Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: Slade on August 03, 2014, 07:13:21 AM
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Gentlemen,
I know some bomber pilots that fly 20k+ like larger maps but for those choosing to fly fighters finding a fight during off hours is really difficult. In the spirit of making useful suggestions that may lead to actual positive changes in this almost daily occurring event what can be done?
Yes there have been other threads on this but lets create one to send AH some actionable ideas to solve this rather than criticize each other.
One relevant question (I dont know cuz I dont do bombers): How many sectors does it require the slowest bomber to climb to 20k?
Some starter suggestions:
- Just like auto-pilot, give bombers a away to gain alt without having to fly through multiple sectors by flying a spiral pattern or the like.
- Have smaller maps load when the numbers fall below a reasonable level.
- Have map(s) that load that only have a few bases. Maybe this would focus action to certain areas yet keep map size the same.
- Come up with a marketing campaign that significantly and consistently increases the numbers of new players. Maybe by expanded the co-op program (player rewarded new player acquisitions etc.).
What else can we suggest to AH?
Thanks for your contribution.
Slade :salute
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One relevant question (I dont know cuz I dont do bombers): How many sectors does it require the slowest bomber to climb to 20k?
A fully loaded (=100% fuel) Lancaster takes about 6 sectors to reach 20k.
But then, you hardly need that much fuel on a small map anyway. Oh, and there's no requirement to climb to altitude in a straight line either. For some odd reason, I never had any problem to get to 28k even on beta2... ;)
- Have smaller maps load when the numbers fall below a reasonable level.
This would be difficult to implement by actual numbers. The only solution would be a switch from peak to offpeak maps and back at set times. We already had a siumilar system back in 2010/2011 and it wasn't exactly popular...
You could also argue that even at usual peak times we hardly have enough players online anymore to make small maps "crowded" for long times.
Under the week, we have 200+ players for only about 4 hours of the day. We barely get over 250 maximum.
As for the weekend... last night (saturday to sunday) was a relatively good one... We topped out slightly above 300 only.
Pre 2007 we did fly with more than twice that numbers on a similar mix of large and small maps in a single arena.
- Come up with a marketing campaign that significantly and consistently increases the numbers of new players. Maybe by expanded the co-op program (player rewarded new player acquisitions etc.).
You mean like "magically increase the number of players" ? ;)
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my genius idea I came up with last nite:
each country gets one base (all could fit in one sector)... when one gets captured by another side, the map resets.
:aok
it would focus the action. for sure. :bolt:
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my genius idea I came up with last nite:
each country gets one base (all could fit in one sector)... when one gets captured by another side, the map resets.
:aok
it would focus the action. for sure. :bolt:
3 bases equals a 2v1 gangfest. Make it three bases per side and require the winner to take one each of the other two.
edit: Once two of a country's bases have been captured, the last would automatically become uncaptureable. It would stay that way until said country regained one base. This way, all three bases are open to attack.
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Well along with the suggestions posted here, I think there's another problem that needs to be addressed..
it's 8:25am EST & there are a total of 57 peeps logged on right now & one country has an ENY of 25.8..
The question I have is, "how does this promote or encourage gameplay ?"
If there are less than 100 people on, why is there an ENY at all ??
I think the idea is to try & balance things by limiting the resources available to the side with the #'s.. but what winds up happening is the resource that is limited is the player who gets mad at being limited to a kite & a pistol & then logs off.. & worse yet goes & looks for another online flight sim that doesn't limit them..
Combine the trouble with the ENY with the side switching restrictions, & yet you want people to play ??
It's time to open things up a bit.. give the players some freedom to choose what when & why they play.. & limit the side switching to 2hrs..
Don't get me wrong. I believe this is the best of the best as far as combat flight sims go.. but the OP's points combined with a few others makes for a recipe for disaster..
Slade said-> Have smaller maps load when the numbers fall below a reasonable level.
Lusche replied-> This would be difficult to implement by actual numbers. The only solution would be a switch from peak to offpeak maps and back at set times. We already had a siumilar system back in 2010/2011 and it wasn't exactly popular...
