Loopy Overused in Pubs

[shrode]

As a competitive player, I really shouldn't care about this, but I do. I care because I want altitude to get a bigger player-base and that comes from people having fun.

Loopy is too effective for how simple it is to use, which absolutely kills plane diversity in servers filled with lesser-skilled players. 90% of the players are using tracker or double fire loopy in servers that don't have a password. I'm talking Ball bouncy, im talking official 1 and 2, I'm talking Team Official or whatever I was playing in today. All you see is loopies, and that is not good for the game. Loopy spam is not fun to play against, and I could see a lot of players disliking Altitude early on because that is all the game is in those servers. Not only that, but players know that they can do better with loopy than they can with any other plane, so they just stick to that and don't learn the other styles of play, which negatively influences the amount of fun they will have within altitude.

I really think this is hurting altitude as a game right now, and should be addressed. I thought of a few ways to increase the plane diversity in 'nooby' servers.

1. Nerf Loopy's 'Easiness' by any of the following
-Reduce the amount of tracking done on loopy missles
-Reduce the range of loopy missles
-Reduce the length of time EMP lasts
-Reduce/Remove AOE on EMP

2. Make challenges harder to attain.
-This would make people have to play other planes for a longer period of time before getting the achievements

3. Change the unlock system, so everybody starts with at least one perk of every plane.
-This might prevent people from getting super cozy with loopy to begin with.

4. Class limits like in some tf2 servers. If somebody tries to select loopy but your team already has n loopies, where n is a number set by server admin, you are not allowed to select loopy.
-Personally think this is a bad option, but it is an idea.

Something needs to happen

[Sean]

Suggestions 1,2,3,4 get +1 from me.

[Torrent]

i play loopy cause i want experience but yeah can you fix it

[Ribilla]

+ 1 for 2 & 4, not sure I agree with the others. This seems like a loosely disguided "OH GOD NERF EMP" Thread. Also, if very new players hate bomber the class limits may force them into it, perhaps they only apply to lvl 25+.

The other thing is, I don't agree, I play on the official servers a fair amount and there seems to bed good plane diversity, if anything bomber & randa are slightly under represented, but nothing else. Perhaps this is different on some of the other pubs, but read the guide to ball on these forums, loopies are the backbone of any team.

I realise the problem, I got my friend into TF2 recently, he has about 20 hours playtime and has literally only played soldier the whole time, he has only tried 4 of the 9 classes and insists on only playing 2Fort.

If this is a problem can I suggest a tutorial section on the main page, with videos, where each video (one for each plane/perk) gets unlocked as you unlock the plane/perk ingame. It should have tips on how it should be used and some footage of it pwning people to go with it. Maybe even some suggested builds. Most of the material is on the forums already and I am sure the community would oblige for some tasty tasty CP. This might also improve base skill level, because I was on offical 3 today, and some people are awful, just awful.

[VipMattMan]

If you have a good randa and go into the bouncy server you instantly rock the server. If i was a noob I'd think randa was OP.

Loopy is heavily used for a multitude of reasons. First plane you get, balance between offense/defense, ease of use.

Once you get into the higher levels of competition people HAVE to play various planes to remain competitive. I'd use influence in competitive play as a marker of balance, rather than frequency of use by new players.

Edit- In regards to the point, which is that there's not much diversity in the noob servers, i think about all you can do is show up and use other planes to show them there are other things to shoot for. I'd say it's likely that people starting with an effective plane actually keeps them around longer, rather than deterring them from the game.

[Pieface]

You should have seen the game's plane diversity before they removed the unlimited demo (with only loopy and bomber). You'd probably ragequit.

[Fartface]

1: Agreed
2: I don't know what the hell that means
3: Good idea, but only for red perks so that you'd have to unlock others by leveling
4: No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no etc. Playing random planes would lose its purpose if you weren't allowed to use half of them

[Evan20000]

Originally Posted by VipMattMan

If you have a good randa and go into the bouncy server you instantly rock the server. If i was a noob I'd think randa was OP.

Perkless randa eats nub loopies alive.

The loop spam isn't that bad from the limited amount of games I play in pubs anymore. I've seen a ton of sniplane wannabees, but that's not an issue at all.

[Loopy]

Don't nerf me, bro. Seriously though, the low health of loopy makes up for his strengths. Stop crying because you keep getting wrecked by swarms of loopies.

[Sean]

to quote one of my fav alti players... "obvious smurf is obvious"

<3 u FU

[Greekjr14]

the 3rd one one the first suggestion.....tHANK YOUUUUU. EITHER DO THAT OR MAKE IT SO THAT THE EMP EFFECT IS AFFECTED WHETHER THE ENEMY PLANE HAS ON HA OR FLEXI. that is all

[Aero_Beast]

take away aoe and make the loopy aim **** tracking

[Ribilla]

Originally Posted by Aero_Beast

take away aoe and make the loopy aim **** tracking

Perhaps you should stop flaming loopy and start making some constructive suggestions that won't destroy the balance of the planes.

kthx.

