Bring back the Zone Strat.... please!

[Colt44]

I was wondering if there would be any more strat/ factory clusters added in the future... For those that remember the "old style" of zone strats, it added another dimension to the game play.  Sure, some would say the strat clusters or strat zones encouraged milk running, ...but having b-29s drop one bomb on 10 undefended town squares from 30,000 ft still happens....so the milk running still goes on....and someone will always find that angle.  But attacking and defending strats was always a great time..and even better when killing strat did something to tick the other side off.  At one time in Aces High I, you could even take fuel down to 25%... now, Im not suggesting we go back to that lunacy...but... 

Defending and attacking Factories and other Strat was what WWII air conflict was all about...  Bring back the zone based strat!  The return of Strat will give bomber and Jabo fans options and make the overall game play more that just Furball or base capture.   The game should allow resupply of the strat clusters, be heavily defended by Ack and, most importantly, mean something when strat is destroyed.  There should be several Zones staggered throughout each country, initally making some more accessible than others....which may even lead to changing the overall strategy of base capture.

Right now... we get one strat cluster, 6 sectors back from the origninal front lines.  To bomb said, you fly for over an hour... only to find it defended by 17,000 Me163's (that just upped two minutes ago) when you finally get there.  Please.......give us some more options.  As always, thanks for your efforts to improve an already outstanding game!

[thndregg]

Bring back the zone based strat!  The return of Strat will give bomber and Jabo fans options and make the overall game play more that just Furball or base capture.

Agree. Also, such strat has to be vital & tangible enough to be defended and attacked- as in it would be disasterous for the defense to lose it, and it would be worthwhile for the offense to bomb it- hence, a fight. Both the zoned system we had and the current system in place now fail to do this. I found this out during previous B17 missions to the central strat complex. We got there, we bombed it, THEN the enemy caught up to us as we egressed. Add to that, not long after we bombed it, it was back up to near full capacity as we made our exit & landed.

I wish I could come up with a solution and not just spout off observations.

[Jayhawk]

+1, for something.

I think there are many good ideas out there to fix the strat system.  I like the ones that mix the old and new systems.  However, at this point, I would happily take a switch just back to the old strat systems vs. the new one.  The cities still look incredible, that's why I want to keep them around, but they severely damaged a lot of the fun for many bomber guys.

[The Fugitive]

This is one thing that DID bring out the defense in the old days. When an attack was started on a "zone base" it brought out a bigger defense crew and some great battles happened more often than not.

[B4Buster]

I do miss making Jabo runs on strats. I don't care about score, but I agree it added to the list of things you could do to have fun. I do enjoy high alt strat runs, but the NOE B-25 or Mossie runs are missed.

[Colt44]

T-egg got it right.... I hate bringing up a "problem" without offering a possible solution.... Im asking for ideas on how to make the zone strat have more impact, without making it a major detriment to the overall goal of being able to win the war.  I would like to see that destroying strat makes taking bases easier, but not Easy...if you know what I mean. 

Just some thoughts:

Fuel Stat   =   75% of fuel factory down -- slows effectiveness of resupply to affected zone fields and drop tanks disabled.  100% down= Slow resupply to AZF and 75% fuel to AZF until resupplied back to 100%.  Compound that with all fuel depots taken down at a airbase making the field operate at 50% fuel.   Hard to do...but a great goal.

Ack strat -  Activation range of auto acts should be affected as ack strat is destroyed.  When ammo supply is reduced, IA Gunners will be forced not to waste ammo..waiting for higher % shots, thus reduced range of field ack.  75% reduction in range for 50% of ACK factory destroyed and 50% reduction for 100% destroyed.

Radar- either reduced range or go back to only being able to see only friendly icons or darbar as zone radar is taken down.

Troops-  Resupply time reduced and/or reduced number of troops being carried in the m3/ goon etc. 

Factory strats can be resupplied by IA train, veh and barge as well as by m3 and goon for perks.

p/s Jayhawks also correct...the cities are awesome..you did a great job on them hitech corp....give us a chance to ruin them.


Looking for ideas, comments or concerns from the membership and from the company.         

[MAINER]

+1

[The Fugitive]

T-egg got it right.... I hate bringing up a "problem" without offering a possible solution.... Im asking for ideas on how to make the zone strat have more impact, without making it a major detriment to the overall goal of being able to win the war.  I would like to see that destroying strat makes taking bases easier, but not Easy...if you know what I mean. 

Just some thoughts:

Fuel Stat   =   75% of fuel factory down -- slows effectiveness of resupply to affected zone fields and drop tanks disabled.  100% down= Slow resupply to AZF and 75% fuel to AZF until resupplied back to 100%.  Compound that with all fuel depots taken down at a airbase making the field operate at 50% fuel.   Hard to do...but a great goal.

Ack strat -  Activation range of auto acts should be affected as ack strat is destroyed.  When ammo supply is reduced, IA Gunners will be forced not to waste ammo..waiting for higher % shots, thus reduced range of field ack.  75% reduction in range for 50% of ACK factory destroyed and 50% reduction for 100% destroyed.

Radar- either reduced range or go back to only being able to see only friendly icons or darbar as zone radar is taken down.

