Originally posted by Murdr
It is set up to promote good performance in all aspects of the game, which is not a bad thing.
[/B]
It's important to remember that total rank is set up to promote
those activities conducive to achieving high rank. That does not necessarily mean good performance (as Rod aptly demonstrates), but rather knowledge of how the rank system functions and playing to maximize it. As always, a high rank in fighters or in anything may or may not indicate skill, and
that is why it's a flawed measure. We can tell little without context.
Saying that fighter rank should equate with one on one coE skill is not a valid premiss because Main Arena is neither 1v1 or coE.
[/b]
I'm not suggesting that 1v1 skills alone dictate skill. Context often drives fighter rank: how do high ranking pilots fly, and what do they fly? Do they only engage with alt or numbers? Do they pick and choose situations guaranteed to maximize their fighter stats, or do they fly in a manner inconsistent with maximizing them? For instance, vulching sends all fighter rank categories through the roof, especially if someone does it from a carrier parked just offshore from a field. If a player wise to this fact wishes to achieve a phenomenal fighter rank, he'll only ever fly fighter missions where vulching or complete air superiority appear likely.
Other players don't care. They killshooter on purpose, auger when bored, fly into poor odds, or whatever. This makes them no less skilled at flying fighters
in any situation than the more rank-minded player mentioned above, but their rank appears substantially lower. Again, fighter rank
may or may not indicate skill, but without more information we can't possibly tell for sure.
-- Todd/Leviathn