AFK ENY - unintended consequences: fix = timer change

[The Fugitive]

You really said this because you really believe it?  Like with Gina, perhaps check in some weekday mornings around 8-10am cst? 

I could be considered AFK merely by upping and alting from a rear base towards some action.

Here's the easiest way to game it:

While the ftrs/gvs go "AFK" for... 5 mins... 3-4 boxes of nice buffs, say b-24's up from 2 sectors away for the same or even differing targets (b24's wf easy)  by the time they're close in, they've been "AFK" and suppressing ENY for the fighters and gv's that launch when those buffs are closer to target(s.) 

Yay, fighters not under ENY, buffs not under ENY.  Of course, once both waves are in air and active, eny kicks in, but only for those late to the party. 

The mission editor could even facilitate this since you can create two separate missions with differing launch times.  Join mission and wait with no input, "AFK" until launch.

See how easy that was? Especially when it's say, 14 v 4 v 3 where those 14 concentrate on one of the two smaller sides, 14 v 4 or 14 v 3 basically.  3-4 "AFK" on that 14 side can lower the eny enough, fast enough to give them much nicer rides vs those small siders.

I think 30 minutes is a good timer compromise, because that means you're really AFK, not just grabbing a beer or checking your email while in tower or on climbout.

Your assuming thats how it works. What if AFK only pertains to tower sitters. Then most of your complaint falls apart. If afk is only those AFK, then your complaint has no bearing. There is no "manipulation", it is just what it is and your being paranoid.

1. lets wait to see what/if Hitech tells us how the "afk" timer is setup.
2. give it some time to play out in the arena. What happens in the mornings eastern times may not be a norm that we can follow.
3. Im thinking this afk thing might be a fix to "prime times" vs ALL the time. Again, time will tell.

[haggerty]

But they're not logging off, they're just maybe doing some trivial thing like me sitting here responding while sitting in the tower. It is effecting ENY.  Let me go un-AFK to grab current data. While I (and maybe others) was AFK that ENY may have crept up to 10 for bish, as an example.




Take mornings for example. I used you relating Jokers switching sides to lessen eny for reset (no perks for them; took it for the team!) Now there's no need to do that, just go AFK and come back to a win obtained under less eny.  Nice reward for gaming a "fairness" mechanism.

I think increasing the timer 30 min to an hr is less susceptible to manipulation while still performing its intended function.

Jokers no longer switching sides is a benefit, their being AFK is less impact on bish ENY than if they moved to another team.  What difference does it make if someone goes afk for 5 minutes or logs off for 5 minutes?  Either way its the same ENY reduction.

[Animl-AW]

HiTech on another thread:
"The low-population example may justify reviewing whether the existing thresholds are calibrated correctly,... "

[-gg-]

Your assuming thats how it works. What if AFK only pertains to tower sitters. Then most of your complaint falls apart. If afk is only those AFK, then your complaint has no bearing. There is no "manipulation", it is just what it is and your being paranoid.

1. lets wait to see what/if Hitech tells us how the "afk" timer is setup.
2. give it some time to play out in the arena. What happens in the mornings eastern times may not be a norm that we can follow.
3. Im thinking this afk thing might be a fix to "prime times" vs ALL the time. Again, time will tell.

That is how it works. If you're in a plane or vehicle and you're not actively controlling it for 5 minutes then you go afk.

[Animl-AW]

That is how it works. If you're in a plane or vehicle and you're not actively controlling it for 5 minutes then you go afk.

Personally I have not seen it defined if it's just while AFK in tower or also includes while in AC or GV.
Maybe I missed it.

Edit: I assume/hope it's just while in tower.

[-gg-]

Dale said that that's how it works.

[waystin2]

Less players makes for wilder ENY swings.  Not an AFK problem.

[Shane]

Your assuming thats how it works. What if AFK only pertains to tower sitters. Then most of your complaint falls apart. If afk is only those AFK, then your complaint has no bearing. There is no "manipulation", it is just what it is and your being paranoid.

1. lets wait to see what/if Hitech tells us how the "afk" timer is setup.
2. give it some time to play out in the arena. What happens in the mornings eastern times may not be a norm that we can follow.
3. Im thinking this afk thing might be a fix to "prime times" vs ALL the time. Again, time will tell.