[Evan20000]

If Loops didn't have its EMP as strong as it is, it would be severly UP in serious play. Don't change it at all please.

[elxir]

Originally Posted by Evan20000

If Loops didn't have its EMP as strong as it is, it would be severly UP in serious play. Don't change it at all please.

This times 1000000000000000.

Loopy is already wicked hard in serious TBD, no need to make it harder.

Furthermore, loopy is used the most because it's the most basic, not because it's the best. The casual player wants to be able to fly fast and kill things, and not worry about ridiculous nonsense like learning the anchor line or remote mine timing and range.

Loopy is just the most fun for most players. It's not overpowered.

ETA: Re: suggestion three:

I could get behind this. Perhaps in the alternative, make it so you pick which plane you unlock at level 6, 12, and 20, or whatever they are.

[Boko]

Originally Posted by elxir

This times 1000000000000000.

Loopy is already wicked hard in serious TBD, no need to make it harder.

Furthermore, loopy is used the most because it's the most basic, not because it's the best. The casual player wants to be able to fly fast and kill things, and not worry about ridiculous nonsense like learning the anchor line or remote mine timing and range.

Loopy is just the most fun for most players. It's not overpowered.

ETA: Re: suggestion three:

I could get behind this. Perhaps in the alternative, make it so you pick which plane you unlock at level 6, 12, and 20, or whatever they are.

I agree, EMP is good in ball but very hard to master in tbd and often not used at all (for all I know). Do not nerf!

Giving more options of planes earlier on is a better idea imo, I mean what's the second most played plane in (noob) pubs and what's the second plane you unlock? That's right.

[SnipErlite]

To be honest, I don't think reducing the effectiveness of the Loopy's weaponry and stuff is a good idea. It would only lead to more flamewars and people complaining it's gone too far the other way and too difficult.

I think the class amount restrictions, á la Team Fortress 2, would be very effective. It doesn't cause the Loopy to become redundant and encourages more varied plane choices.

Tbh at the moment it does suck when an enemy team is 5 or 6 or even 7/7 loopies...there's almost nothing one can do to counter this, and if they all have Double Fire on.

Oh god the spam 0_O

Restricting the amount, even to say less than half of the team (4 loopies on a 7-man team is acceptable), would solve the main problem I believe

[Nikon]

I think your right that it's hurting the game, but I think #3 is the only one to fix it.

[Aero_Beast]

just take away the aoe of the emp make them atleast have to aim something

[Boko]

Originally Posted by SnipErlite

Restricting the amount, even to say less than half of the team (4 loopies on a 7-man team is acceptable), would solve the main problem I believe

This will create the new problem of people leaving servers because they can't play loopy and all servers dying to 4v4 teams which are not fun resulting in dead servers. gg

And 4 loopies on a 7-man team is not acceptable.

Giving them the other planes earlier is a better solution imo.

#3 all the way.

[mlopes]

+1 to introducing other planes to new players. Is sad to see so few new whales and bombers.

[CCN]

Originally Posted by SnipErlite

To be honest, I don't think reducing the effectiveness of the Loopy's weaponry and stuff is a good idea. It would only lead to more flamewars and people complaining it's gone too far the other way and too difficult.

I think the class amount restrictions, á la Team Fortress 2, would be very effective. It doesn't cause the Loopy to become redundant and encourages more varied plane choices.

Tbh at the moment it does suck when an enemy team is 5 or 6 or even 7/7 loopies...there's almost nothing one can do to counter this, and if they all have Double Fire on.

Oh god the spam 0_O

Restricting the amount, even to say less than half of the team (4 loopies on a 7-man team is acceptable), would solve the main problem I believe

learn to play.
If you think 7 loopies is an "unbeatable team", you need to stop making excuses and learn to ****ing play.

[Ribilla]

Originally Posted by SnipErlite

To be honest, I don't think reducing the effectiveness of the Loopy's weaponry and stuff is a good idea. It would only lead to more flamewars and people complaining it's gone too far the other way and too difficult.

I think the class amount restrictions, á la Team Fortress 2, would be very effective. It doesn't cause the Loopy to become redundant and encourages more varied plane choices.

Tbh at the moment it does suck when an enemy team is 5 or 6 or even 7/7 loopies...there's almost nothing one can do to counter this, and if they all have Double Fire on.

Oh god the spam 0_O

Restricting the amount, even to say less than half of the team (4 loopies on a 7-man team is acceptable), would solve the main problem I believe

I'll list the planes that I think would easily take this team apart:

Randa, whale, bip, bomber.

Unless you are playing loopy yourself you should be able to crush a 7 loopy team like so much dirt on your shoe.

[blln4lyf]

Meh, there are 2 many ball Miranda's now..I'd love to see MORE loopies.

[tomato man]

+1 to change the unlock system, so everybody starts with at least one perk of every plane.

