Preaching to the choir

[Chilli]

In an attempt to see what other Axis versus Allies enthusiasts playing during daytime hours EST, like myself,  were doing that the arena is almost always empty, I posted this thread in that forum http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,281695.0.html

After reading kilo2's response, I have come to the conclusion that I am speaking to the group that knows as well as I do, that the arena is empty because it is empty.   Kudos to kilo2 for trying something new 

I have always gotten that kind of response from players after suggesting to go there for a look and see with a little 1 v 1 competition  to boot.

So, I wish to bring this up in the General Forum to get some responses to the following:

Did You Know?

• AvA is a 2 country setup with historically matched planesets
• AvA has different maps with the periodic adjustments in icon range, wind and ack settings
• AvA bases are generally situated in close proximity allowing for quick engagements
• AvA is not a "Base Capture" driven arena and is designed to promote dogfights and the occasional furball
• AvA does have a rank system but no perk points awarded, however patches for participation in some events are
• Finally, AvA IS AVAILABLE 24/7

[Ghostbuster]

I would like to play but I don't get in since not many players are there + most of the peeps I know play in the MA.

I'll give it a try tonight, just to support

[LCCajun]

I've tried it a few times seems like there was always a big team against the small team, and nobody willing to switch to even it out. This was a while back so I don't know if it has changed, if so I would be more then happy to go fly in there. 

[Shuffler]

Was once a fun place to rally. I'd like it to return to what it once was.

[waystin2]

I'd like it to return to what it once was.

Paint me ignorant.  What was it at one time?

[Mister Fork]

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. 

If I'm up in my 109F4 dogfighting a Spit V, I don't have worry about a LA-7 tard diving into the fight.  It might be another SpitV or maybe a P-40E or P-39, but no perked jet or fighter to burn me without a chance to disengage.  And it's VERY interesting to fight historical adversaries with the strengths and weaknesses faced by real pilots for the time frame.

For those who complain about no one being in there, is that you're only excuse? How about some of you guys man-up and put your talent to the test to some of us old farts?
 

 

[hitech]

that the arena is empty because it is empty.

This is a false assumption, the reality is the AvA only appeals to a limited set of players do to many factors. Since there is only a limited number of players it is very difficult to find enough online at one time to have a sustained fight.

HiTech

[wojo71]

So it's a D.A. with pretty maps    

 If it's just about dogfights why bother? we have that.

 When they had the "war" set up a while back I had a blast and stayed in there almost everyday.

My 2 cents......


  Hi to my old squaddie Chilli  
 

[bacon8tr]

Here's what I have found works for me starting with the last AVA tour.  I find myself checking the numbers in the AVA when I first log on.  Usually, there is one or two players in there.  I'll go and peak my head in and see what is going on.  If nobody is in the arena then Ill up a ride.  Usually, with in a matter of minutes someone else comes along, then another and another.  Maybe I've just been lucky with actually finding players or having players show up when I'm there.  I also keep my expectations low of what I want the AVA to be.  In fighting one or two players, and not expecting more to show up, I find myself enjoying the fights that much more.  Is it wrong to have that mind set?  Would I like to see the AVA more populated?  Sure I would.   On another note, a big   to players like Fork and 100Chewi.  Last tour, I had some fun fights against them.  I've enjoyed the challenge of the no icons at low alts this tour.  Try tracking a bandit on your six 100 feet off the ground and he has a camo pattern that blends nicely with the terrain  .  

My apologies if this all sounds like a mindless ramble.  The lil one had me up all night and I can't find the coffee.  

[USCH]

This is a false assumption, the reality is the AvA only appeals to a limited set of players do to many factors. Since there is only a limited number of players it is very difficult to find enough on line at one time to have a sustained fight.

HiTech

No disrespect hitech but i think this is un true. I love AvA but i also love flying with People! like squad mates. I would play Ava all day long if there was more than 0 people in it every day i log on.

A bunch of people in your game and in my squad in particular all came over from Fighter Ace because you had the people. At the start of flying i don't know if any of us though of AH as being a "better" game. After we got hooked we saw the errors of our ways, but the game was not what got us here. It was the fact that we got sick of killing the same 4 guys over and over again all day long.

It is true that people look for there favorate rides and they will not fly without them, so the numbers may not always be as high as the MA. But for it to be empty is more a combination of more than one problem as is often the case with things.

I don't know alot about what people have done to get players into the AvA room but maybe we need some kind of a special event in the room.
Heck i have rarely flown AVA but If the MA's were shut down for the day i bet the room would fill 

No one disagrees that the room is fun and cool. so why don't we play there? its heartbreaking....

Maybe ill fly it for a month no matter what, would anyone come appose the Colleen horde? 

[tf15pin]

I remember a MA server crash a few months back. The crash did not affect the AVA so it became the only option. There ended up being the better part of a hundred guys in there for a few hours. It was one giant roaming furball of mossies, spits, 109's, 110's and 190's.

Maybe we just need some periodic server crashes to promote play in the AvA.

[Shuffler]

Paint me ignorant.  What was it at one time?

At one time you could show up there and find quite a few folks. Fights were usually pretty good. It never had the numbers to accept full squads making it home though.

Same thing that killed AVA is currently at work in MW. Sizeable squad tilting numbers drastically. 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.

[hitech]

No one disagrees that the room is fun and cool. so why don't we play there?

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

[Oldman731]

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

There's no question that a limited-plane-set arena will appeal to a subset of all players.  Inability to fly one's favorite plane, inability to fly with one's squad mates (who in turn won't fly without their favorite planes) are, I think, the two biggest factors that cut down on numbers.  As threads like this demonstrate, lots of people can come up with reasons why they don't want to fly in the AvA, just as I could come up with reasons why I wouldn't want to fly in airplane races or in the DA.

However, you really don't need 300 people to have a great time in any arena, and certainly not in the AvA.  In its heyday it was quite rare to see more than 100 anytime, and typically you had 30-60 people during the most populated times.  That's really all you need.  Look at the fun we've been having on these recent Monday nights with just 18-20 people.

So:  while lots of folks aren't going to find the AvA fun and cool, we're looking for that core group that does.

- oldman

[Yeager]

Th Luftwaffe defeated the RAF and took over the AvA