Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: DropW on August 18, 2005, 03:59:19 PM

Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: DropW on August 18, 2005, 03:59:19 PM
Hi all. I have noticed that the game is really starting to lose its thrill. I've played for quite a while and it is no longer exciting to try and take a base or fight in the air. I truly believe the remedy for this is to get rid of instant respawn time when killed. Think carefully about this now... If there was a 1 minute wait time after you actually died before you could re-up your plane, the entire gameplay would completely change. There would no longer be people that you just killed a few seconds ago reupping and killing you.

  Also, fear would now come in to play. Not a single soul in Aces High has fear of dying. They know that they can just re-up instantly.. no big deal... Well, if they had to wait a solid minute, that would all change! It would be soo much more realistic. People would actually be afraid to HO another person!! just think about that! lol. I'm drooling with excitement just thinking about it! Please oh please creators of Aces High, hear my words!!

  I honestly think this would spice the game up 100 fold. Something has got to be done, I'm getting bored outa my mind lately with dead end base capturing and furballing with ghosts that you just killed. Its so unrealistic right now. Its like each country has unlimited resources to man power, its pointless. In Air Warrior they made it so that if there were so many friendly planes in a sector, you wouldn't be able to take off from a base in that sector. At least that was an attempt to control the insaneness of instant respawn time. I think my idea about 1 minute wait is better though ;). Well, hope this gets noticed and implemented into the programming. -DropW
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Karnak on August 18, 2005, 04:42:51 PM
You're right, it would completely change.  People would get incredibly timid and only the very fastest fighters would be seen on a regular basis.

People are already timid.


ToD will have a death penalty though, so your hopes are not in vain.
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Furball on August 18, 2005, 04:52:02 PM
(http://www.56k.dk/ondmis.dk/fpics/fatality.jpg)
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: DropW on August 18, 2005, 06:06:13 PM
ROFL!!! That is an awesome pic Furball. I love it. It is absolutely perfect for this post. :lol :rofl :aok
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: bustr on August 18, 2005, 06:50:50 PM
DropW,

You in a squad? Friday night squad ops are exactly what you want. One life for 2 hours of potential white knuckle excitment. You don't fly timid. Much of the time you are flying a patrol or have a taget destination to reach. There is always that wondering where the enemy is, how high or low, where will the cons come from, and can I actually survive a fight knowing I have only one life in the current frame.

You don't get dar. You have the map and can see bases flashing. And icon distance is realisticly short. Some times you climb up to a formation of dots getting in position to attack and suddenly their icon turns "green". And then both of you get bounced from on high and it devolves into a long running knife fight while you are trying to get away to the regrouping area only to find two of you survived..................... ..

I would hate to see the MA changed with limitations that would mock the fact that its a free for all arena so you can always find something going on at all times, good or bad...................
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: kevykev56 on August 18, 2005, 06:50:50 PM
If hangars are down planes cant get off the ground. That would solve your ghost problems.

I had to put on my robe and wizard hat to solve my ghost probs, but thats a different story.:aok
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: hubsonfire on August 18, 2005, 08:07:05 PM
I can only see this benefitting the vulchers, making the timid fly even more timidly, make only the fastest planes viable, and encouraging multiple cons to engage a single con, to avoid risking a time out.

Count me out on this one.
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Ack-Ack on August 18, 2005, 08:47:49 PM
We can add the Ack-Ack Death Penalty System.  Just give me $50 and I'll come to your house and stand behind you when you fly.  When you get shot down and die, I'll kick you in the nuts and beat the crap out of your dog.  The plus side is HiTech doesn't have to code a thing into the game.  


ack-ack
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: storch on August 19, 2005, 03:05:11 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Ack-Ack
We can add the Ack-Ack Death Penalty System.  Just give me $50 and I'll come to your house and stand behind you when you fly.  When you get shot down and die, I'll kick you in the nuts and beat the crap out of your dog.  The plus side is HiTech doesn't have to code a thing into the game.  


ack-ack


would you suspend yourself from the ceiling and drop down when he was looking elsewhere or otherwise engaged?
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: DropW on August 19, 2005, 04:04:38 PM
Hi all. I agree in that there would probably be less 1 on 1 fights, because people would want to fly with other people in order to preserve their life. However, if you want one on one fights, they do have the DA for that.

