Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Patt2014 on July 12, 2017, 09:47:48 PM

Title: AH III info
Post by: Patt2014 on July 12, 2017, 09:47:48 PM
Hello,
After a long medical battle I'm thinking about playing again.

I notice no more Early, Mid, Late arenas.

What is the AvA & Melee Arenas?

Why is the Melee Arena nick named the "UFO Arena"?

Radar alt? Dar Bar still there?

Same STRAT targets?

Any major capture changes since 2014?

All planes avail. in the arenas? That is I see posted ENY whines so that's fine with me.



I'm leary about forking out $2k for a hotchit computer to play this game if the tactical and strategery is lacking since the only other game I play is Chess on my phone.

The HTC website is not up to date. Seems it never is, at least in 2014 I remember it being so then. That's a shame, sure it costs them subscribers.

Thank-you for any info fill in.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: madrid311 on July 13, 2017, 12:03:24 AM
You can get a great computer for a lot less less than 2000.00. I paid 1400.00 for mine and ah3 rocks. I want playing back then but it is still the same from what I've been reading in the forums. They're is a battleship now and it's really cool. There are No more missions happening in the mele arena. Sound any different? Buy the computer, jump in the war is fine.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: Brooke on July 13, 2017, 12:48:53 AM
I'm leary about forking out $2k for a hotchit computer to play this game

Or, you can spend $480.

That's sufficient for 60 frames per second with environment slider turned off (which is how I play even with my GTX 1060 card).

From superbiiz.com, this stuff is a mere $371:

CPU    Intel Pentium G4400 Dual-Core Skylake Processor 3.3GHz 8.0GT/s 3MB LGA 1151 CPU, Retail
Micro ATX Motherboard  GIGABYTE GA-H110M-A LGA1151/ Intel H110/ DDR4/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ MicroATX Motherboard
2x of DDR4-2133 Memory Super Talent DDR4-2133 4GB/512Mx8 CL15 Micron Chip Memory
3.5" Hard Disk Drive  Toshiba DT01ACA050 500GB 7200RPM SATA3/SATA 6.0 GB/s 32MB Hard Drive (3.5 inch)
Power Supply EVGA 500B Bronze 100-B1-0500-KR 500W 80 PLUS Bronze EPS12V Power Supply
Micro ATX Case  Zalman T2 PLUS Luxurious No Power Supply MicroATX Case (Black)
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 Home Operating System 64-bit English (1-Pack), OEM

Then you'd add a GTX 1050 graphics card for $106.

total = $477

Or you can buy the above setup and then buy a $1523 special designer mouse pad if you are intent on spending $2k.

If you don't already have a monitor from your last system, add a monitor of your liking ($130-$150 is sufficient for a decent 24" 1080p monitor).





Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: Lusche on July 13, 2017, 01:12:13 AM
I notice no more Early, Mid, Late arenas.

What is the AvA & Melee Arenas?
Melee is the old Late War main arena. AvA is the same it has been all the years before.

Why is the Melee Arena nick named the "UFO Arena"?
Generally it isn't ;)

Radar alt? Dar Bar still there?

Same as in AH2 - 65ft dot dar, 250 ft darbar

Same STRAT targets?
Basically, yes. City is now much larger and looks much different. All other factories have been overhauled in apperance, too.
HQ has been hardened and it's basic downtime has been shortened.




[/quote]Any major capture changes since 2014?[/quote]
No

[/quote]
All planes avail. in the arenas?
[/quote]

In Melee yes, same as before in LW.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: TequilaChaser on July 13, 2017, 05:43:34 AM
There are No more missions happening in the mele arena.

Well, I myself, logged in to play Sunday night and Monday night and witnessed missions being posted and run a few times both nights....

Just an observation

TC
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: madrid311 on July 13, 2017, 07:57:04 AM
That's great news, ill have to try playing at night instead of the morning. I'm just a lot more alert in the morning for getting killed and too sleepy at night to  pay attention. I only spent more on my putie because I saved up for all the eye Candy ah3 brings. Either way, come back and play.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: Chilli on July 13, 2017, 10:55:03 AM
Patt,

Good to hear that you are on the mend.

Good advice about checking in with current players before dishing out the bucks.  2 G's can get you something that SAYS it is the latest and greatest and not even be able to maintain a decent framerate, which is imperative if you plan to do anything besides fly bombers or man field guns.  As well as money spent in the RIGHT ways can get you very capable components for less than that amount.  (Key:  Dedicated Video Memory 2GB is okay, more if it doesn't get too pricey and some say bandwidth).  Again, check with a post in forums before hitting that online buy button.  Not all of the key features are clearly stated up front, including some that advertise Ultra HD graphics, but still won't have the juice needed to perform adequately, especially true with laptops and SHARED Video Memory.

Next, I recommend that you immediately change from the default Field of View (changed from AH2) to something around 120, or your nose will be stuck to the windscreen and  :uhoh doubt if you will have much luck tracking bad guys (especially those attacking you from angles).

Also, hit sprites and tracers have changed, so there will be some getting used to.  The default head position now includes a head tilt (it can be adjusted with the use of the home key).
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: Patt2014 on July 13, 2017, 06:49:00 PM
Thanks all for the info.

Probably be back in the sky 1st of next month or so. Gotta visit AK for 1-2 wks,  the State that is, not the squad for some BLM cone count, and other photogrammetry mining stuff via drone. Drudgery.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: Scca on July 14, 2017, 09:00:39 AM
Well, I myself, logged in to play Sunday night and Monday night and witnessed missions being posted and run a few times both nights....

