Different types of virtual pilot - for amusement only :)

[beet1e]

It is clear from my RPS thread that there are many different types of pilot in AH, just as there were on the Dark Side. I extracted the following from an old AGW whine. See how many people you recognise from the samples below. Excuse the Dark Side vernacular.

• Historical Realist These are the guys who want WW2 to be modelled right here in WB. They are a well intentioned bunch who probably favour the HA, but their quest for realism falters because they sometimes overlook the fact that this is a game, played by a very diverse set of people whose first language may not be English, and who are on different time zones, with different real-world commitments at different times, and whose short-range eyesight may not be up to seeing small grey dots, 1mm in width, on a dark blue background. Some of us don’t have time to engage in 8-hour buff sorties, the way it was in WW2. Most of us want to have fun, and WW2 was not fun. Therefore the more fun we are having, the less like WW2 it really is. The Historical Realists don’t like this, and are forever wanting to make changes that would have the effect of making the game commercially non-viable, eg when you die, you stay dead for 10 minutes, or wait until the next TOD, for example.
  
• The Muscle Man This is the guy who will choose the plane that’s fastest, strongest, has best climb rate, most powerful guns etc. OK, some WW2 planes were better than others, but it gets quite ridiculous at the end of a ToD. I can remember a few months ago in the MA, a purple wall (15+) of P51s at 20K, converging on an enemy field with only a handful of guys airborne, at low level. Quite unrealistic, and where’s the challenge in that?
  
• The Gangbanger Similar to Muscle Man. Doesn’t care what he flies, for whom, or against whom, as long as he can take refuge in the form of a 5K alt advantage against the enemy, and/or 2-1 numerical supremacy. Understands well the concept of safety in numbers. Likes vulching, as these are easy kills. Doesn’t seem to care about getting killed, as a new plane is only a mouse click away.
  
• The Score-potato May be a very good pilot, but whose primary loyalty is to himself, and his own score. Will do nothing to save a field from capture if it involves risk to himself. Doesn’t give a toss if fields are lost, as long as his streak remains intact. May or may not assist a friendly in trouble, but only if there is zero risk to himself. May be a dedicated LW pilot, but will unashamedly switch sides if the odds are mounting against him by staying axis. Never defends a field under siege as this would jeopardise his streak, and never flies ju52 for capture as this would be to enter into the team spirit.
  
• Waaaah! I want my own plane… Of course, we all have our favourite planes. I have to live without my favourite planes for at least half of the ToD, but have had to learn to accept that many people like early war, and indeed that there was a time in WW2 when the emphasis was on T&B and there were no e-fighters available. The my plane type feels that if he’s paying $2 an hour, his subscription should entitle him to the plane of his choice.
  

I'll leave it there, before someone accuses me of being at the limits of acceptible bulletin board behavior. (not my spellings)  

[Udie]

that about sums it up

 it would be neat if somebody could make cards of these guys like they did the diferent type of UBB posters

[Sandman]

Wow... not a single positive character in the bunch.

Kinda makes me wonder what I see in you guys.

[Ripsnort]

The Companion:
The type who flies for fun with his squadmates, enjoys training with them, likes to see progress of their squadron, doesn't care about score, and could give a rats bellybutton if he's shot down or not.

[Swoop]

Hmmm.  Guess which one I am.  

[poopster]

I think Rip's The Companion is a viable addition to the list. Quite a few fall into that catagory.

I would add..
The Furballer
The furballer is into the game for the fights. Not to be confused with the gangbanger as they are totally different species. Nothing else matters to the furballer except the fight. Side numbers and altitude in the fur are usually even. The size of the fur varies greatly as does the lifespan of the ball and location. Though some positions on the map lend themselves to the creation, they are created randomly and have to be found. An art form in itself.

BTW "The Score-potato" of WB rarely changed sides. Gangbangers did with regularity. Late war Score-potatos flying LW just had to pick there spots alot more carefully Ponies were a squeak

AH makes it possible to fly in different catagorys where WB didn't because of there score system.

You could classify me as a "Score-potato" because I have great interest in my fighter stats. Rarely cherry pick, rarely field vultch, usually mix it up somewhere in the middle. But with the ability to choose my type of sortie, I can help with field capture, defend a base being attacked, dive bomb a CV and still have my "fighter" score to "work" on when the mood strikes.

My problem is forgetting to look which type of sortie is clicked for that particular plane

The absence of an RPS and the ability to choose ones type of sortie is the best thing goin here IMO.

[udet]

what about this one: The Underdogfighter

Flies only early war planes just to show off how good he is.

[senna]

The Muscle Man should be changed to The "Uber Ride Dweeb". You also need a class for the "HO Dweeb" and one for the "Newbie". Also in all fairness to completely cover all sorts you also should have one "Long Range Hunter" or "FullTankers". Also the "MilkRunner" is needed as well as "Alt Monkey". Last but not least just to make sure we covered everyone, you also need the "Gay Flyer" just in case we have some "in the closet types" around.