I think that the implementation of a 30 second or 1 minute respawn time would change game play but not for the worse like everyone seems to think. Any of you guys played Halo2? There is like a 15 second wait in some games to respawn. Its nice, 'cause it allows opportunities of offensive strategies to actually work. What I have noticed, is that this game was created with the defender always having the advantage over the offense. You need 3 offensive people for every one defending person to take a base in this game due to the unlimitted man power capability of instant respawn time.
 
30 seconds or one minute is not a ton of time to wait. The idea is to keep people from constantly upping like mad in order to hinder the offensive long enough to where the offensive is no longer doing anything good. Plus, if you haven't noticed, people are starting to fly more and more together than in the old days. I think its a good thing. This game should be a team game.

I'll give you a situation.. there are 3 of you guys flying together, and you get into a fight with 5 enemy. The three of you after a great battle end up killing all 5 enemy and you are ready to return to base feeling awesome about yourselves. But wait, out of the distance one by one, the enemy you just killed keep comin back out of anger and vengence. They actually keep you from returning to base because their soul is at unrest and they are persistent. After 10 min. of this, you either no longer have the fuel to get home or they end up shooting you down. The guys you killed a couple times over end up killing you in the end due to their persistance. Don't forget now, that you had to fly 2 sectors to get there, and they were just a stone throw from their base. They go back home feeling satisfied, and you are too far away to get back to them in time to serve your own vengence. Soon, dissapointment comes to your mind and you shout "lame" or "wuss" or something to the other team because they were able to keep comin back until you died by their hands.

With the timed respawn time, all of that could of been avoided. This happens a hundreds time a day in AH. It is getting quite boring. The defense will always have the upper hand. Whoever is closest to their base will almost always be able to put up a brick wall that your plane ends up smashing into. Only with overwhelming , and I mean overwhelming numbers will it be possible to take a base that is being defended decently.

I find that humans strive to have purpose in their lives. Without purpose, people get very depressed and bored. This game is losing purpose. It is turning into a giant furball with the only gratification one gets is when his name appears highlighted in the text bar exclaiming that he landed 2 or 4 or 40 victories in something. Thats great and all, but I want something more out of this game. It has the potential to be something much much more than what it is turning into.

I feel that this would allow the people that want to do strategic war a chance at succeeding, and at the same time, not be too much of a penalty for the people furballing. In actuallity this might end up being aplauded by the furballers that enjoy good fights. There would be less of those persistant vengence flyers coming back in a fresh plane and killing your hard work flight. just 30 seconds wait after a death would make a huge difference and I think for the Better! Its not like you got just one life and you have to sit out the campaign... its just 30 seconds or maybe just 1 minute. Perfect amount of time to cool yourself from a defeat and grab a snack! I truly think this would be a step forward for AH.
-DropW   p.s. sorry for the long speech, but I am really for this ;)
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: SlapShot on August 19, 2005, 04:19:13 PM
I'll give you a situation.. there are 3 of you guys flying together, and you get into a fight with 5 enemy. The three of you after a great battle end up killing all 5 enemy and you are ready to return to base feeling awesome about yourselves.

Why return ? ... one fight and its time to go home ... nah.

But wait, out of the distance one by one, the enemy you just killed keep comin back out of anger and vengence.

We could only HOPE and PRAY that they do ... cause we get to FIGHT again.

They actually keep you from returning to base because their soul is at unrest and they are persistent.

Great !!! ... They provide the best FIGHTS.

After 10 min. of this, you either no longer have the fuel to get home or they end up shooting you down. The guys you killed a couple times over end up killing you in the end due to their persistance.

Not always the case. If they want to shoot down a dead-stick plane and it makes them get a woody ... oh well. We know who really pwned who.

Don't forget now, that you had to fly 2 sectors to get there, and they were just a stone throw from their base.

I never fly 2 sectors to try and find a fight ... I would rather stick sharp pencils on my eyes.

They go back home feeling satisfied, and you are too far away to get back to them in time to serve your own vengence. Soon, dissapointment comes to your mind and you shout "lame" or "wuss" or something to the other team because they were able to keep comin back until you died by their hands.

Like I said above ... we know who pwned who ... I won't lose sleep over it and I never call people "lame" or "wuss" ... at least they came back and mixed it up.

"Time Out" Death penalty pure and plainly SUCKS. I pay to play this game ... not sit on the sidelines when I die.
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Ack-Ack on August 19, 2005, 04:51:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by storch
would you suspend yourself from the ceiling and drop down when he was looking elsewhere or otherwise engaged?



