Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: storch on December 03, 2007, 03:09:10 PM
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these introspective threads got me to thinking.
I'll preface by saying that I understand that AH is a game, to some it may go a tad beyond a mere game and into the area of a hobby/pastime. to others it may border on obsession.
my questions are how do you perceive your involvement in AH within the context of the above categories.
do you have any goals for yourself as it pertains to AH?
I play AH with the same level of commitment that I once had for a variety of sports.
I have goals that I have set for improvement.
AH is as vexing and challenging to me as golf was. that is to say that I know what I want to do, I have seen what others can do, yet.......... do you understand what I'm trying to communicate? does anyone else share the frustration?
I'll be away this week at a continuing education/seminar/vacation get away so I'll have plenty of time to reflect on crap like this as I sit through the mostly dull meetings for four hours a day.
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it is my best time killer .. to take it too seriously, denotes something lacking elsewhere .. I do not share your frustration but I do enjoy reading about it LOL
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Maybe because ive played for some time now I dont consider AH any different than watching TV.Its entertainment.At one time I was more involved I guess you could say.Its probably something everyone or most people go through.I try to do well but im not staying up at nite worrying about it.I am into the history of the air war of WW2 and I read a lot.Also I build models of WW2 aircraft.So I guess it all compliments one another.If I were to put it in your terms it would be Hobby/Pastime.
Pipz
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Like anyone I hate losing. I'm not talking about winning the war, but getting shot down. Usually I make a mistake when I'm sent to the tower. I rarely gloat, only to other's who I see doing it.
I still refuse to worry about my score.
I just want the Community to gel a little better and stop all the fighting and bickering on these boards. It can happen, but it probably won't.
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I'm somewhere between hobby/passtime and obsession.
I used to not have any in-game goals but to have fun. Then I started visiting these BBs and one day some all-knowing member decided to use my score as an argument as to how I wasn't qualified to discuss something and my first in-game goal was born.
I set about to get my K/D over 2. I used to fly into the biggest red dar bar to see how long I'd last so I stopped doing that and I reached my goal right away so I set another goal; to fly every fighter and get a K/D better than the larger of the arena average for that plane or 1 K/D+1. That took a couple of months but more importantly, my overall K/D was improving as I learned all the planes.
Since i already liked doing everything in the game I then set another goal; to rank in the Top 50 overall. It took me two months to get there.
Now my goal is to improve my individual catagory rankings and overall ranking every camp. To do that I have set goals for every single statistical catagory. So far so good. I've continued to rise overall over the past six months or so and I just finished my best ever camp in fighters, bombers, attack planes, vehicles and overall.
That said, and now that I'm an official score-potato, I still try to minimize the dweeberie and fly sorties that will help out my country.
I'm sure I'll plateau pretty soon and have already been wondering what my next goal will be. I guess I've still got a camp or two to figure it out.
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Hobby/pasttime. I spend far too much time on the game, and things related to it, but there's so many aspects, the forum discussions, hardware, peripherals and setups, the historical side of things, the aircraft discussions, special events, etc, that I can still find something that keeps me amused for hours, even after 6 years of fairly constant play. It is an absolutely ridiculous amount of entertainment for 15 bucks a month, even if at times I do find it frustrating for various reasons.
I find the parallel between golf and AH to be very accurate.
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Originally posted by Eagler
it is my best time killer .. to take it too seriously, denotes something lacking elsewhere .. I do not share your frustration but I do enjoy reading about it LOL
I don't think you understand what I'm trying to get at. perhaps it's my competetive nature, I play to win. it doesn't matter what the game is my objective is winning. in a game like this it's hard to determine.
if I use score as measure it becomes immediately evident that score in AH is essentially flawed since for the most part the people with the best scores are awful players except in the category of gaming the game.
I use the 1v1 as my criteria in the 1v1 I'm a pretty poor player. that means HTC will be getting a whole bunch more of my money as improvement against some of the stellar players in AH for me will be a long row to hoe.
you sir, are on my list of those I one day hope to master.
nice answer BaldEagl. I find it insightful.
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Originally posted by hubsonfire
that I can still find something that keeps me amused for hours, even after 6 years of fairly constant play. It is an absolutely ridiculous amount of entertainment for 15 bucks a month, even if at times I do find it frustrating for various reasons.
I find the parallel between golf and AH to be very accurate.
word
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I play AH with the same level of commitment that I have for anything that I set out to do ... to be the best that I can be.
I have AH goals and they are personal goals ... that meaning that if I fail ... I refuse to berate or belittle those who have gotten in the way of my goal(s). I have no one to blame but me.
Smack talking and eye-poking serves nothing in obtaining any goal.
Back in the day, when I was playing hockey, I was talking smack to a player on the other team, prior to a game. Well come game time ... he handed me my arse on a platter ... many times over.
I hated the taste of "crow" and swore that my smack talking days were over and that my actions and abilities would do the talking from then on ... and if my abilities weren't up to par ... well then it was time to change something ... but at least I didn't look like a fool eating crow.
Conversely, when smack is directed my way ... there is no better feeling that serving up some crow ... if I can.
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Well Storch,
As I have had more than a couple of run ins with you , I can relate to part of it.
I hate losing. Golf as you probably have read here is my obsession. AH at one time was as well. I haven't mastered Golf, but I'm REAL good at it. I haven't mastered AH and now , not spending the time I once did, nor getting to worked up over it like I once did , I find it more enjoyment than anything.
