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General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Wanker on August 05, 2000, 08:37:00 AM

Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Wanker on August 05, 2000, 08:37:00 AM
Everything that HTC has produced so far is very cool, and welcome, indeed. <S!>

But, I'm starting to worry that we're going to be getting all these neat new planes & vehicles, yet the strat model is going to remain the same old "Capture the field" that we've had for years.

I'm on my knees, begging, to ask HTC to please consider trying to move ahead in the realm of strat and give us more to do with these vehicles. A couple ideas I've seen that might help is to introduce supply, and supply interdiction.

I'm not saying I have all the answers, but I do know from personal experience that a person can only fly around killing things and dropping troops for so long, before he/she starts to get bored. And if there's something that HTC could do to really set AH apart from the rest of the crowd, it would be an advanced strategic model.

Please, please don't let strat get left at the wayside.
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Toad on August 05, 2000, 09:01:00 AM
<Kneels down next to banana, throws coins into the collection plate>

"AAAAAAAAA-men"
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: juzz on August 05, 2000, 09:19:00 AM
But CTF is Historically Accurate! The German forces did it all the time in 1939-40.  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: metronom on August 05, 2000, 01:03:00 PM
Hmm, very nice thought, more Strategy. I like the Idea very much. But how should it look like?
Does it means there should be roads and maybe Trains? Yum, lovely ground targets :-) On the other hand, does the Trucks and Trains go automatically or could we drive it?
Should it be like this: Airfiled X is without Gasoline, it means no flyin from there. A Truck, or better Trucks with gasoline is otw to X. It depends from the quantity of Gasoline is brought how many Planes can get airborne. Same thing with Ammo and Troops(Tactically it means no more great defending force on that field is possible)
 So if the Player can drive the Truck in the game, how many Players with a Truck are needed to fill up the gas and ammo supply? Ore is it better that the Trucks and Trains go automatically from the Supply depot to the Field? Atleast this is a Fly Sim and not a Truck sim. And if there are roads, why not some Bridges? And if we got Bridges, then over Water...and so on...
A lot of Questions, Tactically there are no limits.

Metronom, flyin as Sailor
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: HaHa on August 05, 2000, 01:40:00 PM
Well strategy would be a much needed element. I do believe that AH will full far behind the competition unless they introduce strategy. WWIIO, and even FA2 are implementing strategy models.
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: 1776 on August 05, 2000, 01:49:00 PM
A PAC arena with supply ships would be easier to model then trains and trucks etc.

Course could always start with AI C-47 to do the resupplyn in our current config.

He hee, am havin enough trouble shootin planes let alone stuff on the ground!!!

Oops, maybe AI isn't a good idea.......

AI C47 has 27 victories OZkansas has none (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Torque on August 05, 2000, 02:21:00 PM
Lets worry more about what's under that hood, instead of what color the paint job is. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: rust on August 05, 2000, 02:35:00 PM
Imagine how cool it would be to have to supply airfields with fuel, personnel, ammo, etc.  No planes can take off from field A2 because all the fuel depost have been hit so a call would go out for an escorted C47 to bring fuel.  Fighting desperately for fields would include trying to keep them fueled and stocked with ammo.  This would lead to manditory escorts for C47s and a really fun challenge.

------------------
RUST
 (http://home.earthlink.net/~rocketace/_uimages/rustsbucketp38small.jpg)


[This message has been edited by rust (edited 08-05-2000).]
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: hitech on August 05, 2000, 02:55:00 PM
Funny how ive heard this cry before and then i look how very few time's people use the strat elements that are already in the game.

Do people even know its posible to knock out fuel ,ack, ordance at fields for 2 hours?

HiTech
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Wanker on August 05, 2000, 03:31:00 PM
Well, good point HT, but even if we did knock out all the ack, radar and fuel, what does it lead to? Field capture. The same old field capture that we've had for years.

My gosh, isn't there anything else that can be done in a flight/ground sim that would pique interest?

Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Vermillion on August 05, 2000, 03:33:00 PM
Yes we know its possible HT, it just that the hardness is turned up so high, and rebuild so fast (without taking out the city with its many many small buildings) that frankly its not worth the effort when you count in the losses due to enemy action.

By the time you take a bomber up to altitude, fly to target, knock down a hanger and a fuel cell or two, and then fly home to land, the enemy will have been inconvienced for much less time that it took you to accomplish your mission in the first place.

When the "hanger" concept started in (1.02?) I admitt that just a 250lb bomb on each was too little. But now it feels like the tuning went too far the other way.

Just my opinon though.

------------------
Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: rust on August 05, 2000, 03:36:00 PM
Yea, I know you can knock them out, but you can't fix them!  That would be really fun, I think- re-suplying fields with C47s.
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Wanker on August 05, 2000, 03:46:00 PM
HT, maybe if there was a way to re-open a closed field, more people would take an interest in it. Right now, we're pretty much at the mercy of the clock.

If there was a way, however, to bring in supplies and re-open the field, that might create more struggles between fields.

I'm not an AH basher by any means, quite the contrary. AH has lit the passion for me just like WB did four years ago. I just don't want to see AH get stagnant like WB did, that's all.
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Replicant on August 05, 2000, 04:27:00 PM
Okay, just an idea.  Imagine we had trains and tracks to all the factories and perhaps to the largest airfields.  These trains continually supply materials to the factories at a given time.  When the factories are damaged they return more often and repair the factories depending what cargo it was carrying (could have different trains carrying different materials).  Okay, you've heard that one before.  BUT, how about you being able to destroy these trains which would be fun OR if you take out the engine then you can drop grunts to 'capture' the train and replenish your countries factories.  So if your country is being hit really bad you can try and capture the trains goods to help regenerate your factories a little quicker.  I'm not talking about total regen, just a small percentage.  The same thing could be incorporated into ships and ports.

Also, how about a staff car or staff HQ that is roaming and sets up camp somewhere.  It doesn't show up on radar and is only visible at a low icon range, but if you come across it and take it out it either has some sort of effect on the HQ or City.  Perhaps it could be protected by ack that only shoots at 2k and perhaps even a minefield surrounding it?

Like I said, just a few suggestions.  I do like the strategy currently in AH but it's always useful to have ideas for the future for whenever they may wish alternative ideas.

Regards

'Nexx'
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Downtown on August 05, 2000, 07:07:00 PM
I think two things.

1. The Path of the Bullet/Bomb/Gallon of Fuel.

2. Control of the Local situation.

I think HT with the 1 Big City, and 1 Big Radar Factory, and 1 Big AcK Factory, and 1 Big Training Facility, it is an all or nothing bid.  What I would like to see is.

1 Big city, there are rail, road and water reaches to other smaller tactical cities.  These cities are supported by airfields.

The Big Radar Factory sends stuff to the City, from the City it goes to the smaller city, from the smaller city to the airfield.

Same with the Ack, Ammo, Fuel, Troops, Etc.  With a strategic strike I could interdict supplies going to an area, (I blow the Bridges that link this area to the City)
The only way to supply it is via air now.

The thing is that 1 airfield can stand alone, there should be a way to affect lager sectors without the main.  Although you can attack the main and weaken the whole.

Give us a way to either strengthen or weaking the network or and perhaps gain a more strategic situation in local conflicts.

1. I can cut the supplies to 4 cities and air bases.

2. I can now focus my attack on 1 specific city/base complex within the weakend zone.

3. The defenders can augment their defense by flying cargo aircraft in until the lines of communication are restored in the weakend sector.

I think it would be easy to add a small city near an airfield and tie that airfields health to the small city. Then give us lines of communication from City to City to interdict or support.

I think more strategy and depth will come along as more equipment is introduced.

