What does "Skill" mean to you?

[Torquila]

What does the term "Skill" mean in your mind when you consider Aces high?

[zack1234]

nothing 

[Torquila]

Well; I was thinking more like.

Some people see "Skill" as something that transcends plane/battle experience; an extention of their very being/ego. Where as some people might see skill just an after effect of accumulated plane/battle time. Sort of thing...

Anyone else?

[zack1234]

Having fun is the main skill in this game to others with egos skill is very different and is just a manifestation of their out cartoon plane land lives

I don't tune to 200 and refrain from replying to moody pm's because I view this as a skill

I think Midway has great skill because he enrages large parts of the community and at the same time gains great admiration for his positive attitude and fun

Sec was good yesterday

[Guppy35]

Skill is something I've developed in 15 + years of cartoon air combat, that has allowed me to keep playing and maintain a happy marriage

[SlipKnt]

No...   ...this list is not a jab ant ANYONE!!!  These are some of the things that have gotten me killed.  As you can tell, I have no skill (well, not much skill).

 

1.  Knowing how to HO without dying.
2.  Knowing how to pick.
3.  Knowing how to turn fight.
4.  Knowing how to convince (on channel 200) the guy you are fighting they are doing it wrong and get them to come back and fight the wrong fight in the plane they are in.
5.  Knowing how a map works (which bases to take and in what order).
6.  Knowing the plane you are in and the plane you are up against.
7.  Knowing how to score kills against superior numbers and somehow land them there kills.
8.  Knowing how to kill GVs for air or land (or from the 8 inch guns near a beach).
9.  Knowing the concept of the game (play your way and have fun doing it).
10. Knowing how to bomb manually (Most FSOs and AvA).
11. Knowing how to shut down any size airfield, white flag the town, and get troops out...   ...all in one pass.
12. Knowing how to fight a 5 to 10 minute white knuckle, sweaty dog fight, and win or lose, salute your opponent regardless of the outcome, then review the film (win or lose) to see how you can improve.

There are many perceptions of skill in this game.  I hope I identified some of them.  

I don't want to hihack the thread, but as an example...   It is always funny to me to see someone that got killed by someone elses HO, call out the HO person as a no skill person, even if that HO person is still flying and the complainer is in the tower.  HOing is part of the game (unfortunately), it will never go away.  I try to never HO on the first 3 merges unless I am WAY outnumbered.  I sometimes line up like I am going to HO so I can see how to avoid getting hit from it.  The simple fact is, if you can HO someone and live through it without damaging your plane, that is skill.  If you HO ram, then that (in my mind) is no skill.  But, if I get HO rammed while defending, I am assuming I am close to troops and that was a last ditch effort to keep me from getting close to their troops.  In that scenario, it would make sense.

Anyways, that is my 2 cents.

 

[SlipKnt]

Having fun is the main skill in this game to others with egos skill is very different and is just a manifestation of their out cartoon plane land lives

I don't tune to 200 and refrain from replying to moody pm's because I view this as a skill

I think Midway has great skill because he enrages large parts of the community and at the same time gains great admiration for his positive attitude and fun

Sec was good yesterday

BINGO!!!!

 

[Debrody]

Skill is:
giving up the advantage, fighting the opponents fight but still winning.
There are a couple out there thinking the same way and i LUV playing with them.

[Rob52240]

Skill is:
giving up the advantage, fighting the opponents fight but still winning.
There are a couple out there thinking the same way and i LUV playing with them.

+1

This is also why I prefer the K4 to the Dora, you can take the bait without getting caught every stinking time.

[Widewing]

Skill is:
giving up the advantage, fighting the opponents fight but still winning.
There are a couple out there thinking the same way and i LUV playing with them.

Completely agree. Unfortunately, when I'm able to play, it's 3 AM where you live.

[Widewing]

Aside from mastering the game mechanics and Basic Flight Maneuvers (basic skills), there are advanced skill sets.

The detailed list would be very long, but it starts with Situational Awareness. Everything else is born of SA. Using the map to determine where and how many enemy are in your sector and surrounding sectors. Using the map to determine where the nearest threat is. Using visual observation where the actual enemy is relative to you, while determining his E state and the level of threat. Doing this for multiple enemies within visual range is essential for dealing with all of them effectively. Of course, SA is equally important on the offensive as well as defensive.

Command of Air Combat Maneuvering (this is something you cannot learn without practicing... Read Shaw at the very least)
Accurate judgement of enemy E states (without this ability, you cannot assess threats reliably)
Wingman tactics (learning to fly effectively as a mutually supporting team)
Mastery of aircraft (knowing the true ability of your aircraft, even every aircraft, and being able to exploit strengths and avoid weaknesses. Being able to exploit the weaknesses of the enemy aircraft)
Gunnery (the best killers are usually the best shots as well)

Last thoughts: Concentrate on being as good as you can be, without comparing yourself to others. Some players have a higher talent level for this than others, just like in athletics or academics. If you find yourself dwelling on others, you will enjoy the game far less. Few, if any of us, have the talent to be professional baseball players, but we can certainly enjoy the weekend softball league and have fun. So, above all... Have fun. Just remember that a little practice and skill development can add to that fun (just like playing softball).

(edited typo)

[Alky]

To me "having" skill is not dying more than getting kills.      

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Talking to a strange girl in the evening and waking up with her in the morning. 

[ALFAMEGA51]

Skill is:
giving up the advantage, fighting the opponents fight but still winning.
There are a couple out there thinking the same way and i LUV playing with them.

Thats how i think of it, winning even when your at the disadvantage 

[BluBerry]

Aside from mastering the game mechanics and Basic Flight Maneuvers (basic skills), there are advanced skill sets.

The detailed list would be very long, but it starts with Situational Awareness. Everything else is born of SA. Using the map to determine where and how many enemy are in your sector and surrounding sectors. Using the map to determine where the nearest threat is. Using visual observation where the actual enemy is relative to you, while determining his E state and the level of threat. Doing this for multiple enemies within visual range is essential for dealing with all of them effectively. Of course, SA is equally important on the offensive as well as defensive.

Command of Air Combat Maneuvering (this is something you cannot learn without practicing... Read Shaw at the very least)
Accurate judgement of enemy E states (without this ability, you cannot assess threats reliably)
Wingman tactics (learning to fly effectively as a mutually supporting team)
Mastery of aircraft (knowing the true ability of your aircraft, even every aircraft, and being able to exploit strengths and avoid weaknesses. Being able to exploit the weaknesses of the enemy aircraft)
Gunnery (the best killers are usually the best shots as well)

Last thoughts: Concentrate on being as good as you can be, without comparing yourself to others. Some players have a higher talent level for this than others, just like in athletics or academics. If you find yourself dwelling on others, you will enjoy the game far less. Few, if any of us, have the talent to be professional baseball players, but we can certainly enjoy the weekend softball league and have fun. So, above all... Have fun. Just remember that a little practice and skill development can add to that fun (just like playing softball).

(edited typo)

+1. Nice read.