Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Animl-AW on September 17, 2023, 09:24:44 PM
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Just sayin. Not great, but better. 100 being considered as critical mass.
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Depends on the map too
100 with a map half the size we see today would be great fun
How small can they be made and still acceptable?
Eagler
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I’m not going into a wall of text about suspect trends I pick up on, I don’t want to hex anything, nor go into wishful thinking drivel.
But a cpl weeks ago I predicted s possible 140-160 mid-winter. This number came exactly when I hoped, the start of fall. A cpl more MAY confirm my instincts are on course. Until then it should remain just reckless assumption inspired by wishful thinking.
Ignore the campaign of hopelessness by the .05%.
If one believes all the negative, they will remain in the wheel of negative. It can force it to become a reality.
Positive breeds positive
Numbers breed numbers
In all things in life, peaks and valleys will always be
PEACE.
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Redundant what I'm about to say but I experience zero issues finding action every single sortie I fly...
I generally face 3-7 vs 1 odds. It balances out when Knights horde but im usually facing superior numbers.
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Redundant what I'm about to say but I experience zero issues finding action every single sortie I fly...
I generally face 3-7 vs 1 odds. It balances out when Knights horde but im usually facing superior numbers.
It slides a little off subject,.. <shrug> Honestly, it's rare I can't find a fight. But I log on at prime time 8p cst too. I'd rather go up against over-whelming odds than no fight. I'm here to fight, winning something is icing on the cake, to me. It's quite often I die in a 3-5 vs 1. <shrug> If I were a point monger it might bother me, I may play differently.
Back in the day I could fly every plane fluently, and had a lot more data in my head,..my brain made room (deleted) for other life and work priority things the last 10-14 yrs. I may never have the time in life to get as deep as I once was in the 2 games (AW and AH). But what I can get back in tune with I'll try.
This may throw some off. I can go either way with this. The map size only matters if the forces are scattered. Knits tend to have this issue, it would improve the game if they were a little more organized - said by a Knit. Bish and Rooks have good wars because they organize and concentrate their forces. If decent wars are organized/executed it doesn't matter as much. The smaller map concept does force/ensure tighter wars. But some of it is up to the players too. > IMO<
IMO, Furballs only have a negative effect if the opposing country doesn't organize a strong front, or just number imbalance. > IMO < Squads are a good thing.
My point is, I hope the returning player trend continues. Some of the younger ones as teens years back, grew up, got married, had kids, kids are getting to an age the parents can get time back....some of those return. I can't count how many times I read on other videos, about playing as a teen, great memories, great time, and feeling the need to try it out again for nostalgic reasons. That, and on another side, players who left for the holy grail of sims just to find out they cost a lot, and not as much fun for the money. Those sims have been slowly dropping numbers for a yr now. AH didn't lose, it gained. That's a red flag to me. It's possible to get 40 players by winter.
All that drivel said, I could be wrong about everything. <shrug> It's a science.
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Depends on the map too
100 with a map half the size we see today would be great fun
How small can they be made and still acceptable?
Eagler
I guess I bring up AW a tad much,..but I remember the maps being pretty small compared to AH. Someone else has the data but my guess 1/2 the size of AH. Kinda had the same issues from time to time.... and I think if I remember right is was 200 capacity, which was full often, there was an over-flow arena too.
I think both things can be true, were as sometimes it's just where the players choose to fight, or not., and some of the maps are a bit large for player count.
I don't know if I mentioned, but some of these newer maps seem to be historical land masses. Those might have a problem fitting properly. I have no idea how they handle scaling.
I think at 200 these maps would work.
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I guess I bring up AW a tad much,..but I remember the maps being pretty small compared to AH. Someone else has the data but my guess 1/2 the size of AH. Kinda had the same issues from time to time.... and I think if I remember right is was 200 capacity, which was full often, there was an over-flow arena too.
I think both things can be true, were as sometimes it's just where the players choose to fight, or not., and some of the maps are a bit large for player count.
I don't know if I mentioned, but some of these newer maps seem to be historical land masses. Those might have a problem fitting properly. I have no idea how they handle scaling.
I think at 200 these maps would work.
They are never at 200, and if they are even close.. it's for 1 or 2 hours.
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They are never at 200, and if they are even close.. it's for 1 or 2 hours.
I know,.. I'm just saying IF we could get to that point they would be playable. Not what we're looking for, but it's a compromise. Ya,.. even peak number last through prime time and then they sink. I get it.
Edit: I will add, back in 09-10, IMO, I thought 500 was a touch too crowded. That was more like fishing n a barrel TO ME. Everyone seems to have their own take on the map thing. which tells me, it would be hard to please everyone.
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I know,.. I'm just saying IF we could get to that point they would be playable. Not what we're looking for, but it's a compromise. Ya,.. even peak number last through prime time and then they sink. I get it.
So they work for you for two hours per night.. what about the other 22 hours? They need to go, period.
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So they work for you for two hours per night.. what about the other 22 hours? They need to go, period.
I'm not really debating it. I'm just going on past experiences, I haven't been back long, none of this stuff bothers me, YET. To those who have been here constantly it's a different POV. I could go for smaller maps and be happy.
