I have always believed that the base taking squads have an important place in the Aces High ecology. The base rollers are the first place of refuge for a high percentage of the brand new players. The base takers are the ones posting missions and welcoming all who wish to participate to join in on their fun...The missions give the new player a way to feel successful in this very steep learning curve game. Also, the contact with other players (many of whom are at a similar noob skill level), gives the new guys a way to make contact with other players more on their level....Ideally, these new players will spend a period of time in the base rolling squad, learning the basic mechanics of the game. Giving them just enough of a taste of success in the Aces High world that they eventually begin to seek out more. Eventually, hopefully, they realize that if they are ever going to truly become skilled pilots they are going to have to branch out and seek out training that the base rolling squad cannot or will not provide.
What Dave has said here is quite accurate, and precisely my experience, as I used to be a vTard when I first joined AH. I was looking to learn the mechanics of the game and they were the first guys to invite me aboard (vDogfite, right before vDallas took over) and teach me those basic things related to shutting down and capturing bases.
Beyond that, there was little more to learn from them, because of the narrow focus on base takes. This is what is perceived by the community as a lack of interest in “getting better” as others have put it here. In their own eyes, they are “good enough” if they close and capture bases. Keep in mind that is all they care about. They aren’t really looking for a fight – the easier the target, the better. However, they do occasionally start protracted fights, but this is the result of a failed mission, not a success for them. The desire to fight air-to-air, survive the mission and RTB is not stressed (by the officers I flew with, or especially vDallas), so it is not on the priorities list of things to learn. Believe me, I had many conversations about just this subject with vDallas and other squaddies. They briefly showed interest, allowed me to hold several training/practice sessions focused on wing tactics, attended by 3-5 guys for a short time, but the doctrines we practiced were never really used because they didn’t fit into "the mission profiles". Personally, I became discouraged by seeing my squad-mates die so frequently and in so large numbers. I was also disappointed by the lack of interest in improving this and focusing on surviving missions in addition to just flattening and capturing bases. Eventually, I felt I was being asked to be a member of a suicide squad where individual player growth didn’t matter much. So, I left.
I am sharing this not as an insult to the vSquad – but rather to make an important point: the vSquad is what it is, and it is not likely to change -- so stop complaining about them! I couldn’t change the culture from within, and you will not change the culture from the outside, no matter how much you complain, berate and laugh at them. They will only continue to interpret that as success.
To vTrooper: I know you draw some satisfaction by making your “enemies” complain about you. That is why you started this thread. You actually stated this as your goal in another thread about the Brigade. Sadly, many people do judge their success in this community by how much they are disliked. What I think you need to understand is that the vBrigade is not really as “hated” as you’d perhaps like it to be. I’ve flown with and against you, for all three chess pieces, for 3 squads and seen many sides of the equation. It is my conclusion that the vGuys are more "disrespected" (hence, mocked) than "hated". This is because most players realize that horde base-takes are usually unstoppable with the current game mechanics, and they only require large numbers with very limited skill sets to be “successful”. The fact that the Devil’s Brigade prides itself on reaching such a low rung of "success" in AH (while also dying in mass to do so) and that you also see this derision as a sign of success, is what really makes you a topic people like to poke at.
I don’t think that hordes are really good for the game (and could be reduced with aircraft-per-base limitations), but I do agree that the AH ecology needs its prey and its predators alike. In that sense, under the current game design, the vSquad serves a purpose: they’re the pack animals, a herd continuously roaming the AH landscape “feeding” on base after base -- largely unstoppable due to their numbers. But, they in turn feed the predators, who get to cull the herd of their weak and their lame. (Hmmm… I may have to save that line as a response to my next PM from “You shot down vDallas”.
)
At any rate, I respectfully suggest we let the Brigade play the game how they wish. Laugh at their methods if you must. But, ultimately, you get to decide for yourself if you want to be a predator or if you want to be the prey.
<S> Brigade