[elxir]

Originally Posted by blln4lyf

Meh, there are 2 many ball Miranda's now..I'd love to see MORE loopies.

lol sad but true

[Zombi]

2 many randas in pubs?? LIES

[Demuyt]

Yes, randas are getting nubier every day.

[Zombi]

Originally Posted by Demuyt

Yes, randas are getting nubier every day.

Yep, and loopies are getting proer olol

[Jayfourke]

EMP is massively underused, IMO. People complain about missile spam, but EMP is where the real damage lies. Especially in enclosed spaces or harder to navigate maps. I reckon that about half of my kills, maybe more, come from people crashing into things after I EMP them.

Also, I love that Sin mentioned the whole "loopy is fun" aspect. Far too many people (especially in ladder) miss that this is a GAME, and it's meant to be FUN.

[SnipErlite]

Originally Posted by Boko

This will create the new problem of people leaving servers because they can't play loopy and all servers dying to 4v4 teams which are not fun resulting in dead servers. gg

And 4 loopies on a 7-man team is not acceptable.

Giving them the other planes earlier is a better solution imo.

#3 all the way.

Hmm you may be right. Perhaps they could trial it?

Or, I assume something like this has been thought of. Fair enough.

[SnipErlite]

Originally Posted by CCN

learn to play.
If you think 7 loopies is an "unbeatable team", you need to stop making excuses and learn to ****ing play.

Probably. In fairness I've never played in a coherent team that actually works together, resulting in me having to try and take on 3 or so loopies by myself in open space (I play a lot of ball_football).

Originally Posted by Ribilla

I'll list the planes that I think would easily take this team apart:

Randa, whale, bip, bomber.

Unless you are playing loopy yourself you should be able to crush a 7 loopy team like so much dirt on your shoe.

EDIT: Oops this was double, sorry. Will edit later into one later if I remember.

Yeah well, maybe I suck then. But when there's an enemy team comprised of various planes it's a whole lot more enjoyable to play against them, even if they still win. Fighting against purely loopies is in no way fun.

[CCN]

Just a tip:

Maybe switch maps and/or game style if you want a change.


"Doctor when I move my arm like this it hurts."
"Stop moving your arm like that."

[shrode]

yeah loopy is pretty overpowered on ball_football which for some idiodic reason all the newer players get off to.

so the question becomes- do new players like ball_football because loopy is overpowered on it? or do new players like loopy because ball_football is their favorite map?

[V.T]

Being a new player, I feel that the loopy is overpowered just because of the range and agility combination. I'd be fine with one or the other, but as a biplane flyer, it sucks to get missile-whored from across the map, only to be outmaneuvered when you get up close. Nerf one or the other. EMP is fine as it is IMO, it's annoying but fine.

I happen to like football, but what ends up happening is that I end up being the only biplane in a lobby with 13 Loopys. Needless to say, I get raped.

[elxir]

Originally Posted by shrode

yeah loopy is pretty overpowered on ball_football which for some idiodic reason all the newer players get off to.

so the question becomes- do new players like ball_football because loopy is overpowered on it? or do new players like loopy because ball_football is their favorite map?

meh they just like it because it requires no flying ability to be decent. people like being good without effort.

i can play any plane on football and be successful, it just so happens that when you remove all obstacles the seeker missiles become more powerful.

give a good enough player bad enough competition and everything becomes OP

names deleted to protect the innocent

[Loopy]

Originally Posted by elxir

This times 1000000000000000.

Loopy is already wicked hard in serious TBD, no need to make it harder.

Furthermore, loopy is used the most because it's the most basic, not because it's the best. The casual player wants to be able to fly fast and kill things, and not worry about ridiculous nonsense like learning the anchor line or remote mine timing and range.

Loopy is just the most fun for most players. It's not overpowered.

ETA: Re: suggestion three:

I could get behind this. Perhaps in the alternative, make it so you pick which plane you unlock at level 6, 12, and 20, or whatever they are.

Exactly how I feel, well said.

[kirbmasta]

Originally Posted by Pieface

You should have seen the game's plane diversity before they removed the unlimited demo (with only loopy and bomber). You'd probably ragequit.

ohh god, came in here to say this...the game was almost all loopy...

[iamjagman]

Originally Posted by elxir

meh they just like it because it requires no flying ability to be decent. people like being good without effort.

i can play any plane on football and be successful, it just so happens that when you remove all obstacles the seeker missiles become more powerful.

give a good enough player bad enough competition and everything becomes OP

names deleted to protect the innocent

-snip-

Lol. Miranda relies on cover. Miranda will never be successful on such a wide open map as ball_football. I continue to try anyway :P.

-------------------------

Originally Posted by Inofaith

Unlock loopy as the last plane.

Get ppl to try planes that require aiming first.

This I agree with. They need to actually work hard before they get an easy break. H*ll, they should make Miranda the first one so that people will exercise more caution. Start them off with good habits, and they will keep them and in the end become more experienced players.

[Demuyt]

How about switching Loopy with Biplane in order of unlocking and highlighting the more flexible but less armored aspect of the Loopy.