Old pilots returning to the game and the bad welcomes they receive.

[TANK]

Yes Tulla, I hate to agree with you and we really shouldn't just use one option, but the problem is there is mainly one one guy taking care of the technical aspect.
You also know that when it comes to involvement of the community, it starts with great enthusiasm and than slowly dies.

We have to make sure that we have enough guides active and interested in helping new pilots. I mean this new pilots are also our future and maybe soon your wing you flying in events since the best place to recruit is a arena with new pilots.
When was the last time you did see someone with a "Guide" tag flying around ?

Currently I'm a bit busy with the upcoming 2squad league, but after it has started the problem with the new pilots is the next thing to do.
There was once at handbook for new pilots which explains a lot stuff about the planes, arenas....
This would be nice to see as video to watch, since not many would read that stuff but would be also available soon to read. Madman did with such a thing a good start and now look where it is. Forgotten somewhere at the UK club.

Many things needs to be done and adjusted to solve that problem or make it better. Continuous effort is the way to the goal, not the short action. Thats also one reason why nothing happens in this case.

[shrapnel]

Let us not forget that there are people who have and still are doing something about recruiting and training new pilots. As Tullamore_Dew pointed out a number of new squads have arisen over the past several months. BSS began as a training squadron with Tbar and Joker at the helm. BSS then became an independent competing squad and Joker broke away with another squadron; Ravens which is also about ready to compete. Air Assassins began as a training squadron but is now beginning to show as an operational squad. TEA started under the patronage of Farkas and is steadily building in numbers and skill. So a few individuals have proven that the game is not stagnant and that growth is possible.

These efforts have also proven another point made by Tullamore_Dew that new pilots not only need training they also need a home in which they can have continuous support and encouragement. What has also been proven I think is that a new squad needs the support and assistance of the other established squads. Otherwise those who are trying to build can find themselves battling against political resentments and rivalries that create artificial barriers to success. While progress will always be dependent on dedicated individuals these individuals will have more hope of success if they act together as part of a dynamic community.

What I am saying is that the true value of having Air Attack organizations like the German, British and US communities is to provide a means through which individual efforts can be chanelled and supported. Where all the squads within each community can assist and support each other in order to strengthen the game. The US community with the cooperation of the squads that are registered with it is presently considering the best way to give community support to new pilots and new squads. We hope to develop something that will not only provide new pilots with training but help them to survive and feel welcome. It would also be nice, if as a community we provided the tools and support needed for new squads to be created and to grow.

Tank has obviously put a lot of thought into this issue and has also put forward some innovative interesting ideas. I have attempted to outline the role I think communities can play in this endeavour but, as Tank has said, there is a need for the administration to support and assist the communities by providing the means to identify new pilots and to channel them in the right direction.

I think this topic is one of the most useful debates in the Air Attack community because the strength of the game and its future is bound in recruiitment and squad growth. I hope the thoughts and ideas continue to flow and that something constructive will grow from it. I also hope that it will encourage existing squads to support their communities in helping and supporting new pilots and new squads.

[JoKeR]

I have to agree with Tanks idea, I think it would be the best option for new pilots joining Air Attack.  A lot of the game had restriction on new player mixing with experienced players.  I would, in my opinion, wait till a new pilot reached the rank of SqL or WCo before allowing a new pilot to mix in with FFA.  However, in teams I think any rank would be fine as long as the new pilot understands that it's a different game in team play.

I'm sure there are only certain restrictions that can be made, but anything is better than what the new guys are receiving now in FFA.

[FoxCR]

I have to agree with Tanks idea, I think it would be the best option for new pilots joining Air Attack.  A lot of the game had restriction on new player mixing with experienced players.  I would, in my opinion, wait till a new pilot reached the rank of SqL or WCo before allowing a new pilot to mix in with FFA.  However, in teams I think any rank would be fine as long as the new pilot understands that it's a different game in team play.

I'm sure there are only certain restrictions that can be made, but anything is better than what the new guys are receiving now in FFA.




And as far as what new guys receive in ffa? They receive other people to play with.....

What other guys are receiving? Well joker, when was the last time you came in to fly at 11oclock at night and saw 15 players in teams huh? Ya, it doesn't happen..When a new player wants to play late at night ffa is usually the only room with players in it!And you want to take that option away from them?
Let's see how long that idea lasts..

And as far as what new guys receive in ffa? They receive other people to play with.....

[JoKeR]

What they receive Fox is a beating. New guys don't deserve that.  What they need is instruction and time to learn the game before mixing it up with experienced pilots.  The problem is if one of these new guys just happen to get a kill on some really hot shot experienced pilot, that experience goes to there head and they have to go shoot the new guy time and time again to make sure he knows who's boss in the house.  Why???  Why spawn n all the way across the map just to hunt down some new guy???   I know that it happens, I see it all the time. It happens to me.  I get lucky once in a while and make a kill or two and I get pounded for the rest of the night.  That's why you will most likely find me in the team arena and not FFA.   

