88's AAA revisited - their time has come

[maus92]

Sometimes it seems that bombers in AH are equipped with JDAMS.  Historically, it took large groups of bombers to achieve the effectiveness that one or two groups of well flown bombers can do in this game.  It seems to me that either the bombsights are way too accurate, or the bombers need more harassment.  I vote for the second option.  Therefore HT should institute 88's pronto.  Make the 88s effective from 10k up.  Make the gunner set an altitude for the fuse to explode the shell - except in the case of a direct hit.  Place controllable gun postions in/near town.   Give us flak towers....  Give us trailerable 88's.....

[Nemisis]

hmmmmm..... where to start.

First, '88s would be effective higher than 10k. The were effective upto around ~23,000ft.

second, would they have AP rounds? If so, then bases just got a hell of a lot harder to camp, vulch, and take. Oh, maybe not impossible if there was only 1-2 per base, but its still not the best thing you could do.

[grumpy37]

I thinks its the laser accurate bomb site.  I miss the old days of the manual calibration.

[BigKev03]

I thinks its the laser accurate bomb site.  I miss the old days of the manual calibration.

You hit the nail on the head here.  If we went back to manual then bombing bases and knocking out fields with one set of Lancs would be over.  Why not go manual in the MA?  We still use it from time to time in the FSO.


BigKev

[Nemisis]

What is the manual calibration? Did you have to punch in the numbers and all that crap?

[Beefcake]

You had to take the crosshairs in the bomb site and line it up on something and then hold it there while you held the calibrate button. Back in the old days with the "hard" bombsite there was no E6B to look at so the only way to see how well you calibrated was to check the calibration speed and alt, and then goto the cockpit and match them to the instruments up there.

[Lusche]

What is the manual calibration? Did you have to punch in the numbers and all that crap?

The old manual calibration method:

Go to bombsight view.

Open your map, hit U, click on area you plan to bomb.

Close map. You'll see the target alt has probably changed from 0. Could be 1k, could be 182 feet, depends on where you clicked on the map.

Now pick a spot on the ground, and use your joystick to put the big crosshairs on it.

Hold Y, while keeping the crosshairs on this spot using your joystick.

The longer you hold Y, and more accurate you are holding the cross-hairs in place, the better accuracy you will have.

When you release Y, you'll see your calibrated speed has changed. You can check this against your E6B true air speed. If they match, bombs will be on target. If your calibrate speed is higher or lower, the bombs will go short or long respectively.


It's very, very easy once you've done it correctly.

If anybody sees me online, and needs a fast lesson in how the manual bombsight works, I'll be more than happy to teach you. Just send a PM to "ndy". This is "how it was" when I first started playing, and it's more satisfying than the easy-mode alternatives

[Nemisis]

Thanks Lusche. Makes me glad I've got my little "no bomb sight" tricks in the '88, and B-26.

[Tigger29]

While I do believe that the bombsite is quite accurate, I also believe that some of the people calibrating these bombsites in real life were very skilled in their jobs... so it's hard to judge just how realistic the calibration in AH really is.

However there is one major factor that doesn't come into play with Aces High (except for some special events from time to time):  WIND.  There is no wind in the main arenas.  AH Calibration methods also do not take wind into account, so if there WERE wind it would make for a very challenging bombing run.

I do have to agree that calibration does seem a bit too easy... I wouldn't be against going back to the old method... or turning wind back on.. one or the other.  If not, however... no biggie... it keeps things fun.

[HawkerMKII]

It all doesn't matter anyway, bombers are out of this game with the new dar settings. Have you noticed less players flying them, I know I don't unless I am with my squad. The HUNT has been taken away. I thought we did have 88's, I know I was blasted over HQ once flying a pony at 28k on escort duty

[Nemisis]

Hawker, he means mannable ones, or possibly auto puffy over our airfields.

And Hawker, the new dar killed the solo "hey, I think I'll go drop the FH's. That way the furballers will help with my agenda of winnin teh warz!!!!!!!" bombers. Fly in a group of 3-4 and you're fairly safe.

[AWwrgwy]

Hawker, he means mannable ones, or possibly auto puffy over our airfields.

And Hawker, the new dar killed the solo "hey, I think I'll go drop the FH's. That way the furballers will help with my agenda of winnin teh warz!!!!!!!" bombers. Fly in a group of 3-4 and you're fairly safe.

88s don't have proximity shells.

 


wrongway

[Nemisis]

Nope. Still doesn't mean I want someone sitting in an 88, waiting to 'splode my tank.