ACS Question

faytinc · Post by **faytinc** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:29 pm

So I was just moderately curious as to why the ACS material isn't made entirely public. I mean, I understand that a lot of work has gone into the ACS program, but it would probably benefit the communtiy as a whole, wouldn't it? After all, better comms means better games. And ACS could still exist, since it would still give you a place to ask dumb questions w/o getting flamed, and you'd still get the hands-on comm training...

There's probably something I'm overlooking here, I'd just like to know what.

*waits patiently for Clay's response*

factoid · Post by **factoid** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:36 pm

Same reason that the Cadet material isn't public (Except for the newly created Cadet I newbie course). We want there to be some reason for people to take the courses. Self study can be a good thing sometimes, but we want people involved in a teacher-student relationship, it helps to grow the community spirit when it's not simply "Here are the guides and FAQs, go nuts".

And since the courses are largely self study anyway, we can get the best of both worlds, most of the time.

faytinc · Post by **faytinc** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:03 pm

factoid wrote:QUOTE (factoid @ Nov 5 2007, 12:36 PM)Same reason that the Cadet material isn't public (Except for the newly created Cadet I newbie course). We want there to be some reason for people to take the courses. Self study can be a good thing sometimes, but we want people involved in a teacher-student relationship, it helps to grow the community spirit when it's not simply "Here are the guides and FAQs, go nuts".

And since the courses are largely self study anyway, we can get the best of both worlds, most of the time.

That makes a lot of sense, but let me just play Devil's Advocate for a moment.

Self study, while being a perfectly valid option for learning, doesn't even come close as a replacement for hands on training. Instead, it makes the perfect supplement for the hands on training (which, afaik is the reason for the way the Cadet/ACS programs are set up). That being said, I fail to see how having the material available for people to peruse trumps the existance of the ACS program. If anything, it should make it so that MORE people want to join it now that they know a little more about comming than they did before. Granted, there would be people who would look at the ACS material and say to themselves "good enough" but I doubt anyone here would disagree that those people still wouldn't comm nearly as well as those who'd gone through ACS, and HAD those practice games and hands on teacher/student experience. They would, however, still comm better than they did before.

Plus, I'm sure there are people out there who simply can't make the time commitment required to join ACS, but they'd still like to grow as commanders.

Please don't misconstrue, I see, and agree with, the opposite position. I just feel it's a valid point to be made. After all, it works for Cadet I, and that material is a lot less complex...

factoid · Post by **factoid** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:11 pm

Personally, I think anyone who wants to take the time to think about the game and it's mechanics, fly for awhile, and ask questions will be able to do just that. Learn on their own. And ACS isn't that big a deal in terms of time commitment. So at the end of the day, we want something with a draw to it, keeping some of our better information in reserve lets us do that.

faytinc · Post by **faytinc** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:24 pm

`RR

+1

Kltplzyxm · Post by **Kltplzyxm** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:09 pm

I'd like to add...

If self-study was so easy, you would see more retention in the amount of newbies that show up. AllegAcademy has been available for a long time, especially now when there is SOOOOO much more material available to the public. We have yet to see if the new version of the Academy retains people - my opinion is that it doesnt. Alleg is a tough game and requires commitment to get any level of accomplishment. Same goes with ACS.

Secondly, ACS is advantageous to be in as a student. You get a hider to which you can learn from your mistakes without ruining your reputation. You get mentors, you get direct feedback from instructors without being humiliated. Combine those types of things along with a administered study program: it's hard to beat. Meanwhile, getting a commitment from the student to join a program for 2 months at a time reinforces their commitment to the game and the community. It's a total win-win as we need more coms for pickup games while the student needs skills.

Post by **BackTrak** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:18 pm

Much of the ACS material is cumlative, with the last part being "Here's a map, discuss" kinds of things. Most of the topics have some discussion to them as well, and sometimes the guest instructors add some extra info. In addition, by giving out the information slowly, your more inclined to work on the strat/faction of the week as opposed to attempting to read all the info, digesting 10%, losing interest and then walking off. Anyway, it's 9 weeks of fun, I recommend it!

Mikhail · Post by **Mikhail** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:23 pm

I think the materialwhich is public now is enough to get you started as comm. You see how to determine faction strategies and map strategies. With the miner guide you know how to run an econ.
All the info available is enough to command a game on Hihigher.

Shizoku · Post by **Shizoku** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:09 am

At one point the entire program was open to the public. Problem was that no one read it, you have to make people want something in order for them to use it.

Clay_Pigeon · Post by **Clay_Pigeon** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:36 am

What they said
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