Questions from a newbie

[idolatry]

Hi all.

I've been playing around with AHII offline. It's been a long time since I flew a real aircraft (mostly been playing SF combat sims), but I'm at the point where I can point guns in the general direction of a circling plan, recover from a spin, and land pretty consistently

1) I'm in New Zealand. I normally get 200-250 ms ping times to US servers. Is this going to put me at a significant disadvantage?

2) At what point should I jump in and start getting shot down?

3) What do I get for my $15 a month (can't find a description anywhere on the site - if someone could point me at a URL, that'd be great)?

Thanks!

[Larry]

The 200-250 ping shouldnt mess you up to bad. I run on dial up and get 180-210 and only time I have problems is when I get discoed. or in a really big furball. If you arent paying already and wish to stay you should try to go in the "TA" Training Arena, and look for someone like fuzeman or ghosth. They will help you out with everything from setting up key commands to vox and will help you learn how to fly. You will be getting killed alot for while, but stick with it and after a month or two you will be killing people left and right. As for what you get for your $15 I dont if I can find a URL but you'll beable to fly over 80 planes fighter, attackers, and bombers. There are eleven "GVs" ground vehicles including tanks and light armor vehicles. In the "MAs" Main Arenas early, mid and two late war setups there are three countrys bishops, knights, and rooks. Each have the same planes and its a kinda free for all, but you can only kill enemys not friendlys. THeres the "AvA" axis vs. allied where there are historical setups. "TA' where you trian and learn. "DA" Dueling Arena where you go to have 1v1 fights and have duels. THen theres the "SEA" Speacal Events Arena where they have missions and king of the hill setups on some days of the week. And last once you do start playing you might want to join a squad who will take you under thier wing and help you learn faster then on your own.

[Larry]

This should help you out


This to

[Greebo]

1. 200-250ms ping will be fine. It is more important that your ping is consistent. Big variations in ping time or lost packets will overcome the game's smoothing code and cause you to warp. When I switched from dial up to broadband it dropped my ping times by 100ms or so, but I didn't notice a huge difference in gameplay. It was a slightly easier to track a jinking opponent, that's all.

2. It sounds like you are beyond the point that a lot of newbies start online at. I would suggest reviewing the help files on how the text radio channels work online. Also its important you can use the view system without having to think about it too much.

3. The $15/month gets you the online arenas. When you log on you will see a list of these. The four MAs or main arenas are where players spend most of their time. There's one for early war aircraft, one for mid and two for late war. Outside of US primetime you'll probably only find one of the late war arenas populated to any great degree.

In an MA there are three countries fighting a perpetual war against each other. All three countries can use any aircraft, so you often get Spitfire v Spitfire fights etc. The war is fought by a capture the base setup, players have to destroy a base's town and then drop troops there for the base to change hands. For many players though, the war is not important, they just fly to fight. Success can win you perk points which let you fly "uber" planes like the Me262.

Other arenas include the TA or training arena, where AH trainers will help you improve your flying skills and the DA or dueling arena.

AH often runs special events in dedicated arenas. You turn up at the right time and can fly a historic setup i.e. 8th AF v LW.

[VansCrew1]

Originally posted by idolatry


3) What do I get for my $15 a month (can't find a description anywhere on the site - if someone could point me at a URL, that'd be great)?

 

a headache.          

[REP0MAN]

AH often runs special events in dedicated arenas. You turn up at the right time and can fly a historic setup i.e. 8th AF v LW.

Very true!

Th Aces High CM Team creates and hosts many different events that I am sure you will love to fly in. From squadron based operations to extreme air racing, there are events for everyone.

Check out AHEvents for more information on Special Events.

Stick with it. Soon you will be kicking *** and taking names.

[idolatry]

Thanks guys, good stuff.  What times are the TAs populated?

[idolatry]

Originally posted by VansCrew1
a headache.          

Heh, nothing could be worse than the headache provided by SOE (my combat of choice used to be Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed).

[ccloughh]

Originally posted by VansCrew1
a headache.          

lol                

[Spikes]

Originally posted by idolatry
Thanks guys, good stuff.  What times are the TAs populated?

Usally later at night on Fri. and Sat. ...say, 5:00 Eastern

[The Fugitive]

Originally posted by idolatry
Thanks guys, good stuff.  What times are the TAs populated?

You could also go to the Training Site  and make an appointment with one of the trainers to meet you in the T/A

[Spatula]

Originally posted by idolatry
1) I'm in New Zealand. I normally get 200-250 ms ping times to US servers. Is this going to put me at a significant disadvantage?

Im in NZ too mate. Im on DSL (Xtra) and get 220ms pings, and i have been playing for years and years and AH plays perfectly fine. Dont worry about that!

2) At what point should I jump in and start getting shot down?

The sooner and more often you get shot down, the more you will learn. Jump in!

3) What do I get for my $15 a month (can't find a description anywhere on the site - if someone could point me at a URL, that'd be great)?

You basically get to play in the main arenas. If you play evening times our time its about 2-3am US time (give or take a few hours for timezones). So its in the 'off-peak' time, but theres usually around 100 or so people in an arena during our times which is enough. What else? you get to soot down people, get shot down, make friends and allies, learn a very difficult and rewarding art.


PS - if you want someone to help you out with the basics im more than keen to help a fellow Kiwi out, and seen as so we're in the same time zone, it makes it nice and easy I fly bishops, and are on most week nights and sundays for an hour or so. Send me a PM if you want to arrange a concrete time.

[idolatry]

Thanks Spatula, I'll get in touch.