Bring back the Zone Strat.... please!

[guncrasher]

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.

do you want massive raids or smaller missions?


semp

[macdp51]

+1 strat system  - there have been a lot of good ideas around this 

HP

[Selino631]

..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... 

+1

[The Fugitive]

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.

oh I agree. I think we need the old strats back so they are spread out again to bring more fights to them. On top of that we need the old zones back as well where you had a zone base" that was part of the supply system to the other bases in that area. Fights over a zone base were well fought for.

I think more and more of the players are of a mind for quick action, it's a gamers attitude. Personally you'll almost never find me over 12k. It just takes too long to get up there as it is. High alt fighting isn't going to draw big numbers. Many a time I've seen on the radio a report 20k+ buff groups heading for strat and everyone just says let them go, can't reach them in time, or not worth it to climb up there.

Having the strats speard back out with the zone bases being worth something "might" bring more fights. only way to know is to try it.

[Raptor05121]

+1 bring back the old strats, HT!

[Volron]

Don't take away the Capital though.   A mix would be great.   For the larger maps, the Capital would sit near the HQ as it would when it was pushed back.  Zone strats would take care of the outer fields.  For smaller maps, Zone strats are best, Uterus being an example.  Just don't forget to add railyards to the mix.

[Jayhawk]

I'd like something of the effect that attacking the rear city strat will impact the entire country, but on a very small scale.  Similar to now, there really is no noticeable effect for small attacks.  Any real effect would require a large scale mission.  However, I'd like to take away the ability to re-supply the strat.  If a mission gets in and hurts strat, it is usually re-supped and back to normal in a few minutes.

In addition, there would be smaller forward strategic targets that would effect smaller areas, but to a larger effect.  Basically, a zone system with the addition of the rear city complex.

[Lusche]

I'd like something of the effect that attacking the rear city strat will impact the entire country, but on a very small scale.  Similar to now, there really is no noticeable effect for small attacks.  Any real effect would require a large scale mission.  However, I'd like to take away the ability to re-supply the strat.  If a mission gets in and hurts strat, it is usually re-supped and back to normal in a few minutes.

It is usually not resupplied. I have yet to see anyone doing that, which does not mean that it doesen't happen, but it is very rare. Having watched the strats very closely during the last weeks, I have not noticed any down time shorter than could be explained by the auto resupply. And in fact, you can't resupply the City at all.
For both potential attackers as well as defenders one thing can be said: No one cares for it. Actually, only very few players do know how the strats are working at all (I am also suspecting that this had been true years ago for the 'old strats', they were probably mostly attacked for points). The factories pop up again quickly, just because nobody cares to bomb the city first.

Almost all attacks I have seen by other players were totally uncoordinated and hitting the wrong targets, dispersing the bombs seemingly random all across the factories. Of course this has no effect.

Today I did a few runs on rook strats. First I bombed the City to 24%, then dropped the ammo factory to 48%, before I had to abort my mission because wife was hungry (imagine that!).  Even with the City not being really down (I messed up one attack a bit), the factory stayed at this reduced level for two hours.

A small squad of only four capable players could do a lot of damage by combining starts attacks and porking front line bases...

[Chalenge]

do you want massive raids or smaller missions?

As escort the one and defender the other... so both. Right now its almost impossible to get people away from the furball. People that claim the high altitude fight isnt fun are dead wrong! Those are the very people that will never be able to fight at high altitude because they never do it and probably dont kill many bombers either way. Properly positioned an escort can get kill after kill and as a defender against bomber streams its the most historical method of battle in AH. In that regard AH is actually quite backward as I believe there were many more bomber streams attacked than there ever were of furballs.

[Lusche]

. Properly positioned an escort can get kill after kill .

There is only one thing more target fixated than a vulcher capping a base: A fighter slowly creeping up on a bomber's six 

[thndregg]

How about adding bearing factories so the perk planes and vehicles would be somehow limited if that get hit flat?

Now that is a thought.

People LOVE their perk rides. Perk rides are valuable.

I would defend my factory associated with perk rides against an onslaught of attackers.

I would most likely want to attack an enemy's factory associated with perk rides.

This concept is similar to how valuable the HQ (country-wide radar) is. There is usually quite a fuss to "keep the lights on" by the one side, and to shut it down by the other. Sounds like a fight over something very valuable to me.

[mthrockmor]

+10

Some great ideas. Right now if you drop the strat below a certain percentage all the radar goes out. Have zone strats and if you blast it below a certain percent all the radar goes out in that zone, no drop tanks, fuel at 75%, bomb loads cut in half, perk planes double...cause some havoc in that zone requiring active defense of the zone strat.

I think this is a great idea!

Boo

[thndregg]

People that claim the high altitude fight isnt fun are dead wrong!

Well... here's my slant on that. I find I've consistently been terrible in a fighter at high alt duking it out with someone else- just something about it, I suck . I don't especially enjoy playing that aspect myself (sorry bud ).

I do enjoy flying the bombers in that roughly historical manner however, basically furnishing the means to create that high altitude fight.

[mthrockmor]

I see us in the lunch room, Skuzzy and Pyro the headmasters watching helplessly as we all start to chant "Zone Strat, Zone Strat, Zone Strat..." They try to maintain order, threaten us with lossing recess or something but to no avail. They finally give up and look at each other with lost horror...what to do?!

I'll tell you what to do, bring back the Zone Strat dang it!!!

Boo

[guncrasher]

well the way I look at it if high altitude fighting was more fun, we would have more people doing it.  people dont go out of their way to avoid having their "fun" in ah.

point is you cant force people to fight the way you think it's it's better.   you guys want some high alt bombing by all means go for it.  hell have plenty of escorts, i support your right to do it.  but just dont expect me take 20-25 min to climb way up there because you are bored with your flight.  if bombers all of a sudden start limiting the plane set more than eny does, then I will just log and so will lots of people.

you can call me anything you want but the facts remain the same.  I dont come here to fly historically accurate missions.  or fly airplanes in their historical accurate way.  I mean I dont lanstucka buffs or anything like that. I come here because it's fun to fly around and pretend to be pilots.  I find it fun to talk to other good friends and drink a few and talk some bs about how we killed horde after horde all by our lonesome.  but mostly because i have fun my way, not yours.  just like I dont expect you to have fun my way, I dont expect you to force me to fight your way.  




semp