The type of gameplay you're talking about (like the squad on squad stuff) was more possible when there were many squads on at a time with enough people to steamroll a base. Nowadays, people are more selfish, and I think that is because of the lack of numbers. They arent flying in groups, so they jump in a werb and shoot down low flying enemies in a fight over a base, or jump in a lanc and dive bomb a GV.
We gotta get more people into Aces High. Ive made my argument before as to how we can go about doing this, but we could have alot of those positive aspects of the game back if we had more people. It wouldn't be as worthwhile to do all these cheapy selfish methods of getting kills if there were more people, which in turn, i believe, would create a more Rooks vs. Bish vs. Knights game, like the old days, instead of everyone for themselves. Then my squad can actually feel like we accomplished something for the team again when we level the strats, instead of just doing it for perkies, which is what it has turned into.
I might have had too much wine before typing this out. Im not disagreeing with you Fugitive. The game has changed. But only because its tough to get 150 people online anymore.
I agree there is a numbers issue. With twice the numbers, those doing this lame type of game play would double, but you would also have twice the number of players playing the game the way it was meant to be played and there would be less complaints because it would be easier to join in with the type of play a person prefers.
+ 100 That was my point as well..I havent been around as long as Fugitive or many others, so its hard to disagree with his issues. The game changed and you cant really expect the lower numbers to NOT impact game play. Human nature dictates some of these changes. I hate seeing these VETERAN players peeved, or bitter and negative about a place I really love being a part of! But I do understand 
I dont look at it as being "peeved, or bitter and negative". I do get frustrated seeing this lame game play take over the game. I KNOW what these players are missing, I KNOW these players are going to get bored and leave the game, and I KNOW these players could be "guided" away from that type of play to a more "advantageous to the game" type of play.
At one point in the game history the NOE was king. 19 out of 20 missions were NOE. Mega squads would would bonce from base to base grabbing one after the other in quick succession (The 444th Air Mafia had a "Lightning Strike" mission, NOE with 5-7 guys plus a goon, our quickest capture was 9 minutes from Dar circle to capture.) It was a "wack-a-mole" game chasing flashing bases, no fights/combat. HTC changed the dar height and made NOEs a bit harder .... but not impossible, to run and the fights/combat was back because players couldnt hide/avoid the fights/combat any more.
This is what we need again, and adjustment to bring the fights/combat BACK to the game. The GV dar is a step in this direction. It makes it easier to find a fight.
I think there are two things this game needs, a bit of structure, and a way to get the newbs thru the steep learning curve.
One thing I have thought about was HTC hiring some players. There are already a number of players that put in a ton of time that are retired due to age or medical reasons and they love this game. Hire them to be IN the game as trainers to get the newbs started. Hire them to play "General" in the arena to run missions, real missions, not "Grab a hvy fighter and meet on the NW runway!". Give them a free subscription, and a few bucks an hour to run a 2-4 hour shift where they do nothing but push the positives of the game. A dozen guys switching off shifts could keep the action moving in the game, and a guy active with training 24/7. These guys are here already, use them. Give them some beer money and let them help build a better community IN the game.
Hitech said that most player dont come back after that first session in the game. If there was a player at the door calling out on the radio every 15 minutes that a quick "10 minute Starter session" starting to get new players started, how many more would be likely to stay? Some would stick it out longer get the basic info, other would stay long knowing and using the help they now know is available.
Something has to be done. With the numbers on the ranking system dropping as they are, we are still losing more players than we are getting/keeping.