Well, you can doubt Kenai if you want, I generally take him at his word.    And unironically, you have a post directly below the one I just linked to where you even acknowledge it as being your own suggestion.         

https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,412969.msg5477128.html#msg5477128

Eny is less of an issue during primetime because there are simply more players at play.  Things can still get done (even with eny/double teaming) 30 v 25 v 37 compared to 17 v 8 v 9 where removing eny makes it more challenging under conditions.

ENY is actually less of an issue than the constant double teaming creating feast/famine fronts that the side switchers and the double teamed-ees complain about, and eny will not resolve this ethos issue - yanno, can't hard code sportsmanship.

For example, right now, look at that base count.  Those 4 knits are also pecking at rooks while bish basically go full on vs rooks. Because its weekend, there are a few more players on early.  Eny is meaningless here except that it forces bish into lesser rides which isn't really stopping much, just sometimes slows it down a bit until more players log on.  Let's not forget GV eny's are kind of... off.   

I've stopped upping a plane in these times and just hop from gun to gun getting kills (and denying kills on me) with minimal effort (and I'm getting better in 88's lol.)



Compare this morning screenshot above with one from 10pm cst last night below, same map.  What can be inferred when comparing?

 

Let's see what this morning looks like in about 2 hrs (10:30 cst)

[The Fugitive]

Well, you can doubt Kenai if you want, I generally take him at his word.    And unironically, you have a post directly below the one I just linked to where you even acknowledge it as being your own suggestion.         

https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,412969.msg5477128.html#msg5477128

Eny is less of an issue during primetime because there are simply more players at play.  Things can still get done (even with eny/double teaming) 30 v 25 v 37 compared to 17 v 8 v 9 where removing eny makes it more challenging under conditions.

ENY is actually less of an issue than the constant double teaming creating feast/famine fronts that the side switchers and the double teamed-ees complain about, and eny will not resolve this ethos issue - yanno, can't hard code sportsmanship.

Yes I suggested that the players in the tower get removed from ENY calculations after a set time. I gave the idea to Kenai, my squad CO, and he mentioned it to Dale. Dale liked it enough to try it.

Personally I dont have an issue with ENY, never have. I understand why its there and how it works (though I wish the planes could be reevaluated as some of then are not set right for ENY). My suggestion was for those that complain about the "tower sitters" messing with the ENY. Now they see a solution. After a set time, all AFK players are automatically removed from the ENY calculations. Will that stop the complaining about ENY? I doubt it. To complain is another ..... what do you call it  ethos?    Players cant seem to get away from their hot rods.

As I said, ENY doesnt bother me. If one team has 10 to 1 players they should fly camels and spads against the guys flying jets for 10 perks!

[Shane]

Yes I suggested that the players in the tower get removed from ENY calculations after a set time. I gave the idea to Kenai, my squad CO, and he mentioned it to Dale. Dale liked it enough to try it.

Right... so what tempted you to latch onto my ankle with:

"Your assuming thats how it works. What if AFK only pertains to tower sitters. Then most of your complaint falls apart. If afk is only those AFK, then your complaint has no bearing. There is no "manipulation", it is just what it is and your being paranoid."

Maybe step back? 

[The Fugitive]

You really said this because you really believe it?  Like with Gina, perhaps check in some weekday mornings around 8-10am cst? 

I could be considered AFK merely by upping and alting from a rear base towards some action.

Here's the easiest way to game it:

While the ftrs/gvs go "AFK" for... 5 mins... 3-4 boxes of nice buffs, say b-24's up from 2 sectors away for the same or even differing targets (b24's wf easy)  by the time they're close in, they've been "AFK" and suppressing ENY for the fighters and gv's that launch when those buffs are closer to target(s.) 

Yay, fighters not under ENY, buffs not under ENY.  Of course, once both waves are in air and active, eny kicks in, but only for those late to the party. 

The mission editor could even facilitate this since you can create two separate missions with differing launch times.  Join mission and wait with no input, "AFK" until launch.

See how easy that was? Especially when it's say, 14 v 4 v 3 where those 14 concentrate on one of the two smaller sides, 14 v 4 or 14 v 3 basically.  3-4 "AFK" on that 14 side can lower the eny enough, fast enough to give them much nicer rides vs those small siders.

