With all the talk of fights, no fights, some fights, few fights I've wondered why the DA is so avoidable for some folks when fights are so available there. 3 v 3, 1 v 1 etc etc. You can get all you want from anyone you'd like to fight, friendly or not, challenged, or just some practice with a friend.
As a squad we spend a lot of time there and unlike some people suggest, we don't do it to practice our "tricks" or use F3 or whatever other BS some avoiders use. This is not just the Muppets...its the BK's, the 80th, some AK's and even Skyrr has been known to come play. We all do it because its the only place to get an unadulterated, even fight. The only advantage the people that actually go there have is that they learn to fight and when the need arises, don't run from a fight by making laughable excuses to protect their fragile egos in the MA or the DA. They find no need to rationalize an excuse like tricks, F3, E fighting advantage, etc etc etc.
In the end, most players accept DA invitations and prove they are willing to fight or at least attempt to learn, actually end up earning some respect for fighting instead of working just as hard to come up with new and poignant excuses for their panzyness. More importantly, they make a few friends.
So, what's your excuse?
You know I have no excuses. Though I do carry a few choice observations and explanations.
Those who know me know that I have been flying in the DA for some time. Other than on the VOX channels I frequent, I tend to keep my mouth shut -- as opposed to opening it and securing my spot in the hierarchy of stupidity. I would like to think that I am known as one who doesn't HO on the first merge, one that always gives a man a chance and would never see fit to take an unfair advantage, one who loses with grace, one is never afraid to be a bit self deprecating in pointing out my errors, and generally an honorable fighter in all meetings if nothing else. Though all these things tend to get me killed.
With that being said, just because I choose to not HO, I do not expect that from others. I choose to fly without enemy icons on most of the time, and always fly from 1st person, even in bombers, I turn off tracers(except in practice (though this is a bit of an advantage as well)). This does not mean that I expect others to do these things -- this just makes the game fun for me personally.
Like in chess, you get better by competing against the worst odds. Like in football, you don't have to catch it with 2 feet in bounds until you make it pro, but the best do it in high school, and even though it counts when they don't, it is taken as a personal failure non-the-less.
I guess my point is, don't worry about what other people are doing. If they are "gaming-the-system" they are cheating themselves, not you. You can also easily avoid engagements with those people if you are not comfortable with their tactics.
I don't know that the DA is more or less challenging then the MA -- I think it can best be described as a more subjective experience, meaning: it is what you make it.
I like the simulation aspects of the game (so much so that I have created and use checklists, an AFD((general info that I have collected over the years(channels and desc., annotatedClipboardMaps, etc.), and created a document that fits on my kneeboard), and "Plates"), and I try to make that my focus (<<<subjective piece)-- I tend not to concern myself with others methods -- unless they seem like something that I can add to my own. Always happy to listen and try new things though.
Over the years I have heard a lot of complaining about the tactics in the DA, and I have had my own frustrations from time to time -- though I think overall those of us that fly there the most often are a good group of guys always willing to take a fight -- no matter how many times we lose -- or what time of the morning it is.
I think I can make a fairly good argument that we have created -- within our ranks -- a fair amount of "good sticks" now flying in the MA most of the time, that would have otherwise left the game early on in their tenure.
The real benefit of the DA I think (remember(my advice is worth what you are paying for it)) is that it makes you comfortable fighting 4 or 5 or 6 people, and choosing your targets, and using your E, ammo, and fuel wisely. So where others would be on the deck at 150mph after a fight; and turn to run when they are low on ammo, 2 kills in the pocket, and see 3 fighters headed for them with speed; DA guys tend to turn into them and go to work. Though this isn't always a good idea, it turns out better than one would think most of the time. And it's a lot of fun!
So in the end, it is a great training tool, a great place to learn, the fastest way to find a fight, and a great place to hang out.