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Maps that create action early on in the day is what you want. Especially during weekends. This is what builds #s and gets the eastern side of the world engaged. It also helps keep the fights active as the night gets older.
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I'm not really debating it. I'm just going on past experiences, I haven't been back long, none of this stuff bothers me, YET. To those who have been here constantly it's a different POV. I could go for smaller maps and be happy.
Nor am I going to get in an pissing matches, I'm just stating observations from 20+ years.
Three things that hinder this game, in order, based on relevance.
Map size
Night time
ENY/3 country vs 2. (Especialy with low player count)
Option to hide in a manned gun
Option to resupply a town rather than defend it
The last two were bonus crappy gameplay points.
The only thing I can see fixing this is smaller maps and a 2 plane tank bomber free to play membership.
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Nor am I going to get in an pissing matches, I'm just stating observations from 20+ years.
Three things that hinder this game, in order, based on relevance.
Map size
Night time
ENY/3 country vs 2. (Especialy with low player count)
Option to hide in a manned gun
Option to resupply a town rather than defend it
The last two were bonus crappy gameplay points.
The only thing I can see fixing this is smaller maps and a 2 plane tank bomber free to play membership.
As far as smaller maps forcing closer fights, yep, agreed. it can't not be wrong. It's common sense. AW slammed with 200 on those smaller maps.
Tonight had a lot of good long fights.
Seriously, I'm just not that deep into that category of knowledge, I just take you peeps word for it or see it myself.
My question would be, wouldn't smaller maps be easier to conquer? Especially the morning crew.
But it's not just the maps, that's kind of a bandaid to getting the player base up. Many former players and newbies don't even know AH exist anymore, everyone should be up on getting the word out. Many are waiting for the crowd to come to them. SO both are true. Many moving parts, I'm not skewled in all of them.
The cards need to be reshuffled.
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While its not good for other countries, this is US based. Prime time is US based. No matter the sim, mornings were almost never maxed out in numbers. School, work, summer day time, etc.. that problem is lack of players in those countries. Again, it has to be advertised to draw people in.
Things like xbox took hold. That would be a part of daytime crowd.
When my son was around, he played AW and AH on my account just because my gaming machine was there. As soon as he got xbox he really just stuck to that. He’d be 32 this yr. If he were around he’d prolly pick it up as nostalgia of what he played at 13 on dads pc.
There was/is more ads for other games by scavengers coming here to entice them to go there, its not working the other way around. That should flip. Gold and diamond dust, but not as fun. They really are bait and switch money pits.
Point being, a lot has changed in the industry since 2000. The game itself us sold, just less known. Very few are getting the word out.
AW was the trunk of the tree for gameplay, then WB and AH near the trunk. The further the tree branches the thinner the gameplay.DSC gameplay is below these standards. Beautiful house on the outside, not so great on the inside. Lot if players unhappy with direction. That glitter is getting old, WT, Dcs, IL-2 numbers are slowly dropping. Remind those about AH. Those are our return players. Fact is DCS is a sim, AH is a sim played as a game. Graphic mediums must be made to accommodate numbers and data flow. Less players per server more graphics. Pick your poison.
I’m just glad I lived long enough to play my nostalgic game again myself. Call me ignorant and gullible and too old skewl. <shrug> I’m a return player, and I understand why I returned.
Smaller maps, more numbers, with HT onboard, we could squeeze 5-10 more yrs, if we try. 2-3 mid size updates could help. A lot of us are willing to help. As we used to. Dale is not alone, we’re just waiting for the green light. Until then I’ll try with vids.
Complaining while doing nothing is noise. :) <S>
That doesn’t change todays issues. My vids may be just O K, but I put the date on them and try to tap into the former players. New players are harder to draw, they have other machines. Just getting former players back COULD start a cycle. Numbers breed numbers. Spread the word, save yourselves. I think enough numbers may encourage more updates, which could press the gas pedal.
I’m just one guy with ideas. Nothing more. It would be great if others got onboard. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
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Smaller maps or AI to increase targets and variety
Small maps rotation is easiest
Eagler
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Good grief stop this ridiculous repetition. Game is what it is, play it or don’t. Same stupid thread every three days.
Animl look up the word concise.
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Smaller maps or AI to increase targets and variety
Small maps rotation is easiest
Eagler
Not sure what the minimum size map Hitech would allow in the MA. Most of the new maps are 256 X 256, next step down would be 128 X 128. Half the size of the current maps.
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Smaller maps or AI to increase targets and variety
Small maps rotation is easiest
Eagler
Personally, I’m not onboard w AI, personal preference. I’d lose interest. <shrug>
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Good grief stop this ridiculous repetition. Game is what it is, play it or don’t. Same stupid thread every three days.
Animl look up the word concise.
Hate - implosion of the soul.
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Good grief stop this ridiculous repetition. Game is what it is, play it or don’t. Same stupid thread every three days.
Animl look up the word concise.
Contribute or move along. Your post is dumber than a bad idea.
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Personally, I’m not onboard w AI, personal preference. I’d lose interest. <shrug>
AI would provide you a better fight than 95% of the player base, but I agree, not a fan.
