General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Lusche on September 17, 2023, 08:18:22 AM
Title: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Lusche on September 17, 2023, 08:18:22 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/3vfjtMN.png)
Last night, 04:26 CEST (21:26 CDT). This B-29, the last of a formation of three, was shot down over the southern (Rook) AA factory at an altitude of 30.0 K feet. Being my 502nd B-29 kill and, according to the records, my 112.142 LWMA kill, I came to the conclusion that this is the perfect moment to end it, even though my subscription still has 14 days left.
04:26 CEST - that's exactly the main reason I'm stepping away from it. I have many problems with some of the design decisions over the past 10 years (magic tail warning radar, anyone?), but having to wait until about 2 a.m. before the action somewhat picks up even on a Saturday is simply bad for my sleep pattern and my health. And I can't justify paying to play on a largely dormant map against always the same 20 people during daytime.
So I'm making this a public statement just to prevent me slipping back in 'by accident' ("I fell on my credit card, and suddenly I had a subscription again, mom!") :D
Of course, if a miracle happens and suddenly the numbers at least triple again... but we all know how likely that is :(
I will not leave the forums though, my statistical works will continue in the background and expect some annoying 'look at me' posts about my own AH career stats in the very near future :devil
And finally: If I show off my last kill, I think I also have to show my last death, too:
(https://i.imgur.com/2Apxdjn.jpeg) Shamefully shot down by an M-3. Bdog34 removed my wing with his single machine gun, but unfortunately he didn't get the credit because he died before my plane hit the ground.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High IIII
Post by: LCADolby on September 17, 2023, 08:23:02 AM
:salute
Bomber pilots will be relieved
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High IIII
Post by: CptTrips on September 17, 2023, 08:33:58 AM
Quote
my 112.142 LWMA kill, I came to the conclusion that this is the perfect moment to end it, even though my subscription still has 14 days left.
Pffffffttttt.
200 would be a better round number to end on.
You got 14 days AND 13 nights. Or visa versa. I don't know how days work in metric. ;)
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High IIII
Post by: Shane on September 17, 2023, 09:38:13 AM
:salute
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High IIII
Post by: oboe on September 17, 2023, 09:41:36 AM
I was going to suggest you re-title this misleading post "My most recent kill in Aces High III", but unfortunately for us all "Last" is what you really intended. :(
Appreciate all your contributions to the statistics of AH over the years; wish I could talk you out of leaving but understand your reasons. <S> always.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High IIII
Post by: SIK1 on September 17, 2023, 10:11:58 AM
:salute
:cheers:
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High IIII
Post by: Busher on September 17, 2023, 11:10:04 AM
You will be missed. Be well and Happy. :salute
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Dadtallica on September 17, 2023, 11:31:37 AM
:salute Don’t be a stranger.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Banshee7 on September 17, 2023, 12:43:16 PM
Lusche, you are one of the names that I remember flying with or against since I joined AH2 in March of 2007! It has been an absolute pleasure! :salute
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: save on September 17, 2023, 12:43:56 PM
"(magic tail warning radar, anyone?), but having to wait until about 2 a.m. before the action somewhat picks up even on a Saturday"
The ground radar is better than that, it can see you behind mountains, guide you in a dogfight when you lost your SA - in real time -something not even contemporary radar can achieve.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Shuffler on September 18, 2023, 10:55:04 AM
I was on when you got your 500th.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: JimmyD3 on September 18, 2023, 12:41:35 PM
Hate to see you go Snailman, you have become a legend in this game. May your skies always be blue, and a good strong tail wind> :salute
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Shuffler on September 18, 2023, 02:25:19 PM
I think he should stay and umm SLUG it out. :P
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: 1ijac on September 18, 2023, 05:22:01 PM
:salute Snail, Best wishes to you and I hope you wonder back in at some point.
Cheers, One-eye
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: mERv on September 19, 2023, 01:03:20 AM
Has been good to run against you the few times we have met in the MA this past year. Hope you get the itch someday and come back for a tour
<S>
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Eagler on September 19, 2023, 06:42:31 AM
<S> Snailman
Are you done with combat fight sims or just AH?
Eagler
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Animl-AW on September 19, 2023, 07:26:49 AM
That’s a shame, but understandable. One of the icons of AH. Don’t wonder too far away. Its like smoking, harder to quit than expected.
Stay smart, stay safe, be well
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Brooke on September 20, 2023, 04:19:37 AM
You can never leave.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Lusche on September 20, 2023, 08:14:29 AM
Just two weeks ago I got an amazing new stick, which will see a lot of usage in Elite:Dangerous, X-Plane, Il-2 Sturmovik, DCS (maybe I will now be able to land the dam UH-1H). In War Thunder, I'm strictly tanking only, so no use for it there.
