Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

[Sloi sauce]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

And yes, a crew of two good players on VOIP will always be better than one good soloer, but this sort of teamwork is not always a possibility.

That's not always true.

Before getting banned from R|A for giving an admin a piece of my mind (and TV), I repeatedly took down two-man teams... and the Raging Angels servers is the new FHM/CLU/CMx: all the chopper whores go there.

If the two-man team's pilot plays proper range games and has a head on his shoulders, the soloer is definitely at a disadvantage. But if the soloer can predict the other pilot's movement, he can launch a TV before they're even in range and take them down.

I know, I did it plenty of times lately.

[LaikaSB]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

Actually to those morons who use real life as an excuse to whine. In real life, the pilot can take over the functions of the weapons officer. On his own seat! Isnt that wicked kool?!?!?!?

Thats sweet. Maybe its coming for the 1.5 patch? Oh, they should also increase the heli's armor to that of a tank's, make TV missiles shoot four miles, and give the pilot the ability to eject gunners into the middle of nowhere!

[Sloi sauce]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

and give the pilot the ability to eject gunners into the middle of nowhere!

I know you meant that sarcastically, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. There's obviously potential for abuse, but when the gunner can't hit the broad side of a barn (that's assuming he's actually firing the TV, and doing so when appropriate), it's either a purposeful crash or redlining: if we're going to be forced to commit the latter, I'd much rather have the option of ejecting the player without causing him a death.

[.Churr.]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

Yay! Another soloing thread :)

[CobraBall]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

Most poor gunners simply hop in for the ride, having no clue what they are doing. Now that is a detriment.

No kidding. If I had a dime for everytime I got a gunner that didn't even realize there are TV missiles, I'd be rich.

it's either a purposeful crash or redlining: if we're going to be forced to commit the latter, I'd much rather have the option of ejecting the player without causing him a death.

If I get pissed off enough, I'll just roll the chopper into an inverted dive and eject. Screw it. That'd be a great feature in theory but like the punish feature, it'd be abused more often than not.

[LaikaSB]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

I know you meant that sarcastically, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. There's obviously potential for abuse, but when the gunner can't hit the broad side of a barn (that's assuming he's actually firing the TV, and doing so when appropriate), it's either a purposeful crash or redlining: if we're going to be forced to commit the latter, I'd much rather have the option of ejecting the player without causing him a death.

My thought is that the ultimate solution is to implement a license system. In order to be able to enter a chopper you should have to pass some sort of proficiency test. (Wasnt that your idea?)

[Sloi sauce]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

My thought is that the ultimate solution is to implement a license system. In order to be able to enter a chopper you should have to pass some sort of proficiency test. (Wasnt that your idea?)

Yes, I mentioned something like that several times. A multi-level licensing system with prioritization based on particular level would solve many problems.

[wtrtwnguy]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

If by detriment of others, you mean the benefit of others, then I totally agree.

Would you fools rather be raped over and over and over by armor whores because the gunner in the chopper doesnt even know how to use the tv, let alone aim it effectively? If you are good enough to solo, chances are you will do better by yourself than with any given player. Most poor gunners simply hop in for the ride, having no clue what they are doing. Now that is a detriment.

They could benefit others if they were supporting other ground forces (i.e. supporting forward moving forces, helping defend flags...) , rather than going on solo rampages (flying around the map and shooting at the next best target). Armor wh0res are not an issue. So easy to take them out. Would prefer being "raped" by them any time than having a solo pilot boosting his ego and stats.

That being said, I would not have any problems with solo pilots who are team players, but experience has shown that does not happen very often.

As far as licensing goes: choppers are expensive & really not meant to be expendable, the way they are used in the game. How about taking off 10 team points for every crashed chopper?

[PTGKillAllFools]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

If you purposely avoid gunners and such then it's a problem, but if you get into a chopper with nobody around then go for it.

[LaikaSB]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

Haha, "solo rampages".

Yeah, non-teamwork oriented soloers arent much help to the team, but thats the case with any type of non-teamwork oriented player.

If Im soloing, I always take out the biggest threats to me first (AA, other choppers), then I take out the biggest threats to the ground troops. Any time someone spots armor near the front lines, I get there AFAP and take it out. Another thing I always do is defend flags once they go neutral. Nothing is more fun than using a TV missile to take out a lone wolf enemy capping some flag way behind the front lines.

As for your experience with solo pilots rarely being team players, I have to say that in my experience, soloers are usually helping troops on the front lines more often than not. I do hate it though when someone takes the chopper to the enemy uncap and just rapes it til they get shot down.

[Sloi sauce]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

I fail to see the difference between teamworking and non-teamworking soloers: the reality is, any proficient soloer will be taking down attack helis, tanks, apcs and other vehicles in quick succession. That alone makes the team's job incredibly easier...

I can't even count how many times I've turned Dalian around for USMC or PLA, and I wasn't exactly doing it to help the team, to be honest: it was just a very beneficial side-effect of my actions. If I'm on the latter team, we eventually beat USMC back to the carrier and at that point, it's over.

[FPS[VT_NERD]]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

I hate air whores. Get on the ground, and fight me like a man.

I agree.

But on topic....
This is actually a debate going on in the SO Lounge and also amongst our admins. I've got some clan members who swear up and down that it's an exploit and that EA said so in the RoC. I can't find it in the RoC and I dunno where they got that idea from. Personally I always thought solo'ing was ok.

[djk12587]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

I agree with Sloi... and Herm Edwards http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMk5sMHj58I

"You play to win the game" A crappy gunner does not help the team win. A pilot who can solo efficiently takes out all vehicles, which helps the team more than a pilot flying around with a gunner who shoots the chain gun at buildings and tanks.

[san4]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

I've seen solo chopper pilots who are deadlier than 2-man teams. My worst enemy (Michel-Maurer) killed me 11 times flying the chopper solo while I was in mobile AA.

As a mobile AA whore, my concern is that I can lose my missile lock when a pilot switches seats. It's only happened to me once or twice (in 160 hours in mobile AA), so I'm not even sure it really happens. Does anyone know for sure if switching seats breaks a mobile AA missile lock? It's unfair if it does. That aspect of soloing is basically an exploit.

Nevertheless, I don't think servers should ban soloing. There's no reason to. I think what I really want is an apology from every solo chopper pilot who ever killed me in mobile AA.

[Chris_Redfield]

Re: Chopper soloing: a problem or an art?

Thats sweet. Maybe its coming for the 1.5 patch? Oh, they should also increase the heli's armor to that of a tank's, make TV missiles shoot four miles, and give the pilot the ability to eject gunners into the middle of nowhere!

For someone who uses "real life" as an excuse to *****, whine and moan, you sure did handle my response well... NOT [/borat].

The whole argument about teamworking and nonteamworking soloer is stupid by default. Unless the soloer is actively baseraping only, hes already working for the team. The priority of his targets benefit some more than others, and the targets are always vehicles, then infantry.

Ive always used the old truth. A bad gunner or a bad pilot hinders the fun of the 31 players on his team by under-utilizing the most powerful weapon in the game. If someone wants to have selfish fun, its fine. But if someone tries to go for the "fun" argument, or "selfishness" argument, consider a newbie under-utilizing a weapons platform more selfish than someone whos actions benefit the whole team.

And as for those poor sorry souls still crying "fight like a man, come to land", get real. The only reason youre on the land is because you cant fly off a carrier if your life depended on it. Take the pill and sit down, everyone is enjoying their own game.