------------------
(http://www.tir.com/~lkbrown1/dtahcard.gif)
"Downtown" Lincoln Brown.
    lkbrown1@tir.com    
 http://www.tir.com/~lkbrown1 (http://www.tir.com/~lkbrown1)
Wrecking Crews "Drag and Die Guy"
Hals und beinbruch!
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: ICEWIND on August 05, 2000, 07:44:00 PM
Hallo,
       I also think putting  strategic elements in AH as said earlier would be a great idea. But I think the biggest problem would be organizing and coordinating such strategic scenarios for the Team of AH.
I’m sure there would also be some origination and  coordinating  problems with the players  them selves. But the implementation of all these ideas in AH would be a great challenge for all of the HiTech Creations  Team. But I am sure when time comes they will get a grip and develop AH in  a revolutionary game. Besides this, it is a positive symbol that all the players demand so much because it shows how much potential AH still has and that the people feel the greatness of the game.

(This does sound paradox now but I will write it anyway. Personally I think its better for AH to present a idea rather than running after someone hoping he or she will accept it.)


Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Jigster on August 06, 2000, 01:15:00 AM
Well...we could have military fire trucks that help put out fires. That would decrease rebuilding time. Plus it would give the capturing force something else to shoot at  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

heheheh you could "delay" paratroopers too  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

- Jig
"Should I take a M-16 or a WC-3?"
"Well on paper the water cannon is a far more effective weapon."

Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Cabby on August 06, 2000, 01:33:00 AM
Quote:

"Funny how ive heard this cry before and then i look how very few time's people use the strat elements that are already in the game.

What Hitech sez is true.

Unfortunately, only a small segment of game-players online at any given moment are interested in "Strategy".  The majority of players want to yank 'n bank and blow stuff up willy-nilly without regard to the effect on the "War".  Not that there is anything wrong with that (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Strategy almost has to be forced upon the players.  And no matter what form any Strat may take, a percentage of players will whine and raise hell about it interfering with their "fun".

AH needs a lot more planes modeled, refined terrains, ships/additional vehicles, and a "WWII Arena" similar in concept to the one in WB's.  Then you have a place for the experienced "Vets" and "Historical" nuts to play as an alternative to the MA Concept.

The Main Arena Concept is stale for most long time online simmers.  To keep these players interested and forking-over their cash, a game needs more impovement than just adding plane-varients and pretty ground-objects now and then.

Cabby

------------------
=44th FS "VAMPIRES"=
"The Jungle Air Force"
Welcome To The Jungle!!!"
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: typhoonc on August 06, 2000, 10:36:00 AM
Take the vehicle fields for this example.  They do a great job of bringing field capture down to a level of difficulty that allows a moderately experienced player to have an effect on the game by themselves.  They can fly out, kill the ack and hanger, and then bring a C-47 back and capture it by themselves, and get a feeling of accomplishment.  

   If there was a way, as someone else suggested, to have smaller cities here and there, and some kind of supply line structure, it would allow individuals to take part in the stratiegic element of the game.  Right now, the reason that the lone wolfs don't take part in the stratiegic element is that it's simply inaccessable to them.  They can't capture airfields, and the only things left are V fields and furballing.  

       Basically, if there is a stratiegic element that can be added that is accessable to a lone decent pilot, then it would be a great addition to the arena.  
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: llbm_MOL on August 06, 2000, 11:25:00 AM
Well Im with banana on this. Last nite(yeah one of these stupid stories) I was flying Bishop and trying to take A32. We had almost 10 to 1 odds and a small determined opposing force was able to hold of a massive force. We never took the base. The rebuild times on the all the hangers is way to fast. The amount of ordinance to take out a hanger is WAY TO FRIGGIN HIGH! Lets look at this. A cloth tent set up for the Vehicles take 20 HE shells from a Panzer to knock down! It takes 3!!! direct hits from 1000lbs bomb to kill it? Whats wrong with this picture? its the same with the BH and FH. As for knocking out the city or HQ of the opposeing force...we only had three bases left and there was no one that wanted to fly for an hour in a B17 to hit their HQ and only do minimal damage to the target. They probably wouldnt have made it to the HQ before getting killed anyway.

