A Personal question

[BlkKnit]

Last Friday's FSO saw participation by 341 players at launch.  A few more may have came in late.  Good numbers (amazing for a Friday night).  But, a couple years back they were 500 +.  Now, a few years before that, you are right, 100-200 was standard. 

Yeah my brain may not be working properly lol...could be I am remembering it wrong and it was actually 100 per side, not 100 total.  I remember bombing London (my first CiC role) and I think there was about 100 per side there.  But if you are pulling in over 300 on a friday, I'd say thats no reason to worry.  Obviously numbers are down a bit, but thats still pretty dang good.  Keep it up....I may hafta break out the joystick again.

[perdue3]

I didnt say night of. I.E. Last night I asked if anyone Luftwaffe guys wanted to fly FSO next week. A Pig, Ruah, PMed me and said he would love to. HE will fly with me Friday night. Why would we turn down or look down on pilots wanting to fly in FSO? If he likes it he might tell his squaddies. They might try it and get the CO to apply. Then we have another FSO squad. I do not see how this is concerning or how this is not a good circle of events.

[AKP]

I didnt say night of.

Umm... yes... you did.
 

Advertise on 200 "Anyone want to fly a Dora tonight in FSO?"

Maybe that just isn't what you meant?

Why would we turn down or look down on pilots wanting to fly in FSO? If he likes it he might tell his squaddies. They might try it and get the CO to apply. Then we have another FSO squad. I do not see how this is concerning or how this is not a good circle of events.

And you are correct... we should not look down on anyone wanting to fly FSO.  And yes... if they try it and like it... they WILL tell their squaddies and friends.  Which is a VERY good thing.  My point was that NO FSO squad should take on someone they DO NOT KNOW... which was what your original statement implied.  Again... if that isn't what you meant, no biggie.

But any pilot who is taken on by any squad should know what he is getting into, and have an understanding of what FSO is about.  Letting a pilot join your FSO squad for the night who you have no prior experience with is not a good idea.  Killshooter is OFF in FSO... it has happened before where a rogue pilot has wiped out entire squads on take off... or they have ignored mission plans and done what they wanted to.  

The people that fly in FSO every month are dedicated to is success.  They have a vested interest in it... and want to see it do well... and attract others who will want the same thing.  You have to agree, there are some players out there, that are not going to have the patience, commitment, or discipline to take part in FSO... and that is fine.  Its just not their thing.

[perdue3]

Im out of this thread. You win.

[Squire]

From looking at the past 59 FSOs (almost 5 years worth) we have done 23 that are PACIFIC or some 38 % of them. We have done PAC 1942 numerous times and will again.  .  I do beleive if you look at the sticky post FSO schedule for 2011 you will see that next month is PAC 1942 (hosted by Bino). We do endevour to have a wide range of WW2 settings in FSO. That being said many players have favorite rides and settings, including me, but we just have to roll with it. The best way to enjoy FSO is not to get too hung up on what specific a/c you are getting but to enjoy them all. Your favorite will show up at some point in the meantime. Thats what I try to do.

Start time. I will look at it but there would have to be a wide consensus to change the start time from 11:00 EST to 10:00 EST. This will take some feedback. I am aware of the request from a number of players on that issue. The time zones in N. America do make it tricky for a weeknight setup.

I will read all the comments. Im not going to respond to all of them but the team will consider each. Feel free to state opinions. That is not a promise of any specific actions on our part (consider that a disclaimer).

[Edgar]

Start time. I will look at it but there would have to be a wide consensus to change the start time from 11:00 EST to 10:00 EST. This will take some feedback. I am aware of the request from a number of players on that issue. The time zones in N. America do make it tricky for a weeknight setup.

I would think that this might be worth a try. Try it for a n FSO or two and see how it works out.

<S>
Edgar

[FiLtH]

 Ive always thought it would be a good idea to have a ghost squad on each side of 20 slots and all those curious folks that show up and rudely get booted out would have a place to join in. Make the ghost squad be bombers primarily, or the lowest capable fighter.

  They showed up to play. Many registered players dont each week. Reward them. Hook em and maybe they will be in uniform the following week.

[SlipKnt]

Ive always thought it would be a good idea to have a ghost squad on each side of 20 slots and all those curious folks that show up and rudely get booted out would have a place to join in. Make the ghost squad be bombers primarily, or the lowest capable fighter.

  They showed up to play. Many registered players dont each week. Reward them. Hook em and maybe they will be in uniform the following week.

Not a bad idea...