You could also argue that even at usual peak times we hardly have enough players online anymore to make small maps "crowded" for long times.
Under the week, we have 200+ players for only about 4 hours of the day. We barely get over 250 maximum.
As for the weekend... last night (saturday to sunday) was a relatively good one... We topped out slightly above 300 only.
Pre 2007 we did fly with more than twice that numbers on a similar mix of large and small maps in a single arena.
My response is to keep the current map(s), reduce the # of arenas until the numbers support them, & also relax the side switching restrictions, as well as reconfigure the ENY to the total number of people logged in.. in other words, 'just let the fight happen'..
just think about it.. even more people will complain on the BBS then.. :D
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3 bases equals a 2v1 gangfest. Make it three bases per side and require the winner to take one each of the other two.
edit: Once two of a country's bases have been captured, the last would automatically become uncaptureable. It would stay that way until said country regained one base. This way, all three bases are open to attack.
nahhh.. you miss the point of my genius. quick resets!
"this map sucks"
"don't worry, it will get reset soon"
"which map is next?"
"..."
:rofl
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If there are less than 100 people on, why is there an ENY at all ??
For not ending up 95-4-1
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but what winds up happening is the resource that is limited is the player who gets mad at being limited to a kite & a pistol & then logs off..
At no point you are ever limited to "a kite and a pistol". Just because people scream they "can only fly junk" when they have to switch from P-51D (ENY 5) to P-51B (ENY 20!) doesn't mean they are right.
And to get to ENY 25 you need to have an enormous numbers advantage. In my opinion, ENY isn't even kicking in quick and severely enough
& worse yet goes & looks for another online flight sim that doesn't limit them..
Found one yet? ;)
My response is to keep the current map(s), reduce the # of arenas until the numbers support them,
What would that actually change or improve for the LW arena?
Can't disagree with the side witch time limit proposal though :)
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At no point you are ever limited to "a kite and a pistol". Just because people scream they "can only fly junk" when they have to switch from P-51D (ENY 5) to P-51B (ENY 20!) doesn't mean they are right.
And to get to ENY 25 you need to have an enormous numbers advantage. In my opinion, ENY isn't even kicking in quick and severely enough
Found one yet? ;)
What would that actually change or improve for the LW arena?
Can't disagree with the side witch time limit proposal though :)
as far as flyin what you want.. did I mention there were 57 total people logged in.. not 57 people flying, just 57 logged in.. oh & when I went back, the eny was up to 27..
how can it be 95-4-1 when there are 57 people on ??
this isn't a rare thing. I see it pretty much daily due to the hours I work & fly.. I'll go watch cute kitty cat vids & then check back hoping the #'s over 100.. <meow!!>
No I haven't found one yet, but I am looking.. :(
as far as helping the LW, there would only be the Main arena.. it would have the other 7 or 8 players in the EW & MW join the rest of us..
this would serve a dual purpose, it would increase the numbers while reducing the server needs..leave the AVA/DA/TA up but if you want an arena, just have one..
I don't wanna bash or get in a shouting match.. I just want a better game for all & this is my $.02.. <S>
Wrngway
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ok he meant to say 50-5-2 :rolleyes:
If people log due to that ENY it helps as long as they are the ones on the side with the ENY because they will lower it leaving. The bad side of the equation is you have even less people playing. But it does work as intended.
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During Off Peak hours, you could announce an experiment and have it run for 2 weeks, then take a look at what the results show. Tweak the rules, and offer another 2 week experiment the next month. Rinse and repeat. One thing that most dedicated players enjoy doing is to participate in beta launches.
Ideas For Off Peak 2 Week Beta (Map changes automatically at 1:00 am CST and changes back at 9:00 am CST)
- 12 hour rule for country change suspended*
- Modified 2 country; country 01 Axis; country 02 Allies
- Disabled B29s, or ENY* mechanism used to balance side differences with bomber choice*
- Unattached HQ downtime to radar function, instead halved resupply effects
- Introduced new special arena maps for MA play
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. nevermind.....