I take it much like I do most sports outside of Golf. It's a hobby and scores , winning the war mean nothing to me. Im competitive in here , but not like Golf.
I like the 1v1's you find every now and then outside of the "Mine is bigger than yours DA".
In a 1v1 agaisnt MOST players , I'd say your better than you think. In the Cherry Picking Alt Monkey Hoing Running chasing world of the MA , Id say your like most and thats average.
In a 1v1 I'm probably at BEST , at 60 percent chance I'll lose.
I have set goals to get my Fighter K/D to a personal best. Thats my way of measuring what I am doing.
Its an interesting question....Good Luck with your goals.
Edit:
A great point lower in the thread was made about friends. The 71 Sqd. has presented me with friendships with people all over the world. AS some of you know I lost my Mom a lil over 2 years ago.
These guys kept in touch with me all the trime. Wanting to know not only about me but my family as well. ANother occasion was a heart condition I have that got a bit goffy for a bit. They called me from England , and all over the U.S.. Checking on me and what was going on. I consider them VERY good friends.
If AH has given me one thing outside of laughs and fun , it's given me Friends. Friends that I would have never made without AH. You can't buy that for ANY amount a month.
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It's just plain (plane) fun! I don't take it seriously at all. Some nights I try and survive and land kills/take bases and others I fly into the nearest red swarm with no alt and see what happens over and over.
I like to "win" an engagement, but that could mean winning a 1v1 or it could mean surviving way longer than I should in a 1v5. I don't really have any goals or expectations regarding my performance. My real life is full of deadlines, responsibilities, & stuff to whine about. I leave that behind when I put on the headset.
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Originally posted by storch
these introspective threads got me to thinking.
I'll preface by saying that I understand that AH is a game, to some it may go a tad beyond a mere game and into the area of a hobby/pastime. to others it may border on obsession.
my questions are how do you perceive your involvement in AH within the context of the above categories.
do you have any goals for yourself as it pertains to AH?
I play AH with the same level of commitment that I once had for a variety of sports.
I have goals that I have set for improvement.
AH is as vexing and challenging to me as golf was. that is to say that I know what I want to do, I have seen what others can do, yet.......... do you understand what I'm trying to communicate? does anyone else share the frustration?
I'll be away this week at a continuing education/seminar/vacation get away so I'll have plenty of time to reflect on crap like this as I sit through the mostly dull meetings for four hours a day.
its a game to me....thats it...i dont get caught up in all the "win the war blah blah blah" stuff. i get on to fly with my squadies and my friends on the TSM squad. i just like to have fun..jokie around...i really enjoy the social part of it too. but i will admit...i REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoy beating up on the boyz. i'm very competitive at some point in the game but its mostly that i'm competitive with that green slimey squadie of mine *grins*. i like the fact that i can call someone out and put up a good fight...thats what the game is for me....my future in AH....ummmmmmmm.....not really sure....i would like to improve my gunnery.
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Originally posted by hubsonfire
Hobby/pasttime. I spend far too much time on the game, and things related to it, but there's so many aspects, the forum discussions, hardware, peripherals and setups, the historical side of things, the aircraft discussions, special events, etc, that I can still find something that keeps me amused for hours, even after 6 years of fairly constant play. It is an absolutely ridiculous amount of entertainment for 15 bucks a month, even if at times I do find it frustrating for various reasons.
I find the parallel between golf and AH to be very accurate.
Sounds like my story. I'm a hobbyist now, though I've definitely spent some time at the obsession level.
I've been a lifelong aviation and history fan; I specifically remember a pre-teen conversation with my brother where we dreamed about someday being able to fly plane against plane in a computer sim. Fantasy back then, but now way more than what we could imagine.
Before I found AH, my main hobby was building models and dabbling in computer games. Since AH, I haven't needed any other hobbies...and this one's so deep challenging, and rewarding that I've stayed with it longer than just about any other hobby I've had.
As for flight style: I want a good fight, and I'm willing to risk death to get it...but deep down, I like to survive. At times I've gotten cranked when those conflicting goals led to frustration, but now I go with the flow much better. I've done the score thing, and went as far as I want to (I got into the low 20s, but I don't WANT to do what's needed to go farther. No way do I want to invest enough hours to compete with the mega hour guys, and I fly as a lone wolf 95% of time). So, essential no rank goals now.
I think stats are useful only as measures of personal progress, and used that way there isnt really a substitute. I watch KPD and hit%, and I watch how my KPD breaks down among and against certain planes. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have an Excel spreadsheet....So I'm not a score dweeb, I'm a stat dweeb!
What I work for is simple: to get better. I love getting that reversal right, suckering someone into a maneuver kill, or getting a really good snapshot off. I like reaching a new personal milestone, no matter what it is. I love the feeling of doing something well, especially if it involves wing tactics or getting a wounded buddy home. I try to learn what I'm doing wrong , and then put it into practice in the unpredictable MA. (BTW: can't praise the trainers enough! They've been a huge help even in low level interventions like commenting on film clips)
So, like golf, the game is a challenge that can never be conquered. (At least for guys starting with my non-gifted-gamer talent level.)
But best of all, I've come to love the community. Starting the "game" I never expected to make REAL friends. Not those superficial gaming buddies, but friends who make a point of getting together, who are there for each other when RL troubles hit. People who care about the same things I'm interested in (and who remember the same obscure cultural references) sure, that's great....but there's nothing like finding quality people who hear a rumor that you're having a hard time, and call you up or send daily PMs to encourage you -- or who send computer parts (even cash) to a squaddie who's strapped.
