"Mission Theater" Concerns and Questions.

[CptTrips]

I like the idea of this arena if for no other reason than Laz doesn't.

I don't see why they couldn't have a series of missions with staggered start times so there is always a mission starting every 5 min or so.

Anyway, sounds interesting.  I look forward to hearing more.

Regards,
Wab

[peterg2]

First of all, HTC put up that announcement for a reason...to stimulate discussion in these boards. It takes a heck of a lot new coding to do what they're planning. And if there's lots of negative discussion in the BB, then HTC will know there might be a problem with their concept plans. eskimo2.

As far as enemy opposition, I can only speculate that it might be a combination of AI and manned enemies. But, if there is no one else in the arena, then it would be definitly all AI. In essence it would probably be a co-op mission arena. So you and your squadies might be battling it out with AI CAP or whatever.

So, I have mixed feelings about an AI co-op arena. I can fly IL2 Sturmovik with some buddies in co-op mode. I can fly in campaign mode. I can also do the same with Falcon4.

But, the mission arena, if it were populated with enough manned pilots would be a cool idea.

[Sabre]

Originally posted by lazs2
sabre.. I don't think you go far enough with a "system anouncement" in the MA ten minutes before a "missun"  I really think that the map/clipboard needs to be on a toggle so that you can instantly see what is going on in every arena and...  have instant access.   I really don't think people will use the arena if they have to log out of one and then log back into another.

The guys that are happy doing nothing will just stay in the "missun" arena all the time  (why be flustered flyin with the cretins in the MA for any reason?)  and those who might like a change of pace from the MA will be having too much fun most of the time to go to all the trouble to "check out" the "missun arena".  Without an easy way to switch arenas..... it seems doomed to be like every other seperate arena idea I have ever seen.
lazs

Actually, Lazs, an announcement is all that is needed, if what HiTech has been saying in the Gameplay forum comes to pass.  The missions, according to HiTech, will start every 30 minutes like clockwork.  So a system message reminding MA patrons is all that is necessary.  The only other info that would be useful to someone in the MA is the number of people currently flying in the Mission Theater.  You won't be able to join a mission in progress after a certain time, and what the map shows during a mission won't be of any use to someone in the MA in deciding whether to switch arenas.  Being able to jump directly for a field in the MA to a field in the MT is superfluous as well, since launch fields are set by the mission.

On the surface, it would seem a nice feature if you could at least look at the missions coming up in the MT from the MA clipboard, but there's an obvious problem with that.  In order to preserve the immersion and uncertainty of MT missions, you don't want one side to be able to see the details of the other side's missions, so you can't post them in the MA.  The fact is, the MT is a role-playing arena (HiTech's words), so the inter-arena visibility you desire is uncessary.  People will generally log on knowing they plan to fly in the MT.So I just don't agree with you...instant access is not necessary, and the lack of it will not impact the MT.  As I see it, the only one who would find it too much trouble to log out for a moment to see what the numbers are in other arenas is you...though since you don't care for the other arenas available to you, I don't see why instant access is even on your wish list.

[lazs2]

You may be right sabre...  As some have pointed out... I probly won't fly in the arena in any case.    I seriously doubt  it can be any fun....   rank..medals?  Ai... people telling me what to do?   ya gotta be kidding..

I guess I was thinking it would be a good feature for other arenas.  I do think you are wrong or... shortsighted if you think that the only person in AH that would dislike checking out of one arena and then checking into another (just to see what is going on) is me.   Looking at the numbers in the CT..... I mean, are you saying that the CT or any other arena wouldn't benifiet from instant access?
lazs

[Sabre]

...are you saying that the CT or any other arena wouldn't benifiet from instant access?

No, that's not what I'm saying.  Let me put it this way. For the MT, I don't believe it's an issue.  For other arenas I agree (as I've said on previous occasions) that visibility from one arena to another would be a very beneficial.  Being able to jump directly from one to another?  Convenient, yes, but secondary to being able to "see" into the other arena.  It is only the difference between one mouse click (for single-click arena change) versus three (what we have now).  If the coding is not too arduous, then by all means, implement "click and switch" arena hopping.

[eskimo2]

You saw it here first folks, Lazs, Sabre and eskimo having a civil conversation!

