A bit of history for you "vulch whinners" out there...

[Vudak]

the only people who complain about BnZ is the ones who either dont know how to counter it or just fly Hurr, Spits, or Zeros 

Actually, many of us who complain about BnZ aren't complaining about the tactic, but the completely poor way many choose to use it.

Being BnZ'd by someone who knows what they're doing is chaotic and exciting...  Being BnZ'd by someone who doesn't is one of the most boring things that can happen to you.

[CAP1]

don't care that they vulched in rl. there's only 2 reasons to do it in AH.

1) score padding.

2) capping the field for  a base capture. at least this one has some validity. not much, but some.

[CAP1]

Ack hugging.  If you lose an advantage  (or start out disadvantaged), why not make it suicidal to chase you while you extend to come back with better odds?




 

i had a guy got into s turn fight with me....me in a hellkitty, him in a mossie. he lost the advantage, and headed directly to his ack. i followed, and got a few rounds in him, but had to turn off target.
 it was amazing how quickly he was back on my asssss. he lost the advantage agaion, and did the same thing.  this time as i turned off, i grabbed some alt. i had about 3k on him when he was comming back at me again. i tried to dive under him to come up n over, as he was keeping his nose on me.
 somehow i messed up, and didn't avoiod his guns.

 it kinda sucked, but then it was all he could do. he was no cobia, or toonces in that thing.

[Guppy35]

I'm always facinated by the various complaints on vulching, HO's, picking etc...

Now I realize that this is a game and not real life. Personally I almost never HO, only pick on those rare occasions my A-20 gets to your base at 12k without getting picked and simply suck at vulching (but I'm always up for a good vulch ). However the simple reality is that all these were the norm and not the exception if circumstances permitted. I've attached the link for a good overall accounting of exactly the type of combat we see here all the time (obviously not the norm for the allies but the germans suffered this all the time late in the war).

http://352ndfg.com/Y-29/main.htm

There are a number of pilot logs linked, I've attached just one (Bill Whisner 15.5 total victories). His squadron is literally rolling on a mission as the german attack rolls in so they are engaging almost coming of the runway with full fuel loads. A found a few things to be very interesting:

1) Things happened so fast that even an experienced combat pilot forgot to arm his guns initially
2) He flew most of the engagement with an oil leak and missing a control surface
3) He engaged in multiple HO's
4) He actually aimed at, shot and killed two german pilots attempting to bail from planes he'd damaged

I think this is a pretty good account of the realities of combat flying from the view of a guy who was obviously a predator. While I'm uncomfortable with the thought of gunning down pilots attempting to bail from cripples I feel this way 60+ years after the fact and from the safetly of my desk. I'd say that this was the reality for many pilots on all sides...

http://352ndfg.com/Y-29/Whisner.htm

Take "attaboy" messages out of the game, and vulching wouldn't be frowned upon nearly as much.  It's the poor man's way of landing kills and getting 'wtgs' and points.

We've all seen guys in fast planes with big guns pass up a one on one and race for the field hoping to catch guys upping.  And we've all been in the tower with 20 red planes in the vulch pattern hoping some guy ups.  As long as it is 'rewarded' it will continue.

If it wasn't recognized with the attaboys, no one would care, and it would decrease in use unless it was purely for a base taking venture.

Considering the number of LW pilots who failed to return that day on Bodenplatte, it was a complete failure too and a waist of pilots and planes for the Luftwaffe. The 'vulch' mission cost them dearly.  Lives did matter as did planes.  

Here neither matter.

[humble]

My point here is not to condone any in game conduct or style of gameplay...its simply correcting some misperceptions of historical reality. I'm always amazed at those who argue about the historical validity of the above. Your in game conduct is not connected to any "historical reality". It simply a reflection of who you are, nothing more nothing less.

Personally I spend more time in the LWA in an A-20 or P39D then anything else (although I fly everything). The realities are pretty simple as it relates to gameplay:

1) HOing is a 50/50 shot at best and will get you killed against a good stick more often then not. Attempting a HO from an equal or superior position is simply a statement that you dont believe you have the skill to prevail in a fight. HOing from an inferior position is simply an attempt to even out the situation (especially in a 1 on many). If I'm furballing and you fly at my nose I'm gonna fire 1st and worry about your intentions later. Now that doesnt mean I'm going to fly at you and give up my game plan...it simply means that if you cross my gun site I'm gonna shoot.

2) "Picking" is a nonsensical term. Rarely if ever are two cons dead even in all aspects. Further unless you happen to have a "same on same" each plane has strengths and weaknesses. I could care less if you have 50 ft or 5K on me when we meet. All it means is that you'll control the fight initially...nothing more or less. Sure there are alt monkee's but by and large its random chance if the con you encounter is higher or not. Now obviously the 20K hurricane 2 driver is making a statement of his total dweebishness...so be it.

3) Vulching is a variable term, in the extreme its attacking a deacked field but it can be having numbers and hoovering out of the ack as well. To me the big extreme is certain squads that up in large numbers and control an area while talking smack. Realistically 90%+ of these guys are marginal sticks in a 1 vs 1 with a seasoned pilot. you'll notice while they talk the smack, they never will walk the walk...but stay safely nestled in the midst of a sea of green. Now this isnt to be confused with SAPP, the BK's or others who normally can be found furballing in the weeds. It's also not an attack on base taking, missions, or organized fighter sweeps.

The links above provide an insight into the realities of WW2 aircombat, they arent to be confused with what would be considered good game play. My intent is/was to eliminate the drivel and boil it down to the in game realities. You have game or you dont...nothing more...nothing less.

[Buzzard7]

Well isn't HO'ing frowned upon here because its a roll of the dice with the server as to who gets the hits?
Seen a guy in a NIKI last night HO two aircraft and actually collide with them. They went poof and he flew on with no damage at all. He then did the same thing to me and survived the strike.
How does that work?
If it's a roll of the dice as to who wins the Ho then I prefer to actually get into an advantage fight for the sake of learning from the guy who might be better than I.

[VansCrew1]

I vulched SubWayCH rearming yesterday in his yak.

 

[Delirium]

Being BnZ'd by someone who doesn't is one of the most boring things that can happen to you.

I define that as the closest thing AH to limbo.

The BnZr won't engage you, but won't leave you alone so you can actually fight someone that is willing to fight.

[PFactorDave]

I don't mind a vulch that is supporting a base capture.

It's the vultching for score sake, with no attempt to capture the base that bothers me.

[Boxboy]

any comparison to WWII fighting and the MA is silly, never were spit on spit contests in the war or P-51's vs P-38's etc etc etc.  Finding a historical "action" simular to something in the MA is purely luck, head to head attacks were to be avoided and were not taught in flight schools.  They happened for sure but they were the exception NOT the rule.  A head on attack is sorta like the forward pass in football 1 good thing can happen or 4 bad things.  For me an HO on my part occurs because my eyes are not what they used to be and I have a hard time telling if the bogy is coming at me till its too late sometimes.  All in all most of the complaints in the game come from wounded pride (myself included), we all hate to lose otherwise there would be no fun in playing.

[thrila]

Hoing I don't mind, nor vulching.  I enjoy the challenge of upping and killing vulchers, i'm not one to follow my score. 

I'm in agreement with vudak and Del, poor bnz is boring.  Especially the pilots who make a pass, extend until the instant they are out of icon range and instantly do a U-turn.  My SA isn't my greatest strength, but even i can just about handle an icon blinking out for the briefest of moments.