I say we increase the build up time for hangers and if people want to speed it up develope a ground and air transport system. M3's that carry supplies and c47's. you pick the supplies from the hanger, fuel,hanger building supplies,ack replacment guns,etc... This doesnt require new vehicls or planes to immplement only new programing to incorporate it. I'm not sure what that will take as I'm not a programmer but I could believe we could have it by the next version?   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)  

I say we take baby steps people. Just modify what you have then SLOWLY work more strat in each version. Lets get AI trians in after this and then add or take away what they a capable of doing. Then maybe and AI truck system later on down the line with cites and supply depots..... one step at a time?


LLB OUT!!!!

[This message has been edited by llbm_MOL (edited 08-06-2000).]

[This message has been edited by llbm_MOL (edited 08-06-2000).]
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Bluefish on August 06, 2000, 02:46:00 PM
A few thoughts on strategy generally:

1.  HT is certainly right; there are a large number of strategic elements currently built into MA play but they are woefully underutilized.  One must therefore ask, why is this so?

2.  One reason may be that some elements of strat are undocumented and therefore little known. One of these apparently involves exactly how many pounds of bombs it takes to destroy what type of structure.  Another involves the availablility of GLARS and others extremely useful maps (pretty hard to have strat w/o maps, but there's no reference to them anywhere on the strat page on the HT site).  Finally, it should be noted that there are no strat-related questions in the FAQs on the HT site.

3.  That said, however, I don't personally think that lack of knowledge is the primary issue.  There is simply no incentive within the structure of the game for participating in strategic gameplay.  All of the strat works toward giving one side or another an advantage for winning the "war", but why should anyone particularly care?  When one war ends another starts, and I don't think there is even a record anywhere of which side won how many "wars" (not that I think such a record would be much of an incentive).

4.  A number of the suggestions for strat seem to come under the category of "give us new and interesting types of targets to shoot at (trains, ships, etc)."  I find these very appealing (I'd love to have more things to shoot at, although my odds of hitting them are probably pretty slim) but I don't think they would affect the fundamental problem.

5.  So, the issue seems to be, how to incorporate a strategic element in the MA (or if not the MA, in an arena that was available on a 24/7 basis rather than in specific limited time frames like scenarios) that would so involve players as to affect the way they play the game.  I understand that the late lamented Confirmed Kill game was intended to have a sceario-based main arena- does anyone know how they were planning to do it?  
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Sparks on August 06, 2000, 03:51:00 PM
First I'm with banana as well.

HT - I agree that Strat is already included in the game but I do believe that it is under utilised for two reasons:-
1. Some people just don't give a damn about strat (my personal guess is 60-70%).
2. Those that do give a damn find the current strat model doesn't suit their wishes - and I include myself in this group.

I posted a thread in the "Gameplay and Feedback" area with some ideas about fual and ammo and ack and basically my feeling is that we need to make the strat model more progressive and more tightly integrated into how you fly.
An example :-
I have on many occasions wanted to restrict the ability of the enemy to take off from an adjacent field in order to help the attack on the main target of the defense of one of our fields but we only have one option to do this - bomb the fighter hangars. This only lasts 15 mins - by the time you return to base the hangar is up again and the nett effect is very small. If you bomb the fuel dumps the lowest it goes down to is 25% and that is still enough to allow fighter to take off. Bombing the ammo only removes the bombing capability and even with all the ammo bombed the ack still has unlimited ammo.

Admittedly you can extend these times if you bomb the enemy city and factories but if you are under haevy attack and beaten back and low on pilots online it is virtually impossible to get a raid there - you really want to be able to affect the picture on a more micro level - ie. the feild within the surrounding sectors.

As I said I posted what I hope are some constructive ideas in the Gameplay area - maybe you can comment on those HT ??

[This message has been edited by Sparks (edited 08-06-2000).]
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: funked on August 06, 2000, 03:54:00 PM
Great point HT.  99% of players are basically just screwing around.  The only country I have seen use the mission planner effectively is the Knights.  

On the other countries, some Li'l Napoleon starts spewing orders about how we need this or that at a certain field.  If you ask him to put it in the planner, the invariable reply is "it doesn't work" or "I don't know how".  We either need more documentation of this feature, or we need a training program for the bossy guys.   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: hitech on August 06, 2000, 04:29:00 PM
The system as it stands is ment to make field capture a coradinated effort.

