Making missions, and flying them:

[Ripsnort]

Please feel free to add your input on what makes your missions successful

Here are mine, and I think most Knights enjoy them.

Make your missions "Limited Seating": Only 4 escort, 4 for acks, 4 for VH/FH/BH, etc...then advertise the Limited seating.  This prevents fields that need defending from getting drained of needed help, and keeps communication within your flight to a minimum.

Have a variety of missions: Think you can figure this one out, and I'm speaking of the A/C type within a mission as well as a variety of targets as well.

Pick a FL as soon as a flight fills up prior to launch: Speak with him before the mission launches and pick a good FL, someone you know personally, this ensures that prior to hitting the target, the FL doesn his 'Check List ie. Checking salvo, Bombs Hot..

Be explicit with target: Add what each flights target is to the mission, this way, if someone asks you what they're suppose to hit, tell them they should have read the mission orders right above the Ordnance Loadout section.            

Never attempt more than two tries on a mission: I certainly hope I don't have to explain the reasoning on this one.

Have Patience: If no one joins the mission, wait about 15 min. or the equivelent of 1 flight and then try again.

ADVERTISE IN CAPS: But DON'T be too persistent, otherwise the caps could end up alienating people, and don't critisize those who do not wish to join, its bad taste and probably will get you even less help in your missions.

Be prepared to fly the Goonie yourself: Try to list the Goon flight as the top flight so it fills up first, if not, be prepared to fly the goon yourself.

Bag the Waypoints unless necessary:  In most cases, waypoints and the time it takes you to put them in are a waste of time.  Just title what the mission is in the mission title...ie.  ATTACK ON A69.  Most folks are going to follow the FL and could care less what the way points show.  That's why it is important to pick good FL's for each flight.

Use the Delayed Time Start Feature: This works well when trying to get the bombers or heavy fighters to the same IP as your CAP when inbound to target, same goes with Goon...nothing worse than your goon getting there too early (or too late for that matter!)or having your CAP 25 miles out in front of your Heavy's!

Don't ask folks to fly "Mission Impossible: Number one turn off for a person viewing your mission is to see that you have 12 A/C attack A33, however, the person looks at A33 and sees a Full BAR on radar of enemy cons...find a weak spot in the enemy position and exploit it, or set up a duel purpose mission (then use waypoints in this case)

K.I.S.S.: No need to have a complex mission, keep it simple.  The more complex a mission is, the more likely it will fail.

Use Red Herrings: I think most understand what a red herring is...they work, use them.

There are more I'd like to add, but I prefer to keep some thoughts to myself.
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[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 02-01-2001).]

[LJK Raubvogel]

That's a good list Rip. The only thing I could add is to know the aircraft and their ordnance. i.e. Don't expect 109's to fly CAP without a drop tank, etc.

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LJK_Raubvogel
LuftJägerKorps

 

[This message has been edited by LJK Raubvogel (edited 02-01-2001).]

[Fury]

The only thing I have to add would be don't worry about the people squeaking at you telling you that a mission is stupid because there are better things to be doing right now.

Fury

[Jimdandy]

I don't really have anything to add to what you said. I REALLY would like to see a feature added that Air Warrior (AW) had. A separate briefing room with a map that will show the mission preflight. We already have a briefing channel (3 I think) but another EXCELLENT AW feature was the silence switch that would shut the text off of everyone but the mission creator. They had another EXCELLENT feature that allowed people to signal the mission leader if they had a question and he could accept or deny the request. This kept the babble in the briefing to nil. You just hit the silence filter and told everyone the plan and then fielded questions. I would really like to see some of these game play issues added/fixed before we get into more aircraft. I want more aircraft badly but some of the quirky things in game play could be fixed first in my opinion.

[This message has been edited by Jimdandy (edited 02-02-2001).]

[Sunchaser]

I seldom see a mission posted with more than 1 C47 slot.

Make it at least two and keep begging for C47s throughout the ingress because, no matter how many green are around the C47, the 1 red in the sector will blast through and shoot it down.

This is not a criticism of the cover, it just happens.

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When did they put this thing in here and WTF is it for?

[jehu]

 

Originally posted by Sunchaser:
I seldom see a mission posted with more than 1 C47 slot.

Make it at least two and keep begging for C47s throughout the ingress because, no matter how many green are around the C47, the 1 red in the sector will blast through and shoot it down.

This is not a criticism of the cover, it just happens.

Very true. In fact, I often will fly the goon myself. In my view this is one of the most critical components to a mission. That is if the missions objective is to capture a field. I always allow up to 3 goon pilots.  There is always a slim chance of getting another field.

Not to mention I can coordinate the mission better flying in a goon.  I don’t have to be occupied with bomb sights etc.


That’s my little piece.

jehu
Rowdy Rebels

[BBGunn]

Have patience and think ahead.  Anticipate the defense.  Red herring?  Sounds fishy to me.  

[This message has been edited by BBGunn (edited 02-02-2001).]