Summing up "What AH is to me":
Its the most rewarding and fun challenge I've ever taken up. And, it's a community of some really, really cool people -- some of whom have become really cool friends.
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Originally posted by Simaril
I've been a lifelong aviation and history fan; I specifically remember a pre-teen conversation with my brother where we dreamed about someday being able to fly plane against plane in a computer sim. Fantasy back then, but now way more than what we could imagine.
Likewise. All my life I've wished that I could take some sort of time machine and be a WWII fighter pilot. When "B17 Bomber" was released for the Intellivision I was in hog heaven. I'm learning to fly real planes now, but I find that I'm distracted from that life-long goal by AH2. That's the strength of the WWII fighter plane draw on me. It probably explains why I'm such an AvA fanatic.
Win, lose, draw, I really couldn't care when it comes right down to it. I have to do that stuff for a living, I don't need to repeat it in my leisure time. The quality of the historical fight is everything.
So, yeah, I guess I'm obsessed.
- oldman
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I get and expect something different from AH just about every time I log on.
I grew up reading about WW2 air combat, playing the board games, watching the movies ( horriby disappointed with Midway and all the historical inaccuracies ) and when AW/AH became available, I've been hooked ever since.
I've gone through varying levels of obsession about the game. From the squadron commander with a whole elaborate ranking/reward structure outside the game itself, to the sproradically logging in lemming.
I've had the opportunity to help manage special events and historical-based recreations through our CM team, which has been some of the most rewarding times of my on-line 'career.'
I generally don't have many specific goals that I pursue. I've found that my goals are more dependant on my attitude when I'm online. I have noticed myself tending to watch my k/d more often and I am making a slight effort to get my hit % up, but if we're in base-capture mode and my squaddies need me to take down an ACK or town building.. I'm on it. Too bad, so sad if I launched in fighter mode and end up blowing my numbers on strafing buildings.
Some nights I log in and all I care to do is sit in a field gun and pointy-clicky red guys out of the sky. Other nights I may just up a zeke and wander around at alt looking for somebody to spar with. Still others I'm in a toolshedding mode and will spend an hour for one mission of B24s to aid in the base capture cause... or go find some strats to hit, or a CV to sink.
I have seen many people come and go over the years. I suspect that the long-timers that play and play and play, year after year, are the ones that have a background similar to mine. Lots of time spent in the libraries reading about the same planes we simulate on-line. I still get moments of awe when we have a large formation of bombers with escort forming up and heading off to a target. And that's after a pretty solid 6 year stint in the same game. I've seen a lot of folks play the game that have practically no knowledge of the history involved, yet can master the mechanics of the planes and hand me my virtual butt after only a few weeks. Yet, my incompetance in the art of ACM doesn't really bother me.. for long.
I know that if I really wanted to get better, I probably could. It's just not a priority in my life.
I play AH for different reasons. Sometimes the thrill of the kill, sometimes the thrill of avoiding being killed ( extreme goon driving ), and other times just winging with my squad mates and sharing the victories and defeats of another night of virtual carnage.
Like Hub said, you get an insane amount of entertainment for your $15/month. Is it perfect? no. Is it better than anything else out there that I've found? yes.
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It's an entertaining hobby for me. I much prefer doing this over watching TV or getting as drunk as a lord down the boozer every single night. A bit of fun winning fights, taking bases and a bit of a laugh with the lads so's to speak.
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Originally posted by Simaril
I watch KPD and hit%, and I watch how my KPD breaks down among and against certain planes. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have an Excel spreadsheet...
Sounds familiar to me... ;)
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Originally posted by hubsonfire
I find the parallel between golf and AH to be very accurate. [/B]
+1
Same damned thing.
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I've been doing it a long, long time as have some others. I guess I can say, "been there, done that" but I still enjoy some time in the MA.
I keep looking for Betty but I just keep missing her. :)
My own personal enjoyment comes from trying to get the new guys up to speed to a point where they can give lotsa folks a good fight in the MA. It helps them to have fun and makes the fight for the vets a little more enjoyable. I like to think of it as a "win-win" situtaion for those in the game. I suppose I'll continue to teach. It's been my way of giving back to all the years of fun flying I've had on line.
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Originally posted by Eagler
it is my best time killer .. to take it too seriously, denotes something lacking elsewhere ..
Pretty much sums it up for me. I've been doing this long enough that caring about being "good" is something that has no interest for me. It's just a place of entertainment. :)
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This game is/was a good way to pass time. I used to spend my evenings watching alot of tv and now i spend much of it playing games AND watching tv. In the winter I'm playing this game unless there is a Penguin game on. It's cheap entertainment when you think about it. Heck, I could go out to the bar with my friends and spend $15 in about 5 minutes. My wife doesn't complain too much (at least I'm home and not doing the "bar" thing).
However, I find myself starting to get pretty bored with this game lately. The only thing thats keeps me coming back is the friends that I've made while playing this game.
Sometimes the best way for me to have fun (unfortunately) is to start some smack with another player to get things "going". I find that I play much better when I'm a little worked up.:rofl But, when it's over and I log off I forget EVERYTHING . So if you are one of these people that I've done this to...please don't take it personal. (if you do i kind of feel sorry for you)
Too many people seem to forget this is a game:(
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I play for short periods of time during the week, so it's a hobby, and I don't really give a damn how good or bad I am. Nobody else has to tell me I'm a p***-poor fighter pilot.:D It's a social outlet for me, a chance to B.S. with the friends I've made here.