Or you can pay $25 dollars for Storch's Ankle Biter Service.  
*Ankle Guards not included.



ack-ack
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: HL117 on August 21, 2005, 11:12:29 PM
I feel your Pain Drop    but how would we have been able to vulch you in the past , if you had to wait so long b4 reupping ......seriously I have wished for a death penalty  at times also , How about another arena, will call it Big Pac 2 and make the bastages wait about  10 mins before reuppin even better will make  em sit through a debrief and explain how dumb it is to reupp with 10 bogies overhead..........
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Flayed1 on August 22, 2005, 10:53:45 AM
Quote
Not a single soul in Aces High has fear of dying.



   Hey now this isn't quite true..  I for 1 value my virtual life and try to land every plane I take off in.  Most of all on my bombing runs, I'm one of those guys that will invest large amounts of time to fly to my drop point and then try to get back without getting shot down. So I prefer that time not be wasted by having my virtual pilot die.

   I do like the idea of some sort of death penalty though I'm not shure about a time out being it but I don't think we will ever see one in the MA, I think we will just have to wait for TOD for that.
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Karnak on August 22, 2005, 11:17:58 AM
DropW,

I'll give you a much better and more likely version of your fight:

The three see the five and turn tail and run because they have lesser numbers. No fight occurs.


Here is the problem, AH doesn't have anything that forces, or encourages much, people to fight.  Therefore if you add a reason for them not to fight, as you suggest doing, they will avoid fights that aren't grossly lopsided.


Personally I think the time to climb back out is more than enough of a death penalty.  You must consider that when you compare AH to games that have no time to combat issues like Halo2 or any other FPS.  So what you want in AH is a death penalty on top of a death penalty with no reason to fight as icing on the cake.

Bad idea.
Title: Re: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Tilt on August 22, 2005, 01:13:36 PM
Quote
Originally posted by DropW
In Air Warrior they made it so that if there were so many friendly planes in a sector, you wouldn't be able to take off from a base in that sector.  -DropW


AW's zone limit balanced game play through out an arena....it was not a "death penalty".....certainly not if the field number  was not filled.

(Basically each field was limited to 15 or 20 players spawned from it at any time.....it did not stop 40 players attacking an enemy field from two equidistant ones)

I am afraid the concept of a death penalty is not for the MA.......

even the zone limit is not accepted here.....:(
Title: Re: Re: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Zazen13 on August 22, 2005, 08:02:31 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Tilt
AW's zone limit balanced game play through out an arena....it was not a "death penalty".....certainly not if the field number  was not filled.

(Basically each field was limited to 15 or 20 players spawned from it at any time.....it did not stop 40 players attacking an enemy field from two equidistant ones)

I am afraid the concept of a death penalty is not for the MA.......

even the zone limit is not accepted here.....:(


Yup, I actually loved the zone limiter AW, it encouraged more realistic operations as 100 guys couldn't just 'appear at a small airfield for example. While not really punishing death per se. It could mean if you were re-planed in AH you simply couldn't just up an La7, hit the warp speed button and be back in the furball 10 seconds after your demise. This had the de facto effect of an in-flight 'time-out' whereby you would have to fly a sector or so from a nearby field to re-enter the fight, but not actually  prevented from flying. It could add to the realism factor and help with lag in some situations as well as subtley penalize what I call 'overly promiscuous flying' (air sluts).

Zazen
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: DropW on August 22, 2005, 10:12:41 PM
Hi fellas. I agree with you Zazen and Tilt. The death penalty sure isn't going over well at all with everyone. I would be very happy if AH implemented a zone limiter like in AW. You are right, that is all that is really needed to even some things out. I just want something to change so that offensive attacks have a little more chance of succeeding.

Morale in the game suffers greatly when it takes hours upon hours to take a field even though a grand force is being cooridanted. Team mates start to get vicious and turn on each other. You got my vote for Zone Limiter ;). Thank you all for submitting your feelings about this. If you guys had any other ideas of what could be done, please post them. My death penalty fell through hard, but maybe someone has an idea that could work and most importantly, be something that a majority could agree to.

So, turning this post in that direction--> What do you all think about the Zone Limiter idea? Also, feel free to add any ideas of your own. Hehe, please respond soon... I'm running out of funds! Ack-Ack's hitman service and Storch's ankle biting are really putting a hole in my pocket! Cya guys in the air. -DropW
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Zazen13 on August 22, 2005, 10:47:15 PM
I've always liked a zone limiter based on the sector's controlling country's field like this...