Actually, I had planned to do my final round of Aces High in December/January, when the numbers are a bit higher, but I couldn't resist trying the new stick here first because it's the only game I was ever good at :D
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: SIK1 on September 20, 2023, 09:39:13 AM
Just two weeks ago I got an amazing new stick, which will see a lot of usage in Elite:Dangerous, X-Plane, Il-2 Sturmovik, DCS (maybe I will now be able to land the dam UH-1H). In War Thunder, I'm strictly tanking only, so no use for it there.
Actually, I had planned to do my final round of Aces High in December/January, when the numbers are a bit higher, but I couldn't resist trying the new stick here first because it's the only game I was ever good at :D
So what is this new amazing stick?
:salute
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Lusche on September 20, 2023, 09:51:22 AM
Last night, 04:26 CEST (21:26 CDT). This B-29, the last of a formation of three, was shot down over the southern (Rook) AA factory at an altitude of 30.0 K feet. Being my 502nd B-29 kill and, according to the records, my 112.142 LWMA kill, I came to the conclusion that this is the perfect moment to end it, even though my subscription still has 14 days left.
Shamefully shot down by an M-3. Bdog34 removed my wing with his single machine gun, but unfortunately he didn't get the credit because he died before my plane hit the ground.
From looking at you score I don't see 500 kills. How did you figure this? Please forgive me if Im making an obvious mistake I just dont know the system well at all.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Lusche on September 22, 2023, 12:25:58 AM
From looking at you score I don't see 500 kills. How did you figure this? Please forgive me if Im making an obvious mistake I just dont know the system well at all.
Those three B-29s were my 500th to 502nd kills of B-29 overall, since they were introduced back in tour 133. And no, there is no simple way to look it up on the web, you will have to add up all tours manually, use a tool like Spatulas old 'Aces High Pilot Stats' application, or make your own script (like I did).
By the way, the total number of B-29's shot down by all players in the MA so far is 21.841 :old:
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: lengro on September 22, 2023, 02:23:07 AM
That's the premium. No such thing as 'too many buttons' with E:D or DCS :joystick:
Heh - I recently got me a Virpil CM3 throttle + WarBRD/CH stick and started mapping buttons in E:D. But after "only" 32 buttons, E:D wouldn't recognize #33.... So next step is vJoy/Joystick Gremlin to map the rest.
I figured it's about time to become Elite again... Last time was on a C64, and that with a joystick with 1 button! :D
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: IntelDan on September 22, 2023, 05:27:33 AM
Those three B-29s were my 500th to 502nd kills of B-29 overall, since they were introduced back in tour 133. And no, there is no simple way to look it up on the web, you will have to add up all tours manually, use a tool like Spatulas old 'Aces High Pilot Stats' application, or make your own script (like I did).
By the way, the total number of B-29's shot down by all players in the MA so far is 21.841 :old:
I was interested because I was trying to measure my brothers ability based on what one of his friends told me at his memorial. His impression was pretty fantastic and thats coming from someone that stood behind him and watched him defend a base with a P-51 on the deck. I dont know a lot about this game but I know enough to know not to choose a P-51 for a job like that. What I thought you were claiming was that you had a 500 kill-to-death. Its well known that Challenger would go for months without getting killed in the P-51 or the Ta-152. I have his files from his computer but it doesnt look like he saved a lot of film. I know for a fact he would rather ditch a flight then call attention to himself. Then again I have heard that he didnt care at all who knew he was using a tank to keep certain fields flat for hours and even days. Your post just encouraged me to compare the two of you.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: mechanic on September 22, 2023, 06:28:38 AM
Heh - I recently got me a Virpil CM3 throttle + WarBRD/CH stick and started mapping buttons in E:D. But after "only" 32 buttons, E:D wouldn't recognize #33.... So next step is vJoy/Joystick Gremlin to map the rest.
I figured it's about time to become Elite again... Last time was on a C64, and that with a joystick with 1 button! :D
Hi Len, If you want to make it even more difficult, try with a VR headset.