On weekends, I get a little more obsessed, especially as the alcohol intake acculmulates. I like to try to generate interest in coordinated efforts, and I get asked to do so quite a bit. I tend to try to escape from my rowdy children through this, but it doesn't always work.
All in all, my take on AH is about fun & friends, not scores, ranks or stats.
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its a escape route from a **** real life. I like "pretending" im something im not, Its great being a pilot in WWII (AH) just the same as i like being a city planner (SC4) or some general with lots of panzer divisions (HOI 1).
However at the moment im so down i aint even enjoying escaping...
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I could have built a full-size 3 story house out of toothpicks in the time I've spent online in this game....fortunately, I already HAVE a house
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Originally posted by hubsonfire
I find the parallel between golf and AH to be very accurate.
lolz, yeah.
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Originally posted by storch
do you have any goals for yourself as it pertains to AH?
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i've been playing soccer /euro football , and like in soccer , AH was in my view a team oriented game, i never care about my score ,killz and skilz 1vs1, the goal was "win the war", or stop the other team win, since arena split and caps no team can win in 4 arenas: the goal is dead ,so is my appetiite for game
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ok.......to me, this is an escape from reality, but it has its catches too. i love to furball, although i suck at it. unlike others have stated, i really don't care one way or another if i win or lose the fight......i like the rush i get out of the fight. same when i attack bombers.....i actually get a rush stalking them, and trying to set up the perfect attack...waiting for the right time to dive in on them, the right angle etc.
flying bombers...it becomes totally different.......now it's a mission......only 2 things matter now....first get my load on target, second, get home.
goals? well? bombing is too easy, mostof the time.........my main goal is to get good in a 1-1 fight. i do ok in furballs, but that's because no one can afford to stay on a single target too long. in 1-1, i really do poorly, even in the spitfires and hurricanes. i aspire to get better in these situations first in the easy planes, then ultimatly in the P-38.
now, i have a question for you storch.......any time i've seen you in combat, you look like you're very good......why is it you've never thought of helping others here, or going to TA or even DA to help others learn? you say most of your kills are easy ones, and helping teach us noobs the skills would only serve to give you better fights.
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Hey! am I in the rite room? I thought my AA meeting was in here:rofl
I will stand up to say that AH was an obsesstion to me, it's in my blood, but the Doctor says that Im much better now, I have gone cold turky. No more sleepless nights, no more cold sweats because there is six Bf-109's on my tail, I don't shout "CHECK 6, CHECK 6" for no reason at all anymore.
Thank you HiTech for helping me kick the habit
|HG|Pappy.BG
(retired AH pilot 99-07)
Honor Guards
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I only started playing because I knew I'd get a chance to talk to my father if he was logged on. Later I got hooked ~ but I don't give a hoot about #s. Maybe if I ever get into a plane & learn to fly it I'll enjoy that enough to care about the stats. For now I'm just having fun in the gvs (they allow me to afk whenever I want, for however long I want)... And enjoying the few kills I get. :)
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Originally posted by Oldman731
Likewise. All my life I've wished that I could take some sort of time machine and be a WWII fighter pilot. When "B17 Bomber" was released for the Intellivision I was in hog heaven. I'm learning to fly real planes now, but I find that I'm distracted from that life-long goal by AH2. That's the strength of the WWII fighter plane draw on me. It probably explains why I'm such an AvA fanatic.
Win, lose, draw, I really couldn't care when it comes right down to it. I have to do that stuff for a living, I don't need to repeat it in my leisure time. The quality of the historical fight is everything.
So, yeah, I guess I'm obsessed.
- oldman
Yep, that's it for me too. It also offers me a place to share all those years of researching and reading about the history too. I probably get as much enjoyment from that, and helping the skinners then I do from flying AH these days, if not more.
It's as close as I'll get to flying a WW2 bird and pretending to be one of the folks I've spent so many years trying to learn about.
I can't get caught up in it as a win/lose thing. Real life has far too much at stake for me to make the game matter that much. Do I do my best and try and win the fight? Sure. But as long as I don't really die and get a new cartoon airplane, I can't put that much energy into setting myself up for a no lose situation.
Give me those moments where the game can suck me in and for a brief instant, think I was 'there', and that's enough for me.
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Given my vast experience (why, its nearly 6 months now....) for me this game is fun. Dont care about score (only reason I look at it is to find out whether I've actually managed to kill someone this tour(and whether I'm doing better than last month ish)), dont much care about a win the war scenario - and certainly dont care when I get shot down - as long as I'm having fun.
I enjoy learning all aspects of this, and every time I go up, I learn something new - obviously I die a lot doing this, but can always up a new cartoon plane - which is nice.....lol..
Personal ambitions for AH? - just to get better at it (which is coming along slowly but surely ish) Dont want to be number 1, dont care if I'm number 60001 or even higher.
to all those that have killed me (BIG number) and to all those I've killed (small number) - and also to anyone who hasnt yet had the pleasure.
Wurzel
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Originally posted by Guppy35
Yep, that's it for me too. It also offers me a place to share all those years of researching and reading about the history too. I probably get as much enjoyment from that, and helping the skinners then I do from flying AH these days, if not more.
It's as close as I'll get to flying a WW2 bird and pretending to be one of the folks I've spent so many years trying to learn about.
I can't get caught up in it as a win/lose thing. Real life has far too much at stake for me to make the game matter that much. Do I do my best and try and win the fight? Sure. But as long as I don't really die and get a new cartoon airplane, I can't put that much energy into setting myself up for a no lose situation.
