Special Events is killing game play in the main arena

[The Fugitive]

These are just my opinions. No need to attack me if you disagree.

I rarely did scenarios and I can only speak about FSO in the way it was when I played it vs the MA when I played it.

In FSO the icon range was very short. You couldn't ID planes by icon until they were on top of you. Because of this brave pilots in the fastest planes would fly solo "scout" missions trying to find formations of aircraft that were unidentified. The would call out the location and we would try to determine if there were any friendlies in the area.

The numbers of planes were much larger when the fights started. I clearly remember attacking large formations of bombers with escorts where the number of aircraft in the fight were in the hundreds. You only had one life so you had to fly smart and you had to have SA.(which seems to be gone from the MA with the AWACS) If you were flying a 190 and you dove out, most of he escorting fighters would stay high to protect the bombers so it was a valid escape tactic most of the time. Also if you could extend past the short icon range you had a decent chance of escaping.

If you got a PW you would disengage immediately as you only had one life and saving the plane could mean that it would be able to be reused later and sometimes the points earned from the planes saved could mean the difference between winning or loosing.

For the most part the thing I liked about FSO was that it gave me the feeling of actually being engaged in something that attempted to simulate actual battles. I remember once flying a betty for like 45 minutes only to get pounced and shot down within sight of the target. I also recall dead-sticking my shot-up plane back to the base only to bleed out on the runway. Another time I remember being in a furball taking snap shots at planes and didn't think I'd got any kills only to find out I got 2 or 3 after the logs were posted.

I think the things I liked most were:
1. It felt more realistic
2. There were no names in lights. You had no idea if you actually got any kills until the logs were posted.
3. The icon ranges were very short.
4. You only got one life.
5. The engagements were massive

It made the MA feel like War Thunder arcade to me after the AWACS came along.

I get this everytime I fly in the MA. The squad puts up a mission, we join in, targets are assigned and a few minutes later we are in! The action is fast, radio chatter about missed targets, others guys picking them up. Those who go.down return in what ever is.needed, tanks, bombers, fighters, troops. Those who can and want to limp back to base or try to survive long enough for the mission to be completed and we take the base.

This is how I play in the MA. Plenty of fights, plenty of action.  I don't know why others can't seem to find this

[Dadtallica]

I never have any trouble finding any action and if there isn’t any, I will just go make my own.

[Brooke]

what are the reasons for these FSO / Event only people not wanting to go into the MA? . . . What is wrong with MA that stops you wanting to fly in it?

Nothing is wrong with the MA.  It is just as it needs to be.  It is always available, and it is excellent for getting up quickly in whatever plane you want.

To me, the MA is far superior -- a whole higher dimension of play -- compared to a single-player flying game.  Because you are fighting with and against other people, which is a far richer experience.

To me, Scenarios are another dimension above MA, though.  Scenarios are the closest thing to flying in an environment like what you read about in 1st-hand accounts of WWII air battles.  Fights involve multiple groups cooperating together, with historically themed resources and goals, and fights with 45 fighters and 50 bomber aircraft -- as large as many actual WWII missions.

Since Scenarios are special events that run only 2 times per year, if there is a Scenario running, I will be in that instead of anywhere else.

But I've been flying Aces High and Air Warrior before that for 38 years (since 1988).  Up to about 2017, I flew in the MA a fair amount.  Then, MA only to brush up on the airplane I'd be flying in the Scenario.  And in the past 4 years, mainly just Scenarios.  Scenarios are what I love best in on-line flying.

[hazmatt]

Since Scenarios are special events that run only 2 times per year, if there is a Scenario running, I will be in that instead of anywhere else.

What's the limitation on the 2 times per year? Is there a way to run them more often?

[Dadtallica]

What's the limitation on the 2 times per year? Is there a way to run them more often?

The frequency is likely dependent on the time available for the sweat equity. I’m sure it’s not easy to set one of these things up.

[Spikes]

For those of you who berate Traveler for voicing his opinion, what are the reasons for these FSO / Event only people not wanting to go into the MA?  Seems to me if we had another 30 or so people in the MA it would be better.  What is wrong with MA that stops you wanting to fly in it?