Lusche, welcome to AH Anonymous. I'll show you around to help you settle.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: DmonSlyr on September 22, 2023, 07:29:04 AM
You don't have to leave! I only play between 4-10 hours a month when I can log in a see a good fight to partake in. While I realize you are probably 6 hours ahead. You may still be able to find some action randomly if you just log in and check the map gameplay. That's what I do. If I see a good fight, I'll roll, if not, may jump into another game for a bit. You've played 42 hours this month with over 250 kills, compared to my 8 with 85 kills. Heck I did really well last month with only 4 hours played. So I feel you are finding some action. I don't see why you should quit all together, especially with the #s picking up going into winter.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Max on September 22, 2023, 08:04:44 AM
Farewell Lusche! You've always been a fun adversary and an officer & gentleman. :salute
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High IIII
Post by: Volron on September 23, 2023, 04:56:07 AM
You don't have to leave! I only play between 4-10 hours a month when I can log in a see a good fight to partake in. While I realize you are probably 6 hours ahead. You may still be able to find some action randomly if you just log in and check the map gameplay. That's what I do. If I see a good fight, I'll roll, if not, may jump into another game for a bit. You've played 42 hours this month with over 250 kills, compared to my 8 with 85 kills. Heck I did really well last month with only 4 hours played. So I feel you are finding some action. I don't see why you should quit all together, especially with the #s picking up going into winter.
The overwhelming majority of those kills were made past midnight, often even past 2 am.
And for watching the map for occasional action during off hours... I have done that for years. It's just immensely frustrating, especially as I'm looking for battles, not just a fight. Battles and 'strategic gameplay' was what kept me in AH past the initial dogfighting phase, and this is the aspect which IMHO has suffered the most.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: DmonSlyr on September 23, 2023, 01:52:52 PM
The overwhelming majority of those kills were made past midnight, often even past 2 am.
And for watching the map for occasional action during off hours... I have done that for years. It's just immensely frustrating, especially as I'm looking for battles, not just a fight. Battles and 'strategic gameplay' was what kept me in AH past the initial dogfighting phase, and this is the aspect which IMHO has suffered the most.
Yeah, I hear that. I am very similar in the since that I don't normally roll unless i have the potential of atleast 3 kills. I feel that the smaller maps like last night really do bring some good battles, however I find that there ain't enough players to really attack hoards when being hit from both sides. Bish were hoarding heavy last night and the rooks didn't do much to defend. I think a couple of BT guys and a few others tried, but the bish were steam rolling bases with no opposition. This was quite disappointing. I was left flying at 22k for 35 minutes seething at the teeth for a kill. I don't know what it is, it seems when sides gain a movement towards one side, it's very hard to bring that movement to the other side to defend/attack when needed. There could have been an absolutely huge battle last night between all 3 sides, but knights and rooks wanted to fight down south and bish were steam rolling rooks. What can you do...
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: molybdenum on October 04, 2023, 08:30:12 PM
Not to mean this in a bad way at all, snailman, but I will be glad if you are gone for good. I have always respected you as a person and as an opponent, but when you were on, part of my repertoire (strat runs) became unavailable. Why spend an hour+ grabbing alt and getting to target when I knew you'd likely be waiting in the 163 it took you 3min to reach alt with?
I killed your 163 once or twice (I think, reaching back to AH2 here) but the very fact of your presence on whatever country I wanted to hit stopped me from doing what I like most.
HT has made adjustments based on dwindling numbers off and on during ah3. GV darbar, etc. It might be time to limit 163s to a very few maps? Their presence really spoils the fun of dedicated strat runner types.
Time spent on game matters. I won't cancel if 163s don't go away, but the game will be less interesting to me and ppl like me as the skillset continues to sharpen towards the 163 ilk.
Comments?
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Brooke on October 05, 2023, 12:01:38 AM
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Kingpin on October 06, 2023, 01:17:25 AM
Lusche is just another player who enjoyed air combat leaving because of game changes that have negatively affected game play, in particular air combat.
Nobody needs situational awareness (SA) anymore because of the magic radar icons Lusche is referring to. There is actually MORE hoarding now as a result. Players will generally fly to where they are safer and now it's easy to see where you outnumber the enemy, even over enemy bases. Even worse, there is no risk of being bounced anymore because the icons act as an early warning radar system.
You also have even more players in invisible GVs hiding in trees now. In the slower hours, I've logged in and seen ALL the players in GVs and not a single darbar visible from someone "in flight".
I'm with Lusche on this. These game designs have hurt the game, not helped it.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Max on October 06, 2023, 07:52:05 AM
I'll take a guess and say too high a proportion of the player base are too be frank, boring. Not HTs fault.
I don't think anyone joins a game wanting to be bored or expecting boring gameplay.
Blaming players for boring game play is like blaming diners for bad service in a restaurant. They might impact it, but they aren't the ones responsible for making it better.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: The Fugitive on October 07, 2023, 11:37:10 PM
I don't think anyone joins a game wanting to be bored or expecting boring gameplay.
Blaming players for boring game play is like blaming diners for bad service in a restaurant. They might impact it, but they aren't the ones responsible for making it better.
Maybe not responsible, but they CAN make it better.
Title: Re: My Last Kill in Aces High III
Post by: Shuffler on October 08, 2023, 06:46:52 AM