Just an observation

TC
Actual "missions", like with the mission thingy (restricted plane set etc), or just a large group taking a base and saying "what's next".  Seen a lot of the latter, not so much the former..
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: DaddyAce on July 14, 2017, 03:06:25 PM
.....

I'm leary about forking out $2k for a hotchit computer to play this game if the tactical and strategery is lacking since the only other game I play is Chess on my phone.

....
Thank-you for any info fill in.

Hi Patt,

This what I built Oct 2017 specifically trying to get best perfomance for the price for AH3:

O/S  Win 10 moved over with SSD from my old system
GPU:  Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 Windforce OC 3GB DDR5  $209.99
CPU:  Intel I#-6100 3.7 Ghz    $118.2
Cryorig M9i CPU fan    $26.97
RAM:   Ballistix Sport 8GB DDR4  $37.99
Mobo:  MSI B150 Gaming M3  $103.95
WD 1 TB HDD  $49.99
PSU:  400 W Corsair CMPSU-400X (free, used from my old system)
Case:  Antec P-100  $74.99

Total cost:  $622.08

I'm guessing you could do better now for less $....although GPU's are currently over priced due to cryptocurrency mining (   see http://blog.logicalincrements.com/2017/07/gpu-pricing-and-stock-shortage/ )....eg my 1060 is now $80 more than I paid for it last fall.

I'm quite happy with my build.   It runs AH3 on my 1440 p, 75 mhx monitor, at usually 70+ fps, sometimes drops lower, but never to unplayable.  All graphics settings maxed except environ mapping set to 1.  Good luck and am looking forward to you coming back in!    :cheers:
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: Rich46yo on July 14, 2017, 03:08:15 PM
AH-lll was an excellent upgrade and the game plays and looks far better then ever and is stable.

Nobody is more surprised then I the hordes didnt come back to it yet. Its pretty to look at on full power and has plenty of controls to dial things down if you have an older computer. I just dont get it.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: nugetx on July 15, 2017, 01:25:52 AM
I just dont get it.

gameplay

Graphics did not change the fact for the people 'been there, done that'


Sorry if I may sound harsh sometimes, but I'm just telling things like they are.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: Oldman731 on July 15, 2017, 08:41:07 AM
gameplay

Graphics did not change the fact for the people 'been there, done that'


Sorry if I may sound harsh sometimes, but I'm just telling things like they are.


Occasionally it's difficult to tell how things are if you don't remember how they were.  You weren't here for Graphics Wars.  There was a large number of players - perhaps the majority of those who participated in the discussions - who thought that AH's main problem was that its graphics were so dated that people were abandoning the game for prettier fields.  I've noticed that a number of those people have returned to the game, now that AHIII has significantly improved the graphics. 

Game play issues have caused arguments in all of these games, going back to their points of origin in the 1980s.

- oldman
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: The Fugitive on July 15, 2017, 08:41:41 AM
gameplay

Graphics did not change the fact for the people 'been there, done that'


Sorry if I may sound harsh sometimes, but I'm just telling things like they are.

....and you know all this after running just your two week trial.  :rofl
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: nugetx on July 15, 2017, 11:47:17 AM
....and you know all this after running just your two week trial.  :rofl

Would it change anything if I was here 20 years?  The suggestions would still be the same....... other people also make similar suggestions that some posters say are being discussed for over past 10 years.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: The Fugitive on July 15, 2017, 12:47:11 PM
See Rule #4
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: Rich46yo on July 15, 2017, 09:34:18 PM
gameplay

Graphics did not change the fact for the people 'been there, done that'


Sorry if I may sound harsh sometimes, but I'm just telling things like they are.

Nope. Gameplay improved the first month or two after the upgrade and AH-lll started pulling in 200+ nightly into the main arena. If the numbers improve the game play improves, thats like the E=Mc2 of Internet gaming.

I know FSO is a tradition and I'm not suggesting anything but for a noob to see 100+ players go <poof> on an exciting Fri. night is a downer. Hell, its a downer even for a long time player. And like all the PPM MMOGs that are left most of Aces High are long time players probably more interested in staying to maintain their long time squad friend ships and have little interest in training new people or even bringing them into their squads.

Sorry but thats the truth, at the least my observation. Compared to the game at its height there is almost zero training and squad recruitment effort for new players. Ergo less recruitment and retention. Ergo worse game play.
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: TequilaChaser on July 16, 2017, 08:58:25 AM
Actual "missions", like with the mission thingy (restricted plane set etc), or just a large group taking a base and saying "what's next".  Seen a lot of the latter, not so much the former..

Actual Posted Missions... I have to admit that it had been a while since I last saw that happening
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: thndregg on July 16, 2017, 09:35:57 AM
Actual Posted Missions... I have to admit that it had been a while since I last saw that happening

Working on it. ;) I miss the unique missions we used to put up, especially the underdog "hangar queen" fun sorties..  Dusting off the Hurricane Mk-1's, Stukas, P40's, stuff like that. Used to post a lot of that in AH2, and it was a total BLAST, no matter the outcome.  :aok :aok
Title: Re: AH III info
Post by: DaddyAce on July 16, 2017, 02:12:58 PM
Well....I have been seeing some missions set up, and it seems the Purple Hearts Squad is always interested in new squaddies, did see a Brewster mission last night, have felt particularly lucky lately and have had some very fun 1 on 1's.....although I also miss the fun fights in  the Mid War arena.....I  miss the more numerous players too....but still find plenty of fun action (usually).