As usual i agree with almost all of your content, but for people like me playing WW2 era props only, the 16 vs 16 created the same mess as for players enjoying “Missile thunder” - as the basic rule: “The smaller your lobby, the bigger your potential impact” matters at least on the same level as at top tier.
I mean almost every passionate pilot is playing for fun and looking for the “perfect match” - a mix of challenge (fighting skilled opponents) and potential success in unfavorable conditions (like being outnumbered with ticket disadvantage). So not looking for a high kill number, looking to go for the “right” targets at the “right” time…
The more players in the lobby, the more the outcome of a match turns into a random event (numbers game - TDM) and 16 vs 16 simply reduces the chances for a “perfect match”.
But the changes within Air RB in the last 3-5 years were just aimed to change Air RB into Arcade plus - in order to earn money with an audience (“new” players) looking for instant action and access to Mom &" Dad’s credit card able to buy 60-70$ top tier jets…So from gaijin’s perspective their commercial success prove that they are on the right track, so why should they change anything?
I hope we finally see new ai (especially with SPAA) and new missions types. SB has long been stale with its PvE objectives and many of that could be C&P over to ARB. With the right map sizes and player spawn distribution. PvE could have an impact on an ARB match.
Unfortunately it is not the case with BR 9.3 and below.
The true best map was the old Korea that was gone in 2021 because it wasn’t huge like current 9.xBR maps and it was a map where positioning skills really come into play.
God I miss that map so much. I hate the current stale state where every map is mostly flat and has the same layout. Rocky pillars is a nice change of pace but not common enough, and there’s PLENTY of maps they could use that they don’t (like the Pacific maps. I haven’t seen most of those in several years)
Old forum & maybe some news posts.
They started over a year ago, with their first intentions to improve AI for heli PVE, but it’s clear they’re just doing an overhaul for all vehicles at this point.
MiG Alley was such a fun path to take, Korea was just a well designed map in general. Like I said further up this post, I want the old full roster of maps back with lower playercounts. Imagine Falcons vs Fulcrums in MiG Alley
Btw, does anyone know when they removed a majority of the maps from ARB? I know it was after the bigger runways because I remember flying over the old South Runway on Korea in the FGR.
Yes, but it’s not currently a thing. We have RB on EC maps, but we don’t have ARB gamemode, on EC maps with reduced playercount and 3 spawn locations rather than the 1 airfield. Objectives are also not spread out
What. Lmao that’s the whole suggestion for fixing Air RB.
The problem right now is you spawn directly opposite each other, fly forwards for 5 mins, blow up anyone who has a worse plane, die.
There’s not a lot or room for any kind or gameplay to happen beyond direct headons.
Make the maps have 3 spawn points so you’re not just doing a head-on fight all the time, drop the playercount to 10v10, make the maps all EC maps, and then spread the objectives out so people dont converge into one giant furball.
2-3 AFs so that the teams spawn more from a wider front would be good. ARB maps are essentially long and thin with people taking off and heading in a straight line to the enemy AF. Except for those skirting the edge. More spawn points widens the engagement front
They do it in Sim, not sure why not in Air RB. For WW2 era and early jets I can sort of understand, but even then, I think every single map would benefit from lower playercounts, wider maps with different spawns, and a shift in where objectives are so it spreads people out.
The last thing this game needs is AIM120s when we’re just Ace Combating each other.
Personally think that it would be better if there was 2 kinds of bases, too.
The normal bases, which blowing them up gives you the regular reward, and tougher bases requiring more bombs but directly effect enemy ticket count. That or just replace the bombable bases with the tougher ones at high BR.
That way you can put strategic bombers in game without them being a complete stomp. Having bombers would actually benefit the team and make it a good thing to protect.
Could allow planes like B1 lancer, Avro Vulcan, etc to be in the game. Big possibilities.