ENY Ideas

[SysError]

As I've stated in other words in other posts, ENY seems to be a necessary evil.  I don't like it but I understand the need for it - or something that like it.  Until that "something else" comes along, here is a wish list of tweaks.

1.   Show current and trending ENY in the "CTrl I" information panel.

I think that it would be fair to say that 98% of the time, as a player, you notice ENY when you are trying to take off.  It is rare that you notice that another side has an ENY issue.  Making the information more prominent might make the ENY system seem more balanced.  I think most players fly with Ctrl I on.  (It might also cause you to go fight another side).


2.  Give B-29s an ENY of 30+.

Think about how B-29s are used in the game.  Given their cost and flight characteristics, most of the time B-29s are upped from a rear base for long ranged Strat runs.  When I up them I usually go AFK for 1+ hour to get to a safer ALT.  It is annoying that I can not up a plane that isn't going to be in any action for long after when ENY will probably drop.  Also, think about it, if our side has a number advantage, wouldn't the other sides want me to be doing something that isn't in their face at that time while they are at a numerical disadvantage?

3.  Could ENY not be applied at uncaptureable bases?

4.  Could ENY be applied to individual players or perhaps calculated based on individual players and the type of planes they are flying?  I've got a number of ideas on this but I'm not sure if it worth going into if the idea is a non-starter.  (The general idea would be to make ENY a non issue for newbies).

These are just some thoughts, others might have others that would help make the game better.

[Lusche]

As I've stated in other words in other posts, ENY seems to be a necessary evil.  I don't like it but I understand the need for it - or something that like it.  Until that "something else" comes along, here is a wish list of tweaks.

1.   Show current and trending ENY in the "CTrl I" information panel.

I think that it would be fair to say that 98% of the time, as a player, you notice ENY when you are trying to take off.  It is rare that you notice that another side has an ENY issue.  Making the information more prominent might make the ENY system seem more balanced.  I think most players fly with Ctrl I on.  (It might also cause you to go fight another side).

I doubt it would could down any of the "ENY is always unfair only to us" whines at all, nor would it make more players switching sides (especially when still having the 12h limit). Most players are country loyal, at least for the current tour.

2.  Give B-29s an ENY of 30+.

Think about how B-29s are used in the game.  Given their cost and flight characteristics, most of the time B-29s are upped from a rear base for long ranged Strat runs.  When I up them I usually go AFK for 1+ hour to get to a safer ALT.  It is annoying that I can not up a plane that isn't going to be in any action for long after when ENY will probably drop.  Also, think about it, if our side has a number advantage, wouldn't the other sides want me to be doing something that isn't in their face at that time while they are at a numerical disadvantage?

If you give the 29 an ENY of 30 without removing the perk cost you will only massively punish the fighters trying to shoot one down, as they would hardly getting any perks from killing one of the most elusive and dangerous prey in game.
If you change ENY to 30 and remove the perks you basically can forgot seeing any other bomber - It's going to be the B-29 arena.

4.  Could ENY be applied to individual players or perhaps calculated based on individual players and the type of planes they are flying?  I've got a number of ideas on this but I'm not sure if it worth going into if the idea is a non-starter.  (The general idea would be to make ENY a non issue for newbies).

The problem is you would have to find a relatively objective way to determine the individual player's skill level or something like that. Unfortunately rank doesn't really work for that purpose, nor does a "newb" tag - you could be simply an old player with a new account.

[The Fugitive]

As I've stated in other words in other posts, ENY seems to be a necessary evil.  I don't like it but I understand the need for it - or something that like it.  Until that "something else" comes along, here is a wish list of tweaks.

1.   Show current and trending ENY in the "CTrl I" information panel.

I think that it would be fair to say that 98% of the time, as a player, you notice ENY when you are trying to take off.  It is rare that you notice that another side has an ENY issue.  Making the information more prominent might make the ENY system seem more balanced.  I think most players fly with Ctrl I on.  (It might also cause you to go fight another side).

I don't fly with CtrlI on, nor do the few people I have visited in person. I don't think being more aware of the ENY would change anything.

2.  Give B-29s an ENY of 30+.

Think about how B-29s are used in the game.  Given their cost and flight characteristics, most of the time B-29s are upped from a rear base for long ranged Strat runs.  When I up them I usually go AFK for 1+ hour to get to a safer ALT.  It is annoying that I can not up a plane that isn't going to be in any action for long after when ENY will probably drop.  Also, think about it, if our side has a number advantage, wouldn't the other sides want me to be doing something that isn't in their face at that time while they are at a numerical disadvantage?

I agree with Lusche here.

3.  Could ENY not be applied at uncaptureable bases?

Not sure what you mean here.

4.  Could ENY be applied to individual players or perhaps calculated based on individual players and the type of planes they are flying?  I've got a number of ideas on this but I'm not sure if it worth going into if the idea is a non-starter.  (The general idea would be to make ENY a non issue for newbies).

These are just some thoughts, others might have others that would help make the game better.

Again, the same thoughts as Lusche. How would you set that up? With out any real yard stick to use setting an ENY on a single person would just be guessing and more likely MORE frustrating than any ENY restriction now. At least now everyone being hit by ENY is in the same boat. Going by singles the player wouldn't have that "group" feeling any more.

From what I see and read the only real issue with ENY is how hard it hits during a low population times. If the "percentages" were automatically adjust not only with numbers vs teams but also over all numbers I think it would work much better. Soften the blow so to speak. Altho, the low numbers are when the side imbalances are more heavily felt.   