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- Modified 2 country; country 01 Axis; country 02 Allies
This can not work in an open sandbox game.
You would need a totally new game, with heavy handed rules and restrictions.
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I am not afraid of it not working. I am afraid that many ideas are written off without testing the waters. As an experiment in low populated hours, along with relaxed 12 hour country change rules and other minor changes folks may be so entertained by new stuff they wouldn't notice the difference all that much.
Who knows unless you test it in this game, and not in comparison to what folks did over 10 years ago with a different game/community, it could be a big hit.... even something the scenario type folks would stay up for, or log in before their coffee.
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I am not afraid of it not working. I am afraid that many ideas are written off without testing the waters.
Some ideas are so basically and fundamentally flawed from the start you don't need to test them. Changing the MA to an Axis vs Allied setup can not work with a open sandbox environment.
Even in the current setup, Allied planes are massively favored by the majority of players. So in an free AvA setup would have a big numbers advantage from the start. And it would quickly get worse because of the disparity in strike (including bombers) aircraft available to each side.
You'd need a lot of rules and restrictions to get any balanced "free" gameplay going.
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I know it's been said before but the MA is at it's funnest when there's only about 50 players on the roster. By about 9am US central time it reverts back to monkey poo fight mode.
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As fun as offline mode.
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Some ideas are so basically and fundamentally flawed from the start you don't need to test them. Changing the MA to an Axis vs Allied setup can not work with a open sandbox environment.
Even in the current setup, Allied planes are massively favored by the majority of players. So in an free AvA setup would have a big numbers advantage from the start. And it would quickly get worse because of the disparity in strike (including bombers) aircraft available to each side.
You'd need a lot of rules and restrictions to get any balanced "free" gameplay going.
If it was 2 countries with an open plane set.. maybe.. hmm.. just a thought..
but even then you're gonna wind up with the balance issues from time to time..
and my guess is then the eny/balancing would be even more restrictive..
I personally like the 3 country setup..
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As fun as offline mode.
What is it your looking for that off hours in the MA does not provide? Tonight for example it was pretty much nonstop, quality fights. And that's usually been my experience in the off hours. If you don't believe me ask Frenchy he was there too.
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What is it your looking for that off hours in the MA does not provide? Tonight for example it was pretty much nonstop, quality fights. And that's usually been my experience in the off hours. If you don't believe me ask Frenchy he was there too.
I have benn online at "off hours" more than enough- because it's my daytime, and that's when I mainly used to fly. Daily.
And I mainly used to fly bombers to the strats, not at least because there's not much else happening there. Battles are more like a freak occurence at low numbers (particularly on large maps), with a big chance it's only happening between the other two chesspieces And that's what I was originally here for - massive multiplayer online stuff.
Not chasing the occasional single con here and there, or take base after base in a GV with minor resistance. I was coming here for battles, not arranged 1v1 duels. I could have used the DA for that.
This noon we had two hours with 25 and 30 plane kills and deaths each. Whole arena, with about 45 players online. That's probably around 15-20 a2a kills in two hours.
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Well it's probably a good thing not many players are around you in the main arena because you would probably just panic and shoot your squad mate in the back! That's right! I told everyone you were under alien mind control but the truth is you went berserk and shot Dichotomy in the back. You freaked out man! And now Dichotomy is dead! And he aint coming back! And I'm the one who has to write the letters! :cry
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Even in the current setup, Allied planes are massively favored by the majority of players. So in an free AvA setup would have a big numbers advantage from the start. {snip}
I looked at July's numbers and sure Ponies, Corsairs, Spitfires, and La7s seem to be the ones raking in the most kills, with the Pony tripling just about all others. But allies don't have 262s, none of those mentioned have 30 mm cannons, and for the most part don't have cannons.
You'd need a lot of rules and restrictions to get any balanced "free" gameplay going.
