This is a reply to jimccaul:
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In a scenario everything is organised so people fly in groups with a definite game plan and objectives which creates a feeling of being a team which is part of the fun.
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The OAE system doesn't require people to fly with any kind of organization. However, as formation flying and team tactics make susrvival more likely, the existence of an OAE system PROMOTES such activities without requiring them as a condition of participation.
Players are free to fly when they want and with whome they want where they want. Many will CHOOSE to arrange to meet friends for team flights in order to promote their personal survival.
Once again, if you simulate real world conditions, real world tactics will result naturally - without any additional complications.
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Your test...is flown by people who know each other and therefore will find it much easier to work in a team
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As a matter of fact, few of the players in the Historical War knew each other. Furthermore, each participant was ANNONYMOUS. Only >I< knew their real identity. Each player assumed the name of his current alter ego and other players knew him/her only by that name. When the alter ego died, that was the end for that persona.
This kind of scenario need not exist in a more relaxed OAE environment however. Players may re-use the same name for all of their alter egos. Only their stats are reset upon death.
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Obviously a major attraction is just 1 life and as your system is designed for 24/7 play it can't have one life so instead it has huge advantages for long surviving pilots
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Remember that pilots can only survive long IF THEY ARE SKILLED IN COMBAT OR SUPERIOR TACTICIANS. Demonstrated skill is the only means to success.
Many people have refered to the OAE as a "kill streak" system. This is inaccurate. The system rewards long life with experience and kills with base points. More experienced alter egos have a multiple applied to these base points.
To become experienced, one need not make a single kill. Experience is gained by time spent in the combat area. Rank, medals, or other awards are a product of points but experience is a product of combat time.
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When you analyse a scenario it's probably 2 hours of flying around and 15 minutes of action this is compensated for by the tension(for everyone not just those with a kill streak) , team work, and knowing you are
playing on a level playing field.
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Tension would also be increased on the 24/7 combat arena as a result of the OAE system, however there may be many more engagements. The OAE compensates the cautious player by rewarding actions that lead to survival. It also provides all players with an ongoing challenge (rather than just a series of minor combats).
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On a separate point about the award scheme for long streaks is the fact you will give ace's better visibility to indicate superior situational awareness(SA) of a RL ace but RL aces did not have better eyesight they had better SA
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Eyesight would not be improved. The hat switch and other manual views would operate the same for all pilots. The proposal (and it is only one proposal) is that long lived OAEs be given a greater range for their automatic tracking keys - to simulate the improved SA that comes of combat experience.
This WOULD remain a measure of the player's skill - as more skilled players would tend to fly the longer-lived alter egos more of the time.
ISHMAEL
ps. I am not mad. Though I am perhaps a little crazy ;-)
