Why new maps

[The Fugitive]

With a few new threads and comments coming up about "new maps" I'm curious what people think to accomplish with new maps. To me I really don't see any thing wrong with the ones we have. Sure I have a few favorites, as well as a couple that I cringe when I log in and see them up. But to me, there isn't any thing wrong. What are people looking for in a new map?

Something new, I can understand this as it is always fun to see something new, but that wears off quick. The reason being is that all that you see "new" is lay out. Terrain graphics are the same. Same trees, farms, bases and such. I know why that has to be and have no problem with it. So that only leaves layout and with the game play we have now that is unimportant.

Game play, with players only joining large groups of 30+ and rolling over bases layout is unimportant. When missions had smaller groups things like valleys, approaches to bases (up hill or down hill), where the town was situated as compared to the bases and spawns, forest, hedgerows, and base relationship were all factors in figuring out how to run your mission and attack a base. With 30+ players there really isn't a tactics or strategy involved. It's fly strait to the base drop everything and try to get the goon in before defense can arrive from a nearby base.

So what are people looking for in a new map..... really?

[Midway]

With a few new threads and comments coming up about "new maps" I'm curious what people think to accomplish with new maps. To me I really don't see any thing wrong with the ones we have. Sure I have a few favorites, as well as a couple that I cringe when I log in and see them up. But to me, there isn't any thing wrong. What are people looking for in a new map?

Something new, I can understand this as it is always fun to see something new, but that wears off quick. The reason being is that all that you see "new" is lay out. Terrain graphics are the same. Same trees, farms, bases and such. I know why that has to be and have no problem with it. So that only leaves layout and with the game play we have now that is unimportant.

Game play, with players only joining large groups of 30+ and rolling over bases layout is unimportant. When missions had smaller groups things like valleys, approaches to bases (up hill or down hill), where the town was situated as compared to the bases and spawns, forest, hedgerows, and base relationship were all factors in figuring out how to run your mission and attack a base. With 30+ players there really isn't a tactics or strategy involved. It's fly strait to the base drop everything and try to get the goon in before defense can arrive from a nearby base.

So what are people looking for in a new map..... really?

Don't think it's about things being "wrong"... just a desire to improve further on what we already have.  It's human nature to want to improve on what you have and to increase variety for exploring.

[The Fugitive]

Don't think it's about things being "wrong"... just a desire to improve further on what we already have.  It's human nature to want to improve on what you have and to increase variety for exploring.

What are you calling "improving"? Is it better graphics that half the subscribers couldn't/wouldn't use? HTC spent who knows how much time putting in the ground clutter and I'd be surprised if more than 10% of the players use it. It takes a lot of computer to run them, and if you turn them off you seem to have an advantage as people can't "hide" in it. So is HTC suppose to add more eye candy that most will turn off because they play on a laptop and just can't handle it, or because they get an advantage with out using it. More time wasted and it doesn't change the game, or add to it except for that first few days of "new" wears off.

If not graphics, what are you looking for as an "improvement"?

[Midway]

What are you calling "improving"? Is it better graphics that half the subscribers couldn't/wouldn't use? HTC spent who knows how much time putting in the ground clutter and I'd be surprised if more than 10% of the players use it. It takes a lot of computer to run them, and if you turn them off you seem to have an advantage as people can't "hide" in it. So is HTC suppose to add more eye candy that most will turn off because they play on a laptop and just can't handle it, or because they get an advantage with out using it. More time wasted and it doesn't change the game, or add to it except for that first few days of "new" wears off.

If not graphics, what are you looking for as an "improvement"?

Fugitive, we already discussed this.  Whatever I say you tend to counter with saying some people might not like that improvement, etc.

But to give you one example,  there are many opportunities to put more bases close to enemy bases on a map for a greater variety of fights since more conflict situations would exist simultaneously.  Yesterday I had basically one choice for a base to fight rooks and one for fighting knights in fighters.  That's on a large map with likely 200+ bases.

Having 20 choices all in close proximity would be an improvement, imho.  That's one example, I could write much longer to list others as well, but won't.  Just use your imagination on what is possible.  Ask yourself why some make you cringe and some get you excited?

[The Fugitive]

Fugitive, we already discussed this.  Whatever I say you tend to counter with saying some people might not like that improvement, etc.

