That's the first time...

[lunatic1]

The past few days of this map is pretty much a poster for all that's wrong with the current game dynamic. Bish rallied their typical horde and rolled bases. Meanwhile, gains that had been made by Rooks earlier in the week were reversed by the newly formed hordes the Knight front. All week on every front I found myself heavily outnumbered anywhere I could find a fight. (when I could find one with no Darbar) On the occasions the darbar was active, views of the Northern Bish/Knight front revealed little to no activity and both Rook fronts covered by heavy red darbars.

I spent the better part of last night on the Bish front trying to rally any support in gaining any territory back. The prevailing wisdom was that the southern front was too heavily defended to make any gains. So, in typical Aces High fashion, rather than try to battle it out and win territory, missions were directed instead at undefended bases which is pretty much SOP in the MA anymore.

To summarize: Hordes rule the day. But not good fighting hordes. Rather the kind of hordes who direct all their effort into avoiding any kind of combat at all. And now there is a new way to prolong the torture of the side who is getting gang raped by the other two sides.

which is usally the knights

[drmoo]

nits and rooks should ignore the bish for a couple tours. They get good fights and bish can roll undefended bases. Everyone is happy.

I think sirloin is proud. jokers are his family, hording his life.

this guy hates why htc no ban him all the talk of them? look at his post all of them just hate no ban? bish banana 4 him

[Kingpin]

To summarize: Hordes rule the day. But not good fighting hordes. Rather the kind of hordes who direct all their effort into avoiding any kind of combat at all. And now there is a new way to prolong the torture of the side who is getting gang raped by the other two sides.

This is the reason I decided to unsub last month.  I needed a break from the game, but the longer I'm gone, and the more I think about it, the less I want to return.

In my opinion the game play is exactly as described here -- stagnant.  The "culture" of the different sides, has stagnated the MA.  All sides are NOT the same, because the style of play of various squads is quite different -- and most don't switch sides.  This make it true that the best "fights" are usually on the Knit/Rook front and the style of game play of the largest Bish squads is simply not fun fighting most of the time.  It's always horde or hide for them.  Their consistent bombing and bailing and suicide style play is really the worst.  Sadly the Jokers and Alchemists, now with the former vGuys added to their ranks, perpetuate this in two ways 1) that they never switch sides and 2) new players start Bish, join their mission and get recruited, so it tends teach and encourage this style of play.  I know new players who were taught to bomb and bail by them.  They have no interest in what type of game their behavior makes for the rest of the community, so sadly this will not change.  

I love flying and fighting in Aces High.  I just hate the Main Arena game play now.  Flying FSO, training with my squad, helping out in the TA, all those things are fun, but most of my squad (and a lot of FSO participants from what I see) don't bother with the MA because it is so bad.  The MA should be the heart and soul of the game.  It is where most players spend most of their time, especially NEW players.  Sadly, it shows the worst of the game more often than not.

Until bomb-and-bailing is a thing of the past, I have very little enthusiasm to re-activate my account and fly Aces High again.  I'd like to see something that penalizes the 1000lber kamikazes (like perked heavy ords).  I'd really love to see some sort of "aircraft-in-flight" limits per base too, to thin the hordes some.  These things have all been suggested before.  I'd resub the moment these were put into effect.  As it is, meh, Aces High was fun for a while.

My two cents.

<S>

[Max]

Good grief. This game sets you back all of 50 cents a day. Like anything else in life, there's positive and negative. Play it the way it is or be a means productive influence in terms of change.

As a 12 year vet, nothing really has changed overall over the years other than the ever increased volume of whining as per _others_ not playing the "right way".

Do what you do in terms of having fun. Shoot the bandit coming straight at you for a HO shot. bomb**** GV's at will at the spawn. Just for crissakes, stop whining & dictating how others should be having fun with their 50 cent @ day investment.

Thanks...and have a merry Christmas 

[Golden Dragon]

Max is right on.  Play the way you like and fight the style you enjoy.  The only wrong way is to beat your chest on 200 or put down others. 

[Kingpin]

Good grief. This game sets you back all of 50 cents a day. Like anything else in life, there's positive and negative. Play it the way it is or be a means productive influence in terms of change.

As a 12 year vet, nothing really has changed overall over the years other than the ever increased volume of whining as per _others_ not playing the "right way".

