Author Topic: Arena Balance (Read 5305 times)

Bronk · « **Reply #165 on:** December 08, 2006, 11:58:22 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by a4944
You can try to remove the accumulated stats (except for perks) for a tour as a test in LW orange. Keep stats for the amount of time on the server for one session but delete them after the user logs. Although I shouldn't, I do find myself caring about my overall stats.

This would take the pressure off, much like the shooters where you jump on to different servers and don't care about stats beyond the one night of play. People will still know who is good. There would be no long term penalty to swicthing to the low number side and getting shot down a bunch. It may actually be more fun since the fight is at your base.

It would probably reduce (not eliminate) the nasty calls on 200. Again, less pressure to keep up your stats equals less stressfull gameplay which may be more fun overall.

This would be risky so perhaps a trial period? I get enough stress at my job and wouldn't mind playing for fun. I think the accumulated stats was good for pay-per-hour but maybe not so good anymore.

Thanks,
Venom

Score yes stats no.

I use my stats to judge myself vs previous tours. I know how I fly and want to know if what I am do is helping or hurting.
This is start of my 3rd month back. I use stats to see if the rust is coming off or do i need a bit of help.

Bronk

a4944 · « **Reply #166 on:** December 08, 2006, 12:17:42 PM »

Perhaps make stats private so they can still be used as a learning tool. Stats are not representative of pilot skill. A kill ratio of 1:1 when flying when outnumbered 2 to 1 is more impressive than a 3:1 ratio when flying for the country with the numbers. Stats don't reflect this so if you care at all about how others perceive your stats then you may be less prone to switch to the side that needs the help.

Just a thought. It may do more harm then good. I know some people enjoy having the public stats. Also, anything that makes you care less about getting shot down also reduces the realism a bit. It would need a test.

Venom

Bronk · « **Reply #167 on:** December 08, 2006, 12:40:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by a4944
Perhaps make stats private so they can still be used as a learning tool. Stats are not representative of pilot skill. A kill ratio of 1:1 when flying when outnumbered 2 to 1 is more impressive than a 3:1 ratio when flying for the country with the numbers. Stats don't reflect this so if you care at all about how others perceive your stats then you may be less prone to switch to the side that needs the help.

Just a thought. It may do more harm then good. I know some people enjoy having the public stats. Also, anything that makes you care less about getting shot down also reduces the realism a bit. It would need a test.

Venom

Ahh and here in lies the rub.
Only you know how you fly.

You can lie to yourself and say "Look at my stats I'm 1337 !!!11!!!one1eleven!!!1." while being on the numbers side .

OR
Fly and have fun all the while checking your stats noticing "Hmmm my hit % is down. What am i doing diff and how do i correct this.".

All depends on what you want stats for i guess.

Bronk

Edbert · « **Reply #168 on:** December 08, 2006, 01:31:53 PM »

Getting off topic a bit here but wanted to weigh in on stats...
All the stats when viewed TOGETHER can tell a lot about a player's style of playing, but many of them that get factored for rank are too easilly gamed to indicate skill. All the stats are pretty valid IMO...except for points...that mainly indicates how many hours you play.

But the K/D, K/T combined do provide a glimpse of the player's overall skill, for example...getting a very high K/D or K/T is pretty easy, whereas getting them both high takes a lot more skill. The ones to ignore are the "score/points", and rank (within category and overall). So, when you see someone say score indicates nothing about a person's skill, they are mostly right. But if you use the K/D and K/T to judge a player's style of playing they can be fairly accurate, at least when viewed over time. So don't confuse stats with rank.

BaldEagl · « **Reply #169 on:** December 08, 2006, 01:59:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Edbert
But the K/D, K/T combined do provide a glimpse of the player's overall skill, for example...getting a very high K/D or K/T is pretty easy, whereas getting them both high takes a lot more skill.

I respectfully disagree. All it takes to get both high is a few quick vulching runs. In my opinion K/T is pretty worthless (maybe because mine always sucks. I usually start a base back even in defense to come in co-alt with the attackers). Just means your a furballer or a vulcher. K/D is valid for the most part.

[EDIT] K/S is probably the best indicator.

Laurie · « **Reply #170 on:** December 08, 2006, 02:14:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SlapShot
So you are saying that you wouldn't be able to meet and establish relationships in the other 2 countries ? ... sad.

I don't think anyone here that is concerned about numbers imbalance are worried about a 20 player difference ... it's when 1 country has more than the other 2 combined that causes concern.

Missed the piont with your 1st paragraph,

I have friends there, why bother swithcing, i never said i wouldn't be able to meet new people, said i enjoy flying with the squad and ppl i like,

didnt know i would upset the BB cops, perhaps we'll all just keep quiet,, might aswell, as anything that disagrees wiht a few guys in here i said to be wrong,

wich is wrong. dont be so negative all the time, cant you just accpet that other people have opinions different to yours?

SlapShot · « **Reply #171 on:** December 08, 2006, 02:17:27 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Laurie
Missed the piont with your 1st paragraph,

I have friends there, why bother swithcing, i never said i wouldn't be able to meet new people, said i enjoy flying with the squad and ppl i like,

didnt know i would upset the BB cops, perhaps we'll all just keep quiet,, might aswell, as anything that disagrees wiht a few guys in here i said to be wrong,

wich is wrong. dont be so negative all the time, cant you just accpet that other people have opinions different to yours?