The defender of a field is already at a disadvantag do to the normaly higher e state of the attacker.

Givein the attacker more of an advantage by way of decresing fuel ala AW is a bad idea in my opinion.

Lowering ammo loads would not have much effect on field defense because you very rairly live long enof when defending to expend all your ammo.

At one time we did have hardness of hangers lower and down times longer. It realy made things a pain because a few bufs could effectly close mutiple fields in a short period of time.

The one thing I have been meeing to do is increase the down times of city buildings. This would give a group of buff's time to hit both city's and factorys hence drasticly increasing down times of items at the fields.

And btw there are other option to prevent the attacker from taking your field. Just take out there baracks in naboring fields, hence no troops to capture the fields with.

Care must always be taken in any strat system that you can't put the power in 1 persons hands to make life miserible for an entire group of people.

As to limiting the ammo from a field by supply and usage this also has problems do to 1 person continualy taking of and dieing do to his inexperance it can remove the fun of other players.

The one idea we have considered would work nicly into our carrer points idea.

Who ever wins the war get bonus points to be used for flying the advanced aircraft. Some things would have to be implimented for safe gards such as no changing countries when one side is down to only a few fields.


HiTech
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: texace on August 07, 2000, 02:33:00 AM
We could have something along the lines of real life. A while ago, out here when Convair was at the Carswell facility, there used to be a couple of sets of train tracks use to get supplies for building aircraft. I was thinking that we have factories that build a country's aircraft. As long as the supply routes of train, truck, and if willing, air remain intact, then that country has a normal plane set.

If you destroy only part of a supply line, like a train, then a country's planeset wouldn't be as strong as normal. i.e., maybe a train someone killed was carrying Hispanos, and until another train, plane or truck got from the Hispano factory to the supply depot, no plane could use Hispanos. The more of a supply line you kill, the less that country gets to use. If you kill a supply depot, then it takes a certian amout of time before it's restocked, then that country would only use early model planes with less fuel and ammo. Just my two cents.

------------------
Lt. Col. Aaron "txace-" Giles of the 457th BG
    "Fait Accompli"
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Jochen on August 07, 2000, 02:56:00 AM
 
Quote
Funny how ive heard this cry before and then i look how very few time's people use the strat elements that are already in the game.

Do people even know its posible to knock out fuel ,ack, ordance at fields for 2 hours?

Many pilots know it but why would they use that knowledge? I mean winning the war is pointless, you just lose fields and territory by winning!

We definitely need different rewards for doing things. Maybe announce name of pilot in kill buffer that dropped troops that captured a field?

------------------
jochen
Jagdflieger JG 2 'Richthofen' Aces High
Geschwaderkommodore (on leave) Jagdgeschwader 2 'Richthofen' (http://personal.inet.fi/cool/jan.nousiainen/JG2)  Warbirds

T-34/76 to Aces High!

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Burn your briefs you leave for France tonight
Carefully cut the straps of the booby-traps and set the captives free
But don't shoot 'til you see her big blue eyes
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Sparks on August 07, 2000, 04:06:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by hitech:
The system as it stands is ment to make field capture a coradinated effort.

Agreed HiTech and I think thats the way it should be as far as possible but I also think there could be a way for lone wolf to help their country mates in a variey of ways

The defender of a field is already at a disadvantag do to the normaly higher e state of the attacker.

Givein the attacker more of an advantage by way of decresing fuel ala AW is a bad idea in my opinion.


Agree on the first part HT but don't we already reduce fuel to 25% when fuel bunkers are hit - why not allow it to go to zero at least ?

Lowering ammo loads would not have much effect on field defense because you very rairly live long enof when defending to expend all your ammo.

Agian agree the point but thats not how I saw an alternative working. I think the amount of ammo you take would not be restricted - only how many aircraft could actually take ammo before it ran out

At one time we did have hardness of hangers lower and down times longer. It realy made things a pain because a few bufs could effectly close mutiple fields in a short period of time.