I was trying to be a "productive influence in terms of change" -- by stating my opinion and offering 3 very specific suggestions I feel would help with some of these issues others (in addition to myself) perceive with the game.  In my 4 years in Aces High, I've tried to be a positive influence.  I've made bug reports and wish-list suggestions that have been implemented to the game.  I've helped players in the Training Arena.  I've answered questions and posted help in the help forum.  I've PM'd players who I think may be new and answered their questions if they have any.  I think my contributions to the game give me just as much right to express my opinion as anyone.

As a four year vet, I believe the increased volume of complaints corresponds to an increased level of the problems I described.  It is my opinion the stagnation factor I described has gotten worse.  You don't seem to perceive that or care, which is nice for you.  I'm glad that suicide style play, hording and bomb and bailing don't bother you.  I guess you've had 12 years to get used to it.  But that doesn't give you the right to simply dismiss others' complaints and suggestions.  In my opinion a more "positive influence in terms of change" would either suggest ideas or explain why these ideas wouldn't make a positive impact.  Your dismissive approach doesn't fit that bill in my opinion.

I'm happy for you that you like (or tolerate) the game as it is.  I no longer do.  And it's not a matter of the cost.  That attempt to cheapen my argument won't work.  It's not a matter of cost - it's a matter of how I want to spend my time.  The game could be free, but I wouldn't want to spend my time in the MA as it is.  I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way, hence the "volume of whining" that bothers you so much.

<S> and Merry Christmas

[kvuo75]

Max is right on.  Play the way you like and fight the style you enjoy.  The only wrong way is to beat your chest on 200 or put down others. 

that's what 200 is for.

[LLv34_Dictonius]

Besides, knights have some great sticks amongst them, unlike bishes that rely pretty much on horde tactics. Btw. cheers wizer and killnU - great opponents and good fights we had back in the shores. And its true, bish front can be pretty much ignored (who wants to fight a horde that drops bombs so eagerly they take the planes to the ground with the bombs etc). Thats pretty much my rook opinion.

[Max]

fixed 

[The Fugitive]

This is the reason I decided to unsub last month.  I needed a break from the game, but the longer I'm gone, and the more I think about it, the less I want to return.

In my opinion the game play is exactly as described here -- stagnant.  The "culture" of the different sides, has stagnated the MA.  All sides are NOT the same, because the style of play of various squads is quite different -- and most don't switch sides.  This make it true that the best "fights" are usually on the Knit/Rook front and the style of game play of the largest Bish squads is simply not fun fighting most of the time.  It's always horde or hide for them.  Their consistent bombing and bailing and suicide style play is really the worst.  Sadly the Jokers and Alchemists, now with the former vGuys added to their ranks, perpetuate this in two ways 1) that they never switch sides and 2) new players start Bish, join their mission and get recruited, so it tends teach and encourage this style of play.  I know new players who were taught to bomb and bail by them.  They have no interest in what type of game their behavior makes for the rest of the community, so sadly this will not change.  

I love flying and fighting in Aces High.  I just hate the Main Arena game play now.  Flying FSO, training with my squad, helping out in the TA, all those things are fun, but most of my squad (and a lot of FSO participants from what I see) don't bother with the MA because it is so bad.  The MA should be the heart and soul of the game.  It is where most players spend most of their time, especially NEW players.  Sadly, it shows the worst of the game more often than not.

Until bomb-and-bailing is a thing of the past, I have very little enthusiasm to re-activate my account and fly Aces High again.  I'd like to see something that penalizes the 1000lber kamikazes (like perked heavy ords).  I'd really love to see some sort of "aircraft-in-flight" limits per base too, to thin the hordes some.  These things have all been suggested before.  I'd resub the moment these were put into effect.  As it is, meh, Aces High was fun for a while.

My two cents.

<S>

Well said !

Good grief. This game sets you back all of 50 cents a day. Like anything else in life, there's positive and negative. Play it the way it is or be a means productive influence in terms of change.

As a 12 year vet, nothing really has changed overall over the years other than the ever increased volume of whining as per _others_ not playing the "right way".

Do what you do in terms of having fun. Shoot the bandit coming straight at you for a HO shot. bomb**** GV's at will at the spawn. Just for crissakes, stop whining & dictating how others should be having fun with their 50 cent @ day investment.

