Whats the big issue with the frame results? the LW had 40 more players and only shot down 10 more a/c? whats the big panic all about? Maybe have a look at the logs. Sure some squads had rough nights, on both sides, and some hade great nights, on both sides. The LW lost 112 a/c to the 303cal armed fighters.
...I have said this a few times before, and I will repeat it. The problem is often players who are too used to flying MA 1944 rides that have batteries of cannon and/or heavy MGs. This is a 1940 setup. Not 1944. The 8 x 303s will do fine if used properly. You dont fire at 400 yards, thats too far. You have the conv set to 200-250, and you fire when you have a target. They do just fine.
The 109E-4 has some drawbacks as well, with only 60 rpg in the cannon drums, 2 short bursts and you are out, and all thats left is the 2 x 30s in the nose, and thats it. Hardly wopping firepower. That and the ballistics of the MG-FF cannons are terrible.
It really just depends on what the goal of running the frame is.
Sure, the LW had 40 more pilots and only shot down 10 more A/C, but they also scored points in a massive way for bombing raids. All the Rolling Thunder were directed and advised to use a convergence of 200yds after many of our pilots did some extensive testing. And it worked great against fighters. However you can't sit at 200yrds attacking a bomber in ANY direction or you become paste on a plane.
I haven't seen the total roundabout scores, but I have a feeling it'll be severely lopsided towards the axis due to the bombing results. I think the only problem most of the allied pilots feel, is that they don't have a fighting chance to win. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. But perhaps a swing in points could be worked out. Getting full points for the allied side for every A/C returned safely for example. The RAF was desperately short on A/C's during the Battle of Britain, and this emphasizes that. Because the allies can't bomb anything, they need a way to neutralize those bombing points. Or perhaps make hangers worth less, or shooting down the Ju-88's worth more. If our guys are going to give our lives trying to down those monstrous behemoths with nothing more than .303's, then at least make the risk worth it.
Not trying to dump on your parade and setup by any means, because I had a great time regardless of the results. Just offering input, cause I'm sure if the roles were reversed and the axis pilots were flying allied, they'd have the same concerns. I've flown in many BoB setups, and this seems to be the case in almost every one.
Oh, something else for the setup crew....though the allied pilots will probably flip me the *finger* and scream obscenities at me....
This was mentioned in our debriefing, and I've actually seen it done before in the S3 and it was incredibly fun.
The British were on a short leash and didn't usually have time to up their planes on any kind of notice. In fact, they'd usually have a fighting climb most of the way to protect their airfields.
Perhaps in a future setup or frame, make most of the British pilots sit on runway waiting to hear notice from the radar dudes. Once the Darbar goes off, and contact is confirmed, pilots scramble and climb to engage the incoming threat.
<S> to the Setup and CM team. Doing a wonderful job and many of our guys appreciate the hard work and effort you put into the FSO.
Chapel