Ways to Tweak EW, MW and WWI

[Saxman]

Ok, so ever since the arena splits, EW, MW and WWI have been ghost towns, which is a shame because it's great having arenas where early machines can be competitive (IE, the F4F-4 is pretty outmatched in LW and to a lesser extent MW, but is quite competitive in EW).

While I don't expect the other arenas to EVER reach the population levels of the LWMA (which I think is less to do with everyone wanting to only fly late-war monsters since there's quite a few popular MW machines than it is a combination of 1) everyone is playing there anyway, and 2) being the closest to the "classic" main arena from before the split) getting a healthy population in those two arenas is going to be good for the game.

The question is, what sort of adjustments can be made to draw players in?

One for certain would be to have new maps with bases closer than 25 miles in EW and MW. The aircraft are slow enough that even at those distances it takes a long time to get into a fight. Closer bases will mean quicker action, making it easier to find a fight.

As for WWI, been a while since I've bothered logging in there, but from my experience its main problem is the plane set. You may as well rename WWI the Dr.I arena, because that's practically ALL you see. Perk the Dr.I and start flesh out the plane set (I mean seriously, why is there no SPAD or Nieuport, or an Albatros or earlier Fokker biplane than the D.VII?). And frankly, WWI would benefit IMMENSELY by having more gameplay options than just furballing. Put up some balloons or Zeppelins to attack and defend.

[artik]

Few points...

Before there was Eary War/Middle War arena and WWI arena, there was... Combat Theater - not called Axis vs Allies.

I think that the best would be instead of having EWMA, MWMA - is to have CT back. There many players who want to fly interesting planes... That are outclassed at MA. I used to have great time on CT. I think historic plane set with good maps would draw more attention as it was in CT days and it would be much better than EWMA/MWMA because it would be balanced and more planes would be used.

Have you ever seen Val on MA?

I miss CT  

Also about WWI

- We need some attack aircraft as well
- We need some way to bring troops: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_truck

[Lusche]

Few points...

Before there was Eary War/Middle War arena and WWI arena, there was... Combat Theater - not called Axis vs Allies.

I think that the best would be instead of having EWMA, MWMA - is to have CT back.

CT didn't change. Only the name did, long before EW & MW were created. And EW & MW introduction had about no impact on CT/AvA attendance, numbers had already been quite low there for a long time. So there is nothing anyone can do to give back "your CT", I'm afraid.

Have you ever seen Val on MA?

More than I ever saw in EW (and I was flying quite a lot there back in time). Rare, but still got 62 kills of them in LW so far.

[artik]

What initially killed CT was AH2 - all terrains become irrelevant - and it is quite hard to setup historic event on Pizza like arenas.

CT/AvA - just didn't recovered, also EW/MW do not help it.

[Saxman]

I really don't think EW and MW are taking anything away from AvA considering there's two different play styles. EW and MW are the Main Arena circus, just with more limited plane sets. AvA is for people looking for historical sides and aircraft matchups.

[Lusche]

What initially killed CT was AH2 - all terrains become irrelevant - and it is quite hard to setup historic event on Pizza like arenas.

CT/AvA - just didn't recovered, also EW/MW do not help it.

I agree on the first part. On the second: They do not hurt, but also did not hurt it at all.  While numbers going down in AvA since AH2 in general, I can see a lot of ups and downs in player numbers & kills (=activity) in the chart, and it'S completely unrelated to the EW & MW.

[Aspen]

I go where the most players are.  Of course thats basically always LW.  I would rather see any resources directed to more overall players. Get 800 - 1000 players on during prime time and you can do arena caps so that we populate the other arenas.

[Saxman]

I go where the most players are.  Of course thats basically always LW.  I would rather see any resources directed to more overall players. Get 800 - 1000 players on during prime time and you can do arena caps so that we populate the other arenas.

Wrong, that will just make people log if the arena they want to play in is full, or sit in the Arena Selection until it opens up again.

[R 105]

 Years ago I played a lot of EW and we had about 30 regulars there and sometimes more. We always had score hunters show up in EW to milk for perk points and score. So we would run missions against these guys hunting cheap perk points and score standings and shoot them down.

 That was always fun wrecking the plans of these score hounds. But the HTC changed it so score and standings were restricted to what ever arena you we playing in like EW,MW.LW. This killed the EW area because we no longer had the score hounds coming into the EW arena and soon there were about 3 guys on in there and it is a ghost town.

[Randy1]

Its all about horsepower.  Less horsepower means less play.  I just found that out on my Multi-era tour post.

Nothing can be done.  

Probably the best thing to do is just close them an save resources for the late war then add planes like the P63 and F7fF Tigercat.

[Saxman]

Its all about horsepower.  Less horsepower means less play.  I just found that out on my Multi-era tour post.

Nothing can be done. 

Probably the best thing to do is just close them an save resources for the late war then add planes like the P63 and P61.

You're reading what you want into that. The objection has nothing to do with people not wanting EW or MW setups. They want to be able to have the CHOICE of it.

[artik]

Its all about horsepower.  Less horsepower means less play.  I just found that out on my Multi-era tour post.

Nothing can be done. 

Probably the best thing to do is just close them an save resources for the late war then add planes like the P63 and P61.

So please add Gloster Meteor Mk III   

And...

MiG-15, F-86, F-80, F-84, Dassault Mystere III, Dassault Ouragan, De Havilland Vampire 

[gyrene81]

You're reading what you want into that. The objection has nothing to do with people not wanting EW or MW setups. They want to be able to have the CHOICE of it.

and the vast majority just want the choice of whatever is fastest and has the mostest biggest...the few simmers around here wouldn't shy away from rolling plane sets.

[Arlo]

and the vast majority just want the choice of whatever is fastest and has the mostest biggest...the few simmers around here wouldn't shy away from rolling plane sets.

Alas ..... few being the operative word, in this case. 

Here's where the value of events shine.

[trap78]

When I’m on between 6 and 9pm PST, there’s typically 2-4 players in the EW and 10-20 in the MW. There’s a lot of perk farming going on the EW, not so much in MW. Seems to me these two arenas could be combined into one with a two week RPS. The resources now used to keep both arenas running could be focused on a single arena. The milk runners would lose out but the serious players would benefit. An RPS arena combined with smaller maps better suited to the lower numbers would be a good alternative to what we have now with the EW and MW.