Thanks...and have a merry Christmas 

I've been here 13 years and I have seen the change. You may not want to admit it has changed but it has. While we have ALWAYS had HOing and hordes they were not the norm it has become now. I remember many fight that had not a single front quarter shot let alone a strait up HO, today it is the expected move. Hordes were "planned" things were squad leaders would email each other to set up a day... usually a Friday or Saturday to see how many squads they could get together to coordinate a huge attack force. They called them MSO's and such (Multi Squad Ops). Now they happen when ever someone posts a mission.

I was trying to be a "productive influence in terms of change" -- by stating my opinion and offering 3 very specific suggestions I feel would help with some of these issues others (in addition to myself) perceive with the game.  In my 4 years in Aces High, I've tried to be a positive influence.  I've made bug reports and wish-list suggestions that have been implemented to the game.  I've helped players in the Training Arena.  I've answered questions and posted help in the help forum.  I've PM'd players who I think may be new and answered their questions if they have any.  I think my contributions to the game give me just as much right to express my opinion as anyone.

As a four year vet, I believe the increased volume of complaints corresponds to an increased level of the problems I described.  It is my opinion the stagnation factor I described has gotten worse.  You don't seem to perceive that or care, which is nice for you.  I'm glad that suicide style play, hording and bomb and bailing don't bother you.  I guess you've had 12 years to get used to it.  But that doesn't give you the right to simply dismiss others' complaints and suggestions.  In my opinion a more "positive influence in terms of change" would either suggest ideas or explain why these ideas wouldn't make a positive impact.  Your dismissive approach doesn't fit that bill in my opinion.

I'm happy for you that you like (or tolerate) the game as it is.  I no longer do.  And it's not a matter of the cost.  That attempt to cheapen my argument won't work.  It's not a matter of cost - it's a matter of how I want to spend my time.  The game could be free, but I wouldn't want to spend my time in the MA as it is.  I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way, hence the "volume of whining" that bothers you so much.

<S> and Merry Christmas

Again, well said. It is also the thinking I'll bet that most players leaving today have.

[Max]

Fugi think back 10-11 years ago. Remember Ripsnort/Fariz/AK/The Damned/MAW missions, HQ raids? I recall a Ripsnort mission on NDIsles that had 50+ attackers hitting a "win the war" base that won the map.

The only difference I see (most of the time) now is a lack of defenders.

[The Fugitive]

I agree it happened back then, especially the "win the war capture" (which we no longer have), but it didn't happen all the time. The win the war base capture today COULD be that same 50 players hitting 3 bases at the same time only needing one capture to win. It wouldn't make defending that attack any easier, but it certainly would be a lot of fun trying!

[Max]

So you're suggesting that THE HORDE should be divided into smaller groups?

[icepac]

So you guys are complaining because something different happened rather than the same stale map rolling?

It was refreshing to do something different even if I died far more often and sent my score down the drain.

I'm not here for score.

I am here to have fun and.................. I did have fun.

Now you can go back to your sending 3 cv to die at the same field over and over without mounting a proper attack and flying super careful to enhance score but remember that every non-standard situation can be harnessed to achieve your goals regardless of what you goals are.

You just have to change your approach and that's what the whiners are whining about........the fact that they couldn't fly the same stale mission profiles and had to actually use some creative intellect.

Those who couldn't find a way to extract fun from that situation are whining and missed an opportunity because of their own limitations.

[The Fugitive]

So you're suggesting that THE HORDE should be divided into smaller groups?

If it was me, YES and forcefully and with out prejudice !!!  On the other hand I'm smart enough to know that the horde is a function of the game and is a place where most players start out....safety in numbers and all that. Whats needed is a way to make those players move on to bigger and better things BEFORE they get bored and quit. Whats better for game play, 50 lemmings who know only how to lawndart, or 50 players who know how to bomb, fight, and survive to "win the day!"?

I think smaller battles would make game play better in that it would help teach players to get better at ALL aspects of the game instead of doing the same old thing time after time. It would also have the added effect of increasing the number of fights. And on top of that, as the players learn more and more then the quality of the fights would get better. Defenders would have a chance to beat back an attack and so more people would defend. Capturing a base would be a hard won battle and so I think more enjoyable for the accomplishment.