tracers in combat

[climber]

I just learned something new about tracers in WW2.  While reading Bud Fortiers' book he mentions that since the ballistics of tracers were different to normal rounds (since tracers were burning they had a lower trajectory) he would have them loaded at the end of the chain.  This way the pilot knows when he is near the end of his ammo when the tracers start firing, kinda like the red on the end of a cash register receipt.

Not sure if I would want this modeled in the game since we can easily know exactly how many rounds are left on board but to have the opportunity to switch how tracers are setup would be an interesting realism touch.  A downside would definitely be if I was getting shot at and had not seen tracers then suddenly see tracers I would know my attacker was at a disadvantage. 

Thoughts??

-Climber

[beau32]

he would have them loaded at the end of the chain.  This way the pilot knows when he is near the end of his ammo when the tracers start firing, kinda like the red on the end of a cash register receipt.

The downside to this would be that the enemy would know when you were about to run out of ammo too, and that would not be a good thing for you.

[Imowface]

we dont need it in game, we have digital ammo counters in every single plane 

[Saxman]

we dont need it in game, we have digital ammo counters in every single plane 

Simple solution: Remove the counters. I don't like having them in planes that didn't historically (ie, some German birds did) as it is.

[redwing7]

Simple solution: Remove the counters. I don't like having them in planes that didn't historically (ie, some German birds did) as it is.

I like that idea.

+1

[guncrasher]

Simple solution: Remove the counters. I don't like having them in planes that didn't historically (ie, some German birds did) as it is.

if you guys really want to be as accurate as ww2 then lots of things will have to go.  zero's firing bullets/cannons with same trigger, anything that has to do with radar, 1200 or more kills in anything with tracks, lazer guided bombs from any buff at any altitude, and most important of all, landing any kills. that didnt happen to most pilots.  there's lots of things that are added just to enhance playing and sometimes just because they're fun.

semp

[climber]

Cool thoughts folks!

I wanted to throw this one in the oven just to see if it would bake.  I'm not really for the idea myself (even though I suggested it) but I thought it was a cool tidbit of history and wanted to read others thoughts on the idea.

-Climber

[Karnak]

As I understand it, that policy was very short lived as it told the enemy you were out of ammo as well.  It certainly was not done in all airforces during the war.

PS. A lot of what guncrasher stated is silly.

[Saxman]

zero's firing bullets/cannons with same trigger.

Actually, I like the idea of changing this, too.

[Pigslilspaz]

Simple solution: Remove the counters. I don't like having them in planes that didn't historically (ie, some German birds did) as it is.

pretty sure the brewster had this as well

[Karnak]

Actually, I like the idea of changing this, too.

How would you make it work though?

It is easy to program an advanced stick to fire both at the same time, so this would simply disadvantage people without programmable sticks.

[fuzeman]

The way we can select guns to fire in Aces High you wouldn't necessarily be able to tell if an enemy was low on ammo. Say for this example select a P-47 or a P-51. Select either gun and fire those only until 'low tracers' appeared, giving the enemy an indication you are low ammo. Then switch to the other gun and have plenty of ammo left.

[climber]

If there were an empty slot in the secondary weapons selection, you could choose to fire (a) either primary with main trigger only, (b) primary and secondary (by selecting say cannon on a spit 16), or (c) only firing secondary by pressing the secondary trigger.

Using a spit 16 as an example I can currently fire only the 50 cal if I have the slipper tank chosen as secondary.  Once the slipper tank is let loose I have only the option of firing both 50 cal and hispano when pushing my primary trigger.  I can also choose to fire only the hispano by pressing my secondary trigger (same as I use to drop ordnance, or external fuel tanks).  It would be nice to be able to only fire the 50 cal and not waste as much hispano.  The main concern is; was this option available to the spit.  It looks like the zero, brewster, and some german aircraft may have had that capability.

Would that be hard to add into the game?

This thread is getting interesting.

-Climber

[Krusty]

Early in the war they belted the tracers to tell the end of the ammo belt. The enemy very quickly figured out what this meant, and would turn and attack the helpless plane. Pilots stopped belting their tracers that way.

I doubt it was all that common. Frankly, I think no tracers is really better. It helps your aim much more than the "clutter" that tracer streams make on your gunsight image.

[Ack-Ack]

Simple solution: Remove the counters. I don't like having them in planes that didn't historically (ie, some German birds did) as it is.

Game play concession, you most likely will never see it go.

Quote from: guncrasher on Today at 04:36:27 PM

zero's firing bullets/cannons with same trigger.

Actually, I like the idea of changing this, too.

Another game play concession based on customer's possible hardware configurations.  Not everyone can afford a top of the line joystick that has a myriad of buttons to program, some actually play on a joystick with a single button.  As semp pointed out in his post, sometimes reality has to take a back seat for the sake of game play.

ack-ack