What is the purpose of a "AA Community"?

[Tbar]

'SQUADS' have squad sites. This site as well as GE and UKAA for example are "Community Sites" which has a different reason for existence than a squad site. So I simply ask.. What is the purpose of a "AA Community?

You are probably at this point wondering where this is going. I'm looking for some input from the perspective of the user.. YOU.


1) Posting on forums..."Nationalists/patriots need to have a place where they can share their views..." /Aegle
2) Helping New Players
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

9)

[H@wk]

It should all go to the CLP forum for AA, other communities also list's other games to play besides AA.

There should be only 1 AA community.

[Goofy aka Carbine]

to be honest i asked that question to someone before

never really got an answer but i think its dumb there is really no point

Goofy

[Tbar]

It should all go to the CLP forum for AA, other communities also list's other games to play besides AA.

There should be only 1 AA community.

Hawk,

I shared your opinion BEFORE the USAAC was started up. The CLP and power that be disagreed. There reason for disagreeing was that there purpose was to supply the 'access only' per some type of agreement with Kit.. not to be a community or forum site. Additional.. they felt at the time "communities" could speak as a 'regional' voice and understand the needs of their members better, etc.   Also things like Fun Events would be better handled by "communities" and their Primary Time Zones.

The only Community site I know of that also does "other" games.. is UK.

Goofy,

If there is "no point" and its "dumb".. why are you always posting here? :)  Fact is you participate with two communities a lot..
Just asking.. :)

/tbar

[foil]

There already is only one air attack community.  Just that we have nowhere to go where we can all sit down and chat without getting nationalistic about it.

Well, we can't help it if there are no forums on the CLP. 

[Aegle]

Nationalists/patriots need to have a place where they can share their views about their national superiority and pride in their country's achievements without having to face the discomfort of being contradicted.

Community web sites are also a great venue for those of us who have nothing better to do than spend our lives playing and talking about a game. It enables us to create a virtual world within which we can feel important.

 

[shrapnel]

Damn it Aegle. Did you have to shove a pin in my balloon of self importance. Oh well, I guess we all need to face a little humility once in a while.   

As for why we need communities it could be argued that a central community would suffice but it seems that most of us feel comfortable with having our own national home and we seem to be enjoying the experience so why knock it.

[Gunfighter]

I think its cool to be able to talk and post subjects on something that is fun and different from everyday life.  Amazing to me the amount of people who actually like this game, and I love the fact that there is somewhere to read all the chit everyone writes about this game and real life too. It truly takes all kinds, from all over the world. Gunny

[Temper]

Putting forums on the CLP was discussed a long time ago, before the US community was formed. The UK and TAA guys didn't want to do this, because their own forums would slow down, and I believe they are right.

If there were public forums on the CLP, you guys that like to argue in here would have to argue with the Brits and Germans as well. I'm not sure that would be a good thing.

Tbar, Ketsujin has absolutely nothing to do with this. Your information is incorrect.

[Tbar]

Temper,

Lets update you and all the readers a little bit. As you have probably guessed by now there is a reason for this post.. its not only to 'inform' but to collect information and find out what some 'fears' might be .. to be addressed and put to rest later.

The server the CLP is on now is a super computer. It can handle 50 times what it does now (relative). That server is short is powerful. It could handle all communities, all squad sites, and more. No problem.

CLP wants to support communities, not absorb them. CLP understands sentiments of Aegle, Shrap, Tbar, etc.. understands that 'regional' thing and Time Zone considerations. The Brits have they way, The GE have their way.. and USAAC has its way. True that we interact when needed or dersired.. and some of us 'ghost' all the forums for 'information' etc.

A ONE community system existed for a long time.. for those that can remember it made some feel like outsiders. A one community system has far fewer people involved. This leads to too much power and decision making in a few hands. Multiple community systems gets more people involved.. more ideas..enhanced and better ways of doing things.

More BrainPower.

There are now advantages to use the CLP computer to enhance the information flow that is common to all of us regardless of community.

Would you like to see a one step registration system for everything outside the Ketsujin-Billing system (that first account you have to make to play on the kit server)? Would you like to see where registering on the CLP automatically registers you for all communities.. one step? This type of system would result in MORE participation within the communities.

There are many other advantages.

Maybe.. one day.. soon.

[Tbar]

ok.. so posting etc is great

How about helping new players? Should that not be one of the primary purpose of a community?

[Tbar]

Too Bad Unfair Advantage came about the same time or shortly after this post.. cuz UA took all the attention :)

How would you like a one log in system for all of AA? Register on the CLP.. and your registered at all communities and their systems. Nice for new folks eh?

[shrapnel]

I've been thinking about this and it seems to me there are two very useful things that USAAC could either add to it's function or improve upon. They are new pilot help and events.

First new pilots. I have noticed that even if you subtract the old timers who are pretending to be new there are a fair number of new pilots appearing in the rooms. I also notice a lot of frustration as they try to learn while being killed repeatedly. Some make it through and gradually improve but others I think fall by the wayside. I know that the Rooks, BSS and AA play a major role by taking in new pilots and training them but is it enough? My belief is that what they need is a home where they can feel protected to some extent by veteran pilot mates while learning to fend for themselves. In a squad containing only rookies they cannot effectively compete against established squads. I think it would be much more effective if each of the established squads took in a certain number of apprentice pilots. In this way the new pilots would belong to a squad they could be proud of and be a part of with comrades who are able to give them training while also supporting and defending them.

Events have played a useful purpose in the past by offering variety and competition to break the monotony of flying by oneself in the ffa arena or flying with different people each time in teams. Lately, however, there has been a drop in attendance and listening to the chat it appears that people are becoming bored with these events. My personal opinion is that these events lack excitement because the teams are not permanently established. League matches on the other hand are more enjoyable because squads are competing in them. It is much more exciting to be fighting for your own squad with the same mates each time. There is a greater adrenaline rush from striving to get a win for your squad than just competing as individuals. Perhaps more thought should be given to having week day squad contests or even inter squad training sessions.

It's late at night and I haven't worded all this very carefully but I think there is food for thought and it might be an idea for us to get together on TeamSpeak to toss a few ideas around.

[Tbar]

Shrap,

Your getting dangerous :)

First point you make. Excellent. Spot on. IMHO
It has been a pet project of mine for some time to get new pilots.. into a 'squad like' environment so they can experience  winging and overall team work. I feel for the most part new pilots are .. run off. Frustration etc.  A variation to your suggestion Shrap that each squad take on a few rooks is to have the USAAC take on this responsibility.. and ask the squads to loan out an instructor once a week. This could be coordinated by the USAAC.  Either way.. new folks benefit as well as the community. The USAAC shoiuld give this some thought and develop a program.

Your comments on Events are also to my line of thinking with some slight variation. Any lack of attendance right now is mostly due to a slowdown within AA in total right now. It happens every year on the USA side with the coming of summer etc. Variety with the Fun Events is planned at USAAC and there is some merit to what you say about pilots being bored with the same events. I might also say that some pilots look forward to certain events and would probable voice disappointment should we take one of the regular events out of the lineup.. even so.. we need to do this as variety is a spice we like.

The USAAC should do more for 'new pilots'. One of the 'purposes' of a community IMHO should include a program to reach out to new pilots.. get them involved.. and get them help. We will be doing more with Events, right now we are building that team and settling in.

Good Brain Power.. good constructive input. Tks!

/tbar

[Tbar]

Perhaps a community such as the USAAC should be much more helpful for new squads starting up. ?