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General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: John Curnutte on January 25, 2008, 12:06:51 AM

Title: Slump in flying
Post by: John Curnutte on January 25, 2008, 12:06:51 AM
Lately I've been in a slump and was a little curious as how the rest of you guys deal with this . as a pilot in the game I'm not great in fighters at all , and truth be said will admit it . It seems as if I had done better when I first started . I do get some good combat in fighter verses fighter but just can't get into the groove so to speak . Is it good to periodically go back to the training areanas and set up time with the trainers to affirm the skills or do you just continue playing until you come out of it . I enjoy the game and play for fun but am I missing something ?
 as Always A Nutte:rolleyes:
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: SD67 on January 25, 2008, 12:20:52 AM
Some days you're the pigeon, some days you're the statue.
I'm going through a bad patch myself. I just keep at it, make a note of where I'm going wrong and try again.
If it all gets too frustrating, I'll do some buff, goon or GV work to take a break.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: kilz on January 25, 2008, 12:23:15 AM
if that dont help hit the DA i always find that fun and relaxing at the same time.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: hubsonfire on January 25, 2008, 01:25:02 AM
I drink. After a while, I don't really care how I'm flying, which usually gets me back in a rhythm of sorts.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: SWrokit on January 25, 2008, 02:28:34 AM
Quote
Originally posted by hubsonfire
I drink. After a while, I don't really care how I'm flying, which usually gets me back in a rhythm of sorts.


Ain't nothing like 12 year old scotch  :D

Title: Slump in flying
Post by: Wingnutt on January 25, 2008, 02:33:34 AM
I find that my kills/deaths ratio gets better progressively through the course of drinking 3 beers,  levels out from there till about 5, then begins a rather sharp decline, at which point instances of swearing over squad vox tends to increase.

no but seriously I think it happens to everyone I had a slump/peak today..

I got on at around 2pm and scroed a handful of kills, no deaths.. good times..

logged, came back on at around 8 pm and couldent buy I kill..  I bounced a flight of 24s.. usually easy meat.. killed all 3.. 3 assists..  go figure, then got HOd and killed  3 times in a row by various planes that have no business attempting, much less winning a HO with a jug..  

logged again

came back around 10 pm with a bud light,  landed 3 victories, upped, landed 6 victories..  good times again.


its a good thing..  without the valleys we wouldn't appreciate the peaks. :aok
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: ColKLink on January 25, 2008, 07:09:23 AM
When in a slump,....get a bigger cannon. IT'll make ya feel better. And yep, I think it happens to everyone,...if ya still dont come out of it  with a tater launcher,.....get a 2 liter bottle of vino, and a fat cigar, it doesnt matter, its just a GAME :D
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: Simaril on January 25, 2008, 07:42:36 AM
Worst thing to do in a slump is to start pressing...which naturally is the first thing most of us do! Once I start pressing, I push the limits of SA danger and flight envelopes just a bit farther, and those lapses in judgment just make the whole thing worse.

A suggestion. Think for a second about what is the worst part of your current slump -- SA, gunnery, or ACM choices. Then, do something to address that one component. If SA, and you're a furballer, go into alt monkey picker mode where your only goal is to get a few and get home SAFE. (Don't do this long, or it may permanently corrupt your psyche;) )If gunnery, invest in some drone time and do things differently, like work on long range deflection shots or accuracy as you leave a barrel roll. If ACM, duel for a bit, or tangle in the TA with non-newbs. Shoot, emabarrass the newbs and impress them with your knowlege of hidden terms like "Immelman"

Or, just take up a completely new plane to learn, one that needs to be flown differently than your primary. The new plane becomes your mental excuse for struggling, and you'll have to break out of the ruts you're in.

Before long, it will come back. Been there, done that. printed the T shirt.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: SkyRock on January 25, 2008, 07:43:09 AM
Go to the DA and fight very aggressively, go offline and shoot drones for gunnery practice, research fighter tactics, and eventually you'll reach a higher level of fight!  :aok
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: waystin2 on January 25, 2008, 08:06:56 AM
That's usually where I pull out my AH notebook, and study up.  Identify mistakes and work on correcting them in offline or TA.  Forgive the pun, but you will eventually pull out!:aok
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: Ghosth on January 25, 2008, 08:07:34 AM
Greed kills, the hungrier you get for those kills the more mistakes you'll make.

Stop, take a deep breath, tell yourself. I'm not here for the kills, I'm here doing this because I enjoy it.

Then don't try to land a kill the next sortie. Just fly around, clear peoples 6's, kill field acks, anything BUT try to rack up kills.


Some nights things have just gone so wrong so often that all you can do is log, and try again the next day. The longer you keep trying the bigger the whole you end up in.

If in doubt,

A back to basics, go back to what you KNOW works.

B keep it simple

C warm up your shooting eye offline or in the TA before heading to the wars.