Small Airfield = 15
Medium = 25
Large = 40
CV TG's = 30

This would add strategic significance to the varying field sizes. As it is now with only town and usually VH needing to be dropped for field captures, which are the same for all fields, there is no real difference strategically between the field sizes. This would curtail the size of force able to be launched from a small field to attack a large one. The large field would have an advantage in numbers, as it should, assuming both fields were manned to their maximum. As it is now a small field can launch an infinite number of planes instantly the same as a large field, not terribly realistic.

This would also be GREAT for the HUGE maps which grind to a stalemate quickly and drag on indefinately. Imagine Trinity with zone limiters based on field sizes. Now instead of each and every field allowing 50+ people to up and defend instantly only a fraction of that could from that field. The rest would have to come from supporting fields making vulching less important than interdicting re-enforcements. This would make captures easier to a point. But, then imagine you are the attacking country, you have taken some small airfields, but now can't launch enough planes from them to sustain an attack especially against a large airfield. Then a country would need to plan out which fields they must take in order to sustain their offensive, instead of the mindless steamrolling land-grab we have now.

This would also help the porkers and bomber guys in that instead of just the total destruction of the primary target for the offensive, the 'porking' of supporting fields will be much more important to hinder re-enforcements. A good portion of the attackers and the defenders would have to come from adjacent fields. Overall this would add a strategic element to the game that is lacking and do it with the existing infrastructure already in place.

Zazen
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Ack-Ack on August 22, 2005, 11:25:22 PM
Quote
Originally posted by DropW
Hi fellas. I agree with you Zazen and Tilt. The death penalty sure isn't going over well at all with everyone. I would be very happy if AH implemented a zone limiter like in AW.



Zone limiter is in no way a death penalty and will absolutely do nothing to deter one from having their suicide Jabo death wish.  All the zone limiter did in AW was limit how many take take off from a base.  The Zone Limiter was a crowd control measure meant to help combat some of the hordes.  Whether it worked or not is still up for debate.


ack-ack
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: TDeacon on August 22, 2005, 11:36:24 PM
DropW, another idea to re-inject purpose into your AH play is to try and learn to dogfight better.  Almost infinite options for variation/improvement there, and they differ with each plane matchup.  Base capture isn't the only thing in AH.

Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Zazen13 on August 23, 2005, 12:16:36 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Zone limiter is in no way a death penalty and will absolutely do nothing to deter one from having their suicide Jabo death wish.  All the zone limiter did in AW was limit how many take take off from a base.  The Zone Limiter was a crowd control measure meant to help combat some of the hordes.  Whether it worked or not is still up for debate.


ack-ack


It's a death penalty in that if you die you will have to invest at least an extra 7 minutes flying back to the front in a new plane from an adjacent field. As it is now flying and dying is the most efficient way to approach the game from an effort to result per unit time perspective. In my opinion, while a direct penalty for dying would not promote good gameplay as noted in the above posts, negating the incidental reward (instant rebirth moments from the fight you just died in with a fresh plane) would enhance gameplay. As far as the suicide porkers go, well there is nothing one can do to stop someone with no regard for their virtual life from doing that. The same can be said for the suicide CV killers, the suicide La7 goon hunters, the suicide HO'ers etc. , the list goes on. Like the kamikaze's in WW2 if someone is willing to die to accomplish something it's virtually impossible to stop them.

What is clear is gameplay would be enhanced if people were less inclined to view deliberate and repeated death as the most efficient way to contribute to a fight and hamper the enemy. In my opinion, a zone limiter based on field size would not only accomplish this with minimal negative impact, but also greatly enhance the strategic depth of the MA and the playability of the HUGE maps especially. Not only that but it would minimize the relative impact of a numerical advantage. If only so much force could be allocated over a finite geographic area without incurring burdensome flight times the horde would in effect be forced to operate on more equal terms with those being horded. That would in and of itself promote better fights and lessen the gang-vulching, horde-mongering that characterizes the MA currently.



