Missions would you participate more if:

[Rich46yo]

I forgot who it was that ran that Rook mission about a week ago, the NOE one, but it ran like clockwork and I'd gladly join another of his again. The biggest reasons I dont join many missions??

                         #1, is Ive already climbed to 15,000' in bombers and Im not about to bail again for a mission that isn't even going to launch. #2, is I dont like flying the airplanes in the missions, tho I will fly the Goons for the team. #3, is the mission just plain sucks, or, the people in it dont fly it right. Ive spent 10 mins circling a town in a goon and had a single enemy fighter fly thru 10 of my own and shoot me down. Or, Ive looked around and seen that everyone has disappeared.

                        But, like I said, that one mission was different. And it was 110s and goons come to think of it. We Goons took off first and the leader times it perfect so's that the town was down before we even had to circle much. One thing about a mission is someone has to LEAD! And everyone else has to FOLLOW. We had a saying in the real Air Force and that was "Lead, Follow, or get out of the way". Another thing I dont like is non-stop babbling on the VOX.
                     
                       Everyone pays their $15 and can fly anything they want , or, join a mission or not. Overall a good mission is a lot of fun and seems very effective. I personaly like the concept of teamwork. Its something Ive always had to have in all the jobs Ive had.

                     I like flying AATalons missions cause he's a good guy and bomber orientated.

[Lusche]

Not only 90% of all missions are badly designed, but also 90% are completely immune to any assistance attempts. If you respectfully try to  point out that the fuel loadout is completely wacked, you get either

- no answer at all because they are too busy writing in caps
- or "Dude, 25% for Spitfire is fine, it's not a long flight"
- "PXXX off, I'm doing that for a longer time than you!" (it's really sad, but sometimes this is even true...)

[Rich46yo]

Originally posted by Lusche
Not only 90% of all missions are badly designed, but also 90% are completely immune to any assistance attempts. If you respectfully try to  point out that the fuel loadout is completely wacked, you get either

- no answer at all because they are too busy writing in caps
- or "Dude, 25% for Spitfire is fine, it's not a long flight"
- "PXXX off, I'm doing that for a longer time than you!" (it's really sad, but sometimes this is even true...)

                       And thats another thing. The bomb load out for bombers. You dont load 1,000 lb bombs for towns. A B-17 holds what? 16 250s, the B-26 12 250 lb's. At the least load 500 lb bombs. Ive seen missions when the target was 2 sectors away and the B-24s were loaded with 100% fuel and 1,000 lb bombs for a town. Ever try getting air under you in 24's with that load out?

                    Generally I'll fly 2 kinds of bomber missions. The NOE type in medium bombers or the long range high altitude ones that almost never happen. I wont fly B-24s or Lancs at 3,000'.

[storch]

I don't think I've ever flown in a mission in the MA and I'm pretty sure I never will.

[Connery]

Originally posted by Meatwad
Yep.


There was a squeaker that made a GV mission of 12 panzers.

No one joined when the time was up.

He cried and whined about it, but about a half dozen people said in unison that his mission sucked and they arent joining.


Twas funny!

And that is why this community sucks.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Lusche
Not only 90% of all missions are badly designed, but also 90% are completely immune to any assistance attempts. If you respectfully try to  point out that the fuel loadout is completely wacked, you get either

- no answer at all because they are too busy writing in caps
- or "Dude, 25% for Spitfire is fine, it's not a long flight"
- "PXXX off, I'm doing that for a longer time than you!" (it's really sad, but sometimes this is even true...)

These are some of the reasons I don't join missions. Over six years, I'd say I've flown maybe 2 missions not counting squad events. Squad missions are almost always better, because you know the quality of the team and can assign various duties knowing that they will at least attempt to carry them out.

My primary reason for not joining open missions is that I don't want other people, whose judgment may be highly questionable, making decisions for me.

Here's just a few of the more common mistakes, problems and errors in judgment.