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Not sure what the minimum size map Hitech would allow in the MA. Most of the new maps are 256 X 256, next step down would be 128 X 128. Half the size of the current maps.
I thought the map last night, an old one I think. Mandino? I forget the name,.. I really liked that map, it SEEMED smaller. That had some good fights where I was. I think because the actual land mass was smaller. I was thinking some time ago it could work to tighten the fights. You can run the same size map, just much smaller land mass, less fields, and somewhat Asymmetrical. That round stuff is just too gamey to me.
I'm also wondering if there is a code or sizing issues in the clipboard to change the size. If so, HT isn't up for anything right now.
We have so many conflicting factions in the game. Trying to please all of them isn't easy. It's like a biosphere, change just one thing and it starts going south. The programmer gets beat up either way. When I changed the damage model in AW, some really liked it (simmers), it was more realistic. The others (point mongers) not so much, it made kills a touch harder. Some aren't as into realism as they think.
Point being, I think it would be a good mild move to go to smaller land masses and less bases. The actual size of the map wouldn't matter. I have no idea what it takes to get a new map approved and implemented. I'm totally not into the arcade looking maps, no offense intended, I know a lot of work goes into them.
I did read in post here by pyro, about how new options were put in place in newer maps. I wonder if maps before that can no longer be used as is.
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Exactly
Size of land mass, number of bases and their closer proximity
I would like to see the map bases scrambled up to start too
Not three clearly defined countries but mixed up with opposing countries bases right next to each other at the start of a ew map..that would switch up things right from the start
AI used correctly would enhance the game imo
CptTrips had some interesting missions at one time that if able to be tweaked and executed automatically during a map would add variety
Eagler
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Exactly
Size of land mass, number of bases and their closer proximity
I would like to see the map bases scrambled up to start too
Not three clearly defined countries but mixed up with opposing countries bases right next to each other at the start of a ew map..that would switch up things right from the start
AI used correctly would enhance the game imo
CptTrips had some interesting missions at one time that if able to be tweaked and executed automatically during a map would add variety
Eagler
The land mass factor is huge. Look at the fights on Mindanao on Friday.
The bases mixed up at the onset of a new map is really interesting too. It could eliminate the beating on one country and the 3rd sitting there with no action.
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AW had drones, it gave a gamey feel. They would supply bases.
I just don’t think AI ac and human flown ac are a good mix, it does change the realism immersion. I’m not sure the masses would go for that. Competition is a big part of AH game play.
I could be totally wrong what the rest think. Again pleasing everyone can be fruitless. One change at a time, let the dust settle and then return later to reanalyze the AI issue/idea. But my vote would be no.
Next question is, when could a new/different map be implemented? Its been talked about 300 times an no real movement.
We could have all the best ideas, if they won’t be set in place its wasted thinking. This would require a chat with HT.
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FLEETING QUESTION:
I see there can be custom arenas made.
I've never even messed with one, so ignorance may follow. To tired and lazy to research.
Is it just H2H or you can fit a mass in them?
Has anyone ever tried to create one to test concepts?
Sorry if I missed the boat.
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Not sure what the minimum size map Hitech would allow in the MA. Most of the new maps are 256 X 256, next step down would be 128 X 128. Half the size of the current maps.
You love doing this stuff, and def more skilled at it than I'll ever be.
Have anything in your library(s) of maps that meets what most seem to talk about, smaller land masses and less bases? I just haven't seen them all., so, apologize for the ignorance.
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I've been thinking about this quite a bit as well. I also agree that it seems time to consider smaller maps. The large maps were good when we needed to spread 800 people in a maxed out arena out, but these days, something smaller would help with the density. AW2 days had maps with something like 12-15 bases total. Bases were also easier take with a small group back then. I'm dating myself, but I think it used to only require 8 x 500#s on the runway before troops were brought in. I don't think I want to go all the way back that far, but with current requirements and participation, it requires about half or more of an entire country to take a field.
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You love doing this stuff, and def more skilled at it than I'll ever be.
Have anything in your library(s) of maps that meets what most seem to talk about, smaller land masses and less bases? I just haven't seen them all., so, apologize for the ignorance.
Almost any map can be shrunk down to a smaller size, haven't really given it much thought. I have a squad Jabo/bomber training map that is 64x64, its pretty small. Give me a couple of weeks, and I'll see what options I can come up with. BTW that Jabo map is available for download and offline use, it's called trngmap. It is setup with Air Spawns for Fighters and Bombers to target bases.
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Almost any map can be shrunk down to a smaller size, haven't really given it much thought. I have a squad Jabo/bomber training map that is 64x64, its pretty small. Give me a couple of weeks, and I'll see what options I can come up with. BTW that Jabo map is available for download and offline use, it's called trngmap. It is setup with Air Spawns for Fighters and Bombers to target bases.
does the total map size have to be smaller for smaller land mass? Land vs Water ratio?
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I looked at black sea. The kind >I'm< talking about would take that and reverse the land and water of that map. Land becomes water, water becomes land. That kind of land mass is what I'm referring to,... I'm sure others have their own takes.