Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Catching Spies on September 07, 2002, 11:48:44 AM

Title: Country Balance
Post by: Catching Spies on September 07, 2002, 11:48:44 AM
I would like to offer a concept for consideration to balance team/country play. Don't know if anyone remembers the (ABA) merged with NBA mid-seventies) each year the team with the best record would play the allstars from the rest of the league.

My concept would be to place the squads that finish:

1, 4, 5, 10, 15, 16, 18, 22, 25 as "Bishops"

2, 9, 11, 12, 17, 19, 20, 24 as "Knights"

3, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 21, 23, as "Rooks"

I would be interested in reading other methods to balance the number of players per side. Another option is that of a CS server "auto team balancing" but then you would have squads going after each other....that would be fun also.
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Kronos on September 07, 2002, 12:27:33 PM
No.  My squad flies where we want to, not where the "system" would put us.  I'm sure most squads out there feel the same way.
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Fancy on September 07, 2002, 01:26:12 PM
Yes, us Rooks may lose, but we have come to enjoy our losers comraderie and dark, underdog sense of humor.  Besides, we abhor mixing with, "Those other types".
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Ferris on September 07, 2002, 02:37:42 PM
I must agree most Rooks would hate to have to fly with one of those others......the hate runs deep and cold lol
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Seagoon on September 07, 2002, 03:40:11 PM
I have to agree, switch to a two country system if you must. But my squad would revolt at the idea of being forced to fly Bish or Nit.

Something might need to be done about the current imbalances (at this point we Rooks are ALWAYS down in terms of numbers and from the get-go its a race between the nits and bishes to see who can reset us first) but a "you vill fly over here" rule is not the answer.

- SEAGOON
Title: Country Balance
Post by: milnko on September 07, 2002, 04:21:11 PM
The ASSASSINS have been Rook for a long time, and found out early on that there are advantages to being the "underdog"

Such as;


Why anyone would want to compete with thier own countrymen for kills is beyond me.

HELL! I've seen as many as 10 Bishes chasing a lone con, like a pack of dogs on a 3 legged cat, all trying to get him before one of thier "wingmates" does.

Sure at times it can be frustrating to not have a safe field to launch from, but conversely Rooks don't ever have to fly very far to find a fight.  :)
Title: Country Balance
Post by: mipoikel on September 07, 2002, 04:58:29 PM
I dont care numbers anymore. It is what it is and thats ok.;)

btw rooks dont need resets to get perks, we get perks for killing bishnits.:D
Title: Re: Country Balance
Post by: akak on September 07, 2002, 07:08:44 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Catching Spies
I would like to offer a concept for consideration to balance team/country play. Don't know if anyone remembers the (ABA) merged with NBA mid-seventies) each year the team with the best record would play the allstars from the rest of the league.

My concept would be to place the squads that finish:

1, 4, 5, 10, 15, 16, 18, 22, 25 as "Bishops"

2, 9, 11, 12, 17, 19, 20, 24 as "Knights"

3, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 21, 23, as "Rooks"

I would be interested in reading other methods to balance the number of players per side. Another option is that of a CS server "auto team balancing" but then you would have squads going after each other....that would be fun also.



Any scheme that involves forcing a player to play a certain way to cater to a few discontented players is a bad idea.  It's my $15 bucks and I'll fly for whatever country I feel like, thank you very much.


Ack-Ack
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Catching Spies on September 07, 2002, 07:16:20 PM
akak ....wow ....think you may be mentally disturbed who ever suggested any person would be forced to do anything the concept is merely to attempt to spice up last month's, this month & next month's virtual battles.

Ever hear this phrase: Not every change is a improvement but...every improvement begins with change?;)
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Duedel on September 07, 2002, 09:26:27 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Kronos
No.  My squad flies where we want to, not where the "system" would put us.  I'm sure most squads out there feel the same way.


Yep!
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Thrawn on September 07, 2002, 10:15:48 PM
Busher has said there is only two rules for the RCAF 418, we're perma bish and send an if someone deservers it.
Title: Country Balance
Post by: ALF on September 07, 2002, 10:25:47 PM
You cannot force all squads to change countries, its just not fair as many squads stay with the same country their entire duration.  You can however LIMIT squad shifting to new countries.  This have on occasion gotten silly (for 2 weeks one country has less than 20% total players, and another has over 50%).  This usually happens when a few large squads rotate to a particular country by chance.  The only solution I can think of is to either require "Rotating squads" ((squads that like to change countries each tour)) to sign up as such and be assigned the new country each month, or at least require the rotation request to be submited and approved based on another squad rotating the other way.

There is always going to be a country that has more players for a few days, and even a country that has more players at certain times (many european flyers seem to be Knights and their number jump after midnight eastern).  It can get frustrating (beleive me I know), but it works itself out most times.

The only thing that I absolutely can't stand is when one country gets beat all the crap, has only a few bases, all banged up with no fuel etc, and the other countries dont try to reset them.  There was one time in particular I actually switched countries and gooned Rooks (my beloved homeland) because the Knights had us down to 2 bases, they were both capped by 30+ fighters, and they were actually screaming on country channel not to reset so that they could vulch.  That was about a year ago, and I think it was only a few imature, inconsiderate morons, and I havnt seen that kind of behavior since.

http://www.combathanger.com/bomb.htm (http://www.combathanger.com/bomb.htm)
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Catching Spies on September 08, 2002, 12:00:38 AM
Well said ALF... my suggestion is to create a method that adds excitment or something new (unlike missions) currenty there is no versatility. I hope I am not convying any frustration I am only  looking for ways to improve game play, increase the community. With all the new MMP games getting ready to hit the shelves HTC is going to face stiff competition with no marketing plan/forcast in place even the hard core flight sim jockey is going to be tempted by the new improved graphic sims coming out.