[caldera]

The B-29 perk price is pretty steep.  If the cost were halved and a constantly fluctuating wind layer was installed over 25k, they would be both more prevalent and actually accessible for more fighters to contest them.  As it stands, I almost never see one, except for some 35k strat raiders.  Seems like a lot of coad has gone to waste.

[Lusche]

As it stands, I almost never see one, except for some 35k strat raiders. 

Because you are not looking for them - I have shot down 232 of them so far 

But more seriously, B-29s are indeed rare in the "tactical" stuff (=base attacks)  which makes up the vast majority of the game. Expensive, heavy, relatively large distance between the drones (not good for hangar killing), large turnaround times (time to line up for a second pass over a field).
Only with making the central strats a true high value target in August 2012 the B-29 finally found it's role.
And it should be noted that not only the Superfortress flies extremely high when attacking them, the vast majority of bombers is usually getting as much altitude as possible on a strat run. The B-17 ain't perked at all, yet there's a staggering number of them I engage at 30-34k when defending the strats. The B-24 and the Lancaster also often fly near their maximum service ceiling on this particular mission.

[caldera]

Because you are not looking for them - I have shot down 232 of them so far  Neener! Neener!

How many other players have killed hundreds of B-29s?  Bet it's a rather short list.

And it should be noted that not only the Superfortress flies extremely high when attacking them, the vast majority of bombers is usually getting as much altitude as possible on a strat run. The B-17 ain't perked at all, yet there's a staggering number of them I engage at 30-34k when defending the strats. The B-24 and the Lancaster also often fly near their maximum service ceiling on this particular mission.

Another reason for more high winds.  If the dar dot I'm chasing turns out to be 35k B-17s, I just bail out.  It takes a huge time investment and a very limited selection of fighters can even reach the altitude for a proper attack run before running out of gas.  You have to plan well in advance for it.  Just a major hassle IMO.  Flying at 35k in the most lethally defended (and unperked) bomber doesn't seem to be in the spirit of a "combat" game.   



Moving the strats out of 163 range and adding more high winds would provide more combat and less milk runs.

[Lusche]

Another reason for more high winds.  If the dar dot I'm chasing turns out to be 35k B-17s, I just bail out.  It takes a huge time investment and a very limited selection of fighters can even reach the altitude for a proper attack run before running out of gas.  You have to plan well in advance for it.  Just a major hassle IMO. 

While I do generally agree with your point on flying the B-29 above 30k (my own average mission alt in the 29 is just under 28k)....   To some of us it's exactly what makes it fun. Once you have some experience, killing bombers at low & medium altitudes is just an exercise. Identifying high altitude strat raiders (which actually have a very good reason to be that high), tracking them down and killing them before they drop their load is a challenge some of us like to take on. The Snailman particularly likes engaging escorted high altitude (25k+) strat raids, it's totally different from the same old low altitude basegrab/furball stuff.

The redesigned strat system in general and the opportunity to have some different kind of high-alt combat missions both as a bomber as well as a fighter pilot probably saved the game for me 

[SysError]

I don't fly with CtrlI on, nor do the few people I have visited in person. I don't think being more aware of the ENY would change anything.

My guess is that half the people I fly with have it on all the time.  I say this b/c of all the Frame Rate comments I hear.  "Dam my Frame rate is 10!!!  I hate Comcast!!!"
I'm not sure I've ever seen the second and third lines on the display change.

Again, as a player you only ever seem to notice ENY when you can not fly your plane of choice.  It is understandable why players would complain and may express an impression that it is only their side that is somehow the only side that "almost always" gets hit with it at the worst possible time!  (That time beginning of course, when you happen to be playing the game).

If, as a player I saw a side with a high ENY, I would probably think about going after them.

If your point is that some players will continue to complain about it and will post BBS topics with picks showing way off the chart ENY numbers, I think that you may sometimes continue to see that.

I think displaying that information more prominently will help most players see the real ENY side swings.

Perhaps the CTRL I function could toggle from Frame Rate and ENY numbers only to all CTRL I display info to Off.

If you change ENY to 30 and remove the perks you basically can forgot seeing any other bomber - It's going to be the B-29 arena.

I disagree.  I would maintain the perk costs but up the ENY.  OK if not 30 - perhaps 20.

Again, think about when players up them. 

B-29s are.... Expensive, heavy, relatively large distance between the drones (not good for hangar killing), large turnaround times (time to line up for a second pass over a field).

When I up B-29s I go AFK for an hour or more.  And, b/c of their cost, I do every thing I can to stay OUT of a fight.  If you view ENY as a way of keeping the game playable to stop hording and mass vulches on an outnumbered side, keeping B-29s out of play not only does not make sense, it means that I as player am far more inclined to go find a up close fight on the outnumbered side.

Not sure what you mean here.

In my mind if your side outnumbers another side by 2 to 1 - what overall difference does it make if you up a low ENY plane in the rear.  It could be a small factor on small maps - but not much.

The problem is you would have to find a relatively objective way to determine the individual player's skill level or something like that. Unfortunately rank doesn't really work for that purpose, nor does a "newb" tag - you could be simply an old player with a new account.

I'm actually thinking beyond just that point.  I'll post later about this  --  wife ack....

[Lusche]

I disagree.  I would maintain the perk costs but up the ENY.  OK if not 30 - perhaps 20.

What is that supposed to achieve? Keeping the perk price still means the B-29 will fly at orbital altitudes to protect the heavy perk investment, while an ENY of 20 only means a fighter attacking such a death star will hardly get any perks for that. The only result would be fighters being  even less inclined to go after such a difficult and dangerous target.

You wont see more B-29 (keep in mind, the vast majority of the time the ENY limit is 0 in the MA, so they aren't blocked by it that much), and surely not flying them lower by setting their ENY to 20.