Scenario: Open letter to the AH community

[DoKGonZo]

Originally posted by Karnak
...

From what you said it sounds pretty much like I thought.  The reason I won't sign up is that I don't see the point of taking the core of my Saturday, for several weeks in a row, to spend hours waiting for something to happen only to be overwhelmed by vastly superior aircraft.

150 IJA fighters to 90 Allied ... uh ... overwhelmed?

[Wurger]

Originally posted by DoKGonZo
Don't confuse pre-registration with people just being quick to register. There were slots available for all plane types when general registration opened. Really.

I understand this, in fact, that's what I was commenting on, the fact that they get filled up so quickly.  Karnack's comments reinforce the point I was trying to get across, as it appears (I may be mistaken) he would not have an issue if it was all A6M2's versus P40B's, or all A6M5's against all P40E's (and the occasional Wildcatofish).  

I also understand your trying to be as historically accurate as possible, and I for one agree, but you could make it all P40B/F4F/A6M2 and be accurate and not have the "I can't fly the cool planes" issue I tried to describe in my first post.

Again, just suggestions to get more people interesting in flying what looks like a fun event!

Bazi

[DoKGonZo]

Here's GB's skin for the Ju-88 for Rangoon:



So come on bomber types.

More new screen shots are also posted.

[Karnak]

Originally posted by DoKGonZo
150 IJA fighters to 90 Allied ... uh ... overwhelmed?

I'd be surprised if the IJ side actually matches the numbers of the Allies.  You may wish it to be so and have scheduled it so, but in the actuall event I'll bet the numbers favor the Allies by a good margin.  Even numbers as an outside chance.  It is, after all, determeined by what people show up to fly and IJ deathtraps are never popular.  Look at the CT.

EDIT: In any case, I was speaking to the relative quality of the opposing aircraft, not the numbers.

[DoKGonZo]

Originally posted by Wurger
I understand this, in fact, that's what I was commenting on, the fact that they get filled up so quickly.  Karnack's comments reinforce the point I was trying to get across, as it appears (I may be mistaken) he would not have an issue if it was all A6M2's versus P40B's, or all A6M5's against all P40E's (and the occasional Wildcatofish).  
...

Can't really be helped unless there's some kind of lottery system. Either way, someone's gonna be disappointed.

Having all the same plane is a problem because it provides just way too much information about the enemy force. This hurts because your planning gets skewed. It hurts more because there's a lack of surprise in the air. Now, imagine you're in your oh-so-uber F4F and see a pile of dots you want to bounce. When you engage you suddely find they're A6M5's ... oops. You can't get that fog of war if there's no variety in the plane selections.

[DoKGonZo]

Originally posted by Karnak
I'd be surprised if the IJ side actually matches the numbers of the Allies.  You may wish it to be so and have scheduled it so, but in the actuall event I'll bet the numbers favor the Allies by a good margin.  Even numbers as an outside chance.  It is, after all, determeined by what people show up to fly and IJ deathtraps are never popular.  Look at the CT.

Comments about "death traps" aren't helping matters. There's a lot of people doing a lot of work to make this event happen and poisoning the waters this way isn't deserved.

And if the IJA side doesn't fill one of two things will happen: either people will shift over from Allies to keep the odds balanced, or I'll find other ways to make things even up. If you think I'm going to send the IJA guys up against P40's without either an odds advantage or technical parity you're wrong. This is NOT the CT ... I will enforce balance.

[Karnak]

Sorry about being so negative, but I just don't see it that way.  I know you've put in a lot of work on this and is is sure as heck easier for me to sit here and deconstruct your effort than it was for you to get up and make the effort to put it together.

Maybe I'm way off base and the community will rise to the occasion, but I just can't see a guy who wanted to fly P-40s or F4F/FM-2s sticking around and flying A6M2s.  People seem pretty set in their plane choices.  I didn't sign up to AH to fly Axis aircraft, but I usually do if I'm not in the Mossie simply to even the numbers.  I signed up for Spitfires, something I never fly now.  I was willing to switch, whereas most, as demostrated by the recent ENY hoopla, are not at all willing.  What I'd expect is if the numbers of IJ pilots you need do not show up and you ask Allied pilots to switch, most would either wait for the other guys to switch or just log out.  It perpetually ends up being the same few guys who are willing to do what is best for the game who don't get to fly what they want.

To me, based on what I've read and what an F4F pilot said in my presence, I really feel strongly that the the F4F is modeled quite optimistically.  I know that my recent attempt to get an opposition squad going in the CT garnered no interest.  I had two people who actually were interested.

Heck, maybe I'm just in a pessimistic mood.  Not that that excuses me crapping on your scenario.  Now I'm starting to feel obligated to sign up to make up for it.

[HUN]

The objective is the Betty's (JU-88) and not the 120+ possible A6Mx escorts for the allies...  

I think the effectiveness of an A6Mx is lost in the late-war MA but will be an extremely good match up in the scenario.

[bigsky]

i would like to only comment on this. i think its better that some dont sign up than sign up and dont show up at all or tell you they are not going to be there. the times i was FL in a SE about 1/2 guys that were assigned to my flight did this.

[Furball]

It is only a game, you cant plan ahead months and expect people to give up RL issues to go spend 3 hours infront of the computer.  it just cant happen - you will always get no shows.

[DoKGonZo]

If you look at the forces I have written up, the FM2 is an even more dangerous element than the F4F ... and I included it. Why? Because I want the Allies to have an angles threat. Just the like A6M5 gives the IJA an energy threat. Meaning I'm equally unfair to both sides.

I don't know what to expect from registration. We'll see. But when the mission starts I'll take whatever steps I need to that will ensure balance. That could mean giving the IJA a higher percentage of M5 Zeros, downgrading Allied fighters to P40B's instead of E's, changing altitude restrictions, and so on. I have plenty of tools.

[Westy]

"Here's GB's skin for the Ju-88 for Rangoon"


Nice. Is that screenshot taken using his Cape Breton terrain too?

[Karnak]

Hmm.

I see what you are saying, but in my opinion and experience both the F4F and FM-2 are angles threats and the A6M5 is not an energy threat to anything that is not both slower than it and on the deck.  The A6M just gets too heavy past 250mph to be used in that fashion.

But as you say you are prepared with measures if things aren't working.

[DoKGonZo]

Dunno what terrain bed he used.


We're only around 12K here, Karnak - by the time an Allied plane gets in trouble the fight will likely be down around 8K - which is barely enough to dive out of trouble with and still have a little room to spare.

By "energy threat" I don't mean booming in at Ludicrous Speed. I mean the M5 doesn't have to turn flat to kill - it can stay with the Alliied planes in the vertical (and surpass them) if they enter the fight close to co-speed.

[bustr]

DoK,

After flying in the CT for awhile now, I have no problem flying the AM6 in either version. If I get outta BB's I get outta BB's. I'm not sure I can commit to a signup. But if I have the time I'll galdly walkon exclusivly to fly IJ if thats all this thread is about.

What Day and time PST should I logon? You just make sure if I get in IJ, Karnak gets dumped to the Allies where he belongs....