Here's a little more info for the general public -- I've e-mailed the 30-some pilots already registered with even greater detail.
There will be six basic mission types, ranging from relative milk-runs to very dangerous. They are: Defensive fighter sweep, offensive fighter sweep, escort, intercept, JABO, and special (SECRET...but very challanging). At any time during a mission, the ground controllers may order a change in mission objectives...it will be up to the flight leaders to decide if they will except or decline the change; however, their successful completion of the mission (and whether or not they receive full credit or extra credit for a completed mission) may depend on them accepting it.
To receive a campaign ribbon, a pilot must get credit for five successful missions. Partical credit (for partially fullfilling mission objectives) and extra credit (for particularly tough missions) will be awarded, as well. So it may take more than five actual sorties to get your ribbon, or possibly fewer than five.
To get credit for a kill, you must have guncam footage or an eyewitness. Ditching or bailing over friendly territory doen't end your participation, but doing so over indian country does. So rtb'ing with some damage before you fulfill the objective may be preferable to pressing on and getting killed.
Finally, while dying (or bailing/ditching over enemy territory) ends your chance of getting any ribbons/medals, we will still need people to drive buffs and things. Also, since we don't have a special events arena, we can't completely control the order of battle or environment. We'll do our best to set up missions and routes that insure action without being suicidal. We'll need a certain amount of cooperation from the community, as well. That's all for now. Since Tour-of-Duty#1 (TOD-1) won't kick off until early January, there's still time to sign on. In fact, we won't turn anyone away until we're down to our last four missions. At that point, anyone just signing on won't be able to get a ribbon.
Sabre (a.k.a Rojo)
