Author Topic: HO Philosphy (Read 8665 times)

NikonGuy · « **on:** May 27, 2012, 11:16:47 PM »

I am asking a serious question here, so please no rants or belittling.

I don't understand why a HO upsets so many when:

a. It was used in actual combat
b. Pointing your guns at another opponent is an act of aggression

Its a tactic that for some reason in AH has this whole taboo stigma attached to it and based on point B. if an opponent attempts to point his guns at me, no matter from what direction then I will fire !!

I am also finding on occasion that after checking the film back find that the person making the HO claims actually fired themselves, which is beyond belief .. !!

Would love peoples thoughts

NikonGuy

Raphael · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:20:27 PM »

~
Use the flame suit!!

NikonGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:21:57 PM »

Quote from: Raphael on May 27, 2012, 11:20:27 PM

(Image removed from quote.)~
Use the flame suit!!

Lmao .. Don't I know it

Hoffman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:22:10 PM »

"That (insert expletive of choice here) shot me down by flying right at me! Grr I'm so (insert expletive of choice here) (insert deity of choice here) darned angry! Why, if he hadn't shot at me when we were nose to nose, he wouldn't have the skill to get on my 6 and kill me proper. The skill-less (insert demeaning description of sexual orientation/genital size here.) n00b.

About sums it up.

auscar · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:22:47 PM »

I prefer to HO as it takes all the manoeuvring stuff out of the equation.

Barring a lot of radiator hits in my Tiffie it's a pretty succesful tactic.

Scotch · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:32:47 PM »

USRanger · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:33:38 PM »

Quote from: auscar on May 27, 2012, 11:22:47 PM

I prefer to HO as it takes all the manoeuvring stuff out of the equation.

coombz · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:37:58 PM »

Quote from: auscar on May 27, 2012, 11:22:47 PM

I prefer to HO as it takes all the manoeuvring stuff out of the equation.

I'm pretty sure that's why NikonGuy does it all the time too

BluBerry · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:39:09 PM »

I'm on your side. HOing to me is an acceptable tactic. I think the main reason people here complain about is, from the fact that they spend 20 minutes of real life time flying to a fight just to get badly damaged or killed during a HO. I think people want more of a battle if they are devoting so much time in travel. To me however, this is why you alt tab and do other things during travel. The times i dont fire and we are flying head on i get shot in the face. So now if any one is flying at me head on then hell yeah I'm going to shoot. Most times for me when a head on engagement begins its at 1k or a little more. If the enemy aircrafts nose is dead on me I'm gunna fire, but if I see they are going above below or to the side and I typically do not shoot. In my mind if we aren't going to shoot each other in the HO then you have 1k distance to stop aiming directly at me. But if that 1k turns to 400 then you bet I'm firing with everything.

Flame on.

NikonGuy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:42:59 PM »

Quote from: BluBerry on May 27, 2012, 11:39:09 PM

I'm on your side. HOing to be is an acceptable tactic. I think the main reason people here complain about is, is from the fact that they spend 20 minutes of real life time flying to a fight just to get badly damaged or killed during a HO. I think people want more of a battle if they are devoting so much time in travel. To me however, this is why you alt tab and do other things during travel. The times i dont fire and we are flying head on i get shot in the face. So now if any one is flying at me head on then hell yeah I'm going to shoot. Most times for me when a head on engagement begins its at 1k or a little more. If the enemy aircrafts nose is dead on me I'm gunna fire, but if I see they are going above below or to the side and I typically do not shoot. In my mind if we aren't going to shoot each other in the HO then you have 1k distance to stop aiming directly at me. But if that 1k turns to 400 then you bet I'm firing with everything.

Flame on.

My thoughts exactly .. If I see the other guy is gonna do a cold merge then so do I coz its a pretty sure bet your in for some fun. But if their purely in for the quick kill then I am gonna light up those 20mm straight back at 'em ..

Guppy35 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:43:33 PM »

It's very simple and dates back to the Airwarrior days where HO shots were really frowned upon.

