and glory. Again, you could choose to be on the same side, play alone on the other side of the map, go to another arena or, as I discovered, change sides and create some kind of opposition.

And you know what I found out? I have fun. I have lots of fun. Most time I am desperately defending a field, sometimes I attack and attempt to capture bases in numerical inferiority, by surprise, break adversary's momentum... I do have fun.

Defection? Maybe. I would call it evolution, perhaps. In order to survive, you must evolve. And if that means changing sides, we do that. Itīs a game, not life. And you change a lot in life, too.

Cheers,

[Lusche]

Also, I have encountered more often the milk-runners and land-grabbers attacking the lowest number country - preferably with no opposition - for points and glory. Again, you could choose to be on the same side, play alone on the other side of the map, go to another arena or, as I discovered, change sides and create some kind of opposition.

And you know what I found out? I have fun. I have lots of fun. Most time I am desperately defending a field, sometimes I attack and attempt to capture bases in numerical inferiority, by surprise, break adversary's momentum... I do have fun.

Great if it worked that way.

I faced the same situation but it played out differently: I was very much willing fighting the 'horde' trying to milk the undefended side (a daily occurrence), but their answer was simply to attack the other country. When I switched sides, they simply changed target again, and I was stuck while they effectively avoided having to fight.

I finally gave up at that point. "They" won (and gloated a lot about it openly), but in the end, EW numbers fell off even more...

[sparow]

...but their answer was simply to attack the other country. When I switched sides, they simply changed target again, and I was stuck while they effectively avoided having to fight. I finally gave up...

You are very right, it happened to me too, several times. Quite annoying. But luckily, I have not long playing periods so, if it doesn't work for me in EW or MW, I allways can try to find some combat in LW. I miss AvA. But I cannot fight there without icons. No CPU, no RAM, no GC, no eyesight... perhaps less skill, too. It's a gruesome torture and I only get frustrated. That's why I stopped going there.

Cheers, hope to see you in MW or EW Lusche, you're allways a nice fight!

[AKP]

I have seen many former "Bish" players in MW on knights now... have heard the "rumors" as to why they left, but thats it.  Its nice flying alongside guys that I used to fly against.  I do see your point though Grumpy... without those guys on the "other" side... it makes MW even more lopsided that it was.

I "mostly" fly knights... MW and LW... not for any chess piece loyalty... but because my friends and squadmates fly knights.  Allbeit I am not in MW nearly as much as I used to be.  I enjoy LW too.  

MW used to draw some decent numbers.  But it hasnt for awhile now.  Personally... if I log into MW, and see the sides badly unbalanced in my team's favor, I just go to LW.  I have no desire to "milkrun" or "toolshed"... and if I am going to help roll a map, I would rather do it fighting.  

Dont get me wrong... when I first started playing, I went through the milkrun phase.  I just grew out of it.  Its much more satisfying to have some good fights while trying to take bases... even if I lose them... than it is to take down unmanned ack and towns.  Especially now that I can actually hold my own in a dogfight LOL.

Each arena has its jerks... LW has them... so does MW.  I am sure EW does too.  They are on all sides... knight, bish, rook... stupid and mean are no respecter of teams.  Its those type of personalities that has hurt MW more than anything else.  If you make 4 or 5 people mad enough to change sides or arenas in LW... no big deal.  But in MW...  where at any given time no side has more than 12 on it... 4 or 5 people leaving or switching is a gamechanger... and gets boring quickly.

Grumpy... I always enjoyed flying against you.  It would be a shame to see you go... especially over this.  I am sure if you stick around things will balance out some.  But in any case... no matter what you do... dont let the play style of someone else ruin what you enjoy. 

EDIT: To your question of what could be done for force a balance in MW or EW?  I will toss  out a couple of ideas:

1) Cut MW and EW down to two teams.  You can shut off a country in the arena settings easily.  While there is always the possibility that it will still be lopsided, it wont stay that way long... especially if you:

2) Have ENY stay in force even if a side is at zero players.  Want to milkrun?  Fine... but you will have to do it in TBM's and Jeeps.

Just ideas...

[Shuffler]

The number of Bish players in MW has gone down significantly in the last year or so.  Most have switched to Nits, a few to rook causing what was already an unbalanced arena to be so lopsidded there really is no point in playing anymore.  I dont play much anymore myself because of this and will actually be canceling my account next month because of it.  I have no desire to play in the MA.  Can anything be done to balance the numbers better in the smaller arenas? 

No. I have preached about it to those who do not try to balance the sides. I have told them what will happen. It was well on it's way and is about done now.

When you see 15 knit against 2 bish and no rooks it pretty much paints the picture for you. To top it off the 2 bish make a stand, the mass of knits will go attack the rook side that has no one on.

I all but stopped going in there. Most of the folks in there do not care about the game. They are in there to farm perks. Many will tell you just that.

MW used to have 60 people in it. It has the best planeset in the game. (IMHO) RIP MW.

[bustr]

Isn't two teams the AvA which dosent have bad fights generaly when the sides are not 10 to 1.

[pangea]

No. I have preached about it to those who do not try to balance the sides. I have told them what will happen. It was well on it's way and is about done now.

When you see 15 knit against 2 bish and no rooks it pretty much paints the picture for you. To top it off the 2 bish make a stand, the mass of knits will go attack the rook side that has no one on.

I all but stopped going in there. Most of the folks in there do not care about the game. They are in there to farm perks. Many will tell you just that.

MW used to have 60 people in it. It has the best planeset in the game. (IMHO) RIP MW.

Exactly.......I used to spend most of my time in MW but not anymore.  Too bad too.  It was a lot of fun in there.

[AKP]

When you see 15 knit against 2 bish and no rooks it pretty much paints the picture for you. To top it off the 2 bish make a stand, the mass of knits will go attack the rook side that has no one on.

There are those of us that fly knights in MW that get really annoyed by this.  I can think of several people... that still play there... who will say openly "We should attack rooks... there arent any on."  Some of us refuse to do it... we either go where the fight is (since both sides are usually attacking knights) or we leave and go to LW.  And its not just a "knit" problem either... all 3 sides do it.

It has the best planeset in the game.

Agree...

[AKP]

They are in there to farm perks.

Perks need to be specific to the arena you earn them in... in other words... perks earned in MW, show up in MW only... perks earned in LW... show up in LW only.  Would stop "perk farming" immediately.

[Butcher]

Interesting I don't see any real change in the bishop numbers, its tough to get an estimate, but in the last few days I checked a few screenshots from a year ago and I don't see any number changes.

[CDR1]

I still enjoy mw because the guys you end up fighting seem to be above average, and if you want to get better i figure fight better sticks. many times players switch sides to balance the gameplay, in fact i have recieved a pm when login in to switch sides to balance play.  as time has gone on i find myself enjoying early to mid war planes better. you can up a hurri 1 or am2 in late war, but you really have not long to live. it would be nice if more players took the positive view on the lw/mw areanas more often, some of the best evenings fighting take place there. pehaps if more folks played for the joy and less for the score things would work better.

[Ack-Ack]

I still enjoy mw because the guys you end up fighting seem to be above average,

 

I don't know if you're being sarcastic or making a joke, in either case that's a funny comment.

ack-ack

[grumpy37]

Ive been playing for 10 years or so now and have always been a bish.  I have changed a few times just to be on the other side but not for longer then a few hours.  MW has become a 2 front "war", if you can even call it a war anymore, because of the 15v2.  What i find funny and annoying at the same time is nits can have a 10-2 advantage and they will send 4 sets of lancs to level a Vbase so there is no chance of the 2 defending.  Pretty sad if you ask me.