Preaching to the choir

[Mister Fork]

The Luftwaffe defeated the RAF and took over the AvA

Oh yeah?

Well we're still fightin back in our Yaks and Stangs. And there's nothing better being than engaging a Fw-190A5 or 109G2 in a La-5 or Yak-9 over Finland and then watching them scream like little girlies as they bail out in their leather underpants...    which is a very disturbing sight... to see a luftwabble in a parachute in leather underpants that is...  



 

[kilo2]

I don't like ava because of the fantasy I am in the war aspect. I like it because its a change of pace from the MA. I think a lot of people would like it for the same reason. Its also a great place to learn planes that are new to you.

[captain1ma]

its all in what you want out of the game, i personally love the AVA. i like the planesets, the match-ups and the players, some players not so much, but thats the nature of the game. if you want to learn how to fly well, the AVA is the place, if you want to just dive in and BNZ everyone in your gunsite and get a kill or 2, the MA's are for you.

the Biggest problem with the AVA is a better player will beat you over and over again. without the diversity of so many different players like the blue or orange arena, you get tired of seeing the same name kill you and that gets old quick.

more players always make it a better place, but the numbers are always lower. its a fun place to play, and a good place to learn. the DA is nice but the "kill everything attitude" rules the place. i much prefer the " i'm gonna get on your six first and then kill you" attitude of the AVA. the AVA is nothing like the DA not should it be considered at all as such.

everyone has the opportunity to make it what they want and get out of it what they like. I like the more fair play of the AVA.

thats my story and im sticking to it!  

  which is a very disturbing sight... to see a luftwabble in a parachute in leather underpants that is... 

whats a matter with leather underpants?? they're very comfortable!! 

[Shuffler]

Numbers in the 30s to 60s would be outstanding.

[RufusLeaking]

The AvA is one of Aces High best kept secrets.  The quality of the pilot you find in the AvA is not found in the MA.  You can usually engage another pilot and not have to dodge a HO before trying to best one another.  Also, flying historically accurate aircraft for the time-frame they've posted is truly an experience. 

I've been in the AvA for the last few Mondays and enjoyed the heck out of it.  I had thought that to limit one's plane choice was a bad idea.  I see now that Fork is right. It makes for some great fights in planes that might only rarely match up in the MAs.

Plus, the settings in the AvA arena are different.  There are significant winds, several cloud decks, and a minimum altitude below which the icons turn off.  The lack of icons on the deck made me realize how dependent I am on it for range and closure cues.

Some caution needs to be exercised on the the plane sets.  The current Russian set of Yaks and LAs dominates the German set of 190s and 109s.

[Larry]

For instance the other night I got on to find 14 or 15 knights capturing bases from 1 bish and 2 rooks. All of the knights were of one squad. SOARS took a lot of grief for doing the same in EW.

VF-15

[Shuffler]

What planes are up now..... it's kiddies tuesday in LW so good night to fly elsewhere.

[dedalos]

This is where you are incorrect, many people like the fantasy of AvA but when they go to the AvA it does not live up to the fantasy, and hence they find it is not fun and cool. If  most  people had the attitude you state the AvA would be full & the Main arenas would be low numbers.

In the 15 years I have been doing this I have never seen an AvA setup attract a lot of people.

HiTech

If there is anything that proves that HT has done the right thing with the MAs, that is the AvA.  People will say a lot of things about playing for the fight, scores are useless etc.  That may be true for a few, but if it was true for the majority, the AvA would have arena caps.  The problem I have with it is that I can fly the same couple of planes and kill the same couple of guys for so long before it gets boring.

Turn scoring and captures on and the arena will fill up in no time.  Ohh, and no alies vs axes.  We want bish, rook and nits and the squad associations.  And perks.  Lots of perks and report the scores on the front page. 

The day the AvA sustains more than 50 people at any time for more than a month, its time for HT to redesign the game.

[Shuffler]

Hmm no AVA under special events. Looking for plane set.

[kilo2]

shuffler it was russian vs german last night LW

[Shuffler]

I gotta be a ruskie?? 

[BnZs]

Here is the problem as I see it:

The "draw" of anything like the AvA is going to be the "realism", but 2-4 guys duelling at 5K with the best "duelling" planes each respective set offers is *not* realism.

The MA, despite P-51s crossing swords with Spitfires, is IMO in most ways closer to "how it was" than the AvA...more variability in the altitudes, engaging conditions, type of mission (sometimes you are protecting or intercepting ord-mules, etc).

[jimson]

We've been drawing 20 players or so each Monday night. Everyone seems to be having a lot of fun.

There is a lot to be said for trying unfamiliar planes and finding ways to use their strengths against others, that is a lot of fun in it's own right.

Mondays numbers are balancing out quite well.

There is no longer an excuse, at least one night a week there are enough people in there to have some decent play.

Give Mondays a try, You might enjoy it.

[Masherbrum]

Actually, IDGAF about "planes I can fly".   For me it is about "not playing favorites".   Stew on that last sentence a bit.   I don't go in their primarily because of that part, it is not needed in this game at all.   It's disappointing, because I'm just as happy in Early War/Mid War rides as anything else.   Actually, it's not disappointing, it's a shame.  

Edit:   Before anyone from JG54 jumps on that, don't, it isn't directed at you.   But who "it is" posted in this thread recently.   So don't bother dredging up any "conspiracy theories".   It is well known for those who were there, what happened and all agree, "it was uncalled for".   

[Shuffler]

Would be fun to see P-40s in there