Arena caps are...

[hitech]

zazen13

I think you misunderstood my post. I am not saying let players make gameplay balance and design decisions. I am saying change the design so that gameplay balance is naturally achieved by the players without artificial coercion.

All game play design is "Artificial coercion" all the items you suggest are still "Artificial" I think what you are saying is a carrot is better than a stick, and This I would agree with, but at times when the carrot does not work do to basic human nature, force must be applied.

On your list of things to change, I see nothing that has anything to do with affecting arena size,only things you wish were different? When I look at your suggestions I see most of them would be detrimental to game play, and have 0 impact on why split arenas were put in place.

HiTech

[bongaroo]

And what were you guys hitting in these missions?  Places where the fight was raging, or other places that were "easier" to hit and capture?  When a big group of guys decides to go this route, there isn't much a couple lone defenders can do to stop it.  The hordes on the other side won't go at you either, because that isn't easy, so they run around looking for the soft spot on your side to hit. 

What you get when the numbers reach a critical mass is just one giant circlejerk of hordes that never really collide.  They do on occasion, but usually by chance, not by intent.  When this happens its awesome.  Sadly it's the rarity, not the norm.

This kind of play is definately appealing to newer players .  Even veteran players who value teamwork and goal oriented strat play.  But when the roving hordes become the norm, how can there possibly be any semblance of balance in gameplay?  On the macro level there might appear to be with the ebb and flow of the base swings, but on the micro level all you have is a ton of gangs picking on a few enemies.  This is where the problem lies.  The game is played by individuals, on the micro level not the macro.  Sure the guys in hordes playing whack a mole are having a ball, but for the guys who try to stop them it gets old quick. 

If the bigger squads chose to face each other we wouldn't have this problem.  We all know that isn't the case though.  The path of least resistance is usually taken, with few notable exceptions.  That's why the NOE raid is by far the most common type of mission.  Sneak in, get it quick, the rinse and repeat ad nausem.  Fun for some?  Sure.  Good gameplay?  Hell no.

This sums up nicely how I feel about this whole thing.

[Connery]

I didn't like the arena caps at first, and I still don't like them.

No amount of ranting or raving though is going to change HTC's mind.

In my opinion the only way to force HTC to listen, is to hit them where it hurts - in the pocket. The problem is that they won't be worried about losing 1 or 2 subscribers; it would have to be "en masse" and I certainly don't see that happening and HTC knows it.

Actually whilst writing this post it occured to me that on a positive note, HTC does actually listen, after all we got titanic tuesday, so it's not all bad.

Lastly despite the fact I still dislike the caps I've gotten used to them, so there's no point in getting angry over it... maybe they will rejig the cap limits, to suit prime times all over the globe?

Just my 2p

P.S - I am NOT trying to incite a revolt or boycott against HTC

[Stang]

P.S - I am NOT trying to incite a revolt or boycott against HTC

So what are you suggesting?  Having tea and crumpet time instead of AH?

[Bruv119]

So what are you suggesting?  Having tea and crumpet time instead of AH?

thats what i do     

come back an hour later and caps have sorted themselves out. no biggie.

[hitech]

In my opinion the only way to force HTC to listen, is to hit them where it hurts - in the pocket. The problem is that they won't be worried about losing 1 or 2 subscribers; it would have to be "en masse" and I certainly don't see that happening and HTC knows it.

Connery, could it possibly be that before we did the arena split this is what we did see? And just as you say we did respond to it? What you describe is a given, we only respond to what customers really want, and it is not a matter of 1 or 2 leave, it is a matter that more would leave if we had 1 arena.

[999000]

Zazen does bring up an interestign perspective of game design and structure....I do see  this basic truth STRUCTURE DETERMINING FUNCTION..in many walks of life...working on the local City Planning and zoning board I pointed out to developers that we were creating unhealthy neiborhoods (they looked at me like I was the devil)..ie putting huge homes on postage size lots......Kids don't play outside because the structure ...lack of space to play games as we did as kids. Yards no long have the function of gross moter play areas.
<S> 999000

[DMBEAR]

All I have is my gameplay experience to go by.  What I see is that gameplay is not affected from the arena split.  Are you all telling me that all of us mindless sheep magically change our strategies when we go from an arena with 215 to one with 70?   Do the evil wolves you all speak of break up becuase there are less of them? 

I don't think so.  But I do think getting stuck in an arena of 70, while an arena of 215 still could use a few hundred before gameplay is affected sucks.

I wish HTC didn't think letting me go in that arena would ruin it by allowing me and my stupid sheep turd tactics to ruin everyones day.

[Motherland]

All I have is my gameplay experience to go by.  What I see is that gameplay is not affected from the arena split. 

I would have to disagree with you there 100%. Gameplay is many times better normally than on Titanic Tuesday. I wouldn't fly on Tuesdays if it wasn't my squad night.

Are you all telling me that all of us mindless sheep magically change our strategies when we go from an arena with 215 to one with 70?  

Umm... yeah, that's exactly what happens.

[BiPoLaR]

look guys...enough of this.
its going to be HT's way or no way...get use to it...
we want it
we MIGHT get it...depends if he wants to give.
have fun with this 

[Shuffler]

We??? Why do so many folks say "We"? I'm fine with how it is setup. I fly MW on tuesdays.
So many folks seem to know what "WE" want that I am surprised there are not 5000 WW2 flight sims online.


Keep up the great work HT!

[BiPoLaR]

See rule #4

[BaldEagl]

... Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful



Now follow the bouncing ball



Oh... I thought we were playing a game.

[MonsterZer0]

What I see from the arena split is growth and choices. Instead of the very limited one arena. Especially the EW arena, by creating new planes that can only be flown in the EW arena. Small maps that can only be played on in the EW and MW arenas. With 2 LW arenas I would love to see blue lw have a special night. Much like Orange does with titanic Tuesday.

For example the idea u implemented on lw. Allowing only certain bases on the front, on each side, able to be captured. Forced the hordes to meet head on was quite fun. 262 night, make the 262 and 163 at 20-25 perks only. So many choices and not limiting anyone game play, is what I see from the arena split. AH2 has a lot of potential and growth especially in the ew/mw arena.

As for the caps, I deal with it. I would be more tempted to log in blue if it had a different map rotation. Never have the same map playing on both lw arenas. Also would like back the limited bases being able to be captured. Forcing the Horde to meet h2h was a great idea imo. With ew, mw and lw blue having different setups, I think many would flock to those arenas instead of orange. Opening up more slots for the caps on orange is what many would like to see. So lets come up with some ideas on how to make blue more attractive.

[Connery]

Connery, could it possibly be that before we did the arena split this is what we did see? And just as you say we did respond to it? What you describe is a given, we only respond to what customers really want, and it is not a matter of 1 or 2 leave, it is a matter that more would leave if we had 1 arena.

Yep it's true that could also be a possibility, but I don't ever remember reading on the forums, that this was the primary case for having split arenas or arena caps.

Motto of this entire forum thread is, You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time.

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