Originally posted by tedrbr
But if this were a numbers game, the P-39/P-63 and the Pe-2 both had more built and used during World War II. So, by that argument, do they not to be included in the game more than the B-25 does? Or at least deserve to be put in the game before the B-25 is?
And this is a game. Over 600,000 Jeeps were built and used during the war, which has to top just about any production list beyond small arms, munitions, and individual equipment. How many Jeeps do you see running around in the game?
I don't vote for the B-25 because, even though it served well in the war, and was known as a tough and capable medium bomber, it is totally outclassed in the LW arena --- which is where the majority of players can be found in the game. Sure, it can find use in EW, AvA, and SEA events..... but only a very small minority of players from the AHII community take part in those aspects of the game.
For the B-25 to win a popular vote under those conditions means, to me at least, that it is getting its votes from the rest of the AHII community on name recognition from a couple movies, the Doolittle Raid, and many voters not knowledgeable on the B-25's performance numbers as compared to other planes. Even the Wiki entry on the B-25 lists the bomb load as 6,000 lbs, but several other people in these forums, and some checking, showed that the B-25 load was 2,000 lbs in the B-version and 3,000 lbs in later models.
Yes, there are a few players dedicated to the B-25 based on it's history, and use in AvA, SEA, EW, and MW. The rest, because they heard of the B-25 before, or maybe even hoping for an easy target to hunt in LW during it's release. Some even probably still expect a CV-launched B-25.
The remaining 3 on the list could at least compete in LW at some level. Not the B-25. Why, I'll vote for anything but the B-25 in the last round.
And, as to personal use in game; I avoid planes with ENY under 15. Ki-84's, La-5's, Yak, Pony-B's, 109's, C205, B-17's, B-26's, Ki-67's, Ki-61, 190's..... I like variety. I'll try flying a particular plane for a while. Higher ENY planes, but at least those that have some chance against all the La-7's, Spixteens, Nikis, and Pony-D's.
The B-25 carries less than a B-26, slower than a B-26, with half the climb rate of a B-26. I'd never choose it over a B-26, or a Ki-67 for that matter.
Considering the P-63 isn't an option for this vote, there were roughly 400 more B-25's built over the P-39. While more Pe-2 were built over the B-25 that plane was limited to one theater of the war and only a few countries actually flew it. The B-25 was flown by just about every allied country in the war in every theater of the war. Based on those facts I believe the B-25 deserves a place before those other planes.
The rest of your post went on to prove my original point however. You don't want it because it's not some uber ride that can compete in the LW arenas. Again I say so what? It doesn't have too. You make comment on the jeep, but the fact is, it is in the game. It may not be used much but it is there and it does have it's uses. I use the jeep quite a bit for certain missions and it is a suberb vehicle if used in it's intended role.
To limit yourself on a plane only based on whether or not it will or can compete against the LW common uber rides does yourself a disservice in my opinion but your point of view is common in those arenas hence the proliferation of the uber rides to begin with. It's just the mentality of those players. "why should I fly a plane that everyone thinks sucks when I can fly an uber plane that takes no skill?" I personaly enjoy the challenge of taking on the LW uber rides in an EW plane, and it's even better when I win the fight. So my score isn't high, I don't care.
If the B-25 wins, I'll fly it in the LW arenas. I might get killed more while flying it but I don't really care about that. I'll have my time in the spotlight when I land kills in the thing, or come back from a good mission and land all my planes intact while faced with stiff opposistion over the target from the uber planes.
Too each their own, but I'm voting based on historic facts, not on what will compete in the LW areanas. Too limit my vote based on that is just stupid to me, but again that's my opinion.