I think the hangar hardness is about right for gameplay and field capture.

The one thing I have been meeing to do is increase the down times of city buildings. This would give a group of buff's time to hit both city's and factorys hence drasticly increasing down times of items at the fields.

I see the thinking and think it would be a good idea - but will it encourage people to organize the big raids any more than they do now ??

And btw there are other option to prevent the attacker from taking your field. Just take out there baracks in naboring fields, hence no troops to capture the fields with.

I must admit I rarely consider the barracks in defensive attacks but I will now   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) [/B]

Care must always be taken in any strat system that you can't put the power in 1 persons hands to make life miserible for an entire group of people.

Absolutely agree but if you go in the MA and are outnumbered heavily it would be nice if gave 1 person the power to make a group of peoples lives a little more difficult.

As to limiting the ammo from a field by supply and usage this also has problems do to 1 person continualy taking of and dieing do to his inexperance it can remove the fun of other players.

That is most certainly a problem which I hadn't considered enough and I've been thinking about that overnight - no ideas yet but working on it.

The one idea we have considered would work nicly into our carrer points idea.

Who ever wins the war get bonus points to be used for flying the advanced aircraft. Some things would have to be implimented for safe gards such as no changing countries when one side is down to only a few fields.


I personally don't like the idea of earning a performance advantage by aircraft type as I think it may produce "super aces" and ace rich countries but until we try we won't know and I have no experience to fall back on so as far as I'm concerned anything to try is good   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

I don't want to appear negative - I just crave for more ways to get into the mechanics of the battle and I think fuel and ammunition availabilty could be much more involved

Respectfully

Sparks



[This message has been edited by Sparks (edited 08-07-2000).]
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Wanker on August 07, 2000, 07:33:00 AM
How about something along the lines of having a movable "Front" line, just like Falcon 3.0 had?

As your country captures(or loses) fields, the line moves, giving a visual cue as to how the battle is going.

Maybe this would help generate more interest in field capture.

Just throwing out ideas here.....would there be a way to combine cities(or ports) and fields together, so that you could also capture a city(or port) instead of a field? Capturing that city would also capture the field as well.
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Pyro on August 07, 2000, 12:12:00 PM
There are things like resupply which will make nice feature additions, but they really won't change things much.  Every war's end objective is "capture the flag".  I don't know how you remove that or why it would be desirable to do so.  Being that this is an airplane game, airfields are the natural center of attention.  

The main arena to me is the equivilent of going down the gym for some pickup games of hoops.  It's a lot of fun, popular, works well and gives you a lot of opportunity for lots of practice and exercise.  However, it's not like a regulation game of basketball and is missing many elements.  It's only 3v3, there's no clock, no free throws, no foul limits, possession is make-it-take-it, it's only half court, there's no coach, no refs, no scorekeepers, etc.  Much of the strategy of basketball is missing.  There's no managing of player minutes and fouls, clock management, strategic time-outs and substitutions, etc.  But that's not a bad thing, it makes it a workable format.

Now maybe some of the better players might prefer if the gym were utilized in a more structured manner with full court regulation games taking the place of the pickup games, but would that be better?  

This goes full circle to how people view the role of the MA and other arenas.  For them, it's time for more.  They've fought in every matchup and situation so many times that they could write a Kama Sutra of ACM.  But where were they when they started?  Why was it fun then?  Why is a new player now different?  It's hard enough converting potential players to players.  The player vs. player aspect of the game makes it very difficult by nature and requires a lot of time and practice to make it.  Those who've done it for awhile tend to forget the value of the MA format in cutting your teeth on this.  But the fact is, it's going to require new growth to successfully implement other formats, and to do the latter at the cost of the former is a losing proposition.



------------------
Doug "Pyro" Balmos
HiTech Creations
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: llbm_MOL on August 07, 2000, 04:24:00 PM
So what your saying Pyro is we need a HA? (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Something the players can try to mold and format to our needs?