[Kweassa]

But there are all positive sides to those seemingly negative characters(which, I think is summed up very good ).

 "Realists" are the heart and source behind beefing up the game up in levels of realism - visual, audial, situational and etc.

 The existence of "Muscles" play the role of the devil's advocate, and their numbers are the markers of balance within the game.

 "Bangers" play a simular role to the "Musclemen" and often indicate how the gameplay in numbers should be balanced, and their existence actually puts greenies in an ideal training ground for learning SA.

 Both the Muscles/Bangers and the Realists are different sides of a same coin. Their struggle balances realism and gameplay. "Brings balance to the force"

 ....

 ...and "Score potatos" are someone everyone can hate and throw bottles when they have a bad day

[Ripsnort]

I'll be honest and admit I've probably played each one of those roles since Genie AW in 1989.  The last 3 years have strictly been my "Companion" role.

[yuto]

The Seven Stages of an FA (Fighter Ace 2.5) Pilot
What every pilot goes through regardless of what combat flight sim they play.

I'm surprised by the number of people that get to stage two and just stay there

1. The Rookie
You can barely take off. You shoot at things as soon as you can see them (usually when they are 10000ft away). You crash a lot. You get killed a lot. You're on the frontline base and considering flying a bomber "'cos that's got lots of armour...". You do. You get killed even more. And still crash a lot. You discover the in-game chat and start off by typing in a lot of "8888888888884443scxxxxxxxxxxx" kinda stuff. Then start swearing.
Most likely to say... "What's the best plane?" or "How do I fly?"
Most likely to be flying... A Mustang or a Spit XIV.

2. The Headbanger
You have discovered how to take off and how to get the odd kill and that flying bombers from front bases isn't a clever idea. You even tried getting a little bit of altitude - but that's kinda boring. It does let you swoop down onto the tail of enemy fighters when they're fighting someone else though, so that's cool. But your best move is simply to fly STRAIGHT at the enemy, head to head, with all your guns blazing. You die BUT THEY DIE TOO...and that's what matters, huh? You like to fly for the team with the most pilots.
Most likely to say... "LOL" or "You died"
Most likely to be flying... A Spit IX or a Typhoon.

3. The Turnfighter
It's dawned on you that maybe it would be good to shoot someone down AND STILL BE ALIVE afterwards. So you tried turning into a fight with them to avoid the head to head. And now you're pretty damn good at it. You swing and you turn, you swoop and you dive...but you rarely actually go above 200mph or 6,000ft. You are annoyed by the losers who just hit and run and won't fight properly.
Most likely to say.... "Come back and fight wimp."
Most likely to be flying... A Rat or a Zero.

4. The Boom and Zoomer
You've seen the others do it, so now it's your turn. You fly the fastest plane you can find and point it at a target below you and hope he doesn't notice you until it's too late. You take the "Vulture" jibes personally and can recite the true definition of what vulching REALLY means without blinking, but you're still delighted some fools still reckon a Zero is a good plane to dogfight in. You like your stats. No, I mean you REALLY like your stats...
Most likely to say... "That's NOT vulching!!!!"
Most likely to be flying... A 190 D12

5. The Disadvantaged
You like nothing better than to be caught low by a much faster, much higher plane...and see if you can win. Somewhere along the line you probably started doing ground attack and often found yourself in this position. But whereas before it meant virtual certain death, now you actively encourage it. You like to see the uber planes attack confidently - before ending up a pile of smoking wreckage. And you usually fly the kind of plane considered an easy kill.
Most likely to say... "ty - u2."
Most likely to be flying... A Spit V or 109F

6. The Outnumbered
You fly against the odds. You often die, but you know what kills you makes you stronger in FA. You started off getting jumped by two or three enemy planes in the middle of a protracted one on one dogfight. Gradually you found the way to overcome the odds. First it was the two or three lone wolves then you progressed onto taking on two or three squaddies together. And winning. There is nothing to match the satisfaction of wiping out a squadron of enemy planes in one go.
Most likely to say... "Yeah, that's right I'm a REAL hacker... *sigh*"
Most likely to be flying... A Hellcat or a George

7. The Zoned
You are in The Zone. You have a Zen-like connection with your plane. You engage in ground attack, air to air, out-numbered and disadvantaged and still come back loaded with stars and taking ground. You are at one with the game. You know where the enemy is going before they do. You know where the wingmen are before your target does. You twist, you turn, you keep your speed high, you take the time to setup your victims even though there are too many to actually count at the time...and kill them all at close range, or else set up the wingmen to be taken out by your friendly fighters and still survive yourself. You are an Ace and you are feared. And you're one of a very select few in the game.
Most likely to say... "nice flying m8..."
Most likely to be flying... 109K, Yak 3 or ki-84 1a

And how long does it take to get this final stage? I've been flying almost three years now. When I get there, I'll let you know...