Don't be so sensitive ... you posted something ... I responded to it.

LYNX · « **Reply #172 on:** December 08, 2006, 02:47:10 PM »

I've been playing combat sims since 1998. Every game has had side imbalance it's nothing new. Even the time of day and what part of the world your in factors into side balance.

AOL Fighter Op.
Warbirds Fighter Ops.
Warbirds II
Aces High I
Aces High II (III / IV, as I affectionately refer to resent changes)

None of these games had forced side balancing. I don't believe it to be the way to go. Firstly it would make the "Squads" redundant fracturing the AH communities (friendships). Secondly, I believe it would promote "lone wolf" mentality. Everyone doing their own thing when ever and all over. Thirdly and most importantly for the game, I don't believe it favours customer retention.

HTC probably has stacks of short term 2 weekers as it is. He's about to have a load more over the CHRISTMAS season however, I can't see forced repatriation retaining new players. The guy that gives the newbies hints and tips one day, if at all, is shooting their arses off the next. No stability.

The 2 ideas I suggested were only 1 Late war arena or no Late War arena switching for 1 hour to curtail PASSIVE imbalances. I also like this 1 (copied it from VIRAGE below).

Maintain current log in system. i.e. If you were last ROOK you log in as ROOK. Change the 'change country' system. When 'changing countries': Highest team is locked. Middle team is open. Lowest team is open with a PERK award.

Seems an even handed fair balance to the situation and I commend the motion to the house.

I could really get into a few things as to how the game has changed but I'll wait for the appropriate thread.

Goth · « **Reply #173 on:** December 08, 2006, 02:50:11 PM »

After seeing so many deleted posts HT, I retract my statement about a behaviourlist and suggest you get a zookeeper.

Lusche · « **Reply #174 on:** December 08, 2006, 03:10:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by LYNX

Maintain current log in system. i.e. If you were last ROOK you log in as ROOK. Change the 'change country' system. When 'changing countries': Highest team is locked. Middle team is open. Lowest team is open with a PERK award.

Would have my support. People into that "loyalty" thing are not forced to switch, people enjoying flying with the outnumbered side may be encouraged and switching to the side already dominating the arena is prevented.

Fianna · « **Reply #175 on:** December 08, 2006, 03:19:49 PM »

Can someone explain exactly why combining the two late war arenas isn't an option?

It seems to me that that's the most logical choice. Everytime I've checked the two arenas, the total numbers of rooks, bishops, and kights over the two arenas have been about equal, even though the numbers within the two arenas themselves are very unequal. So why not just combine the two arenas?

But, now that I think about it a little more, I guess they have painted themselves into a corner by introducing the new capture system. Now they need to have two arenas. One for the old system and the people who like it, and one for the new system and its supporters. It also seems that the new capture system is what's caused the imbalance (or given people an excuse to play in one arena or the other where they conveniently have the advantage of numbers).

I've only been a subscriber for a couple weeks, though, so what do I know?

vizwhiz · « **Reply #176 on:** December 08, 2006, 03:21:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by President
The number that can up from an airfield based on the airfield size is a good idea too.

But it is wrong to FORCE someone to switch countries.

At least with #1 you got a couple options....

OPT 1: Sit and wait, but u get to stay with your country
OPT 2: Switch country and help balance, and u get to UP right away

EVERY1 Wins! Why? Because u got choices

I like it! Explained this way it does make sense to have the set of options...
If I don't want to change sides, and am content to wait, I can always use the bathroom or get a drink...
If I don't want to wait, I switch sides and fly again.

It would mean implementing a change to install the "wait" feature based on total number of players in the highest group. Now how do you THAT in a balanced manner?

Lusche · « **Reply #177 on:** December 08, 2006, 03:27:58 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Fianna
It also seems that the new capture system is what's caused the imbalance (or given people an excuse to play in one arena or the other where they conveniently have the advantage of numbers).

We had that imbalance issues before the new capture method was installed for testing in Orange.

hubsonfire · « **Reply #178 on:** December 08, 2006, 04:04:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Goth
After seeing so many deleted posts HT, I retract my statement about a behaviourlist and suggest you get a zookeeper.

to Laurie, lynx, and the other misguided loyalists. Yes, I remember there being a severe imbalance in the days of AH1 as well. That imbalance drove me to leave a squad of people I really enjoyed flying and chatting with, because our squad was loyal to our chesspiece, and that was that. I, on the other hand, didn't find fielding 150 guys versus 30 (purely in the name of loyalty) to be much fun, and killed my account, started a shades, and gave up on country loyalty altogether, choosing instead to fly for the underdogs, and play around with the new beta setup. After some time passed, a certain other squad stepped up and started flying for the underdogs, and eventually a few more people and squads followed their lead, with my former squad eventually starting to rotate countries each tour as well.

At the point I started to see more of this, I came to have a greater respect for and interest in the community, and it's overall well being. The game is made up of many different types of people, and there are good people on all sides. I'm glad I wasn't so myopic and foolish as some you are, as I would never have become acquainted with many of the folks in this community whom I regard highly, and who have made the community, to me, as valuable an asset and as entertaining as the game itself.

pluck · « **Reply #179 on:** December 08, 2006, 04:28:58 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by SlapShot
Don't be so sensitive ... you posted something ... I responded to it.

ya, but we are not on a bb, let alone one called general discussion. so after one person starts a thread, no one should post after it unless they totally agree:rolleyes: