Off Hours Suggestion Thread to AH

[FLOOB]

I know it's been said before but the MA is at it's funnest when there's only about 50 players on the roster. By about 9am US central time it reverts back to monkey poo fight mode.

[Lusche]

As fun as offline mode.

[WW1965]

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.

If it was 2 countries with an open plane set.. maybe.. hmm.. just a thought..
but even then you're gonna wind up with the balance issues from time to time..
and my guess is then the eny/balancing would be even more restrictive..

I personally like the 3 country setup..
 

[FLOOB]

As fun as offline mode.

What is it your looking for that off hours in the MA does not provide? Tonight for example it was pretty much nonstop, quality fights. And that's usually been my experience in the off hours. If you don't believe me ask Frenchy he was there too.

[Lusche]

What is it your looking for that off hours in the MA does not provide? Tonight for example it was pretty much nonstop, quality fights. And that's usually been my experience in the off hours. If you don't believe me ask Frenchy he was there too.

I have benn online at "off hours" more than enough- because it's my daytime, and that's when I mainly used to fly. Daily.

And I mainly used to fly bombers to the strats,  not at least because there's not much else happening there. Battles are more like a freak occurence at low numbers (particularly on large maps), with a big chance it's only happening between the other two chesspieces And that's what I was originally here for - massive multiplayer online stuff.
Not chasing the occasional single con here and there, or take base after base in a GV with minor resistance. I was coming here for battles, not arranged 1v1 duels. I could have used the DA for that.

This noon we had two hours with 25 and 30 plane kills and deaths each. Whole arena, with about 45 players online. That's probably around 15-20 a2a kills in two hours.

[FLOOB]

Well it's probably a good thing not many players are around you in the main arena because you would probably just panic and shoot your squad mate in the back! That's right! I told everyone you were under alien mind control but the truth is you went berserk and shot Dichotomy in the back. You freaked out man! And now Dichotomy is dead! And he aint coming back! And I'm the one who has to write the letters! 

[Chilli]

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.  {snip}

I looked at July's numbers and sure Ponies, Corsairs, Spitfires, and La7s seem to be the ones raking in the most kills, with the Pony tripling just about all others.  But allies don't have 262s, none of those mentioned have 30 mm cannons, and for the most part don't have cannons.


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

I listed 3 or 4 rule changes, some of them, have been quite vigorously campaigned for:

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

Maybe "remove scores or perks during free play", after all, there are so many rules already in place.  Relaxing a few rules for a very short period of time, may just be what could bring some good old fashion fun engagements back to the frontlines.

Note:  Current rules and 3 country settings, and yet we still have balance issues and YES, restrictive game play. 

[Triton28]

I think the solution is to attract and retain new players rather than modifying the maps and mechanics to suit low populations.   But that's just me.

[lunatic1]

WW1965
Zinc Member
people play in ew and mw because they want to---if they wanted to play in lw they would---you might as ask people playing in da as well...if they wanted to play in lw arena they would...you can't force people where they don't want to play..
i probably have the worst score in gv's and planes yet i never have a problem finding a fight in either vehicle..of course i do live in texas cdt.when i have internet and puter is working..play 4 hours a night monday thru thursday--until 11:00 or 12:00-all day saturday and sunday..i get to play when everybody is on..i kinda feel bad that people in other countries don't get to play as much as we in the USA do..because i love this game--it's the only one i play.
and i know that people in other countries do to--or else they would not be complaining about not being able to play in peak hours..and right now i'm without internet for about 2 weeks and it's driving me nuts.

[Rogue9Volt]

I dunno if this has been suggested or not...  What if there were a separate arena for off hours?  It could have all the characteristics people want... Small maps, etc.  It could be open during Off Hours only, or left on during prime time for those that are only looking for a quick dogfight.  That way, no changes need be made to the MA at all.

Just a thought.

<S>

[Chilli]

I dunno if this has been suggested or not...  What if there were a separate arena for off hours?  It could have all the characteristics people want... Small maps, etc.  It could be open during Off Hours only, or left on during prime time for those that are only looking for a quick dogfight.  That way, no changes need be made to the MA at all.

Just a thought.

<S>

Wish already granted....  There is a mechanism, to switch maps at a certain time.  This was in play when there were split arenas at peak time. The arena would boot everyone and different arena would appear or disappear (whichever way it went). 

The coolest feature was that it saved the field standings, (the fight resumed where it left off the next day).  Porked items / downed strats, I don't recall, but believe they were reset to full when the map came active again.

[Slade]

Wow I never considered that some prefer to play when no one is on.  To each his own. 

I'd prefer what ever solution allows the complete immersion (ACM, base taking etc.) with enough live participating pilots to do so.

Flying 2-3 sectors to get to an area with dar and not find action is no fun.

Thanks for all the input so far.  I hope AH are seeing some actionable ideas.

Slade 

[FLOOB]

Lusche is right though, the MA in the off hours is more like the DA. Me and Lusche play AH for very different reasons. I'm a dogfighter, Lusche is an interceptor. I avoid bombers because they can't dogfight, Lusche hunts them because he's an interceptor. I love fighting in the WWI arena on the rare occasion that it's not empty, Lusche probably hates the WWI arena. And that's fine to each his own. Flying 2 or 3 sectors to find a fight is what I have to do in the horde hours because I avoid the horde.

[MrKrabs]

"Not really into the idea"

but

What if maps progressively "shrunk" or "expanded" according to the country's population? "like eny" - "except the number of bases"







Meh dumb idea from me... moving on...

[kvuo75]

Wow I never considered that some prefer to play when no one is on.  To each his own. 

you've never seen early or midwar arena?

there is apparently a fair number of people that would like nothing better than to just fly with friendlies and take bases from the server.