LLB OUT!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Sparks on August 08, 2000, 07:16:00 AM
I know I don't have much experience and am relatively new to AH and am risking the wrath of HTC but here goes

 
Quote
Originally posted by Pyro:
There are things like resupply which will make nice feature additions, but they really won't change things much.

I have to disagree here about the basic principle - for me as a relative newbie it
would make the game much more emmersive.

Every war's end objective is "capture the flag".  I don't know how you remove that or why it would be desirable to do so.  Being that this is an airplane game, airfields are the natural center of attention.

Absolutely agree which is why I would say the supply and usage model should focus at the airfield level rather than dependance on cities.

The main arena to me is the equivilent of going down the gym for some pickup games of hoops.  It's a lot of fun, popular, works well and gives you a lot of opportunity for lots of practice and exercise.  However, it's not like a regulation game of basketball and is missing many elements.  It's only 3v3, there's no clock, no free throws, no foul limits, possession is make-it-take-it, it's only half court, there's no coach, no refs, no scorekeepers, etc.  Much of the strategy of basketball is missing.  There's no managing of player minutes and fouls, clock management, strategic time-outs and substitutions, etc.  But that's not a bad thing, it makes it a workable format.

Although I don't know the first thing about basket ball I understand what you're saying.

Now maybe some of the better players might prefer if the gym were utilized in a more structured manner with full court regulation games taking the place of the pickup games, but would that be better?

I don't think that's a question that anyone can answer with a straight yes or no (neither HTC or any user)and I also don't belives it has to be a "black or white" choice of minimal structure or full blown. The question should be, does the demand for a more involved strat model justify the work and risk to see whether it is better or not and what would be the cost if it went wrong.

This goes full circle to how people view the role of the MA and other arenas.  For them, it's time for more.  They've fought in every matchup and situation so many times that they could write a Kama Sutra of ACM.  But where were they when they started?  Why was it fun then?  Why is a new player now different?

I think this summarizes what sets AH apart from the others in my opinion. You have an extremely high level of pilots who have come from other sims who have fallen for the improved flight model and great graphics - the realism. These people learnt in older less complex sims and have developed with the sims.
My view as a newbie is that the new starter is different because they are coming into a sim with a very high level of realism in the basic flying and I would suggest that the learning curve at the beginning point is steeper and longer than was experienced by the now aces. In that respect the fun element from the game has to come from several alternative routes because if you rely on pure flight combat which requires a high skill level just to survive then the frustration level soons build to a point of dumping the game.
For me one of the reasons I enjoy this so much is that I can take a relatively easy to fly bomber and take part in squad ops and solo ops and still have fun in the game.
I can go to the TA and practice ACM in a fighter and tehn go to the MA and get my bellybutton kicked and when it stops being fun being shot down I can go bombing.
However if the bombing starts to become boring and limited then there is the risk that there is nothing left to keep me here - I haven't got good enough to hold up a fight in the MA in a fighter and therefore get fed up getting shot down, and because the bombing has limited scope it becomes boring in the months it takes to get reasonable in a fighter - it all stops being fun.

It's hard enough converting potential players to players.  The player vs. player aspect of the game makes it very difficult by nature and requires a lot of time and practice to make it.

My point entirely - see above paragraph.

Those who've done it for awhile tend to forget the value of the MA format in cutting your teeth on this.  But the fact is, it's going to require new growth to successfully implement other formats, and to do the latter at the cost of the former is a losing proposition.

This is what I was talking about before, about assessing the risks and benefits and clearly, Pyro, HTC has taken the decision that the current MA format is right. I can accept that but maybe not agree with it.
For me as a newbie AH represents the best in realism in an online flight sim and in that end requires a great deal of work to become a competant fighter pilot. The complexity of the flight modelling and a/c operation seems to reinforce that perception.
To then reduce the strategic element to a lower level to simplify the game for newer pilots seems to me contradictory. The bombers are clearly the easier planes to fly in terms of pilot skill to simply keep them in the air and get them from A to B and so it would seem to me that if the strat model was made more effective and realistic it would give new pilots something to work with while they build their Fighter skills.

