Author Topic: Combat Theater Poll: Why don't you fly there? (Read 1698 times)

Sabre · « **on:** January 21, 2002, 10:11:37 AM »

We're trying to figure out why a much-requested arena is not drawing a bigger share of the playerbase during prime time. Please choose one of the following as your number-one reason for not flying more often (or at all) in the Combat Theater:

1) I'd like to fly in the CT more, but there's not enough people in the CT when I log on. (Tell us how many is "enough")

2) The planeset is too limited.

3) I don't like the reduced icon ranges.

4) I don't like the toned down radar.

5) Other (explain, but please keep it short)

We're very much interested in what you have to say, both good and bad, so that we might improve the CT for your use. This has been posted here, rather than in the CT forum for the obvious reason; we want to here from those who choose rarely if ever go into the CT. Thanks.

Sabre
(CT Team)

Swoop · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:18:38 AM »

Numbers aint the issue. If people dont log on cos there aint enough there then they'll never be enough there. At least that's how I see it.

However,

I hate, loath and despise reduced icon range. I think and always have thought that icon range should depend on plane type and altitude. A B17 at 20k is gonna be highly visible while a tiff at 4k wont be, especially looking down on it. Reduced icon range just means I fly round chasing dots that turn out to be friendly for half a tank.

popeye · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:20:10 AM »

1. Poor communication. With reduced icon and dar ranges it's hard to know what is going on. If players would take the time to use the readio or voice comm, it would make it easier to find a fight.

2. Unbalanced forces. Often see 2:1 or worse.

3. Low numbers. I'd say it takes 30+ to make the CT fun (with fairly even sides).

Ripsnort · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:21:58 AM »

Currently this map: Spawn points are all messed up. No goons for capture, must use M3, but with messed up spawns, its broken.

Re-supply does not work either.

Horn · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:22:54 AM »

One and a little bit of four.

Although I've seen lotsa posts about the CT, the authors don't seem to be on when I'm up. When it first went up, I was kinda hoping it would be an AW "fightertown" sorta thing--few bases, no capture, full fighter planeset, no buffs--just a brawling area without milkin fluffs ....Don't get me wrong, I like blowin stuff up, and I like the missions in the MA--it is just when the numbers get high in the MA, my gunnery goes to crap--prolly my machine or xnect, so it would be nice to go to an arena where there was less lag and purely fighters.

My .02

MANDOBLE · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:23:57 AM »

The same way money call to money, people call to people. There are not enough people at the same time to atract more and more people to CT.

Do you want much more people at CT? Very easy, disable scores for MA.

If dissabling scores seems a too drastic move, then use a simplified system based only on points.

lazs2 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:35:02 AM »

all four plus a few number fives.

The planesets are either mindumbingly same same or lopsided. You quickly learn every "tactic" of the limited planes for each set (especially since most of em are only a variation of the 109/190 theme). Once you learn this a "long engagement" is nothing more than working toward the advantage or running. Anything else is stupid.
lazs

214thCavalier · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:45:16 AM »

The connection to CT is the one and only reason for me.
Tried Sunday was awful connect Netstat was jumping full scale and had 2 lost connection msgs as also same happened while DL the map.
Went to MA Host que was a bit spiky but otherwise flyable.

Vermillion · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:48:42 AM »

Basically what Lazs said.

Numbers are low, and usually unbalanced in this type of arena.

Plus it then typically becomes a "best plane type, Side A" vs "best plane type, Side B". It doesn't take long to learn this fight and it rapidly becomes boring.

Scenario's are fun. Doing it every day in an arena isn't too me.

deSelys · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:51:53 AM »

I fly into the CT even if I'm alone. Usually (a few) people begin to show up within 10 mins.

Even with the problems, I have much more fun there than in MA. Plain simple.

I won't criticize people flying in the MA. I don't feel I'm better than the MA-player (Before you ask, I don't feel anal nor attention deprived neither, Lazs...). For your 15$, you choose the fun you want.

I will criticize people:

- not interested into the CT concept, but constantly whining about it in the CT forum. Nobody is forced to play there.

-who begged for a CT during months, but who don't fly in there at all because the sky is too blue, or the clouds are too grey, or there isn't strat enough, or there is too much strat, or there are still some bugs, or they can't have their shiny Bf-51C everytime.... They should consider it as a beta, and give constructive feedback about their experience. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Vortex · « **Reply #10 on:** January 21, 2002, 10:58:58 AM »

I pop in on occasion but usually I'm just looking for a few low numbers (1vs1, 1vs2, etc) fights. Presently though the TCP switch keeps me out. The game just isn't playable on that protocol. Hopefully that's only a temporary issue though.

I don't play there regularily simply because the gameplay isn't that terribly different from MA. Its the same basic theme (random base warrior stuff) with a few subtle modifications such as plane limitations and icon range reductions. However, if sides are moderately balanced (or my addition on one side or the other will help make them so) I still like popping in for a few dogfights. I'm not much for the base warrior stuff though, historically oriented or otherwise, so that isn't really a draw for me. I can take it or leave it basically. I can't really comment on the new terrain as the above mentioned protocol problems has kept me away for the most part. Perhaps the new terrain will help add to the uniqueness of the arena, but again, I can't really comment on that as yet.

Vortex

Karnak · « **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2002, 11:13:20 AM »

Because most times there is nobody there when I log on.

Last time I entered the CT I was the only person there. I selected the Russians and after a while somebody else came into the CT and also selected the Russians. I left after about an hour.

eddiek · « **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2002, 11:25:22 AM »

Well, I flew the heck out of it until this terrain. This terrain, with ALL due respect to 10Bears, is pretty much unplayable for me.
Aside from the "missing shape" messages that fill the buffer near A48, I found that if you are Russian and try to defend the depot, you are instantly in range of the enemy base, you can see the fighters lifting off and then almost instantly pop into icon range. There are NO field guns to defend with at that base.
The white map, the congestion of the bases makes it pot luck what base you end up at, at least from my experiences with this terrain.
What I was hoping to see in the CT was not a constant TOD/scenario setting, more just plain Axis vs Allies matchups, even if they involved the entire AH planeset. With the MA perk system in place, or perk costs reduced 50-75% to help folks get into them.

That would keep the arena from being filled with with 262's and Tempests, yet still offer them after the player "earned" the points necessary.

moose · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2002, 11:31:20 AM »

i cant even play in the MA

mediaone is once again not listening to me when i tell them what is wrong.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2002, 11:31:28 AM »

Well, I was the one that whined for "Historical maps from the community"...unfortunately,none of these were thoroughly beta tested. I am now offering my services as a voluntary beta tester for the community, however you must be willing to take Criticism. I beta test for a living, so I have this little routine down. It will uncover 99% of the bugs (such as spawn points, etc) in the terrain. Let me know if you want my services, HTC.