Originally posted by AKDejaVu
I can honestly say.... not at all preon.
The main drawback to missions is the delay in starting... the fact that you could end up with someone asking how to start their engine as a wingman and all sorts of stuff I'd just rather avoid.
Combine that with the simple fact that 75% of all missions I see are based on the milkrun philosophy and I'll stick with my own style. You want to start a trend... make meaningful missions that do something other than send 1/3 of your forces against 3 people. Diversions... planned attacks... whatever.
THE KEY TO MAKING MISSIONS BETTER FOR EVERYONE IS MAKING THEM RELEVANT, CHALLENGING AND EFFECTIVE.
Perks aint got nothing to do with them. All increasing the incentive to go on missions in their current form will do is to promote more missions in their current form.
I'm sorry I haven't replied to this in a while. The sad part about missions is that there isn't enough skill and training involved in executing missions.
However, I disagree that all missions are based on gangbanging philosophy. I have flown in several missions to date that will arrive over the target field to find it capped and awaiting goons. Generally speaking, when I'm in command, I'll send one flight (4 planes) to ensure that the town is down and send a couple goons while the rest of the group is redirected elsewhere.
This illustrates two things:
1. People who fly missions are becoming more objective oriented.
2. People who fly missions are willing to take commands from their leaders in the mission.
I agree that perking missions may offer bonus points to newbies, but then again, I don't think that would be such a bad thing. I don't see people flying a 262 or a Tempest into combat as much as a threat because they're MUCH more afraid of getting shot down than I am. They don't become a threat until they are piloted by somebody who is competent behind the stick and then you know that that person would have the points anyway.
What I see as the bonus will be exactly what DejaVu alluded to: more numbers. The (dare I use the word) community of mission goers has come to the point where we can offer a lot to the new player. They get the added comfort level of flying with larger numbers and seeing one side of combat as it can be carried out from more experienced players, and the rest of us get another set of bombs guns and rockets.
I agree that in the end, waiting for 5-10 minutes in the tower or the maproom kills the idea of missions for many people. However, if perking missions gives newbies a chance to give missions a second look, then we might be able to see a lot more cooperation in the MA.