Give me those moments where the game can suck me in and for a brief instant, think I was 'there', and that's enough for me.
This man gets it! We have this wonderful tool to portal us all back in time if you will. It seems ashame to me that such a tool is wasted on the generally ahistoric play of most arenas.
I'm not a real good shot and I waste too much energy, but I revel in almost any aspect of flying and fighting my Thunderbolt in her 56th FG colors. The things I love are the long missions at altitude where you intercept or escort the big friends. I enjoy the fights that develop out of no-where by an unanticipated ambush.
I for the life of me cannot fathom why the arena's must hae all planes flyable by all sides and will never understand why we never have historic maps in those arena's It seem to me that 75% of the wonder is thrown straight out the window.
Von
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Immediate goal..shoot the guy down with the LEAST amount of ammo..before he kills me!!!!!
Seriously, AH is alot like life ......much more important to GIVE to the game and its community than let your ego wreck the fun. hitech and all the staff! Job well done !
999000
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I come from Airwarrior where I flew with VF-63 Hellcats for about 4-5 years with the B’s in the Big Pac arena. So my set of goals here are have been somewhat pre-defined by my experience in that platform. So I have a few short term goals I am working on and a few long term goals I hope to achieve should I live that long.
When I first arrived in AH I found that I was very heavy handed with the controls due to my long term of play in AW with the relaxed realism flight model that was there. Initially my short term goals was to keep my wings on and land in some form other than a flat spin. I have accomplished that goal… for the most part. I still spin out and skid too hard and still stall at a most opportune moment for my opponent. None the less I am still improving.
My next set of goals was and still is to become at least respectably proficient at the various types of aircraft and vehicles and their associated roles in this game as it is played by the community. You see I view this as a game not too unlike golf. I enjoy the time I fly even though most of the time it is quite humbling for me. I have become fairly proficient with the buffs as IMHO they are the easiest to master. I am not actually gaining some ground on my ground attack and dive bombing skills. These I see as the next in the difficulty chain. As for furballing… well lets just say it’s a “Work in Progress”. I find this the most humbling of all things in this game. My goal here is to get to some level of respectable skills should I live that long. As for vehicles, well I find them sometimes interesting but I view them as an appetizer rather than an entrée. No offense meant to those really interested in the GV aspects but I am here strictly for the birds. That is my attraction to this game.
So far I have been speaking of technical skills with respect to this game platform. I have other goals as well. I hope to be viewed by allies and enemy pilots alike with some level of respect for things such as skill, sportsmanship and general camaraderie at some point in time. I would also like to contribute to the enjoyment of the community in playing this game. To me this is not all about who has “Mo Nannas”. There is a lot more to be had here than just rank and points. At least to me that is. I personally most enjoy flying missions. Not any one particular kind, but well organized missions. I like the realistic and historical as well as the bordering on Sci Fi ones as well. I am here to have fun not recreate history. So my longer term goal with respect to the community and contribution is to build through that aspect. I would like to be a respected mission builder that adds enjoyment of the game to those who participate in them, whether you fly with me on a mission or against me.
My bottom line goal overall is to have fun, drink a few beers and if I am really lucky make a few pals along the way to share in the “Journey” of Aces High.
All Who Fly
KayBay
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Originally posted by Stang
lolz, yeah.
Golf is much more frustrating! I can fix my computer, but not my swing.
I play for entertainment.
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Originally posted by ghi
i've been playing soccer /euro football , and like in soccer , AH was in my view a team oriented game, i never care about my score ,killz and skilz 1vs1, the goal was "win the war", or stop the other team win, since arena split and caps no team can win in 4 arenas: the goal is dead ,so is my appetiite for game
There are Titanic Tuesdays Ghi! Come back!!
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I love this game -- it's my main hobby and a valued part of my life.
Before there were such computer games, I would read books about WWII aviation and dream about the being a WWII pilot (well, about the desirable parts, of course -- not about the horrible stress, death of friends, etc., which were much of the reality of it). I still like to read books about the men and planes of WWII aviation. Now I can be a virtual WWII pilot without any of the bad aspects, which is thus like a dream come true.
I like scenarios the most, as those are most like the WWII action I've read about, and I spend a lot of my time on those (helping to promote them, helping to run them, putting together pictorials, etc.). When there is a scenario going on, that usually takes up most of my free time, and I'm not in the Main Arena.
Outside of scenarios, I do fly in and enjoy the Main Arena. I practice in the plane I'll be in if there is an upcoming scenario. Otherwise, I tend to fly P-47D-11's, P-38J's, and F4U-1's for fighters, P-38J's or P-47D-40's for ground attack, and B-24J's for bombing. I avoid flying the most-popular planes (Spits 16's, LA-7's, etc.) just for diversity's sake (nothing wrong with others flying those planes). I like flying fighters the best, but I do enjoy all aspects of the Main Arena: dogfights, ground attack, bombing, tank fights, participating in base capture, helping to defend fleets, ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore combat, and PT boats.
I enjoy the message board and the AH community. I browse the message board pretty much daily or every other day. I've met some local AH pals (Roscoroo, Newman, and RabidRabit, for example).
Before being in AH, I was just as heavily involved in Air Warrior in all the same ways and also in the Air Warrior Training Academy.
So, yes, I guess for me AH is more than an infrequent passtime. :)
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Originally posted by Oldman731
All my life I've wished that I could take some sort of time machine and be a WWII fighter pilot.