To repeat your previuos quote:-
It's hard enough converting potential players to players.  The player vs. player aspect of the game makes it very difficult by nature and requires a lot of time and practice to make it.
Surely during that time - which is surely months not weeks - there could be something to offer people on the strat level to keep there interest in the game.

Again respectfully

Sparks

[/B]

Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Mox on August 08, 2000, 09:33:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by hitech:
Funny how ive heard this cry before and then i look how very few time's people use the strat elements that are already in the game.

Do people even know its posible to knock out fuel ,ack, ordance at fields for 2 hours?

HiTech

HT, While some of us are aware of what your talking about here, I'd say at least half of the players don't know this.  I'm sure I don't know all the times either.

Did you ever publish this information?  If so where is it?

Mox
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: popeye on August 08, 2000, 10:37:00 AM
Mox,

On the home page see:

Help/Game Overview/Strat and the Map Room

Granted, no one reads the instructions, but there is some info there.   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)

popeye
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Mox on August 08, 2000, 10:52:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by popeye:
Mox,
On the home page see:
Help/Game Overview/Strat and the Map Room
Granted, no one reads the instructions, but there is some info there.    (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)

popeye

Thanks Popeye!  I skimmed the page real fast but I don't think it listed any times and or requirments for disabling certain things like HT eluded to.  I'll read it again later when I have some time.

Example:  Does killing ALL the buidlings at the Training Barracks do anything if the HQ and City are still up?  What does it do if only the City is up?  Does the Training Barracks need to be killed "before" other buildings such as the HQ?  Etc...

I have been bombarded with some newbie's asking these types of questions when I realized I truely don't know some of these answers myself and I've been playing since beta.

Maybe a better way to explain it would be to give an example like:
What has to take place for a given country to be without troops for X number of minutes?

What has to take place for a given country to be without fuel for X number of minutes?

Well I think you see where I'm going with this line of questioning.  Maybe this is one of the reasons very few people play using our existing strat in MA.

Mox
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: llbm_MOL on August 09, 2000, 04:41:00 PM
Punt!

I'd like to know some of what Mox is asking to (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

LLB OUT!!!!!!!
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: hitech on August 09, 2000, 05:38:00 PM
Start with base down times. Right now all objects have 30 min down times with the exception of hangers which are 15 mins.

All releation ships work the same via level city effects factorys and HQ, factorys effect there counter part at fields.
So in our example the refinery is the factory and the fuel tanks are there counter part at the fields.

All factory currently have a 1 - 4 time multiply. So if all the fuel reinerys  are living the multipliyer is 1. If 50% are dead the multiplier is 2.5. If all are dead the multiplier is 4.
So if you first kill 50% of the fuel refinerys and then hit the fuel tanks at the field the tanks would be down 30min * 2.5 i.e. 75 mins.

Citys effect factorys and hq in the same maner.

Killing 50% of the city first then hitting the hq or factory will increase the factory/hq down time by a 1 - 4 multiplier.

HiTech
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: lukster on August 09, 2000, 07:04:00 PM
Just a sugestion: How about a ranking system similar to that of the military, Lt, Capt, Maj, etc....

Rank could be based on score. Only those flying for the country that won the 'war' would keep their rank into the next 'war'.

Switching countries would immediately reset your score to 0.

Higher ranks could fly the 'super' planes.

This is very much like what HTC has already suggested with the exception of applying a rank to a score. Rank displayed in front of a name would for many provide the incentive to do well and work to win the war.

Just a thought,
Lukster  
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Wanker on August 10, 2000, 08:13:00 AM
Lukster, you ever heard of a guy named "-bobn- from Warbirds? Don't even go there!  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/tongue.gif)

The rank thing sounds cool, but the egos come out of the woodwork when it's implemented.
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Stiglr on August 10, 2000, 03:50:00 PM
somebody hold banana up.......he might faint dead away.

I agree.  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: Cool hardware without strat is such a waste
Post by: Wanker on August 10, 2000, 04:29:00 PM
<thud!>

 (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/tongue.gif)