Radar Testing

[FLOOB]

So bombers are going to need escorts now? 

[icepac]

The way to make an active arena look active from the login screen is to pipe in the buffer of channel 200.

[caldera]

Seeing everything arena-wide from the tower is good because it shows action.

Seeing the same while in the air is not.  More running - even before visual contact - than before. 

[Lusche]

Seeing everything arena-wide from the tower is good because it shows action.

Seeing the same while in the air is not.  More running - even before visual contact - than before.

Though I'd guess that a good players will still have access to the tower radar view - beside the obvious 2nd account, squads may simply resort to have one of them streaming the view from the tower.
Having someone simply sitting in tower to report cons and to vector you in could actually be fun though - But even then I would have preferred a greatly extended base dar, that still does not show ALL of the back up to the most rearway enemy fields.
But then, my opinion doesn't really count anymore

[killjoy1]

First, no need to keep your head on a swivel, just pop the radar screen up.

Second, get the fastest plane you can fly. 

Third, Why have more than 9 bases?  It's furball island.

[flippz]

Logg d in last night for the first time last night in a few days and the numbers were comical. 200 was dead and the same pack hunters refusing to leave there ack unless they out number the enemy at least 3 to 1. The only thing the dar has done is affirmed when it’s safe for them to leave the ack. Piss poor game play for me last night for 3 hours in the view of being in a fighter. New guys are gonna love it I guess

[gpcustom]

A change along these lines is something the game needs.   

All these people AVOIDING combat are killing the game, not radar that drives action.

Perhaps and perhaps not. When I first played AH some 12 to 15 years ago we had over 600 players any given titanic Tuesday. Two main arenas mind you, and sometimes you just could not log on it was soooo popular. Still can remember the TV commercials of years gone by!!
It was authentic in the hunt for GVs and Ariel combat was not dumbed down so every one from War Thunder could feel at home. Then something funny happened. The purists complained that there were too many milk runs on strats and we lost a large following of players. The Strats and cities were combined and placed so far away it was all but impossible. Even after some minor adjustments it didn't seem to bounce back. So here we are now with a GV Dar and complete visibility for aircraft regardless of location,...Yeah,...Real authentic.

[Lusche]

[...] Then something funny happened. The purists complained that there were too many milk runs on strats and we lost a large following of players.

Complains of all types of players have been with Ah since beta

The decline AH experienced can't be linked to any singular change. In terms of player numbers, AH peaked late 2007/early 2008 and declined more or less steadily ever since. No major change to the strats or anything was made ad that time. Still small towns, zone system with a lot of decentralized strats, old GV control system and icon settings...

The Strats and cities were combined and placed so far away it was all but impossible. Even after some minor adjustments it didn't seem to bounce back.

This change was mid 2012. And for me, it really started the strat / bombing game. On some maps, they actually had been quite close to the front at start, so that even short range bombers could have at it. Only with retreated strats on huge maps the distance became so great that indeed they became difficult to hit.
But anytime else, there were always plenty of bomber pilots around going for them that even during low hours I could spend my time just defending the strats (if I wasn't attacking them myself).
We also saw plenty of big bomber raids on them, as a big target with big impact, long range and (on large maps) mostly no Me 163 nearby made them a really attractive target. I fondly remember protracted battles against huge B-29 raids, something never seen again.


Fact is, different players have always been claiming this or that specific change ruined the game. It may have been ruined it for them (I could name a few things for myself ), but said above, the decline in pure numbers was quite gradual and steady over the years.

[hits420]

Radar is for F&%$^G Idiotas!!!!!

[Ciaphas]

Radar is for F&%$^G Idiotas!!!!!

That was so enlightening...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gpcustom]

Complains of all types of players have been with Ah since beta

The decline AH experienced can't be linked to any singular change. In terms of player numbers, AH peaked late 2007/early 2008 and declined more or less steadily ever since. No major change to the strats or anything was made ad that time. Still small towns, zone system with a lot of decentralized strats, old GV control system and icon settings...


