Arena Balance

[hubsonfire]

Got anything in mind for this, HT? While I like the new system, the constant lopsided numbers can't be doing much good. I remember hearing something about a tweaked ENY system in the works, but haven't noticed any changes since.

While I normally like the odds a little bit against us, this is getting to be a bit much, and I can't imagine the newer players still trying to learn the ropes are getting much enjoyment out of it. On top of that, with the new system in place, taking and holding territory becomes far more challenging when one country can field as many people as the other 2 combined. In the current setup, this dramatic imbalance provides for very pronounced advantage, something which the current ENY system simply doesn't do anything to remedy.

Is there something in the works for this, or is this even a concern at the moment?

While I like that the new setup keeps people from milkrunning all over the place, and brings them into one area so I can shoot at them, I think the lack of balance is going to create the same avoidance strategies as were used before, except now it will be 30 guys attacking a single lightly defended field, instead of 10 guys each attacking 3 undefended fields. I'm not sure that's in improvement.

[SlapShot]

[hubsonfire]

Originally posted by SlapShot

I know, I know, I should just fly for the country with the highest numbers like you do.

[Stang]

[Bronk]

Hmm Bk squad furball/vulch thread ehh.

This could  get interesting.



Bronk

[Guppy35]

Gonna have to agree with hub on this one.  "Revenge of the Horde" does get old after a while.

Not sure what the answer is though when 'winning the war' is the ultimate prize for so many.

[hitech]

Currently having 2 different thoughts.

1 Go back to my original idea of having a wait time between flights based on country balance. This would put the same numbers in the air at one time.

2. Write the cant fly in this arena unless you changes sides.

3. Say screw it, turn off ENY and let everyone complain.

[Quah!]

Write the cant fly in this arena unless you changes sides.

Probably the only real answer with the least draw backs, other than extreme whining on the BBs.  LOL

1 Go back to my original idea of having a wait time between flights based on country balance. This would put the same numbers in the air at one time.

Create even more timidity.

3. Say screw it, turn off ENY and let everyone complain.

Maybe your best bet once new changes are effective in all the arenas.  At least we'll have another place to go if one arena is just plain ridiculous.


Looks like our last chance as a community to keep HT from having to do anything and balancing it ourselves people.

[JimBeam]

BURN THE ENY!!!!!!!!!!!:t

[1Boner]

Originally posted by hitech
Currently having 2 different thoughts.

1 Go back to my original idea of having a wait time between flights based on country balance. This would put the same numbers in the air at one time.

2. Write the cant fly in this arena unless you changes sides.

3. Say screw it, turn off ENY and let everyone complain.

i pick # 3 !!!   i pick # 3 !!   no matter what you do hitech, somebody is always gonna complain about something. if you fix this problem, guess what??  another problem will rear its ugly head.

God bless ya hitech.  i don,t envy your postion at all.



thanks for trying to work all this out. i,m sure there are other things you would rather be doing.


                                        good luck.


                                                            your buddy,
                                                                                  Boner





official "member" of the AH bb s.





public relations officer for Boner

[Simaril]

I dont think ENY will make any difference in balance at all, simply because it doesnt now. Even when downright punative -- and the only options are hugely outclassed fighters -- the vast majority jsut complain, and those that do something tend to log rather than switch.



A suggestion, HT --


1) Multiple arenas let those who prefer the swarm to shift till they find the arena their team is "winning". If all other players randomly distribute themselves among arenas, the net effect will be guaranteed imbalance in each game zone -- by mathematics alone.

2) The stated goal of ENY was to encourage side balancing, but even as an ENY proponent I have to say that recent events show it doesnt work well at evening sides.

3) Having multiple arenas HUGELY changes the dynamic of more restrictive limits. Players are simply not going to be faced with the draconian alternatives of logging off or (draconian for some) swithcing countries. Now, if there are too many Knights in one arena, you can always go to another.

3) Sooooo.....would you consider a dynamic country cap WITH ENY LIMTS DISABLED?

Maximizing enjoyment for the many should easily outweigh the relative annoyance of being diverted to another arena for the few. Balaning goals shouldnt be absolute parity (maybe all countries within 25-30% of each other), so it shouldnt be too painful anyway.

And, if the ENY was removed at the same time the effect on the Whine-O-Meter should be fairly balanced out.


I know there would be complaints from squads that couldnt squeeze everyone in under a cap. HOWEVER -- I cannot imagine a better example of "limiting the few for the good of the many." (Don't misunderstand me ....If a megasquad flies together without skewing arena numbers for the OTHER 2/3rds of AH players, that's absolutely no problem IMHO.)

[hitech]

Simaril: Write the can't fly in this arena, is a dynamic country cap.

[Guppy35]

I suppose ultimately, with the way things are heading, you'll end up having:

-One genaric 'plane' so that everyone has the same aircraft profile, which leaves it to pilot skill in the end.

-Eliminate squads completely

-Put into effect a  country randomizer that places players in whatever country has the low number as they come into the arena

-Eliminate perk points and scores and 'name in lights' messages.

Then maybe we'll get some balance in the arenas


Clearly the player base has no desire to try and even out gameplay, as the race to the reset, winning the war trumps any other considerations.


That or say screw it and throw it back to the free for all old MA with no ENY or expectations of anything but hording.  In the end, a new wave of players will appear to fill the ranks of those who leave who have no concept of anything but horde wars, and won't expect anything else or consider any other way of playing.

[Krusty]

ENY limitations are all but useless. Rooks have had 2x the numbers of bish and knit combined(? not exactly, but pretty close) and still only have an ENY limitation of 5.1.

That rules out n1k2s and p51s, and perk rides. That's about it.

Last night in LW Orange Rooks had as many planes over a single knight field as the entire knight team had players in the air. That's how bad it is. They had little to no ENY effect.

ENY needs to be done away with if it has no effect. I did find that I was sick of the total gang bang-ness of the Orange and left for Blue. I actually had fun there. It was refreshing to only deal with a localized horde.

Hitech, how about instead of this current base capture limitation, an "onion peel" setup? You have to peel away at the front line bases, but you can do so anywhere on the front line? This prevents 5-sector in HQ v-field steal attempts (and these have been happening more often lately) and general milk running. It does, however, spread the 2:1 ratio of rook horde pilots out across a larger area.

By this I mean you have base X can be captured by the enemy if it is "connected" to an enemy base. You can't island hop fields to pick the one you want, you have to take them in order.

This gives folks the freedom they liked before, limits the milk running, and lessens the horde. What do you think?

[Laurie]

HT any possibility of arena caps being lifted in LW?, seeing as theirs 2 diff choices of gameplay style now, and the one i enjoy most is usaully full  or maybe say when 50% of other is full lift caps. pwettyyy please,


P.S. pick 3, people always complain whatever happens, just leave it alone is probably best idea, + restricing people flying never gonna go down well with players,:)