AvAers, stand fast and fight back!

[sparow]

Gentlemen,

I feel that AvA is agonizing. I don't like to make predictions, but it doesn't look good. The arena, in spite of the efforts of the volunteer staff, is failing persistently in attracting people. And, without traffic, like one of my bosses said the other day, there's no business. Something will happen to AvA soon. And it will not be nice. And it's a shame, for it's the right place to be, for who likes a minimum historical background, more or less balanced planesets - even rolling plane sets - and the best maps in AH, without a doubt.
 
But without foes in the air in sufficient numbers and in a constant flow, AvA dwindles towards extinction. Lately, my fellow squad members and myself have found ourselves more and more often resorting to moving into Early War Main Arena (EWMA) or Mid War Main Arena (MWMA). But the picture here is not, again, bright...On a good evening you have 30 players in any of these arenas, a bit lost and apart. If you add to this low population problem the tipical MA mentality, it's worse.
 
So, we are left with two choices: first, we move to EWMA and MWMA looking for business and leave AvA to die, postponing our extinction as an "AH species" along with those two "small and unimportant" arenas or, we stand fast in AvA for as long as we can, whenever we can, until she sinks and then we move elsewhere.
 
249 Sqn decision was to support AvA by showing up every Wednesday and Sunday, around 9:30 GMT, wait for 30 minutes and, only then, if no opponent shows up, then we move to EWMA.
 
We must stand fast and hold on to our beliefs, not leaving our favourite ground to his fate, not without a fight. And we must make an additional effort in showing and, don't be surprised, in recruiting. Yes, we must be alert to newbies arriving to AvA and actively help them and support them, recruiting them not to our squads but to AvA and AH. We need new blood, even if temporary. If we don't get new blood soon, we will not have anyone to follow us and AvA will effectively disappear.
 
Salute,
 
Paulo "Sparrow" Ribeiro
249 Sqn RAF "Gold Coast"
Pugnis et calcibus - With fists and heels

[Oldman731]

Originally posted by sparow
249 Sqn decision was to support AvA by showing up every Wednesday and Sunday, around 9:30 GMT, wait for 30 minutes and, only then, if no opponent shows up, then we move to EWMA.[/I]

Thank you, Sparow.  This is a great attitude.  I have heard rumors that other squads are planning similar appearances, although likely they will be on some hours after you.

As someone mentioned to me, there are new toys to play with now, but they will become old toys after awhile.  Hitech will have to kick me out of AvA before he can close it down (not that he will necessarily have a problem doing that).  Until then, there is a small, but grimly determined, band of folks who will hold the torch aloft, keeping the dream alive and hoping for a better day.

- oldman

[Shifty]

880 Sqn is looking to start flying in AVA on Sundays and possibly Wednesdays if we're not flying in the snapshot. We've been kind of waiting to see what the new setup for this week is going to be.

[soda72]

I flew in the AvA arena around 8:00pm CST for about an hour while there was 5-6 peeps on.   Great map but hard on the frame rates...

I was looking forward to shooting oldman down but he was to scared of me and didn't show up...

[E25280]

Originally posted by soda72
I flew in the AvA arena around 8:00pm CST for about an hour while there was 5-6 peeps on.   Great map but hard on the frame rates...

I was looking forward to shooting oldman down but he was to scared of me and didn't show up...

He showed up after you left.  Had a few really good fights with him and TFCkas before they both got bored with shooting me down and left. . .

[storch]

Originally posted by Shifty
880 Sqn is looking to start flying in AVA on Sundays and possibly Wednesdays if we're not flying in the snapshot. We've been kind of waiting to see what the new setup for this week is going to be.

if you guys will show up, post it.  JG54 might be willing to offer opposition.

[Shifty]

Originally posted by storch
if you guys will show up, post it.  JG54 might be willing to offer opposition.

Great stuff. As soon as we firm up a time and date. I'll PM you and OM.

[Jester]

Guys,

IMHO, it's the SQUADS that are going to have to lead the way if we are going to get the AvA back to anything like it was in the old days.

We really need to work together and get a night and time that is good for all of us to meet and fly. Second, get the AvA crew to put in some good scenarios in for several weeks in a row that really appeal to everyone and can attract the most people.

We get the numbers in and keep it going we will have a good chance of bringing players back. Many people like the "Historical Match-ups" the AvA provides over the MA type flying there just aren't that many in there to fly against.

I agree, I would really like to see the AvA make a comeback.

!

[storch]

jester pretty much nailed it.   AvA is really a very good venue for squads.  if the staff combined setups with what may be going on in the SEA.  the AvA wuld be the logical place for squads to meet for practice sessions and less formal grabassing against opposing teams.

[Panzzer]

Sparrow,

that's the kind of attitude we need to get the AvA back on track. Sundays at that time are a bit busy for us - Close Escort in the Special Events Arena. Tuesdays and Saturdays are our "traditional" Sq. Nights in the AvA, 19-23 GMT, I'll try to get some of us back there again.

Greetings from snowy Finland,

  Panzzer - Lentolaivue 32

[sparow]

Thank you all for your reply, gentlemen!

That's the spirit! And there are several good ideas already forming up:

1 - Get the Squads involved in AvA;
Looks like we are all getting commited. We are...

2 - Get them up and running at the same time zones to maximize effect;
Who's gonna fly in US time +1 or -1 and who's gonna fly in Europe times +1 or -1? Do we have squads from other time zones?

249 will be able to be at AvA on Wednesday and Sunday evenings, GMT time, but we can manage to go -1 or +1 if needed, so, we just need another squad doing european time zone to fill our slot...

3 - Advertise AvA setups in several forums; Advertise AvA in a general way; maybe ask management if it would not be possible to place AvA in first place in the arena order, afterall, A is the first letter in the alphabet...Even ask management if, for one or three months, 2 week trial before subscription could be limited to AvA (I mean this);

4 - Invite other squads to AvA for a two week exchange tour.

Just a few crazy ideas, cya all tomorrow 21:30 GMT, thank you all,

Salute,

Sparrow
249 Sqn RAF "Gold Coast"
Pugnis et calcibus - With fists and heels

[Shifty]

Originally posted by sparow


Just a few crazy ideas, cya all tomorrow 21:30 GMT, thank you all,

Salute,

Sparrow
249 Sqn RAF "Gold Coast"
Pugnis et calcibus - With fists and heels

I'll try and get some 880 guys there.

[storch]

we few JG54 members had a nice time in the arena last night for a little bit.  hope to see you guys on tuesdays and thursdays at 2200 EST.  bring your game faces, we will surely open up a can of whoop ass.  

[sparow]

I would like to thank all the squads for showing up Sunday, we had a good time and good fights too. AvA still kicks

Storch, when you say 2200 EST how much is that in GMT?

Tuesdays might be a possibility, must trade it with Wednesdays. OTOH, Tuesdays is Lentolaivue 32 SN's so...maybe it's a go next week.

Could we have 880 Sqn backup, pleeease?

Salute

Sparrow
249 Sqn RAF "Gold Coast"

[storch]

very early for you senhor, 0300 GMT.  but if you guys are going to be on 1700 GMT please post and If I'm not too busy at the shop I'll zip home and play a bit.  some of the JG54 retired players and other AH bums might be talked into showing up.