The BB is becoming disappointing.

eskimo

[lazs2]

sabre... it is not simply the difference between 1 mouse click and three.   It is the difference between one community and two at the most and the difference between tracking what is going on easily and siimply not checking out an arena brecause it is too much trouble at the least.    I really don't care about the "missun" arena that much but it would be nice to effortlessly check in and see what the setup was rather than a generic  "next missun starts in ten minutes" message.  Heck.. they may even come up with one that is fun....   There is allways the obvious and only "historic" one that works..... BOB.
lazs

[Blindman]

The only reason I can see for having instant access
(especially coming from lazs) is to join the MT when
 there is a possiblility of a furball.

A players MT life will be affected by someone with no
reguard for anything but a quick furball fix, die and go
back to MA furball till the next one appears in the MT

but maybe have MT updates in the MA on the clipboard
mission planner, which mission (no details tho),
time to start and who won

and this thought
maybe the ablility to join a MT mission from the MA like a
regular MA mission and aslong as you are in the MA
tower at the start time, it will take you to MT

[Sabre]

The only reason I can see for having instant access
(especially coming from lazs) is to join the MT when
there is a possiblility of a furball.

A players MT life will be affected by someone with no
reguard for anything but a quick furball fix, die and go
back to MA furball till the next one appears in the MT

but maybe have MT updates in the MA on the clipboard
mission planner, which mission (no details tho),
time to start and who won

and this thought
maybe the ablility to join a MT mission from the MA like a
regular MA mission and aslong as you are in the MA
tower at the start time, it will take you to MT.[/B]

No such thing as a quick furball in the MT, and no way to join one already in progress.  Listing generic mission types has some merit; it might or might not be okay.  It depends on what the side-balancing and switching rules are.  For immersion's sake, do you want to know why you're being ordered to CAP a facility?  Knowing it's a bomber strike versus a Jabo strike versus a SEAD strike versus an interdiction strike can take away quite a bit of the uncertainty...too much perhaps.

sabre... it is not simply the difference between 1 mouse click and three. It is the difference between one community and two at the most and the difference between tracking what is going on easily and siimply not checking out an arena brecause it is too much trouble at the least. I really don't care about the "missun" arena that much but it would be nice to effortlessly check in and see what the setup was rather than a generic "next missun starts in ten minutes" message. Heck.. they may even come up with one that is fun.... There is allways the obvious and only "historic" one that works..... BOB.
lazs

I'll repeat it one more time.  Visibility from one arena to another (i.e. "tracking what is going on") is desireable and beneficial.  Having one-click ability to jump from one arena to another -- instead of the three clicks it takes to move from one arena to another now -- will have no impact on arena population IMO.  The visibility is the key ingredient.  Since we've already agreed on that much, let's just agree to disagree on the one-click issue while the discourse is still civil.

[lazs2]

blindman... yes... some "missuns" may be more desirable than others for me and my ilk.   I believe that HTC may even tailor a few for the less anal  crowd now and then.     I am not sure but...  it appears that you are saying that my going to the "missun" arena is not a good thing and that I should be kept out because I am not "role playing"  and would spoil your fun by..... by what?   Not acting the way you think I should?    Or maybe.... Not "historical"?   Or.... maybe you just feel that compared to the "avoid any fair fight at all costs" crowd I am simply too unskilled to play in your arena?    This is sounding more and more CT every day.    
lazs

[Turbot]

I was given to think the Mission Theather does not yet exist.   This begs the question: Who in this thread knows what they are talking about?

[Rude]

I think you guys just like to pee on each others shoes.

Why not wait until it's released and THEN criticize, complain and whine about it?

[Blindman]

ROFLMA lazs

[Yeager]

When the setup is right, like it is now, the CT blows the MA away for my taste.  Couple of people were really handling their rides excellently last night.  The MA is suited for blissfull ignorance and yes, the vast majority are out for surefire mindless quickies.   Nothing wrong with that.........

However, in the CT most people seem to be in there for the thrill of the tactical hunt.  Of course there will always be the dweeby similarities between any arena with people in it but if you find large obnoxious crowds in the MA and less than brilliant connects starting to sour you, check out the current CT setup.  Sweet!  Early planes enabled at inner fields and the later era planes enabled farther out towards the perimeter of map.  Excellent map too.  Connects sweet and I havent had a CTD yet in the CT.