I fly Rook and have done so since we formed our squad. But, I have flown with the Bishops and the Knights prior to that. I wouldn't mind if the squad switched sides to obtain some numbers balance. But for now we are Rooks and I really don't find the ENY limit system a problem.
Aside from having a brief time without the P-38, my game play was not impacted whatsoever.
I flew the 190A-5... All versions were available.
I flew the 109G-2... All versions were available.
I flew the P-51B...It was always available.
I flew the FM-2....It was always available.
I used an Ostwind... it was always available
Also available without restriction were the La-5, Yaks, P-47s, C.205, F4U-1 and 1-D. You could fly the F6F and FM-2 as well. All of these are lethal and capable fighters. Don't forget the Ki-61 with its buzzsaw guns and great instantaneous turn rate. Likewise the Hurricane IIC is a monster... Take one of those to a low fight, but show up at 10k... Nothing is as deadly as the Hurri IIC with an altitude advantage. It is the absolute king of snapshooting.
What's that? You like to vulch and your Niki or LaLa is not available? Take the Hurricane IIC, take a Tiffy, take a 110G-2, or take the vulcher king, a 190A-8. Grab a 109G-2 and load the gondolas, thats up to 450 20mm, plus 1,000 7.92mm MG rounds. I've killed 5 B-26s with that loadout and escaped without a scratch.
The problem as I see it is that so many guys depend on the uber fighters instead of learning how to exploit the other aircraft available to them. Some guys fly one type, even one model exclusively. I'd be bored to death. There's more than a few players who view ACM as HO and run, HO and run.. With the emphasis on running. The loss of their favorite speed demon is grounds for uncontrollable remorse... It's actually quite funny to listen to over VOX. They certainly have viable options, but their security blanket has been taken away and rational thought is not a solution for them.
Geez, that under-used P-51B is one of the best air to air fighters in the game! Not a snap shooter for sure, but a well handled P-51B is very difficult to beat. Likewise, the Yak-9U is a terrific dogfighter, able to take on anything with a reasonable expectation of winning. The same thing goes for the P-47D-40. 4k climb from sea level, great handling, over-powering guns. Too bad most just use it as a bomb truck. The above mentioned 109G-2 is a superbly balanced fighter, good maneuverability, excellent climb and decent speed. You can load an extra fifty 20mm rounds these days too. If any doubts the capability of the F6F, then they haven't flown it enough. I lost one last week to a 190 in the BnZ mode. I bombed and strafed a fleet, and then went after some LVTs and had absorbed a lot of fleet ack to boot. Meanwhile a 190 was booming and zooming me. I had a pilot wound, landing gear shot out, an aileron missing, two guns disabled was still able to get some kills before the 190 was able to take advantage of the increasingly frequent blackouts. A P-51D would have been dead long ago. That F6F is one tough fighter and if flown by a good stick, able to handle anything that comes its way. If you don't think so, wing up with Mathman, Greebo, Wadke, Chortle or Drex and see for yourself.
I do not believe that plane restrictions will balance numbers. But I do believe that it's a good excuse to learn different aircraft and become less dependent on pure speed to kill and survive.
There was a time when the Rooks had the best pilots in the game. They had to, as they were out-numbered 3/1 every night. No one altered the code to balance numbers back then. What happened was that the smaller country simply was forced to out-fly and out-fight the bigger ones simply to survive. It appears that we have a group of lesser grit these days, who rather than improve their skills or organize Rook-style RJOs, piss and moan on the BBS.
What also bothers me is this rediculous concept of country loyalty. This is a game for cryin'-out-loud! If my squad decided to switch countries to help balance the sides, I'd do so without hesitation. Even my loyalty to my squad has its limits. I like my squadies, but I won't fly any mission that I find useless or suicidal. I saw one guy post that if he couldn't fly with the country he wanted, he wouldn't fly at all! How far down the tardling path is that going?
We should use the CT as an example. Guys switch back and forth from side to side to keep the numbers fairly even. Why that doesn't happen in the MA is a mystery best defined by clinical shrinks.
My regards,
Widewing