Zazen
Title: Re: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: beet1e on August 23, 2005, 04:01:42 AM
Quote
Originally posted by DropW
Hi all. I have noticed that the game is really starting to lose its thrill. I've played for quite a while and it is no longer exciting to try and take a base or fight in the air. I truly believe the remedy for this is to get rid of instant respawn time when killed. Think carefully about this now... If there was a 1 minute wait time after you actually died before you could re-up your plane, the entire gameplay would completely change. There would no longer be people that you just killed a few seconds ago reupping and killing you.

  Also, fear would now come in to play. Not a single soul in Aces High has fear of dying. They know that they can just re-up instantly.. no big deal... Well, if they had to wait a solid minute, that would all change! It would be soo much more realistic. People would actually be afraid to HO another person!! just think about that! lol. I'm drooling with excitement just thinking about it! Please oh please creators of Aces High, hear my words!!

  I honestly think this would spice the game up 100 fold. Something has got to be done, I'm getting bored outa my mind lately with dead end base capturing and furballing with ghosts that you just killed. Its so unrealistic right now. Its like each country has unlimited resources to man power, its pointless. In Air Warrior they made it so that if there were so many friendly planes in a sector, you wouldn't be able to take off from a base in that sector. At least that was an attempt to control the insaneness of instant respawn time. I think my idea about 1 minute wait is better though ;). Well, hope this gets noticed and implemented into the programming. -DropW
DropW - reading this, it sounds like the actions is all at the bases, instead of being between the bases. That "1 minute waiting time" you speak of, which would make it more realistic, could be achieved if the bases were slightly further apart. From your description, it sounds like the bases are so close together they're actually touching, or even overlapping!

When the whole "move the bases closer together" mantra began to be chanted, way back when, I warned how it would all end up. Looks like I was right.
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Tilt on August 23, 2005, 04:38:42 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Zazen13
I've always liked a zone limiter based on the sector's controlling country's field like this...

Small Airfield = 15
Medium = 25
Large = 40
CV TG's = 30



I am going to call it Field Limit as we have zones in AH

Actually I think those numbers are about right........

GV fields and ports = 25?

One problem occurrs however as a country nears defeat.... we could find that eg Rooks have 70 players but FL only allows 65 of them to play.

 there are work arounds

1) is to come up with a simple formulae that modifies the FL when the ratio of fields to side numbers drops below a certain level.

2) Make present Zone masters limitless (above could still ocurr)


3) would be a combination of 1 & 2

Another mechanism to over come the "you are stopping me playing where I want" complaint is the introduction of a perk price for players who really want to fly from a "full field". Infact linking FLwith the perk system could be the foundation of a different approach to the FL. When the ratio above ( 70 Rooks) is incurred then the perk price is waved toatally.

Another problem is the integration of Missions. Missions can be fun. I do not have a problem with missions forced to use rear fields when a battle front is heavy. I do not have a problem with missions being forced to use two fields because of their size.

However it would be really poor if the first time a mission finds it has hit  the FL is when it tries to launch.

It would be equally poor if a mission created for an "empty field" finds as launch approaches that the spare slots are depleting below the mission numbers.

Hence not only would the FL need to be shown in the tower (on the chalk board?) but missions need some way to protect them selves from  a "depleting" FL.

Hence I would advocate that missions be permitted to reserve upto a %  (60) of a fields FL upon their creation or with 5 mins to go which ever is the shortest.


But it has been talked to death before.......the only new thing I have added above is a link between perk cost and the FL.

Presently perks are calculated "nationally"

If they could be "modified" by a field addition then the only thing that occurs when FL is reached is that x perks are added to each ride at that field.

This could even be used to replace the ENY limiter as FL has a similar (but more localised) effect and allows folk who really want to fly from there to do so by buying (risking perks for) extra slots.

You may decide to make M3's C47's and LVT2's exempt from this.



The next discussion is that of formations. Presently AH counts a formation as 1 launch and upto 3 deaths. If FL would consider a formation as 1 player then he would only be depleted from the count once he was back in a tower or off the roster. It could not count deaths/ditches/bails  or else the numbers would not balance.
Title: Game needs a Death Penalty.. please!!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Zazen13 on August 23, 2005, 09:04:27 AM
You could even just simplify the near reset situation to the point that once any country is down to 10% of the total fields the field limiter is doubled for the 'compressed' team. So, for the huge maps that would be 25 fields, for the small maps 8 fields. This would basically mean when a team gets down to just its mainland its concentration of force capacity can be as much as double that of its attackers'. You could call the point a team reaches this 'critical mass',  'crunch time'.

Zazen