This is a dilemma that both AW and WB tried to solve. Each game went in a seperate direction. I think both failed.
My experience is with AW so I feel strongly that AH should try to avoid the massive community fragmentation AW is now saddled with.
But I understand the frustrations and equally nasty problems Warbirds experienced mixing the two. I like Westy's proposal of using a graduation system, where after a certain limit the player is no longer allowed access to "easy mode".
I differ in that I think AH could survive having this brand of easymode mixed in with regular players. I think it could work if:
1. Easymode is -well- within the flight envelope of the regular A/C.
2. Easy mode closes to a player after his 3rd tour no matter what.
3. Easy mode closes regardless of the tour if certain statistical numbers are reached, ie X number of kills, K/D, points.
4. Icons identify easy mode players in flight.
I feel that keeping newbies in the regular arenas is the proper thing to do because the positive socialization aspects of this community outweight the negative effect of bending the flight model for those of lesser ability. If a seperate arena is created, a new culture is created, and 10 years from now you'll have 2 communities that hardly know each other.
I am not advocating the creation of an easymode. But this is how I think it could work without doing serious harm.
If HTC instead chooses to fill a niche that caters to serious sim players I see this as a reasonable, (and more desirable) option.
-Hornet