This change was mid 2012. And for me, it really started the strat / bombing game. On some maps, they actually had been quite close to the front at start, so that even short range bombers could have at it. Only with retreated strats on huge maps the distance became so great that indeed they became difficult to hit.
But anytime else, there were always plenty of bomber pilots around going for them that even during low hours I could spend my time just defending the strats (if I wasn't attacking them myself).
We also saw plenty of big bomber raids on them, as a big target with big impact, long range and (on large maps) mostly no Me 163 nearby made them a really attractive target. I fondly remember protracted battles against huge B-29 raids, something never seen again.


Fact is, different players have always been claiming this or that specific change ruined the game. It may have been ruined it for them (I could name a few things for myself ), but said above, the decline in pure numbers was quite gradual and steady over the years.

Happy thoughts Lusche.
I remember reading the forums for a long while before I joined in those minor few posts long ago. Enjoyed yours as well as some of the other old timers. Some still here and some long gone like Hooter(great guy). AH has a special place in the heart and I have to admit I am biased on the old school feel it had going for it. Lets hope we can look back on this one day soon and have a good laugh regardless of the direction it takes young Jedi!

[DmonSlyr]

Complains of all types of players have been with Ah since beta

The decline AH experienced can't be linked to any singular change. In terms of player numbers, AH peaked late 2007/early 2008 and declined more or less steadily ever since. No major change to the strats or anything was made ad that time. Still small towns, zone system with a lot of decentralized strats, old GV control system and icon settings...


This change was mid 2012. And for me, it really started the strat / bombing game. On some maps, they actually had been quite close to the front at start, so that even short range bombers could have at it. Only with retreated strats on huge maps the distance became so great that indeed they became difficult to hit.
But anytime else, there were always plenty of bomber pilots around going for them that even during low hours I could spend my time just defending the strats (if I wasn't attacking them myself).
We also saw plenty of big bomber raids on them, as a big target with big impact, long range and (on large maps) mostly no Me 163 nearby made them a really attractive target. I fondly remember protracted battles against huge B-29 raids, something never seen again.


Fact is, different players have always been claiming this or that specific change ruined the game. It may have been ruined it for them (I could name a few things for myself ), but said above, the decline in pure numbers was quite gradual and steady over the years.

Imo, the decline started when the arenas broke into 2. This caused many squads to quit because they couldn't be on the same map.

Then I also think the strats as you say were the other reason.  I personally liked zoned strats and think zoned areas are good.

As far as the radar goes. I think the circle radius around the bases are a good thing. Seeing where people take off and which direction they go is not good for a world map. 
I'd like the radar to be harder to take down, so that the dots show up more often inside the circle radius. If radar is too easy to take down like it is now, it creates the "where is everyone" effect becuase you don't see the dots anymore.

[Lusche]

Imo, the decline started when the arenas broke into 2. This caused many squads to quit because they couldn't be on the same map.

I really hated the split LW and would like to make it responsible for all the eveil in the world. 
But the arena split was in September 2006 and online numbers climbed up for well over a year after that, peaking late 2007/early 2008 and only reached pre split levels in early 2009 again.

[Lusche]

AH has a special place in the heart and I have to admit I am biased on the old school feel it had going for it.

That about mirrors my sentiments.
I had the time of my life here. But now I do think about that, it may actually be a sad thing to say   

[DmonSlyr]

I really hated the split LW and would like to make it responsible for all the eveil in the world. 
But the arena split was in September 2006 and online numbers climbed up for well over a year after that, peaking late 2007/early 2008 and only reached pre split levels in early 2009 again.

True, but I don't think mass effect reached until about a year or 2 later after the switch becuase the arenas were getting more full and therefore allowed less sqauds to fly with each other. They broke up arenas right when the game started to become more popular. Of course the economy fell during that time and could have put people out of spirit. But mostly what I saw was the decline of big squads which made up a lot of players.