Planning errors: Picking a target base that even if captured, cannot be defended or supported. Taking a route that takes the mission through several radar rings prior to getting to the target (why not just PM the enemy, telling where you are headed and give them a head count?). Flying an NOE through mountains. Failure to designate shutting down the airfield as the primary goal. Failure to protect the C-47(s). Missions to bases three sectors distant, that cannot be reinforced in a reasonable amount of time. Excessive waiting time. I don't want to sit in a tower for 30 minutes. I could go on and on.

Poor aircraft selection: Selecting aircraft that cannot defend themselves against enemy fighters. Poor mix of aircraft. Picking fighters with only MGs. Etc.

Poor ordnance selection: Too much ordnance (rockets are almost never worth the trouble and most pilots can only be sure of hitting the ground with them).

Wrong fuel load: Not loading enough to get to target and back. Flying long range mission where fuel must be loaded in place of bombs. Loading too much fuel, which diminishes performance. Mismatching fuel loads between different aircraft. Etc.

Clueless pilots: Unskilled toolshed killers who cannot defend themselves or protect other mission members. Extremely unskilled pilots who need to be constantly covered or defended. Guys who cannot figure out how to stay below 500 feet during an NOE ingress. Pilots who are vulch specialists, uninterested in actually capturing the base. Vox hogs. Knucklehead C-47 drivers who load field supplies rather than troops. Etc.

I'll fly with missions on occasion, but in the aircraft of my choice, with a fuel and ordnance load that makes sense.

We have lots of wannbe leaders in the game. The problem is that many of them could not lead a wet, scared dog in from a thunderstorm.

My regards,

Widewing

[The Fugitive]

I don't think there is anything you can do that will bring more people into missions. You have those that like missions, and those that don't, and those that haven't tried yet.

There are a few people from each country known for good missions, planned out, with a purpose in mind, these will announce a few times on the radio a mission is posted and it will get filled up with those that LIKE MISSIONS.

Those that DON"T like missions continue on their merry way, and there really isn't anything that will change that.

Those that haven't tried missions most likely feel they are too new, or wouldn't be able to help due to lack of skill, or are just shy  

When I first was here I was in a squad that ran missions on squad nights twice a week. We were so good at it that the rest of the folks on the country would beg our CO to run missions when ever he was on. Now a days, I'm much happier just bouncing around, winging with my squad mates in fighters sweeps. Sure I'll jump in and help out here and there, if there is no good fights going on I'll jump in a buff and flatten a town, or fly a goon, but I don't think there is anything that would make me join a mission....unless my squad put it up.

The closest I come to joining a mission these days are SAPP nights, and the only objective to a SAPP mission is to have fun

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by Widewing
Arrogance above and beyond the call of duty.

A shame you feel this way WW.    

My missions are usually successful.    I'm talking about capture missions.   I am also known for my Candy Mountain Mishuns which puts having FUN first.  

I realize I am in the "cesspool of players who play this game".    I just despise arrogant people in here and in RL.   A shame some feel that way though, especially over a game.

[bozon]

Originally posted by The Fugitive
I don't think there is anything you can do that will bring more people into missions. You have those that like missions, and those that don't, and those that haven't tried yet.

I don't think that is entirely correct. It takes me about 5 seconds to have a look at a mission and reject it for the reasons Widewing has counted. Once in a (long) while a good mission is planned and I happily join it.

Here are some tips for mission planners that want to attract more experienced players:

1. Announce the mission well in advance so players can finish doing what they are currently doing and join. Few will lawndart just to join your mission. You can announce your intentions even before you posted the mission (do not announce the target though!)

2. Do not spam the country channel, fer cod sake! Announce that you are setting up a mission with estimated time. Then announce how much time is left to join every few minutes AND DON"T USE CAPITALS!

3. Heed the advice of players about planning problems and adjust accordingly.

4. Make an interesting mission, not an efficient one - B17s 110 N1k and C47 is the most boring setup ever and lacks any flash. I would much rather join a 109E and Stuka mission or any other theme based mission. Example: attack of the twines - 110, P38s and Mosquitoes.