I was hoping for concepts/creative ideas to improve game play versus "my squad, your squad" but...I do relate to the squad/country position taken.
Title: Country Balance
Post by: akak on September 08, 2002, 12:26:45 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Catching Spies
akak ....wow ....think you may be mentally disturbed who ever suggested any person would be forced to do anything the concept is merely to attempt to spice up last month's, this month & next month's virtual battles.

Ever hear this phrase: Not every change is a improvement but...every improvement begins with change?;)


According to your little formula, if a Knight squad finished 1st in one campaign, they'd be 'placed' (i.e. forced) to fly for the Bishops next campaign.  That's forcing a player to do something, in this case switch countries.  It's a bad concept and one that's already been jawed to death on this message board and one I'm sure again will appear when the next dweeb whines about the arena numbers.


Ack-Ack
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Catching Spies on September 08, 2002, 09:14:04 AM
akak....I'm going to let this thread die but I have to say your ability to think/reason with a slected few others is limited. My post is only a suggestion it could be tweaked numerous different ways if you read my last post you may begin to have a better understanding of what I am conveying. I should have included that passage in the first post to help everyone better understand.
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Rude on September 08, 2002, 09:15:09 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Kronos
No.  My squad flies where we want to, not where the "system" would put us.  I'm sure most squads out there feel the same way.


What he said!
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Lars on September 08, 2002, 09:33:45 AM
Quote
Originally posted by milnko

HELL! I've seen as many as 10 Bishes chasing a lone con, like a pack of dogs on a 3 legged cat, all trying to get him before one of thier "wingmates" does.

 


Yup, this NEVER happens on the Nit OR Rook sides :rolleyes:
Title: Country Balance
Post by: BlauK on September 09, 2002, 12:45:21 AM
It is impossible to push people from one country to another just for the sake of game balance. But you could try to bribe/motivate some people to act as the balanceing factor.

-Newbie gangbangers... nope, they go to the winning country, if they know how to switch countries.

-Scorepotatos... Yes :)  If they are not tightly squadron oriented, they could move after a score bounty.

So, count the scores and perks weighed with some kind of multiplier the same way the ENY and OBJ values are used. Just use the current number of players in the killed enemy's country against the current number of the killer's country to do that !!!!!
Title: Country Balance
Post by: J_A_B on September 09, 2002, 01:11:55 AM
When the numbers look like this, it's detrimental to gameplay.  Unfortunately I've been imbalances on this scale a lot lately.  Sometimes my country has the numbers (Knights), sometimes Bish do, sometimes Rooks do.  I don't really care WHICH country has what numbers, but when one country outnumbers the others put together it messes up the arena.

I'm beginning to think that maybe it shouldn't be possible to defect to the most populated country if said country has more than +20% of the numbers of the next country, or something like that.

J_A_B    (attached file should follow)
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Wilbus on September 09, 2002, 04:05:19 AM
Do it like that and I quit.
Title: Country Balance
Post by: straffo on September 09, 2002, 04:27:50 AM
same as Wilbus

I fly with my friends no matter of the number ....
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Vulcan on September 09, 2002, 05:30:29 AM
Actually evening up numbers is probably the one easy method of taking away the excitement. When I log on to an evenly matched arena its usually pretty boring.

Unmatched sides = either madly overruning rook scum ; or madly defending against bish hordes.

With all the new MMP games hitting the shelves? Uhhh like what?

So I take it you're enrolled in ToD?


Quote
Originally posted by Catching Spies
Well said ALF... my suggestion is to create a method that adds excitment or something new (unlike missions) currenty there is no versatility. I hope I am not convying any frustration I am only  looking for ways to improve game play, increase the community. With all the new MMP games getting ready to hit the shelves HTC is going to face stiff competition with no marketing plan/forcast in place even the hard core flight sim jockey is going to be tempted by the new improved graphic sims coming out.


I was hoping for concepts/creative ideas to improve game play versus "my squad, your squad" but...I do relate to the squad/country position taken.
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Masherbrum on September 09, 2002, 05:39:39 AM
Deja,

Do you still have that dead trout?  We'll smack each other in the chops until something gives.

Karaya2
Title: Country Balance
Post by: BlauK on September 09, 2002, 06:03:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Vulcan
Unmatched sides = either madly overruning rook scum ; or madly defending against bish hordes.

With all the new MMP games hitting the shelves? Uhhh like what?
 


Yes Vulcan, that is the choise the Knits get. Rooks choise is often: either madly defending against knit scum ; or madly defending against bish hordes. Some times against both when they are even and compete who gets the last few rook bases.

So why dont we switch right away to 2 countries. Lets leave the 3rd coutry empty or AI defended. Then just see who kills the AI country 1st.
Title: Country Balance
Post by: Modas on September 09, 2002, 01:55:14 PM
Rooks forever....

Unless the nits or bish have better looking sheep.  Please send pics of the sheep for consideration :D
Title: Country Balance
Post by: AKDejaVu on September 09, 2002, 02:00:49 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Masherbrum
Deja,

Do you still have that dead trout?  We'll smack each other in the chops until something gives.

Karaya2
Sorry, SOB borrowed it and kept it in his pants for a few days too many.

AKDejaVu