This sums up the reason why I started flight sims and Aces High. Most of my computer upgrades have happened because I couldn't run the latest and greatest flight sim.
I've been playing since April 2006 and the most fun I have had in AH was DGS in October. Those 4 Saturdays allowed me to imagine what it would have been like in 1944. I didn't try to kill every red icon I saw, like MA. I stuck to my wingman, my goal was to keep him safe. Opportunities to like that are priceless.
I also like to pick a plane out and fly that as my only ride. During that time I will try and learn as much as I can about it, books, internet, and the 2 amazing sources in AH, Widewing and Guppy.
Good post Storch, I didn't expect this from you. :confused: :aok
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Aces High and golf were both invented by the devil (with apologies to HTC) to punish people who weren't miserable enough in hell. Both present the player with challenges not found in other games or sports. Both are difficult to try to master and equally addicting because of that difficulty.
In all other sports, such as tennis, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, billiards, darts, etc., the playing field is the essentially the same. In bowling, a lane is a lane is a lane. Only in golf is every round different because of weather and wind, plus pin and tee placement. The variety of shots seem endless.
In AHII, the possibilities in a fight also seem endless because of our relative positions, energy states, altitude, weight and aircraft. We have to consider and use three-dimensional physics equally in golf and AH.
Both golf and Aces High are affected by the "feel" and familiarity of our equipment, our experience and our repertoire of shots or maneuvers, choosing the appropriate one at the right time and executing them well.
Just like golf, when crunch time comes in Aces High there are no pinch hitters or co-pilots. It's just you. The best sticks in the game and the best golfers share some common traits. One, is that they analyze their weaknesses and practice the things they need to improve at. Average golfers will hit their favorite club at the range, maybe a 7-iron, over and over because they love to watch the trajectory. Aspiring golf pros practice hitting out of divots, sidehill lies, downhill lies, knockdown shots from tight lies, low screaming hooks and high cuts to get up, around, under and through some trouble they've put themselves into. On any golf hole, hit two good shots and you'll score well. In Aces High, execute two good maneuvers in a fight and you'll do well.
It's the same in learning to fight in Aces High. You have to practice the difficult situations you can find yourself in, not the easy-peasey things.
In both, you also have to anticipate. Anticipate where you want to place your drive for the best shot at a pin. Anticipate where you want your aircraft to be to have the best shot at an adversary. You learn when to be aggressive and when being over aggressive can place you danger. A pro learns when to lay up, just like when flying, a little lag pursuit is called for.
Both games have a shallow learning curve, not a steep one. It takes pretty long on the time axis (x) to get high on the knowledge axis (y). Getting to a 10 handicap isn't that hard. Shooting in the 70s takes playing a few times a week. Scratch golfers are rare and taking that to a +4 , about what you need before you throw in your money for the Qualifying School, is much more difficult.
Professional golfers and great sticks in this game have something else in common. They are all smart cookies. No dummies in the group, with the possible exceptions of John Daly and the Muppets :D
There is nothing wrong with enjoying golf or Aces High as a 10 handicap. You can do both and have a great time with your friends, knocking it around on the course or in the game. But getting down to scratch takes playing with people who are better, expanding your repertoire of shots and maneuvers and using your head. You have to play the right shot into a green, just like you have to fly the maneuver called for in a situation.
And just like golf, no one wants to play with low-class whiners.
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Anyone who replied in more than 400 text characters must be obsessed, regardless of the content of their reply :)
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The phrase goes "steep learning curve" because it's steep like a hill -- hard to walk up. A shallow learning curve is a gentle walk (no real exertion).
It's not entirely logical, but that's the way I've always seen it used.
Otherwise, very interesting golf/AH analogy. I know several squaddies that also golf! I never realized... :cool:
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Originally posted by Rolex
Aces High and golf were both invented by the devil (with apologies to HTC) to punish people who weren't miserable enough in hell. Both present the player with challenges not found in other games or sports. Both are difficult to try to master and equally addicting because of that difficulty.
In all other sports, such as tennis, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, billiards, darts, etc., the playing field is the essentially the same. In bowling, a lane is a lane is a lane. Only in golf is every round different because of weather and wind, plus pin and tee placement. The variety of shots seem endless.
In AHII, the possibilities in a fight also seem endless because of our relative positions, energy states, altitude, weight and aircraft. We have to consider and use three-dimensional physics equally in golf and AH.
Both golf and Aces High are affected by the "feel" and familiarity of our equipment, our experience and our repertoire of shots or maneuvers, choosing the appropriate one at the right time and executing them well.
Just like golf, when crunch time comes in Aces High there are no pinch hitters or co-pilots. It's just you. The best sticks in the game and the best golfers share some common traits. One, is that they analyze their weaknesses and practice the things they need to improve at. Average golfers will hit their favorite club at the range, maybe a 7-iron, over and over because they love to watch the trajectory. Aspiring golf pros practice hitting out of divots, sidehill lies, downhill lies, knockdown shots from tight lies, low screaming hooks and high cuts to get up, around, under and through some trouble they've put themselves into. On any golf hole, hit two good shots and you'll score well. In Aces High, execute two good maneuvers in a fight and you'll do well.
It's the same in learning to fight in Aces High. You have to practice the difficult situations you can find yourself in, not the easy-peasey things.
In both, you also have to anticipate. Anticipate where you want to place your drive for the best shot at a pin. Anticipate where you want your aircraft to be to have the best shot at an adversary. You learn when to be aggressive and when being over aggressive can place you danger. A pro learns when to lay up, just like when flying, a little lag pursuit is called for.
