FA Ethics & Good Form

This page has been designed to help new pilots become aware of the ethical side of FA. This is the side the addresses the frustrations the can come from unfamiliarity with protocal, decorum and FA pilot conventions.

Some of what appears here is subjective and presented as the basis of operation of RAF Squadron No. 54. Not all pilots in FA fly or view the game as we do. However, most of what you'll find here represents basic good sportsmanship.

But like any community, people know each other, have developed friendships, alliances and in this case, squadrons. Many of the pilots still flying were around from back during the beta testing of the game. Those older pilots (and even the newer ones) know everyone. Have you ever attended a function or group activity where you went solo and didn't know anyone? Everyone seemed to know each other and it took a little while to meet and become acquaintances with them. The same types of people are in FA, you just can't see them. They're sitting behind their computers in their living rooms, bedrooms and dens just like you are.

And, like any online community, you're not "in person" and don't see the faces of the people you're flying with and against. Ultimately you'll hang up and go about your life.

Consider though, you will also leave a residual piece of yourself in FA when you go.

Respect buys you respect.

So, if you need or want help, ask. But be respectful of the group. That may sound a bit gruff, but really, it's only courtesy.

Remember, when you depart from the Arena, the aftertaste you'll leave will be whatever you want it to be. That can be good or bad. The group can look forward to your next flight and greet you warmly, or think "oh no, its so-and-so".

It's your choice.

We've heard the cry "Generals keep shooting me down!" I know of no General flying FA that derives any special glee from downing inexperienced pilots. Most Generals prefer the "good fight" over what you may consider the easy kill. But since Generals fly in the same Arena with you, you can assume they've been around a little while and have certainly taken their lumps as a Sergeant. If you're getting killed by Generals, look to the strategic "whys" not the personal ones. If your unsure after examining, ask. Most would gladly volunteer what they were seeing just before you were downed.

But ask respectfully.

Webster holds HONOR as: 1. Esteem : respect.

Again, built into the schema, the foundation is "respect".

If you look at the big picture, it's really all just plain, simple, old fashioned common sense and courtesy. Do unto others, etc.

The other side of this, the evil twin, is bad form. We've found that after playing the game a while, most of the violators of form do so out of ignorance. They just don't know. Which is why this page has been created; to help the know.

Most pilots after realizing (unfortunately this could take a while) these items are in poor taste, stop doing it. Some don't. The thrust of this is to help the pilots who want to play the game with some measure of honor and dignity.

Some of the offenses listed here are unspoken, some are spoken very loudly and others are offenses found in the book of Zone Conduct. Repeated violations of Zone Conduct can lead to your account being wiped.

This applies to all TEAM Arenas. Don't shoot a member of your own team. These are the pilots who fly for the same country as you do and who's tags are the same color as yours. If you hit a team member, your "pings" (registered hits) display on your screen as a brownish red color.

Intentionally shooting or worse, downing a "friendly" pilot, is one of the worst offenses in FA. Beside being a Zone offense this will often invoke a swift and deadly response from pilots. It's the quickest way to have a miserable time in Fighter Ace.

You will be labeled and recognized as a friendly killer. Trust me, this is bad.

If you are engaged in combat (this is any time you are attacking or being attacked or being pursued by a bandit with the intent of attacking) do not crash to avoid the conflict.

Beside hurting your score and your FA statistics, expect to be called on it on the open radio. Jeers of "crasher" and others will follow, and the label "crashboy" or some such will be pinned on you if you do it repeatedly or with any degree of regularity.

It's no picnic to chase a guy for 5 or 10 minutes only to have him dive into the ground like a lawn dart. The equivalent is cowardice.

Exactly the same thing applies for hitting the ESC key. But since your score is unaffected (if your are under 80% damage), the retaliation is often greater. Everyone wants to know "who hit ESC?". If a pilot is labeled an "ESC artist", often the engagement will be filmed by the pursuing pilot and submitted to the Zone sysops.

This is extraordinarily bad form.

Vulching is the term used to describe the act of picking off weak or dying pilots in several venues, though all occur at base. Most vulchers are either too impatient or don't care about BFM or ACM and have a rough time actually dogfighting. They are the carrion feeders and represent the bottom of the FA food chain.

The odd thing about vulchers is they almost NEVER survive. So why bother? I've asked, but have never heard a reasonable answer.

Vulching the Runway - Strafing:
Flying down an enemy runway below AA and shooting pilots on the ground. Getting vulched by an enemy on the runway is like getting knifed, in the back, while being tied up and one leg in a cast. It's just plain lame.

Vulching the Runway - Killing an Injured Pilot:
A pilot has been out in a furball, wounded and finds himself limping home. No engine, flaps are gone and his kite is belching white or black smoke. Even though he's made it to the apron, until he stops moving he's an easy kill.

Once a pilot has crossed the end of the runway and is landing, downing him is considered a vulch.

Again, bad form. Lame, lame, lame.

Vulching the Base - Killing On Take-Off
As a pilots wheels leave the ground his energy is very low and is an easy target. This one carries its own penalty mostly. By the time a vulcher downs a pilot on take-off, he usually has several pilots hot on his tail.

This particular offense skirts the definition of "vulching" but is close enough to be included here and is still bad form.

A retaliation is one thing. Going after a single pilot at the disregard of all others repeatedly, consistently is not okay.

This one represents a bit of a gray area, but to hunt someone incessantly is not tolerated very well. Certainly proclaiming to be hunting an individual is considered "lowly". Most of the time, someone frustrated enough to hunt an individual pilot will only be downed by him again anyhow because chances are the "hunted" is just plain better a pilot.

This is a Zone edict. FA is a family area and foul language is not allowed by the other pilots, nor the Zone.

Again, we're all here to have fun. Taunting and abusive behavior toward other pilots degrades the experience for everyone.

Don't do it.