I listed 3 or 4 rule changes, some of them, have been quite vigorously campaigned for:
Ideas For Off Peak 2 Week Beta (Map changes automatically at 1:00 am CST and changes back at 9:00 am CST)
•12 hour rule for country change suspended*
•Modified 2 country; country 01 Axis; country 02 Allies
•Disabled B29s, or ENY* mechanism used to balance side differences with bomber choice*
•Unattached HQ downtime to radar function, instead halved resupply effects
•Introduced new special arena maps for MA play
Maybe "remove scores or perks during free play", after all, there are so many rules already in place. Relaxing a few rules for a very short period of time, may just be what could bring some good old fashion fun engagements back to the frontlines.
Note: Current rules and 3 country settings, and yet we still have balance issues and YES, restrictive game play.
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I think the solution is to attract and retain new players rather than modifying the maps and mechanics to suit low populations. But that's just me.
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WW1965
Zinc Member
people play in ew and mw because they want to---if they wanted to play in lw they would---you might as ask people playing in da as well...if they wanted to play in lw arena they would...you can't force people where they don't want to play..
i probably have the worst score in gv's and planes yet i never have a problem finding a fight in either vehicle..of course i do live in texas cdt.when i have internet and puter is working..play 4 hours a night monday thru thursday--until 11:00 or 12:00-all day saturday and sunday..i get to play when everybody is on..i kinda feel bad that people in other countries don't get to play as much as we in the USA do..because i love this game--it's the only one i play.
and i know that people in other countries do to--or else they would not be complaining about not being able to play in peak hours..and right now i'm without internet for about 2 weeks and it's driving me nuts. :joystick:
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I dunno if this has been suggested or not... What if there were a separate arena for off hours? It could have all the characteristics people want... Small maps, etc. It could be open during Off Hours only, or left on during prime time for those that are only looking for a quick dogfight. That way, no changes need be made to the MA at all.
Just a thought.
<S>
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I dunno if this has been suggested or not... What if there were a separate arena for off hours? It could have all the characteristics people want... Small maps, etc. It could be open during Off Hours only, or left on during prime time for those that are only looking for a quick dogfight. That way, no changes need be made to the MA at all.
Just a thought.
<S>
Wish already granted.... There is a mechanism, to switch maps at a certain time. This was in play when there were split arenas at peak time. The arena would boot everyone and different arena would appear or disappear (whichever way it went).
The coolest feature was that it saved the field standings, (the fight resumed where it left off the next day). Porked items / downed strats, I don't recall, but believe they were reset to full when the map came active again.
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Wow I never considered that some prefer to play when no one is on. To each his own. :salute
I'd prefer what ever solution allows the complete immersion (ACM, base taking etc.) with enough live participating pilots to do so. ;)
Flying 2-3 sectors to get to an area with dar and not find action is no fun.
Thanks for all the input so far. I hope AH are seeing some actionable ideas.
Slade :salute
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Lusche is right though, the MA in the off hours is more like the DA. Me and Lusche play AH for very different reasons. I'm a dogfighter, Lusche is an interceptor. I avoid bombers because they can't dogfight, Lusche hunts them because he's an interceptor. I love fighting in the WWI arena on the rare occasion that it's not empty, Lusche probably hates the WWI arena. And that's fine to each his own. Flying 2 or 3 sectors to find a fight is what I have to do in the horde hours because I avoid the horde.
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"Not really into the idea"
but
What if maps progressively "shrunk" or "expanded" according to the country's population? "like eny" - "except the number of bases"
Meh dumb idea from me... moving on...
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Wow I never considered that some prefer to play when no one is on. To each his own. :salute
you've never seen early or midwar arena?
there is apparently a fair number of people that would like nothing better than to just fly with friendlies and take bases from the server.
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you've never seen early or midwar arena?
there is apparently a fair number of people that would like nothing better than to just fly with friendlies and take bases from the server.
Truth. I can't remember the last time I went in there and all six of the players weren't on the same country.
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What if maps progressively "shrunk" or "expanded" according to the country's population? "like eny" - "except the number of bases"
+1