Both games have a shallow learning curve, not a steep one. It takes pretty long on the time axis (x) to get high on the knowledge axis (y). Getting to a 10 handicap isn't that hard. Shooting in the 70s takes playing a few times a week. Scratch golfers are rare and taking that to a +4 , about what you need before you throw in your money for the Qualifying School, is much more difficult.
Professional golfers and great sticks in this game have something else in common. They are all smart cookies. No dummies in the group, with the possible exceptions of John Daly and the Muppets :D
There is nothing wrong with enjoying golf or Aces High as a 10 handicap. You can do both and have a great time with your friends, knocking it around on the course or in the game. But getting down to scratch takes playing with people who are better, expanding your repertoire of shots and maneuvers and using your head. You have to play the right shot into a green, just like you have to fly the maneuver called for in a situation.
And just like golf, no one wants to play with low-class whiners.
...great post....I LIKE it.:D
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It was very fun and addicting at first.
I started playing in August of 06 (I have had my subscription 'active' for half that time however due to burnout, so no obsession) and in my second week I started DAing.
I dueled Bighorn a ton and was determined to get as good. As time went on and as I got better the game became less addicting I think, not more. After 4 months or so BH took a break and I lost interest. Now every 2-3 months I subscribe for a month looking for some good duels w/ Dedalos etc.
In fact Batfink probably explains me better then I do this thread: http://www.furballers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=116 (http://www.furballers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=116)
He doesn't sugar coat it.. what a ****.
And that is probably why I get so bored with the game lol.
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I have a couple joy areas for aces high...
Number One is the fight. When I get in a fight that gets my heart poundings, and makes it stay that way afterward, THAT is the true high and perhaps greatest thing about AH.
Close Number Two is hanging out with squadies. Being social is good.
Nr. Three is learning. I like learning new skills, advancing in them, and then having a sense of accomplishment.
Nr. Four is Scenarios. Immersion is great.
Nr. Five is racking up kills. A few easy kills isnt really exciting, but racking up 5,6,7,8 kills automatically puts in the adreniline of, "I hope to god I dont get shot down", and makes things fun, even if your vulching. I know its a bit dweeby, but whatever.
Nr. Six is shooting down someone really good. Not to rub it in there face, but to think, dayum, at least Im going somewhere.
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Interesting question Storch,
I for one am very competitive. I strive to do better each tour. I really try to learn from mistakes and not repeat them. I actually do set standards each and every night i fly and try to meet them.
But on the same hand I like to enjoy the game and enjoy the friends I've made.
I enjoy helping others, and I all the friends I've made in all countries.
Most of all I enjoy your endless banter wether we are countyman at the time or flying against each other...... Your comments really make me laugh.
Guess thats what its about.
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Its a great and cheap hobby....if I hadn't have found flying in AH.....then I'd prolly be sitting in front of the tv watchin the junk they have on today....or even worse...I'd have to sit in the same room with the ole lady and listen to wife ack all the time. :)
Praise da lord ole mighty that we have HTC!! Can I get an Amen?!!!
Projoe
Dynamite Gang
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an addiction with a side of high blood pressure and a heart attack waiting to happen.
Been with the game longer than I have been with my wife!
AH has always been a great hobby and pastime for me. The key is just being able to control yourself and knowing when to take a break for a while.
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After my separation, I found myself living alone for the first time, it sucked. After getting a liver warning, I decided I needed to spend less time in a bar. I played and liked Battlehawks 1942 and saw the AH2 commercial, the rest is history. Now I have a new addiction that cheaper than my bar tab.
I fly for the people, my squad. Though they have been less active in the past few months as real life as intervened, I still fly with my friends. It’s great coming home to some company again.
Sappy I know, but you asked.
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Basically I suck at all aspects of this game. I simply enjoy storch's taunts and insults :o
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Originally posted by Scca
After my separation, I found myself living alone for the first time, it sucked. After getting a liver warning, I decided I needed to spend less time in a bar. I played and liked Battlehawks 1942 and saw the AH2 commercial, the rest is history. Now I have a new addiction that cheaper than my bar tab.
I fly for the people, my squad. Though they have been less active in the past few months as real life as intervened, I still fly with my friends. It’s great coming home to some company again.
Sappy I know, but you asked.
I have found more and more recently if I log and and don't see a squaddie, I tend to log off, or only fly for a hop or two.
I have almost quit drinking because of AH. I hate dyin' dumb, and that tends to happen to me after 4-5 drinks. I still drink, but pretty rarely now, and it's been months since I really tied one on.
If it wasn't for AH, I guarantee I would be out hundreds/month on bar tabs and penicillin shots.
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I find myself falling into habits in fights. Lately I have been experimenting with different things just to see if they will work. Sometimes they do, other times I end up flopping like a fish in mid-air while someone blows parts off of my P-51.
I also have dropped back to the Spit IX to get more dogfighting done and am enjoying the fights with the other half in their Spits, LAs and Nikkis.
I have also taken to the B-25 and try to fly it as much as possible. I wish we had more targets than GVs. They tend not to last long against CV groups but I enjoy trying.
I also enjoy the historical aspects, as with scenarios and and other events. My goal is to get the 4th FG into FSO but that is not working out too well.
There for a while I thought I might take to the P-38, then sanity returned.
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Originally posted by WMLute
If it wasn't for AH, I guarantee I would be out hundreds/month on bar tabs and penicillin shots.