Personally, time has a lot to do with it. I used to play all hours when I had no responsibilities. That is no longer the case.

The other issue for myself and I can probably speak for the majority of my squad, is getting everyone on the same side and having fights that last long enough to be worthwhile to be on that side. The side switch timer and current player numbers make that impossible. We login, a couple of us have to burn their side switch to be on the same side, fly 1-2 sorties and the fight dies and there's no fight on either particular front. Log off.

[Spikes]

What's the limitation on the 2 times per year? Is there a way to run them more often?

It used to be 4 a year. A variety of factors including player numbers, desire, a smaller team to run them, less Euro players, etc. all played a part in the decrease in frequency.

[turt21]

For those of you who berate Traveler for voicing his opinion, what are the reasons for these FSO / Event only people not wanting to go into the MA?  Seems to me if we had another 30 or so people in the MA it would be better.  What is wrong with MA that stops you wanting to fly in it?
[/quote]

Ive NEVER had any success in decades in a fighter, so when I log in Im just fodder for the pro's

[Animl-AW]

For those of you who berate Traveler for voicing his opinion, what are the reasons for these FSO / Event only people not wanting to go into the MA?  Seems to me if we had another 30 or so people in the MA it would be better.  What is wrong with MA that stops you wanting to fly in it?


Ive NEVER had any success in decades in a fighter, so when I log in Im just fodder for the pro's

Below critical mass of 110-120 of the MA game play goes south. Things start to unravel. Above 115 the game play starts to rock.

Some tend to like a more organized chaos and being part in recreating historical events. It has a purpose and end-game.

Same with FSO.

At least in past times, the MA was just practice for scenarios. For some that's still true, others  made a life in the game part in the MA

IMO

[Brooke]

What's the limitation on the 2 times per year? Is there a way to run them more often?

Basically, if we run Scenarios too many times per year, participation flags.  We used to do 3 per year, but participation got too low for the middle one.  So in 2019, we moved to 2 per year.

[hazmatt]

Basically, if we run Scenarios too many times per year, participation flags.  We used to do 3 per year, but participation got too low for the middle one.  So in 2019, we moved to 2 per year.

Makes sense. Thanks for doing them btw. One of these days, God willing, I'll get to do one.

[Animl-AW]

How about just make the MA more appealing instead of the same SOP GB for laughs and wonder why many run to events

Until numbers come up to past 115 game play milage may vary.

[Jayz]

FSO and Scenarios are by far the best thing still going in AH. The main arena is bad and getting worse. I would be more than happy to see the "melee" eliminated completely because it is melee mouse anyway.

[Brooke]

Makes sense. Thanks for doing them btw. One of these days, God willing, I'll get to do one.

You are most welcome. 

[Animl-AW]

Everyone has their opinion and story.

Be careful, Scenarios and events tend to be the game's bread and butter no matter someone's opinion. Scenarios are a big selling point because I can't think of any other sim/game that runs MMP Historical Scenarios that aren't staged.

The problem is not a big enough buffer audience. I think many hope the updates will be significant enough to draw those numbers up.

I feel like a sick broken record
Critical mass is 110 and above, the game-play is better above that, inferior below that.
Currently a scenario draws about 60

So to maintain a CM on event night the MA needs to be around 150-170, so when that 45-60 leaves the MA for the event you still maintain 110+.

The solution to most game play issues is numbers. HTC is not doing marketing so it relies on players to use word of mouth and /or videos to draw new or return players. MAKE SURE WE MENTION RECENT UPDATES AND FUTURE UPDATES PLANNED.

Your average MA currently is around 95 -115 at prime time. To solve a lot of problems we need to draw 40-50 players so both function well.

In MotA era we got the MA count to 160-200, and 118+ were in the event. But those only ran one night per week so those extra numbers used the MA for practice for a month.

It's very unfortunate that bbs habitual elongated for nothing drama chased 20-30 out. It was way out of control and a damn shame that work went to the trash can.

Since I've been stigmatized I want to do zero. enthusiasm destroyers.