Over the years I've read countless threads about running and even participated in a few. There's hardly been a single session I've flown when someone or other isn't typing 'nice run' or 'you running b**tard' etc. None of these threads and not one of these complaints has ever put and end to running (note: we can't say it doesn't reduce it because the cultural pressure is continuous).
In Aces High it's almost become synomomous with swearing, it's not acceptable but there's an awful lot of it going about. I've seen more bitter complaints and more discord amongst players over the running than any other aspect of gameplay, so a weird thought occured to me: what if we as a community stopped complaining about the running and accepted it instead.
Now bear with me here. I'm suggesting we include and embrace the running as part of acceptable fighting. I mean a run from any fight. No discussion of both or only one party staying to fight, no debate over altitude and cowardess, simply give your opponent a chance to run, and he runs.
So now the expectation changes, instead of expecting NOT to have guys run out of the anticipation of sporting behaviour we expect them TO run every time. Those that have been objecting to running on the grounds it is unskillful now have the responsibility to learn how to accept it and can't complain if they get ran away from, or they start flying faster planes. Thus this hole in whats acceptable to those who want people to stay engaged, becomes filled.
Those that run presently do not gain anything nor lose anything save the end of negative comments (which they apparently don't care about anyway).
For those that dislike getting ran away from, the burden of responsibility shifts onto temselves instead of expected behaviour from another player which I think we can all agree is only a recipe for dissapointment, annoyance and discord. In AH culture, running is one circumstance in a fight where people get mad that the other guy decided to leave. This is illogical and unrealistic in the context of this combative virtual environment.
Employing the same 'persuasion by negative comments' approach which is demonstrably not working over and over year in, year out is the definition of futility. How about a paradigm shift instead?
Just seeing how it read with inserting some other popular but unpopular behavior.
It doesn't read well....but consider:
1.)
Does all the negative exposure to "running" cut down on the occurrence?
2.)
Shouldn't one expect some opponents to cut and run and be watching for it? So rather than blindly trusting that the guy will "merge" with you, pull up after the 3/9 line is crossed and go at it like jousting Knights (with honor!!)...... you instead end up watching the bandit for indications he's going to blow through and take off like a rabbit on fire. Once you see those....you can take steps to counter and get in a position to maybe kill him....say a lead turn prior to the 3/9 merge?
While it doesn't read well...its more of a realistic approach than pounding on ones chest shouting indignation to the heavens (errr...or ch200) as the guy goes scurrying off.
I'm just a realist I guess.
