Downtimes

[Mister Fork]

Did you know that as AvA admins, we have the ability to set the downtimes for map objects for weeks and months?

The reason why I am stating this that we are trying to differentiate the AvA from the MA. Or, as Pyro put it earlier, it's not to take away MA players, but to gives HTC customers more options to explore.  The MA's are the bread and butter of Aces High.  That being said, if we can offer a diverse historical arena, then its a win for us (looking for historical match-ups), and HTC, looking for ways to keep the interest of their customer base.

This is my PERSONAL vision of the AvA that I think I'm hearing.

An arena where the enjoyment of the fight is not to only outwit your opponent in the sky, but to outwit your opponent in their ability to fight you on even grounds.[/b]

Here's our checklist:
- make base capture part of strategic objectives and difficult
- keep the historical engagement balanced
- bring a squadron approached to gameplay
- eliminate player rankings
- differentiate the arena from the MA through
    * longer setup lengths
    * smaller maps
    * interesting setup strategies with potential for a open RPS

Here's our to test list:
- turn off player scoring
- extend setups by 2-4 weeks
- create interesting setups (led by ROC)
- turn the arena from a bunck of rocks with nothing happening to dynamic and strategic gameplay

How does this tie into downtimes?
- all map objects on a map are set so that once they're down, their down.
- airfield AAA take 12-24 hours to repair and rearm
- airfield hangars take a week to replace (as would be in real life)
- airfield objects like fuel, barracks, and ammo dumps are the same
- turn back on map strategy (it has always been turned off)
- CV's that are destroyed are gone for a very very wong time.

For example, if you attack two airfields that housed P-51's for the map, and by destroying those fighter hangars, no more P-51's for several days.  Same for bombers and alike.  But each side would be given that kind of 'covert' information.

How could this impact gameplay?

[Kuhn]

That sounds quite interesting. I wouldn't mind trying that.

[E25280]

My concern with the one-week downtime thought is that a couple of people with no opposition could flatten front line bases in relatively little time.  When their porking is done, they leave . . .

Someone else logs in and finds all his front line bases useless, and then he logs off in frustration.

I like the direction of your thinking, just concerned about unintended consequences.  Increasing downtimes is interesting, just not sure if perhaps a whole week is going overboard.

[CAF51]

One idea to avoid that would be to have floating respawn times so if theres only 4 people in the map  the respawn times become much shorter than when the maps filled with alot of people to defend things properly.

Edit: LOVE the idea though

[KONG1]

This is so stupendously short sighted I want it implemented immediately so that this hideous idea will be permanently dismissed.

First night all semblance of dar gone every front line hanger porked. Two people want to fight they will have to fly 2 sectors each and agree on a meeting place just to find each other. Day 2, arena so damaged the porkers leave because it's too far to fly to pork anything else.

If I remember correctly HTC had to disable fuel porking, increase troop numbers, and decrease hanger down times just to make the MA playable.

The AvA needs to remain a fighter arena because it's the only one. That is what "differentiates the AvA from the MA", that is what "gives HTC customers more options to explore".

[storch]

what kong said to the very word.  the porkers will flatten the arena.  but please do try it, try this week and see.

[ROC]

Those of us who are working on a larger campaign style setup for the event are paying attention to what you guys are saying.  

Personally, one of the setups I'm working the bugs out of uses hardness to increase the damage needed to take down a structure.  This causes an actual Mission to be required to take something down, not simply a pork and auger.

There is also life limits to consider.  Setting the limit up so that you can't launch right after you die suggests more time spent trying to live, and not engage in pork and auger runs, and for the fighter purists that are in the AvA, how much more realistic can you get?  You die in a fighter, you don't just jump back up, so there is a great incentive to stay alive.

It's also quite possible to have a controlled fighter front that allows for the furballs some of you want, while keeping the Strat element off to the sides, that's done by the setup.  

There is a great deal of opportunity for a long term, ongoing campaign in this arena.  It's a natural for it.  Kind of a huge waste of space for a handful of dogfighters who want a private arena.  

The complaints about overnight porking are valid.  The Setup allows for that Not to Occur, as it is a total waste of time for the pork and auger dweebs that we all know and love.  It can be Very Difficult, and require a well planned and thought out mission, one worth Defending.  This is what Scenario Guys live for, and while pushing off the very people that would do what you are concerned about, you could be drawing in the solid, strat minded guys, who after their missions would likely head to the fighter front and shoot at you.

Just so you know you Are being listened to.  Those who Want more strat and those who don't want the furballs killed off.

[sparow]

Hi all!

I must say that the idea is extremely interesting, it should be tested. Yes the pork and auger crowd is quite dangerous and annoying and may be a problem.

But I still think it is very worth a try. One detail: if it is impossible to manage exact and finite numbers of certain aircrafts, I would like to see high perking of rare and little produced machines implemented.

There's nothing more annoying than the ability of spawning unlimited numbers of certain aircraft, produced in two digit series...

Everything else is just fine, even bombers and fighters in different airfields.

I still believe that large AvA maps with less active bases would be a better solution than small maps. But this is just because they look so nice and real...

Cheers,

[jamusta]

Can the object (ie hangers, ack) toughness be changed? Make it very difficult for single fighters to flatten a base?


edit: Once again I paid no attention to ROC. Please disregard my post...

[B@tfinkV]

Originally posted by jamusta
I am a tool shed warrior who only plays in AvA for score. ica n bomb a strat from 10k.

[Eagler]

make ack super deadly - one ping and your out and base hardness to the extreme and I think it'd work

what do you mean by dead time? how can you control how long it takes to respawn after you are shot down? great idea - be better if you dumb down the gun strength where it'd take more than a lucky shot to peel a wing off.

for trying to make the arena better

[storch]

that would have every ackhugger in the game doing just that

[Eagler]

Originally posted by storch
that would have every ackhugger in the game doing just that

they are going to do that anyway

the game is not nor should it be geared towards that type

[storch]

but you just suggested that it be made that way

[Trukk]

I would love to have a setup that lasted a month, was squad friendly and more than insta-action (ie we could fly realistic missions in).