S!
Comments on the complaints and observations voiced here:
1) Bad (?) Connection.
This is obviously keeping a lot of people out. I get the TGP message too. Doesn't seem to make any difference to how the server performs for me. Aircraft seem to fly fine. In any case, I can't do anything about it. Have contacted Skuzzy who runs the server and HTC and asked for them to look into it. Hopefully it gets fixed soon. We didn't have the problem before so it isn't incurable.
2) Reduced DAR ranges making it difficult to see where the enemy and friendly are.
Personally I haven't had any problem in seeing where the action is. However I have bumped up the DAR range to 200,000 from 130,000. That should make it easier to see where combat is happening.
3) Low numbers.
Yes numbers have been reduced from the usual 30-50 we get when we kick off a new setup. Too bad, with this first new map we might have hit 70. Probably they're down because of (1) above. I am surprised at the low figures some have been suggesting. I live on the West Coast, and miss the most populated hours. But when I log on, around 12 midnight EST, there are usually between 10 and 20 people on server. And of course it is the chicken and the egg theory. You can't have numbers unless the players go there but the players won't go there unless there are the numbers.
4) Limited planeset.
Yep, that's a historical setup. We use the planes which were around during the historical period in question.
It does mean you can't fly your favourite plane all the time. It also does mean you can fly a plane like the MC202 and have a decent chance.
Did you know an MC202 will kick a LA-5FN's butt with a good pilot in the seat? Go to the CT and you can discover this important truth for yourself...
There are all kinds of interesting matchups to be explored in a historical CT which never happen in the MA because you are too busy trying to escape the horde of La-7's or N1k2's on your tail.
The nice thing about a CT is that your favourite plane WILL come along at some point and then you'll get a chance to explore its potential versus historical opponents which it was designed to fight.
5. Problems with range.
Fuel burn has been modified to 1.0 from 1.5 giving 50% more air time. The Stalingrad map is bigger than it looks and more fuel was needed. Now the Hurricane can vulch the Luftwaffe fields for a while longer before having to turn for home. You still don't have to fly any longer than 10 minutes to get into a fight. (A48 and A10)
6. 'Missing Shape' Map messages.
Yeah I get the messages too sometimes. So what? It doesn't affect gameplay at all. And the terrain designer is busy working on his revisions to eliminate the problem. Which will be available next time we use the terrain if not sooner. (hopefully we have the Tu-2 then...
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>>>>>>>
I appreciate all the comments.
Even those from the guys who have done all they could to kill the CT... Funny how the crocodile tears come out.
I'm also not going to panic and say the CT isn't succeeding on the basis of what we've been able to put up so far.
Yes it needs some tuning. That will happen.
Yes it needs a decent connection. That's going to happen.
Yes it needs maps which have all the bugs ironed out. That is going to happen too. The real question is whether you prefer to fly the same 3 maps over and over or whether you want some variety.
We are going to keep improving it, and gradually I think people are going to start to appreciate the experience they get there.