The biggest complaint here is when folks use the 'it was a valid tactic in wartime" line, is that in the MA we have nothing to lose. Lives mean nothing. There is absolutely no risk to a HO shot. In that regard its seen as 'lazy', in particular by the guys who pride themselves in their ACM skills.

Having said that, I'd expect 20-30 of them to charge in here and say 'it's easy to avoid a HO". And there is some truth to that, but again, I think it comes down to a tactic that requires little effort with no risk in the MA.

The flip side to that is special events like scenarios where lives do matter. If you take a HO shot there, and the other guy blazes back, you do have something to lose. Then the 'valid tactic" argument holds some weight as you are taking a risk.

I don't blame anyone for taking that shot in a special event as it may be the only shot they get.

In the end, it's your choice. If you expect someone to salute you for a great HO shot, I think you are going to be disappointed. As will happen here, some will defend it and some will criticize it. It all comes down to how you want to play. Odds are good that if that's your only tactic, the better sticks will avoid it and kill you quick, so it's probably better to spend some time learning the bird you fly and how to bend it most effectively so when you run into those good sticks you have something to fall back on when your HO shot misses

auscar · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:45:21 PM »

"A facepalm (sometimes also face-palm or face palm) is the physical gesture of placing one's hand flat across one's face or lowering one's face into one's hand or hands. The gesture is found in many cultures as a display of frustration, embarrassment, shock, or surprise"

So many choices US Ranger, what are we going for frustration (this applies to nme spiralling down in flames), embarrasment (this applies to nme getting shot down by a hack like me), shock (this applies to nme realising 4x20mm hispanos are nasty), or surprise (this applies to nme reaslising that anyone who flies a Tiffie can actually get their guns on them)

NikonGuy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:46:17 PM »

Quote from: coombz on May 27, 2012, 11:37:58 PM

I'm pretty sure that's why NikonGuy does it all the time too

nope .. I actually prefer the fun of the fight

NikonGuy · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:52:25 PM »

Quote from: Guppy35 on May 27, 2012, 11:43:33 PM

It's very simple and dates back to the Airwarrior days where HO shots were really frowned upon.

The biggest complaint here is when folks use the 'it was a valid tactic in wartime" line, is that in the MA we have nothing to lose. Lives mean nothing. There is absolutely no risk to a HO shot. In that regard its seen as 'lazy', in particular by the guys who pride themselves in their ACM skills.

Having said that, I'd expect 20-30 of them to charge in here and say 'it's easy to avoid a HO". And there is some truth to that, but again, I think it comes down to a tactic that requires little effort with no risk in the MA.

The flip side to that is special events like scenarios where lives do matter. If you take a HO shot there, and the other guy blazes back, you do have something to lose. Then the 'valid tactic" argument holds some weight as you are taking a risk.

I don't blame anyone for taking that shot in a special event as it may be the only shot they get.

In the end, it's your choice. If you expect someone to salute you for a great HO shot, I think you are going to be disappointed. As will happen here, some will defend it and some will criticize it. It all comes down to how you want to play. Odds are good that if that's your only tactic, the better sticks will avoid it and kill you quick, so it's probably better to spend some time learning the bird you fly and how to bend it most effectively so when you run into those good sticks you have something to fall back on when your HO shot misses

Thats a great point which makes a lot of sense .. cheers

If I am 1 v 1 against a good stick I wont HO but when I am getting ganged by five F4U's like last night and four of them are HO'ing and when I HO back the fifth, he has a cry and squeakes for 20 mins it sorta gets a little ridiculous.
I used to try to avoid HO's but found I get hit all too often so I may as well get in there with half a chance and hope my guns hit him first

LilMak · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2012, 11:58:52 PM »

I generally won't fire on the first pass. If you HO and miss (which u usually will if I see ya coming), you're probably about 2 turns from death because I'm six steps ahead of you before the smoke clears your guns. Its a pretty easy measure of pilot skill (or lack there of) when a guy has tons of options and opens up with a HO shot.

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