5. Use a country private channel for the mission (1xx) so people can join the mission after it took off.

6. Even if the mission fail miserably do not panic or get mad. Adapt the goals of the mission accordingly. If you get bounced and the attack is hopeless announce a furball and take everyone air-2-air. A coordinated fight is much more fun than making a desperate attack run, dying ant not capturing the base. A good MA mission leader is all about attitude, not skill.

7. Be nice to your goon driver.

[Flatbar]

Squad nights are for missions, other times I like to just boink around and do whatever I feel like.

Flying missions with those you know makes even an unsuccessful one fun. The most fun squad night missions I've been on are when the CHawks/RTC and Unforgiven join up on the same side for cooperative missions against the Rooks, never a dull moment there.





"Just have fun with it!"
A transexual Mr.T in 'Freaked'.

[GunnerCAF]

If you want to lead people, you need power or respect.  If you can learn how to lead out of respect, this game can teach you a useful real life lesson.

If your having problems getting people to join your mission, please see the statement above.

Gunner

[Helm]

...my tip would be:  Do not close escort the Goon....possition a fighter 'picket' at least a 1/2 a grid away on the most logicial route an enemy fighter would take to come kill the goon .....even more effective is to fly 1/2 way to the nearest enemy base and establish your 'picket'

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Masherbrum
A shame you feel this way WW.    

My missions are usually successful.    I'm talking about capture missions.   I am also known for my Candy Mountain Mishuns which puts having FUN first.  

I realize I am in the "cesspool of players who play this game".    I just despise arrogant people in here and in RL.   A shame some feel that way though, especially over a game.

I don't know why you feel singled out here.. I'm talking about hopeless missions generated by people who haven't got clue one as to how to organize a successful mission. Unfortunately, these often constitute the bulk of missions posted.

Let me give you a true example. A noob, who a week before was yet unable to land a fighter in the TA, puts up a mission. Apparently, he figured out how to use the mission generator. The plane choice was awful, the load-outs all wrong and max fuel for everything. About 6 people signed up for that mission, all noobs. They never got to the target before being intercepted and butchered.

Last tour, I'm flying with another guy to a nearby enemy base that has been flooding our base with GVs. We took an F6F-5 (my plane) and an F4U-1A with bombs and enough gas to get there, fight for about 15 minutes and get back. As we take off, a mission is announced. We arrive and blast the VH. About 5 fighters promptly come up to get revenge for porking their GV hording.

We see that the mission is coming to this base. So, we keep them pinned down, killing 12 or 13 of them as they try to climb to us. Our purpose was to keep the bad guys low so that the mission group would not have to cope with fighters.

When the 10-12 man mission arrives, they all dive in on the base. One guy bombed the indestructible hanger. Several didn't hit anything. After about three minutes, all but 3 are dead. Some augered. Some made repeated passes through the ack and were shot down. Others stayed low over the base and got whacked by enemy fighters.

Meanwhile, the town was untouched and the Goon had arrived. Low on fuel and ammo exhausted, we took our kills and went home.

I guess I'm rather picky about who I will wing up with. I'll help anyone, and I'll work with anyone, but I don't depend on many. I'm picky about what I fly and how it's loaded. I give out check six calls like Halloween candy. I'm glad to help a teammate. However, I do not trust most people to make good decisions for me on what I will fly, how I load it and what I will do with it.

My regards,

Widewing

[Masherbrum]

Widewing, we all were new at this game once.    

I never felt singled out.   I just don't understand why the "veterans of AH" choose to place themselves "above anyone else".    This Community has shredded itself over the last 5.5 years.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Helm
...my tip would be:  Do not close escort the Goon....possition a fighter 'picket' at least a 1/2 a grid away on the most logicial route an enemy fighter would take to come kill the goon .....even more effective is to fly 1/2 way to the nearest enemy base and establish your 'picket'

You might want to try a method I have used several times.

Escort the Goon with a formation of bombers. Keep the bombers at 500 feet AGL, slow enough that the Goon can fly right off the lead bomber's nose. The Goon driver can use the bombers as a screen and the bomber's defensive guns are very effective at protecting the otherwise defenseless C-47. A fighter friendly loitering about 8k above is another valuable asset.

My regards,

Widewing