I think 30 minutes is a good timer compromise, because that means you're really AFK, not just grabbing a beer or checking your email while in tower or on climbout.

Lets add context.

So when I said....

""Your assuming thats how it works. What if AFK only pertains to tower sitters. Then most of your complaint falls apart. If afk is only those AFK, then your complaint has no bearing. There is no "manipulation", it is just what it is and your being paranoid.""

I was referring to the bolded above. I still havent heard any confirmation that an AFK player flying, or sitting in a tank under a tree is part of the timer used to remove players from the ENY calc. Personally that isnt how I would set it up, but its not my game.

Personally, If a player, or players want to sit in the tower to lower their teams ENY thats OK. To me they arent playing so they arent involved so they shouldnt count toward ENY. Its like they were off-line  (AKA booted after a timer runs down  )

This is where the paranoia comes in for you. You see it as manipulation, I see it as booting AFK players.

[Shane]

Lets add context.

So when I said....

""Your assuming thats how it works. What if AFK only pertains to tower sitters. Then most of your complaint falls apart. If afk is only those AFK, then your complaint has no bearing. There is no "manipulation", it is just what it is and your being paranoid.""

I was referring to the bolded above. I still havent heard any confirmation that an AFK player flying, or sitting in a tank under a tree is part of the timer used to remove players from the ENY calc. Personally that isnt how I would set it up, but its not my game.

Personally, If a player, or players want to sit in the tower to lower their teams ENY thats OK. To me they arent playing so they arent involved so they shouldnt count toward ENY. Its like they were off-line  (AKA booted after a timer runs down  )

This is where the paranoia comes in for you. You see it as manipulation, I see it as booting AFK players.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE KEYBOARD ACTIVE IN AUTO CLIMB FROM A SECTOR BACK.
 

It takes between 3-10 mins to cross a sector depending on ride speed and rate of climb, if any.

Seriously, step off my ankle and just stay with the actual issue at hand.

And if you want to accuse Kenai of passing along false info, have at it.   

Then why not simply boot afk players with a 30 min timer on activity to segregate brief afk from actual afk?  And if you think players don't manipulate game mechanics, I'll gladly laugh directly in your face. 

Here's a simple question, why should AFK buffs on their way to strats be taken out of eny, because once they're at target their impact is immediate?

[The Fugitive]

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE KEYBOARD ACTIVE IN AUTO CLIMB FROM A SECTOR BACK.
 

It takes between 3-10 mins to cross a sector depending on ride speed and rate of climb, if any.

Seriously, step off my ankle and just stay with the actual issue at hand.

And if you want to accuse Kenai of passing along false info, have at it.   

Then why not simply boot afk players with a 30 min timer on activity to segregate brief afk from actual afk?  And if you think players don't manipulate game mechanics, I'll gladly laugh directly in your face. 

Here's a simple question, why should AFK buffs on their way to strats be taken out of eny, because once they're at target their impact is immediate?

And as I said a bomber on climb out, or a tank sitting under a tree (cybro) should always be counted in the ENY calcs, even if they are not active, because they are in the game. I havent talked to Kenai for a few days as I have family in from Vegas so Im not playing. Did Hitech tell him ALL AFK players are subject to the timer, or is he just repeating what he has heard in the game?

Hitech doesnt want to boot players, its a negativity thing. Removing them from the ENY calcs does essentially the same thing with out the player get bent out of shape because he was booted.

As I said we havent heard what players are added to the AFK timer. I would hope it was only those sitting in the tower. There are some people saying all kinds of things. Untill I hear it from Hitech I'll go with "tower sitters".

[Shane]

And as I said a bomber on climb out, or a tank sitting under a tree (cybro) should always be counted in the ENY calcs, even if they are not active, because they are in the game. I havent talked to Kenai for a few days as I have family in from Vegas so Im not playing. Did Hitech tell him ALL AFK players are subject to the timer, or is he just repeating what he has heard in the game?


As I said we havent heard what players are added to the AFK timer. I would hope it was only those sitting in the tower. There are some people saying all kinds of things. Untill I hear it from Hitech I'll go with "tower sitters".

You're really trying hard to achieve something here, but...



Slow your roll.

[The Fugitive]

Sorry, dont remember seeing that, as I said its been a very busy couple of weeks.

Its too bad that it includes players playing. I would only make it for the tower sitters, but again, its not my game.