...To make the ghost squad option even more appealing, assign a squad "duty" to provide 1 gal/guy to act as CO for that squad for that frame.  The small squads should be exempt for that duty and if the assigned squad is at their minimum, surely another squad would step in and help.  VF15 would.  In a way, that ghost squad would fly like a snapshot.  If you have a problem with a flyer in that squad, the duty CO reports that individual and has them ejected from the arena. 

I also like the idea of an hour earlier start on Fridays.  Either way, I am coming regardless, but it would be pretty cool to try it out for a month.

[Bannor]

I'm on the west coast and starting an hour earlier would be cool with me.

As an event, FSO it a lot more fun than chugging along in the MA. Sometimes I log into the MA and will do only one sortie, or just look around and bug out. FSO is a planned event and I have enjoyed the company of my squad and the squads we have flown with. I really enjoy calling out someones name on take-off for every one to give a check 6! Good times!

[AKKuya]

Ive always thought it would be a good idea to have a ghost squad on each side of 20 slots and all those curious folks that show up and rudely get booted out would have a place to join in. Make the ghost squad be bombers primarily, or the lowest capable fighter.

  They showed up to play. Many registered players dont each week. Reward them. Hook em and maybe they will be in uniform the following week.

That would never work. 

Each CIC designs a battleplan that's emailed out to the side CO's and disemminated to the registered squads.  Having a walk-on squad who doesn't have time to plan will result in a group of people not knowing what the overall plan is.

Plus, many don't know the rules of FSO and no accountability if walk-on squad players break the rules.

[akbmzawy]

Bringing in no squad affiliated sticks could be intresting if the registered squads were on one side and the no squads are the enemy. It would be a CM and a bouncer nightmare. However, if figured out it could be fun. Of course rules would be broken by the no squaddies thus adding to the uncertainity.

Isn't war hell?

Advertising this setup in the MAs would be the way to get info out.

[49Jester]

Maybe loosen the restriction on walk-ons.(no newbs perhaps, or they must be in a AH squad to participate even if their squad does not.)) I know this is a touchy subject for some people, but I have seen people leave FSO before they have a chance to enjoy it. Let them join a squad who is hurting for pilots. I have seen squads up with less than the minimum. If you are looking to fill more seats, maybe lowering the bar wouldn't hurt.   
 

[ImADot]

Maybe loosen the restriction on walk-ons

I'd vote no.

I have seen people leave FSO before they have a chance to enjoy it. Let them join a squad who is hurting for pilots. I have seen squads up with less than the minimum. If you are looking to fill more seats, maybe lowering the bar wouldn't hurt.

Maybe take a minute of your time to explain things to them, and then invite them to next week's event as a guest in your squad.  There's enough going on prior to fields opening and we don't need to add to the confusion by educating a new player 10 minutes before takeoff.

[Butcher]

Lately I've been wondering about the FSO's, our last mission was pure suicide - we had no escorts and tasked with bombing a town - being through FSO a few dozen times its known as suicide. We knew it, we still flew the mission and were slaughtered 5 minutes after we dropped, It made me wonder if there's anything that can be done to improve the assigning of squadrons to targets/missions.

I'm not knocking the CO's of each side, heck the Dunkirk FSO - i ran into Stukas on more then one run without escorts - whether it was poor planning or the escorts got caught up - I really felt bad for those having to do suicide runs without at least some sort of enjoyment coming from it.

Problem is not the suicide mission in itself - its the 2 hour flight on a one way mission - Granted in the MA you can do this and re-up after a 5 minute flight, however in FSO were talking hours.

I have no answer myself and before the flame bots come on - I am just pointing out its possible something to look into, maybe a way to re-write some of the missions, because if a new guy comes to FSO and gets a suicide mission like this, he could possibly not want to rejoin FSO again.

[mthrockmor]

I lean towards the walk-on issue, though understand the problems this creates.

I was Axis XO for Battle Over Germany, with primary responsibility of handling walk-ons. We had plenty and almost all of the problems were the results of walk-ons not being committed to the mission and screwing around. I get that.

On the flip side I am a member of Loose Deuce. We are a great squad with half our members in Europe. FSO is 3AM for them so half of our squad is out, the other half has some interest but not enough for a full squad. We could likely fill 3-6 spots each Friday though tough to make a hard committment when we are an MA squad, not a FSO squad. This means we have recruited to meet the demans of MA, not FSO.

Maybe an allowance for each FSO squad to add 2-4 walk-ons each frame. I know I would make two or three FSOs a month. And I prefer the organized battle to the MA cluster but...

Just a thought.

Boo