D Think like a shark. Shark doesn't try to swim with the school of fish he's after. He makes fast passes "through" the school. Bites whatever he can reach without having to turn too far to get.  Don't target fixate, just shoot at whatever gets in front of you. Patience is a virtue
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: Shuffler on January 25, 2008, 08:12:00 AM
The only problem I see is you saying fighters. You don't specify a plane so I take it you try many different birds. I suggest you pick one bird you like and learn it to the best of your ability. That is the only way you will be able to actually measure your skill level improving or not.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: Easyscor on January 25, 2008, 10:52:04 AM
If the alcohol doesn't work, and changing planes or flight mode doesn't work, change the game play by changing arenas. After 3 or 4 years of languishing, the AvA is offering a nice alternative lately, and the SEA has regularly scheduled events, or try the DA with some friends. Alternately, if you're the artistic type, or a history buff, there are aircraft skins or terrain building to maintain interest while you recharge the batteries.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: crockett on January 25, 2008, 11:05:01 AM
Change planes.. when ever I can't seem to get a kill I try a new plane. Seems to work well for me.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: VonMessa on January 25, 2008, 11:28:03 AM
Quote
Originally posted by hubsonfire
I drink. After a while, I don't really care how I'm flying, which usually gets me back in a rhythm of sorts.


Lots of wisdom there.  The less care, the better I do.

Also what GhostH said is true.  Sometimes making random things go BOOM can assuage the angst.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: RoGenT on January 25, 2008, 12:25:05 PM
I'm always in some sort of slumps - days my flying is okay but shooting is horrible, some days it is the other way around.  I noticed someone said it is bad idea to press on when in these slumps, which I do agree. No matter how crappy I am doing, I still try my best

In short, slump or not, do your best and more importantly, just have fun
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: BaldEagl on January 26, 2008, 09:52:46 AM
I was going to post yesterday how I've been in a slump for almost a month now.  I've barely been able to manage 1 K/S and every time I log on and look at the map I'm bored before I even grab a plane (which I'm sure has added to my slump).

Then, I went flying in LW last night.  I decided if I was going to die anyway I'd die happy in EW planes... then:

3 kills in a Spit MkI
1 kill in a FM-2
2 kills in a F4F-4
3 kills in a Hurri MkI
2 kills in a Hurri MkIIC
6 kills in a N1K2

*one sortie each except the Spit I (2 sorties) and no deaths.

Wow!  Just wow!  What a turn-around.  That was the most fun I've had in a month... and I quit while I was ahead.

As always, just ride it out.  It always turns back around.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: Bosco123 on January 26, 2008, 10:03:10 AM
I have the same problem John. I had one of the best nights two weeks ago and the past couple of days have been horrible. It has a lot to do with these big maps and a whole lota furballin. I am not the one to get into the furball but, lately I have been in middle of all of them, and I always die. It just the problem that I am learning new airplanes at the same time and I haven't figured them out yet.
If you ever need help PM me and we will help eachother at the DA or somthing.
Title: Coming out of it
Post by: John Curnutte on January 26, 2008, 10:51:08 AM
Well guys I can tell ya , everyones advice is greatly appriecated and it has helped me alot and last night tried a new ride  ( C 205 ) , read up on my ACM , shot up target drones and had one whale of a good time and scored 9 kills in 4 flights with no deaths . thanks guys for your posts and positive feedback :aok
As Always A Nutte
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: thrila on January 26, 2008, 12:21:25 PM
I can relate to how you feel, john.  I've not had many hours to fly in the past couple of tours, probably less then 15 in total.  I've seemed to lost my feel with a/c and keep stalling at the most innapropriate moments.  My aim has been poor lately too.  It probably doens't help but it seems whenever i have logged on i've bumped into fester or moot, or both.  :D
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: Rich46yo on January 26, 2008, 01:04:22 PM
When Im pressing in bomber guns I usually go into the TA for a 1/2 hour or jump into anti-air GVs. Those land guns, CV guns, M16s and Ostis have made me a far better bomber gunner. Most of all the M16s.

                          Now Im learning fighter planes. I get into a lot of trouble trying to get kills but at the same time when you push the envelope you learn too. One thing I do is, with pen and paper nearby, after I get shot down I think about it for a bit and write down exactly what I did wrong and with what airplane.

                        Some days it just aint your day. One day this month I lost two flights of B26s cause some bug in my controls froze me in a gunners position and I couldnt get out. I never told the guys that shot me down, why not let them think they shot down a helpless noob? Maybe next time they will come in dumb cause of it.

                      Even the best sticks have bad days. Positive thinking is even more important on those types of days I believe.
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: BaldEagl on January 26, 2008, 01:11:07 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Rich46yo
One thing I do is, with pen and paper nearby, after I get shot down I think about it for a bit and write down exactly what I did wrong and with what airplane.


Hehehe... sounds like a roommate/best friend I once had.  He was trying to improve his golf game.  So I came home one day and he was in the living room watching a tape he had made of himself at the driving range.  After each shot, he'd walk up to the camera and ever so seriously do a commentary on his last shot.  It was the funniest thing ever!  And he never lived it down.  :rofl
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: Rich46yo on January 26, 2008, 01:15:25 PM
Quote
Originally posted by BaldEagl
Hehehe... sounds like a roommate/best friend I once had.  He was trying to improve his golf game.  So I came home one day and he was in the living room watching a tape he had made of himself at the driving range.  After each shot, he'd walk up to the camera and ever so seriously do a commentary on his last shot.  It was the funniest thing ever!  And he never lived it down.  :rofl


                            Not even close.......OK, Ok I admit I wear a little Red Baron outfit at my flight desk, you got me. Just dont tell anyone tho.:p
Title: Slump in flying
Post by: VonMessa on January 27, 2008, 07:06:13 AM
Shhh, I've got my Lederhosen right here.

:noid