But to give you one example,  there are many opportunities to put more bases close to enemy bases on a map for a greater variety of fights since more conflict situations would exist simultaneously.  Yesterday I had basically one choice for a base to fight rooks and one for fighting knights in fighters.  That's on a large map with likely 200+ bases.

Having 20 choices all in close proximity would be an improvement, imho.  That's one example, I could write much longer to list others as well, but won't.  Just use your imagination on what is possible.  Ask yourself why some make you cringe and some get you excited?

I too would think that closer bases would help generate MORE fights. On the other hand HTC has stated that when building a map there will not be any bases closer than a sector (or something along those lines). I'm not sure what their reason is but like the "3 side war" I'm sure they know what they are doing.

Trinity is the map you are talking about above. There are only two options, either fight along the shore, or the one valley across to the other country. That map I think was built to generate high alt fights, and it was a fun map when we did that. Todays players want instant action and can't be bothered by all that "grabbing" to alt and organizing a group mission.

I'm not here to "bust your chops" but I will play "devils advocate" and ask what is it you REALLY want?

[icepac]

I'm not sure the current Aces High subscribers would appreciate a new and challenging map because thier gameplay is limited to driving out to camp a spawn or get killed by a spawn camper.

This makes guys like Cptdell fun to fly with when he pulls off a river crossing in a ltv to show up with troops where the enemy never expects it.

[matt]

 2 weeks

[LilMak]

I think the issue with wanting new maps boils down to game play. More and more we're getting bogged down on the same few large maps. The prevailing wisdom in the MA seems to be "win the war" at all costs. So some of the variety (smaller maps) get rolled in an single afternoon and you end up with the large, harder to take, maps being in the rotation longer. Then the fights/hordes/camps all take place in the same areas. You know where and what kind of fights will happen just by looking @ the map. People will hide in the same barn, park on the same hill, fly through the same valley, and bomb the same bases in the same order. It's usually two teams beating up on the third. A lot of that has to do with which side of the map your team gets stuck with.

Trinity is a perfect example. The southern team usually gets thumped by the two northern teams. The two northern teams have a long GV fight in the center of the mountain ranges. The valley south of A1 is crowded. Both southern shore lines can see protracted fights. The southern team is almost always on the defensive unless there is a breakthrough to the terrain on the NE side of the map. Then things can even out a little.

I think it would be pretty cool to have the maps open with a few core bases belonging to each team and the rest just get randomized ownership (even numbers of course). No need to make new maps just change the way territory is dispersed when the terrain comes up. Then there would be a different war on each and every map even if it was the same map every time we reset.

[SWrokit]

Heck.....if anything I'd like to see some of the "Old" maps come back.......like the "BIG" pizza map with the desert ring around it 

<S>
Rokit

[DrBone1]

I watched surfinn degrade and put down Fester last night(even about his maps) I can honestly say I wouldnt blame Fester in the least bit if he erased the whole Map he is working on.


Sad to see so many asking for maps and disrespecting the players who make them.     

[HawkerMKII]

So what are people looking for in a new map..... really?

Maybe a change of landscape once a year or so, not saying there has to be 1 a month. Think about it, the big 3 auto makers saying we have these 10 models of cars and if you want something new design it send it to r/d and we'll see if it's good enough, otherwise you get what we give ya. BTW I am by no means ragging on you, HT or his staff otherwise I would have not been here 10+ years. HT and staff work hard and do a "GREAT" job. I just find myself loggin off more not because of the hordes, bombt's, ho's and all the other bs but cuz I am bored with the maps sorry to say. Besides this web site http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,299792.0.html which show you how to make a basic map, are there any other means to show you in depth on how to make maps? I don't know, maybe it's time I just hang it up!

[Sunka]

I fly planes in this "aces high" game,the sky always looks about the same to me...i could give a rats ... about new maps.Give me the HE 111 before any map.


(edit) in main arena that is.

[pembquist]

Why are maps that I see in the snapshots never in the arenas?  Are they bad for arena play or too small or something?

[JOACH1M]

I watched surfinn degrade and put down Fester last night(even about his maps) I can honestly say I wouldnt blame Fester in the least bit if he erased the whole Map he is working on.


Sad to see so many asking for maps and disrespecting the players who make them.     

+1

I don't see surfinn contributing to the AH community in anyway like fester has.

[Slash27]

Why are maps that I see in the snapshots never in the arenas?  Are they bad for arena play or too small or something?

MA maps are designed for the 3 side war where SEA and AvA maps will represent a historical match up or situation.