Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Completely restructure and organize the training program in AH. Make it a formal thing, similiar to AW and WB's training programs. If new players had a structured and organized training program, instead of the trial by fire they face now, you'd cut down on a lot of this type of behavior. Sure, you'll still get your rank-potato types but at least you'll be showing the new players that there is another option out there and a far more rewarding one. And maybe ACM wouldn't become the lost art it's quickly becoming.
ack-ack
I couldn't agree more AKAK. I was a trainer in Air Warrior for the last few weeks before its untimely demise. I've applied and applied and applied and applied to the AH training wing and even to Hammer on netaces and just can't seem to latch on because it seems to me it's not a priority to anyone.
So instead I do what I can, I set up shop one or two nights a week in the TA (late at night, unfortunately...from 11:30pm-3:30am) and gather all the new players who need to learn to fly (not even two weekers, some guys have been paying for some time and havent latched onto a squadron or even learned to land an airplane) and ask for help and we all do the same thing. Up in Spitfire Mk IV's and fly around in formation, introduce them one at a time to basic Air Combat Maneuvers (Yo-Yo, Immelman, Split-S ect...) as guests on my airplane. Then it's a big "follow the leader" in as close formation as you can get where one of the other students will lead the group through loops and rolls. I'll call off pairs and then they will break off and do the formation flights in pairs for another 10 minutes, switch flight leaders and continue for 10 more minutes. Then i'll ask how they feel and if they are comfortable then its time to do some sparring. Call off the pairs and give them "boundaries" to stay in so as not to impede on another pair and i can keep an eye on them and offer tips. The only problem with this is logistics. I don't keep a roster on who flys with me, though I do remember them and occasionally see them land kills in the main arena...which draws a smile and a salute from me. I also am not a member of a formal training group (i.e. AH Training Corps) and don't have any other advanced players (face it, most of the advanced guys are busy running up their scores and the only time most of them care about training is when they find the new guys aren't up to their level) to assist with training these new players. There have been times where guys in the arena stayed up all night (and me too...till the sun came up again...UGH!) because they were learning something that mattered for the first time since the signed up for aces high.
I challenge anyone in this thread or who has played Aces High for more than a year to take on a new player. Be it a mentorship type of thing flying together one or two nights a week in the MA or just a Q&A thing via email it would make a big difference in these players. I'd love to work with HTC with this but they just don't seem to consider training to be important. Im starting to see the TA as a holding tank for players kicked out of the MA by players saying read the manual or press Alt+F4 when all they ask is how to raise the gear.
