Off Hours Suggestion Thread to AH

[Slade]

Gentlemen,

I know some bomber pilots that fly 20k+ like larger maps but for those choosing to fly fighters finding a fight during off hours is really difficult.   In the spirit of making useful suggestions that may lead to actual positive changes in this almost daily occurring event what can be done?  

Yes there have been other threads on this but lets create one to send AH some actionable ideas to solve this rather than criticize each other.

One relevant question (I dont know cuz I dont do bombers): How many sectors does it require the slowest bomber to climb to 20k?

Some starter suggestions:

• Just like auto-pilot, give bombers a away to gain alt without having to fly through multiple sectors by flying a spiral pattern or the like.
• Have smaller maps load when the numbers fall below a reasonable level.
• Have map(s) that load that only have a few bases.  Maybe this would focus action to certain areas yet keep map size the same.
• Come up with a marketing campaign that significantly and consistently increases the numbers of new players.  Maybe by expanded the co-op program (player rewarded new player acquisitions etc.).

What else can we suggest to AH?

Thanks for your contribution.

Slade  

[Lusche]

One relevant question (I dont know cuz I dont do bombers): How many sectors does it require the slowest bomber to climb to 20k?

A fully loaded (=100% fuel) Lancaster takes about 6 sectors to reach 20k.
But then, you hardly need that much fuel on a small map anyway. Oh, and there's no requirement to climb to altitude in a straight line either. For some odd reason, I never had any problem to get to 28k even on beta2...

• Have smaller maps load when the numbers fall below a reasonable level.

This would be difficult to implement by actual numbers. The only solution would be a switch from peak to offpeak maps and back at set times. We already had a siumilar system back in 2010/2011 and it wasn't exactly popular...

You could also argue that even at usual peak times we hardly have enough players online anymore to make small maps "crowded" for long times.
Under the week, we have 200+ players for only about 4 hours of the day. We barely get over 250 maximum.
As for the weekend... last night (saturday to sunday) was a relatively good one... We topped out slightly above 300 only.
Pre 2007 we did fly with more than twice that numbers on a similar mix of large and small maps in a single arena.

• Come up with a marketing campaign that significantly and consistently increases the numbers of new players.  Maybe by expanded the co-op program (player rewarded new player acquisitions etc.).

You mean like "magically increase the number of players" ?

[kvuo75]

my genius idea I came up with last nite:

each country gets one base (all could fit in one sector)... when one gets captured by another side, the map resets.

   


it would focus the action. for sure.  

[caldera]

my genius idea I came up with last nite:

each country gets one base (all could fit in one sector)... when one gets captured by another side, the map resets.

  


it would focus the action. for sure. 

3 bases equals a 2v1 gangfest.  Make it three bases per side and require the winner to take one each of the other two. 

edit: Once two of a country's bases have been captured, the last would automatically become uncaptureable.  It would stay that way until said country regained one base.  This way, all three bases are open to attack. 

[WW1965]

Well along with the suggestions posted here, I think there's another problem that needs to be addressed..

it's 8:25am EST & there are a total of 57 peeps logged on right now & one country has an ENY of 25.8..

The question I have is, "how does this promote or encourage gameplay ?"

If there are less than 100 people on, why is there an ENY at all ??

I think the idea is to try & balance things by limiting the resources available to the side with the #'s.. but what winds up happening is the resource that is limited is the player who gets mad at being limited to a kite & a pistol & then logs off.. & worse yet goes & looks for another online flight sim that doesn't limit them..

Combine the trouble with the ENY with the side switching restrictions, & yet you want people to play ??

It's time to open things up a bit.. give the players some freedom to choose what when & why they play.. & limit the side switching to 2hrs..

Don't get me wrong. I believe this is the best of the best as far as combat flight sims go.. but the OP's points combined with a few others makes for a recipe for disaster..

Slade said-> Have smaller maps load when the numbers fall below a reasonable level.

Lusche replied-> This would be difficult to implement by actual numbers. The only solution would be a switch from peak to offpeak maps and back at set times. We already had a siumilar system back in 2010/2011 and it wasn't exactly popular...
You could also argue that even at usual peak times we hardly have enough players online anymore to make small maps "crowded" for long times.
Under the week, we have 200+ players for only about 4 hours of the day. We barely get over 250 maximum.
As for the weekend... last night (saturday to sunday) was a relatively good one... We topped out slightly above 300 only.
Pre 2007 we did fly with more than twice that numbers on a similar mix of large and small maps in a single arena.

My response is to keep the current map(s), reduce the # of arenas until the numbers support them, & also relax the side switching restrictions, as well as reconfigure the ENY to the total number of people logged in.. in other words, 'just let the fight happen'..

just think about it.. even more people will complain on the BBS then.. 