Totally sig material. I can't use it though; TxDad would be horrified if he saw that in my sig; so one of y'all rowdy folks should grab it.:lol :lol :lol :lol
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My goal is to acutally sit (hopefully fly) as many of the warbirds as I can in my life.
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It's a game at best. For me if I have nothing else to occupy my time with, I will log on. It has changed from what it was when I was introduced to it yrs ago. Now I am on at best, twice a month. I have other interests that take up my free time.
!
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Originally posted by DamnedRen
I've been doing it a long, long time as have some others. I guess I can say, "been there, done that" but I still enjoy some time in the MA.
I keep looking for Betty but I just keep missing her. :)
My own personal enjoyment comes from trying to get the new guys up to speed to a point where they can give lotsa folks a good fight in the MA. It helps them to have fun and makes the fight for the vets a little more enjoyable. I like to think of it as a "win-win" situtaion for those in the game. I suppose I'll continue to teach. It's been my way of giving back to all the years of fun flying I've had on line.
lol ren ...sorry havent been on much lately...and now i have to send my joystick in and have it replaced because last night it a crap on me :(
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This simulator is serious business and should be treated as such.
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i have gone through a few stages in this game starting with borderline obsessive to past time. i think all players do this to degrees.
learning to play 'nicely' with other players has been my goal lately.
most players ...i think, slowly mature as they learn that it is 'only a game' & anything can happen.
my main goal is to improve my SA ACM....usually by flying against larger forces. dieing isnt as important as what i learn by it! sometimes , staying alive against several attackers just as satisfying as getting kills for me.
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I'd agree with the golf comparision as well. Like golf AH is a lifelong itch once your hooked...you may hang up your joystick from time to time but "the game" {not AH particularly} keeps calling.
I started in AW Dos but couldnt afford the hourly fee's at the time and didnt really get started till AW on AOL. I came here during the 99 beta and was a bit suprised that I was accepted as part of the 1st training group.
Viewing it from storchs perspective {which I agree with entirely} the true measure of "score" is in the unscripted individual matchups. "Dueling" is less attractive to me in its artificial construction although I have a blast playing around with Bat and others in the DA. On those rare occasions when the opportunity presents itself I still get a kick out of helping newer sticks along the curve to mediocrity:).
I'm certainly well below the truely elite sticks in the game but probably equally ahead of "average" overall. I seem to get the most enjoyment out of flying a plane with the capability to "compete" but that has to be "worked" against each adversary a bit differently.
Going back to golf I grew up on forged blades and never hit anything straight. I'm not particularly good (never better then a 4) but took a lesson from Chuck Hogan once (Ray Floyd/Peter Jacobsons) pro while he had the teaching school here at Raven South Mountain. I'd been working with a guy on his staff and he came over and grabbed 5 balls. Thru the 1st one down (I was hitting 6 irons) and said give me a low draw....20-25 ft, give me a high fade thats soft...6 ft....now give me a low running cut to the back right fringe...literally on the fringe. Ok now give me a low running hook between the bunkers...carved it right between em (25-35 ft space) and it checked on 3rd bounce and spun just off the edge...
Then he dropped the 5th ball and said fire it straight at the flag....40 friggin yds right of green....AAARRRGGHHH. He looks at me and says...see just dont try and hit the damm ball straight. You cant aim straight, set up straight, keep your angles or stay in balance....
Applying that to AH I dont really enjoy a plane with a finite advantage to exploit. I always tend to try and match up its weakness to the other plane. To me its all a type of applied "puzzle". Since everybody flies a bit sifferently each plane is different based on pilot. I had two great fights with SkatSr a few nights ago. He flew the pony a bit differently vs the A-20 then I expected him to...creating some unexpected situations and capitializing nicely. Win, lose or draw those are the fights I love. Now my mental "model" of the pony has altered a bit and I'm more aware of the potential applications of such and my own thoughts on the A-20 have altered as well.
To me its the guy who takes a plane (or planes) and learns its nuances that stands out. Normally when I see Skat he's flying a more conservative style. Here in a pretty clear cut 1 on 1 he didnt rely on his strength but took me straight on in a great E to angles fight that gave both of us a true opportunity and challenge. To me a single well earned "pelt" is worth a dozen cheap kills. And I'd rather lose two fights like that then land 10...
And of course next time I run into Skat I'll be a bit better prepared for the possibilities:D
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Originally posted by ghi
i've been playing soccer /euro football , and like in soccer , AH was in my view a team oriented game, i never care about my score ,killz and skilz 1vs1, the goal was "win the war", or stop the other team win, since arena split and caps no team can win in 4 arenas: the goal is dead ,so is my appetiite for game
GHI,
I agree it was nice when your team would rally to keep a reset from happening. I am not a big proponenet of the win the war campaign lately as it is difficult with the new arena settings. When we had one big arena there were usually enough guys who wanted to take bases to make a move on a map and the furballers usually had a chance to do what they liked also. There was definitely a more team aspect rather than a out for myself attitude. I am sure this is because of the influx of newer players. As for me I just do my thing now and kill as many red guys as I can. I still love the game.
<>
Spazz
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I go at the game like most things. I learn it, try to do well at its basics, and then fly like a retread most of the time. My KD is lowest this camp than in a long time (was never very good) but Ive actually had fun. Last night I think I up 30 times at a heavily vulched base in an IL2 and died everytime. Except I killed about ten guys why rolling down the runway spraying. I was having a ball.
I cant let things like score, or the game itself bother me. Ive got too much else to worry about. To me constantly flying to live in a game where it really doesnt matter, prevents alot of fun.