Originally posted by TheBeeg
Funny thing, I was gonna start a thread on just what the heck the difference is between the CT and MA.
Ok ... where's the damn soapbox?! (Arlo steps up on it now)
THE
only critical difference between the CT and the MA is
supposed to be the 2 sided Axis vs Allies limited plane setup and historical terrains for immersion's sake. Players can fly what they want (or not), drive what they want (or not), fieldgun (or not), be brown water commodores (or not), bomb (or not), furball (or not) ... vulch (or not), HO (or not) ... it's all optional. And it's all part of Aces High. We, as the
much smaller Combat Theater segment of the Aces High community, HAVE to consider concessions as well as promote less gamey play ... but not by eliminating options of play already incorporated into AHII. We need to offer something
more appealing. That's where mission night comes in. And it doesn't mean we can't come up with spontanious missions
every night ... IF we can get MORE participation.
CT staffers have adjusted settings throughout the history of the Combat Theater to appeal to their sense of what is or isn't more immersive. I've enjoyed some of the more realistic settings. But you know what? Those same players you had a blast with in the MA playing "roll over bases" with would crap a brick over the realistic settings you desire.
The CT staff and community has cussed, discussed, rationalized, compromised, terrorized, reversed positions, reversed them again, etcetera ad infintum. We DO want to draw more players. We DO want to make the CT more appealing. And the CT staff
recently adjusted settings to that end. Result - we had more MA players come here and enjoy the Combat Theater setups. Setups that don't involve Lalas vs Lalas vs Spits vs Spits vs Ponies vs Ponies vs Nikis vs Nikis over a Martian landscape or planet Uterus.
Ironically, you caught an aspect of something you enjoyed in the MA. That's good. But don't think it's actually a defining moment that captures the essense of the MA 24/7. Nor is it an experience that would make the CT a better place to fly. And your experience with a half dozen players hunkered down in their field guns in the CT isn't the defining moment that describes day to day affairs here.
Back to immersion (which will never be a goal of the MA) - yes ... we want more immersion here. More immersion than is in the MA. But if we take it to extremes that
only we few hard corps Combat Theater enthusiasts enjoy we'll not bring in more players. We may even lose some. That's
not a good thing for the CT.
We HAVE to find a suitable compromise or the CT may face extinction long before TOD is perfected (in "two weeks" .. if ever).
My greatest fear in AH is the CT server being taken offline due to lack of use. I don't like the prospect. It would most likely be what kills the game for me.
(Arlo steps off soapbox but takes a number just in case)