[kvuo75]

3 bases equals a 2v1 gangfest.  Make it three bases per side and require the winner to take one each of the other two.  

edit: Once two of a country's bases have been captured, the last would automatically become uncaptureable.  It would stay that way until said country regained one base.  This way, all three bases are open to attack.  

nahhh.. you miss the point of my genius. quick resets!

"this map sucks"

"don't worry, it will get reset soon"

"which map is next?"

"..."


 

[Lusche]

If there are less than 100 people on, why is there an ENY at all ??

For not ending up 95-4-1

[Lusche]

but what winds up happening is the resource that is limited is the player who gets mad at being limited to a kite & a pistol & then logs off..

At no point you are ever limited to "a kite and a pistol". Just because people scream they "can only fly junk" when they have to switch from P-51D (ENY 5) to P-51B (ENY 20!) doesn't mean they are right.

And to get to ENY 25 you need to have an enormous numbers advantage. In my opinion, ENY isn't even kicking in quick and severely enough

& worse yet goes & looks for another online flight sim that doesn't limit them..

Found one yet?

My response is to keep the current map(s), reduce the # of arenas until the numbers support them,

What would that actually change or improve for the LW arena?



Can't disagree with the side witch time limit proposal though

[WW1965]

At no point you are ever limited to "a kite and a pistol". Just because people scream they "can only fly junk" when they have to switch from P-51D (ENY 5) to P-51B (ENY 20!) doesn't mean they are right.

And to get to ENY 25 you need to have an enormous numbers advantage. In my opinion, ENY isn't even kicking in quick and severely enough

Found one yet?

What would that actually change or improve for the LW arena?

Can't disagree with the side witch time limit proposal though

as far as flyin what you want.. did I mention there were 57 total people logged in.. not 57 people flying, just 57 logged in.. oh & when I went back, the eny was up to 27..
how can it be 95-4-1 when there are 57 people on ??
this isn't a rare thing. I see it pretty much daily due to the hours I work & fly.. I'll go watch cute kitty cat vids & then check back hoping the #'s over 100.. <meow!!>

No I haven't found one yet, but I am looking..

as far as helping the LW, there would only be the Main arena.. it would have the other 7 or 8 players in the EW & MW join the rest of us..
this would serve a dual purpose, it would increase the numbers while reducing the server needs..leave the AVA/DA/TA up but if you want an arena, just have one..

I don't wanna bash or get in a shouting match.. I just want a better game for all & this is my $.02.. <S>

Wrngway

[The Fugitive]

ok he meant to say 50-5-2 

If people log due to that ENY it helps as long as they are the ones on the side with the ENY because they will lower it leaving. The bad side of the equation is you have even less people playing. But it does work as intended.

[Chilli]

During Off Peak hours, you could announce an experiment and have it run for 2 weeks, then take a look at what the results show.   Tweak the rules, and offer another 2 week experiment the next month.  Rinse and repeat.   One thing that most dedicated players enjoy doing is to participate in beta launches. 

Ideas For Off Peak 2 Week Beta (Map changes automatically at 1:00 am CST and changes back at 9:00 am CST)

• 12 hour rule for country change suspended*
• Modified 2 country; country 01 Axis; country 02 Allies
• Disabled B29s, or ENY* mechanism used to balance side differences with bomber choice*
• Unattached HQ downtime to radar function, instead halved resupply effects
• Introduced new special arena maps for MA play

[SPKmes]

.  nevermind.....

[Lusche]

• Modified 2 country; country 01 Axis; country 02 Allies

This can not work in an open sandbox game.
You would need a totally new game, with heavy handed rules and restrictions.

[Chilli]

I am not afraid of it not working.  I am afraid that many ideas are written off without testing the waters.  As an experiment in low populated hours, along with relaxed 12 hour country change rules and other minor changes folks may be so entertained by new stuff they wouldn't notice the difference all that much. 


Who knows unless you test it in this game, and not in comparison to what folks did over 10 years ago with a different game/community, it could be a big hit.... even something the scenario type folks would stay up for, or log in before their coffee.

[Lusche]

I am not afraid of it not working.  I am afraid that many ideas are written off without testing the waters. 

Some ideas are so basically and fundamentally flawed from the start you don't need to test them. Changing the MA to an Axis vs Allied setup can not work with a open sandbox environment.
Even in the current setup, Allied planes are massively favored by the majority of players. So in an free AvA setup would have a big numbers advantage from the start. And it would quickly get worse because of the disparity in strike (including bombers) aircraft available to each side.

You'd need a lot of rules and restrictions to get any balanced "free" gameplay going.