New guys need a break and so do some of the older guys getting back into the game.

[FoxCR]

What they receive Fox is a beating. New guys don't deserve that.  What they need is instruction and time to learn the game before mixing it up with experienced pilots.  The problem is if one of these new guys just happen to get a kill on some really hot shot experienced pilot, that experience goes to there head and they have to go shoot the new guy time and time again to make sure he knows who's boss in the house.  Why???  Why spawn n all the way across the map just to hunt down some new guy???   I know that it happens, I see it all the time. It happens to me.  I get lucky once in a while and make a kill or two and I get pounded for the rest of the night.  That's why you will most likely find me in the team arena and not FFA.   

New guys need a break and so do some of the older guys getting back into the game.

Listen man, It's not that im trying to argue with you and i understand your point, but isnt that how 99% of online games are today? New players get beat down and especially when its just 2 or 3 people in the room... The fact remains is that there isn't 50-100 players at anytime of the day like there was in 1.5. And alot of times teams has noone playing in it so everybody goes to ffa..

I've hunted and i've been hunted m8 from both experienced pilots and so called "Newpilots" lol... I've always loved ffa so i just deal with it for the most part.. I will help new players as much as i can without a problem anyday of the week.. But sometimes, you never know who is really a rook and who is just acting like one.. I get targeted like everybody else in this game man, only difference is i don't complain about it on the forums.. I just kill them back 
The new players will learn just like we did joker...

[TANK]

Some may like it, some may don't but administration goes for it and excludes the new pilots from experienced.
I mean we can't make it more worse than it is right now.
So far this is a fact now.

Changes may happen soon (2-3 weeks) and I hope it works out after some time.

More information about this major change coming soon.
Just have to finish first some other things and of course prepare everything for that.

[smokin64]

why don't you just point the new guys to the new pilot and training rooms with some sort of more visible banner . wasn't there a training room where trainers would be in that room, for training at certain times and it showed on the launch page that it was open for training with so and so as instructor. and another banner or something telling new pilots that the full arena's have highly skilled pilots in them people need those arena's to test there new skills as they learn them . and joker m8 you talk of people targeting new pilots yes it happens m8, but Ive seen as many old timers helping the new guys. ffa is hard to help somebody new but i think a warning header or banner should at least be tried  before changing things to drastically. i mean you cant make somebody stay out of certain arena's that may turn some off in itsself.   

[TANK]

I was thinking once about a warning header for FFA, but first we know they doesn't read at all (maybe the excitement) and second what for warning you need after getting shot 10 times without knowing why, seeing the plane or having fired a single shot.

If something doesn't work automatically. you can bet that 80% doesn't see, read or follow your suggestions.
Above the place where you join the arena you have the support button. There is also for new pilots visible a button to contact the guides and ask them for help or a trainings session.
Nearly nobody did use that and when you look at the questions some new pilots have in the arenas, than you realise that they didn't read anything before starting and joining the game.
Enough documentation is now available and really good visible for new pilots, but hidden after a certain rank to avoid annoying experienced pilots with basic stuff.

[skullbonz]

Maybe I am not on the right track here but why not let rookies have access to all planes like veterans have? A rooky has a hard enough time fighting anyone as is,maybe this would give them a better chance. It seems to me that it is pretty unfair that a noob has to fight a k-4 with a spit 9 or something similar,it takes them months to advance to the level that you recieve access to these planes.
   Also here is a recomendation to all you hotshot pilots that continually fly GE k-4's and dominate the arena,If you really want to show how skilled you are fly something different for a change  and show us truely how skilled you might be. My bet is most of ya wouldn't cut it. I like flying GE planes also,with several other experienced pilots it is not hard to ground the opposition but it's not very challenging to me so I usually fly the opposition and try to take out as many of you's as I can. 
                                                       

[TANK]

Rookies can select since months all planes in FFA.
If he has no tag with a higher score than 29, he can select all planes.
After one account has a score of 29 or more it goes back to normal and only the tag with more than a score of 29 can select all planes in FFA.
A score of 29 is needed to have a big plane.

Didn't help at all, since skill is needed and the plane using comes at the 2nd place.

The K4 is only a superior plane if you really know how to fly it.
In FFA the K4 is not the best plane since you have to hit with the 30mm or you get no kill and a plane above you is much more dangerous when you fly a K4.
In teams the K4 is mostly above other planes, but high altitude and speed leads not always to a win. Once hit, the K4 can't get away easy and if a K4 is lower than the enemy plane it needs truly skills to win that situation.
Besides that, not many play the K4 in FFA. Only in teams they think it is an advantage, but quickly change when they see it is not.
The guys playing really good in a K4 are sure great with LA-7 or P-51 too and after playing many years sure they are good in all planes.
If the K4 is not challenging to you, try to play a 1on1 against someone good in that plane and you see.