What proves more skill, a one on one, or kills?

[horble]

I remember seeing a video of someone taking on about 14 Spitfires in a 109 all alone, and the Spits had the alt advantage. The 109 pilot had superior skills and killed every one of them! 

That's just the superiority of German iron making itself known 

[cactuskooler]

Both take skills. I can hold my own or the most part in a 1v1 but can't do nearly the same flying the furball.

[BnZs]

A skilled 1 on 1 dueler already knows how to survive in the MA,

The hell I do. The only thing I can figure out that is as secure as I like is cutting bandits from the herd to the point that there is no chance of interference, or booming and zooming.

[CAV]

It depends on where and then. For me, in the 16+ years that I have been play online Flight Sims, the players I always looked up to, was the ones who did it in the Scenarios or FSO's. The guys who can fly and fight well in the Scenarios and the who step up to do planning and be the leaders....

Those are the true skill players in any flight Sim.


Anything that happens in MA is all B.S. anyway.

CAVALRY

[mtnman]

The hell I do. The only thing I can figure out that is as secure as I like is cutting bandits from the herd to the point that there is no chance of interference, or booming and zooming.

What helped me a lot was when I would drag someone out for a 1v1, I would make an effort to "keep tabs" on someone else near me, even if it was another friendly, while I fought my opponent.

Also, get a little "risky" when you cut one out.  Try to increase the likelihood of "interference" by not dragging him out quite so far.  Or reverse into the fight while another red guy is still barely in icon range.  Learn to watch the second bad guy while you fight the first guy, and learn to kill quickly, before the second guy can get there.  

Try to increase your SA in "baby steps".  You can't really make these opportunities arise, but watch for them and take advantage of them when you see them.  Accept that you'll die a little more for a while, in return for developing a skill.

Make a huge effort to not let the guy you're fighting keep you from being aware of what else is going on around you.  Make sure you quickly scan behind and around you a few times in a fight, even when you don't need to.  Maybe just once or twice at first.  Then add a scan or two, and quickly you're beginning to really get somewhere.  Do it in a 1 v 1, even though it's a "waste", because you'll learn to do it, and to still keep track of your opponent, or reacquire him after you take you eyes off of him.  Do it when you can at first, so that it becomes easier to do it when you need to.  It gets easier, and it gets easier to grab more information from a casual glance.  It also becomes a habit, and quickly you'll find you're watching around you while fighting, and you don't even realize it.  I laugh at myself, because I can't stop scanning while in a fight, even while I'm working 1 on 1 with a student in the TA.  There's no way I'm going to get "jumped", but the habit is so strong I'm watching for the bad guys anyway.

Is that guy you're fighting not a terrible challenge?  Maybe he's new/inexperienced?  Use that opportunity to scan!  Nobody else to watch/keep track of?  Then pick an object (a barn?  a cove?), and try to remain aware of it's relation to you as you maneuver.

[Banshee7]

Anybody can fly like a weenie and land 3-5 kills every hop.

Come watch me fly.  I can prove this wrong in a few seconds....

[mechanic]

The hell I do. The only thing I can figure out that is as secure as I like is cutting bandits from the herd to the point that there is no chance of interference, or booming and zooming.

That is Ma skills. Survival in the MA equals one simple skill, staying out of trouble. There are a few others required to gain some kills, such as gunnery and attack technique. Defence is not a factor in the MA because if you want to survive you don't get in a situation where you can be shot at. It's that simple. 

[Banshee7]

Apparently I'm doing something wrong!

[Guppy35]

As long as you are having fun, who cares.

I prefer turning and burning...literally...in a cartoon sense anyway...on the deck in my P38G.  If I land at all, it's generally shot to pieces and if I can manage 1 or 2 kills at the same time, I figure it's icing on the cake.

That's how I have fun.  I'm guessing if I flew a different bird with better performance, and flew it differently then I do the 38G, I could probably land more kills, more often.  I'd be bored to death though.

It just doesn't matter to me anymore. I remember back in my early Airwarrior days when it did matter.  It was the least fun I ever had playing the game.  I was working way too hard at what was supposed to be fun.

I think I can give most guys a good fight 1 v 1 in my 38G, even if they are in a better bird.  Since I don't really die, and my supply of 38Gs is unlimited, it's all good even if I lose.  I like that challenge.

But again, it's how I have fun.  How you have fun is up to you.

As to survival skills in the MA.  I have never, ever once died. 

[Baumer]

If you are looking for ways to analyze and improve you skills, nothing is more effective than a same plane & load out, 1v1 dual (especially if you ask one of the good pilots).

[Clone155]

Usually, if you are good 1v1 then the kills will follow. The question is kind of like saying "What killed the man? The bullet or the wound?"

[HighTone]

That is Ma skills. Survival in the MA equals one simple skill, staying out of trouble. There are a few others required to gain some kills, such as gunnery and attack technique. Defence is not a factor in the MA because if you want to survive you don't get in a situation where you can be shot at. It's that simple.  

I agree. In the MA its all about not letting someone get on your six, the kills come easy after that. When you do find a 1V1 in the MA it seems hard to keep it that way for long, so get him quick. About which is harder???.... only about 20% of the pilots you will run into in the MA are of a true great amount of skill, so I would say fighting the other 80% in a hoard the rest of the time is harder.

[Shuffler]

Where does dieing alot come in..... cause that is where I'd be.

[BnZs]

I don't really get killed by bandits I'm unaware of in this scenario so much as get killed by bandits I can't do anything about because I'm already low E and "riding the edge" working for a shot in the fight with bandit A.

The special challenge of the MA is that in most planes almost any bandit crowd will generally fighters that are superior to yours in maneuverability and superior to yours in speed.

What helped me a lot was when I would drag someone out for a 1v1, I would make an effort to "keep tabs" on someone else near me, even if it was another friendly, while I fought my opponent.

Also, get a little "risky" when you cut one out.  Try to increase the likelihood of "interference" by not dragging him out quite so far.  Or reverse into the fight while another red guy is still barely in icon range.  Learn to watch the second bad guy while you fight the first guy, and learn to kill quickly, before the second guy can get there.  

Try to increase your SA in "baby steps".  You can't really make these opportunities arise, but watch for them and take advantage of them when you see them.  Accept that you'll die a little more for a while, in return for developing a skill.

Make a huge effort to not let the guy you're fighting keep you from being aware of what else is going on around you.  Make sure you quickly scan behind and around you a few times in a fight, even when you don't need to.  Maybe just once or twice at first.  Then add a scan or two, and quickly you're beginning to really get somewhere.  Do it in a 1 v 1, even though it's a "waste", because you'll learn to do it, and to still keep track of your opponent, or reacquire him after you take you eyes off of him.  Do it when you can at first, so that it becomes easier to do it when you need to.  It gets easier, and it gets easier to grab more information from a casual glance.  It also becomes a habit, and quickly you'll find you're watching around you while fighting, and you don't even realize it.  I laugh at myself, because I can't stop scanning while in a fight, even while I'm working 1 on 1 with a student in the TA.  There's no way I'm going to get "jumped", but the habit is so strong I'm watching for the bad guys anyway.

Is that guy you're fighting not a terrible challenge?  Maybe he's new/inexperienced?  Use that opportunity to scan!  Nobody else to watch/keep track of?  Then pick an object (a barn?  a cove?), and try to remain aware of it's relation to you as you maneuver.

[Lusche]

Anybody can fly like a weenie and land 3-5 kills every hop.

This completely overestimates SA, ACM knowledge and shooting skill of the "average" cartoon pilot.

The overwhelming majority of AH player can't do that at all.