I've let a few go in my time here. Not many , but a few. I have tried letting a few go only to have them come back as well.
I guess , in a way , there is a certain honor at times when letting a smoking plane go home. Perhaps a chivalry thing. I don't know. It is a game after all. Just sometimes ya feel like the guy put up a heak of a fight , you have him wounded and he prolly won't make it home , so the threat is gone really. Maybe the wrong thing to do. But I've done it.
What get's me is this. And , this is mainly on bombers. You make a pass , and that pass gets the lead buff flaming. Low and behold here comes someone in and just hammers him. Kill lost.
Flyinig what I fly alot , the Hurri , I don't get all that much ammo. SO wasting it on a flaming buff , that WILL blow up seems pointless to me. But these 50 cal guys , OMG they will light em up.
This happened to a squaddie of mine today and we were actually talking about this same thing. He was miffed , and I understand it , that someone would just keep on that flaming buff and basically steal his kill.
If you knew this squaddie you would certainly feel for him. He is the nicest guy , and works so hard for each kill that he gets. He is a pretty good fighter guy but doesn't like the fast pace action of a furball. SO when he gets a kill he is rather excited about it. Being an older gentleman and as I said just a real nice guy , I'm sure you could understand.
I have seen the smokers come back and kill me. I've seen more come back so I get to finish them off. But , if I get them basically damaged enough , to where they bug out , i'll let them go. Sometimes. If its someone that I feel is WAY better than me , and I know he killed a few and is trying to get home , then maybe I'll try to get them for vengence sake. But not often.
It just boils down to how you want to play. There is no right way , or wrong way. Some see honor in it , some don't. Some try to play a role play type of game. Some dont. Doesn't make them right or wrong. Just makes them different.
Some take it seriously. Some don't. Some get ticked because they lose a base. Some don't. Some Land grab like there is no tomorrow. Some fuball like it's their last fight. Some Cherry pick and brag of the elite skills. Some call em on it and find out it's the truth. Some have great SA. Some have none. Some can shoot great. Some cant hit nothing with out 1400 50cals for and assist.
It's a game. Feeling honorable for letting someone go home , well there is really nothing wrong with it. Feeling great about shooting a chute , well thats fine as well. Making yourself feel good and proud at others expense by berating them on 200 or private , well thats not cool at all.
There is IMO a certain part of us all that love the roll of the dice. The gamble. The fight purley without bombs and rockets. ACM that is just so hard to keep up with that you learn something almost everytime you fight that person. We all just love to sit down , logon , and find OUR game. Whatever OUR game is.
So , fight. Fight til you have no ammo. Return home for those WTG's and Atta boys from squaddies. There really ISNT anything wrong with that. Brag about how you kicked someones tail on the Squad Channel. It's great fun. But leave the pesty crabbiness that comes from being better than someone away. Friendly banter is great.
End of soapbox. sorry.