Troops-  Resupply time reduced and/or reduced number of troops being carried in the m3/ goon etc. 

Factory strats can be resupplied by IA train, veh and barge as well as by m3 and goon for perks.

p/s Jayhawks also correct...the cities are awesome..you did a great job on them hitech corp....give us a chance to ruin them.


Looking for ideas, comments or concerns from the membership and from the company.         

While all this looks great for a "win the war" style player, a furball couldn't care less about the war and so isn't interested in defending a strat so he has enough fuel to furball.  You have to allow people to play the way they want to.

[SmokinLoon]

T-egg got it right.... I hate bringing up a "problem" without offering a possible solution.... Im asking for ideas on how to make the zone strat have more impact, without making it a major detriment to the overall goal of being able to win the war.  I would like to see that destroying strat makes taking bases easier, but not Easy...if you know what I mean. 

Just some thoughts:

Fuel Stat   =   75% of fuel factory down -- slows effectiveness of resupply to affected zone fields and drop tanks disabled.  100% down= Slow resupply to AZF and 75% fuel to AZF until resupplied back to 100%.  Compound that with all fuel depots taken down at a airbase making the field operate at 50% fuel.   Hard to do...but a great goal.

Ack strat -  Activation range of auto acts should be affected as ack strat is destroyed.  When ammo supply is reduced, IA Gunners will be forced not to waste ammo..waiting for higher % shots, thus reduced range of field ack.  75% reduction in range for 50% of ACK factory destroyed and 50% reduction for 100% destroyed.

Radar- either reduced range or go back to only being able to see only friendly icons or darbar as zone radar is taken down.

Troops-  Resupply time reduced and/or reduced number of troops being carried in the m3/ goon etc. 

Factory strats can be resupplied by IA train, veh and barge as well as by m3 and goon for perks.

p/s Jayhawks also correct...the cities are awesome..you did a great job on them hitech corp....give us a chance to ruin them.


Looking for ideas, comments or concerns from the membership and from the company.         

Do you know how the damage done to the strategic targets/industrial complex work now???  If not, may I suggest you head to the AH Trainer's website and read up... oh wait.... never mind,  I dont think it has that info. 

Actually, there is a formula that to my knowledge has not been cracked yet, regarding how the damage to the strategic targets/industrial complex works.  These things I know: the City is the key. Without doing substantial damage to the city all the factories will repair themselves rather quickly.  I've taken a stop watch to the strat targets before and noticed that the more damaged the city is the longer the damage to the other factories is evident.  Also, the more the factories are damaged the longer the default repair time is for the airfields and vehicle bases.  Meaning, if the ammo factory is down to %35 percent, the standard repair time is LONGER than 45 minutes.  Just how long I do not know as I've gotten multiple time stamps when monitoring the process.

In short, if you want the enemy to feel a pain in their arse when it comes to the ammo, fuel, ordnance, AA, radar, or troop availability, then take a few of your countrymen with multiple flights of heavy bombers and get the city down as far as can be, then hammer the ammo factory (or radar, fuel, grunt, AA, etc), and know that you've just lengthened the enemy's default repair time on that specific supply. 

[Colt44]

You have to allow people to play the way they want to.

True!   Not trying to change the furballers or thier game play...just saying that adding a subplot to the game for the strat players would be a nice and welcome (re-)addition.   

[ScottyK]

  Just an idea, change the % of bases taken to win the war and decrease it by say 5-10% and add strat destruction to 20-30% down in order to win the war.   Bring back the zone system but add zones for fuel, ammo, radar etc.     Flame  on.

[Jayhawk]

While all this looks great for a "win the war" style player, a furball couldn't care less about the war and so isn't interested in defending a strat so he has enough fuel to furball.  You have to allow people to play the way they want to.

I don't think there are a ton of people who just want to furball, most people just want a fight.  The strat cities push bombers higher and higher.  I think the closer targets will pull many bombers down, making it more enticing for people to engage the bombers.

I'm aware you may have just been responding to Colt's post, but I think my points valid.  Those who want a quick fight, aren't going to climb up to engage people attacking strat.

[SmokinLoon]

 Just an idea, change the % of bases taken to win the war and decrease it by say 5-10% and add strat destruction to 20-30% down in order to win the war.   Bring back the zone system but add zones for fuel, ammo, radar etc.     Flame  on.

I like it.  HTC, what say j00!?!?!?   

[Tom5572]

+1 I miss the old strats

[Chalenge]

How about adding bearing factories so the perk planes and vehicles would be somehow limited if that get hit flat?  That would make a great 163 defended asset.

I would really enjoy seeing a thndrEGG mission of 17s and B-29s to the strats where the 17s hit the factories and the 29s carpet bombed the city. With a little effort we could see how well the intended system works but in the end escorting and attacking the massive raids really are the best re-creation AH has to offer. Even over the squad ops scenarios in my opinion. Adding more targets like Colt is suggesting is a repeat suggestion of a lot of people but the whole idea is valid. I like it because instead of having to attack thirty bombers escorted by fifteen various fighters there would likely be more smaller missions. Breaking up the horde type missions is something that would be very welcome especially by the furballers (you would think). The zone concept Im unsure about.