Aces High players who yearn for more immersion are missing what IMO is the best this game genre has to offer if they aren't participating in historic scenarios.
For those who aren't aware, historic scenarios are staged events crafted to reproduce the environment of historic air battles as closely as the game allows.
Rules, team objectives, and order of battle are structured by the event designers/producers to as closely replicate history as is possible.
Team command staffs organized by military model are designated to develop assignments, strategy, and tactics designed for team success.
Open registration allows players to choose which team they want to play on, and in some (most) cases what role they will play.
Walkon slots are available on game days to players who missed registration or were unable to commit in advance.
We are currently playing
BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA. Designer/producer Jim "SilverFox" Ridge, assisted by his squadron (
327th Steel Talons ) and the Aces High CM Team, has delivered for the community a masterfully crafted event. It promises to be ranked very highly in the long tradition of historic scenarios.
We just flew the first "frame" yesterday, and it was marvelous. You have to experience one of these things to understand. The structure, which includes being assigned to roles structured along military lines, team-based rather then individual objectives for success, prior strategic and tactical planning, practice sessions, and pre-launch briefings, creates a level of immersion that is IMO as complete as is possible in this game environment. I personally experience such a level of tension during scenario frames that I am at once pumped with adrenaline and exhausted by "end-frame". The camaraderie that develops amongst team members creates something similar to that in athletic locker rooms after competitions...including the need to bathe sweat-soaked bodies
Appended is the after-action report I posted for my scout group following yesterday's action. Other group's AARs are also posted in the secure areas for their teams, and will be available for viewing for anyone added to either of the teams.
The
Coral Sea General UBB contains a lot of stuff that may be of interest. Both Team Alpha CO ROC ( ROCrats) and Team Zulu CO FiLtH have e-mails available from their profiles there, and both can use more divebomber pilots, torpedo plane pilots, and PT boat drivers. Team Alpha will fly one more frame as USN defending Port Moresby, with Team Zulu as IJN attempting to invade Port Moresby - then the teams will switch roles for two more frames. Participants thus are able to experience the event from both an Allied and Axis perspective.
I highly recommend checking this out if you never have before.
culero
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Frame One HQ Scouts AAR
HQ Scouts sortied 5 aircraft from Tontouta at T-30 and one from Port Moresby at T+1. The Tontouta aircraft flew to pre-determined search paths in the area suspected to contain the IJN invasion fleet. The Port Moresby aircraft flew a zig-zag pattern ranging generally to the northeast in an effort to detect any early air attacks directed at Port Moresby.
In the event, the Port Moresby aircraft made the first sighting of IJN fleet elements, finding what proved to be the IJNS invasion fleet accompanied by the IJNS Shokaku group. This aircraft successfully evaded and defended itself from attack by IJN fleet CAP elements while shadowing and reporting the enema progress until attack elements from USS Lexington and USS Yorktown arrived in response.
Pilot 345 then successfully returned to Port Moresby for rearm and launched a second sortie to re-locate the invasion fleet for subsequent late-frame attacks. Unfortunately, gunner Dipsy managed to smuggle aboard a bottle of scotch whiskey during the rearm, and by the time 345 found and reported the invasion fleet's new location was so smashed he was unable to defend the aircraft. IJN fleet CAP immediately shot them down.
4 of the 5 aircraft sortied from Tontouta were also able to assist with IJNS fleet sightings reports.
Shortly after the invasion fleet was sighted, pilot Tilt found what later proved to be IJNS Zuikaku, and maintained contact to report its progress until being shot down by IJN fleet CAP approximately mid-frame.
Pilot culero sighted IJNS Zuikaku shortly after Tilt's sighting, and was immediately attacked by IJN fleet CAP. After receiving damage to fuel tanks and engine oil, and damaging one Zeke attacker, this aircraft was able to successfully recover at Port Moresby (losing one engine about halfway there).
Pilots GForce and DStar were both able to join with 345 and Tilt to assist with tracking the IJN fleets. Both these pilots successfully evaded enema AA and CAP until released to RTB. GForce safely recovered at Port Moresby while DStar ran out of fuel and ditched in coastal waters approximately 40 miles east of Port Moresby.
Pilot Bolan flew the eastern perimeter of the designated search grid area, clearing it, and then was released to RTB Tontouta. He ran out of fuel and ditched on final approach within sight of the runway at Tontouta.
Pilot 345 is hereby recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his outstanding airmanship.
Gunner Dipsy is remanded to Captain's Mast for being drunk while on duty.
Respectfully submitted,
culero, Captain, USN HQ Scouts (aka Buck Nekkid)
