I know for fact I don't know everything on WW2, but one thing I thrive is historical accuracy and sourced information, especially when posting in the wishlist forum I consider it taboo to spew garbage rather then facts.
I ranted on about FSO and had no business about it, I do apologize for my stupidity comments - I am passionate about keeping the historical side of WW2 shown, as many MANY players will never know the history side of this game.
Do I want Historical accuracy? of course - I do know this is a game and nothing more.
I don't claim to know everything either that's why I ask my wife leave me alone for the 2-3 weekends I'm writing a setup and the 3 weeks it runs. Because I have to spend so much time in books and on websites researching. There were Allied planes I wanted in this setup but just could not justify in the interest of balance and fun for both sides.
The F4Fs were gone in the Solomons by September 1943 and there were three USN F6F squadrons operating off land bases in their place. However I couldn't justify adding the later model F6F-5. I was asked a P-47 fan why there were no Jugs... Yes Neal Kearby's P47 unit was active in New Guinea by Sept 43 as well, however I couldn't justify adding P-47D11s as P-47D2s and keep the setup balanced.
The Ki-67 a sub for the Ki-49? To me that is not a deal breaker. Yes the 67 is superior but the difference in performance does not swing the balance of the setup to one side, in my opinion.Plus it doesn't catch fire if you give it a dirty look like the G4M and it is a Army bomber not a Navy bomber as the G4m is. The Allies have he A-20G and Boston III both which are fast enough to give the Japanese planeset a difficult time intercepting. To me that is a fair trade off. I really thought if I caught grief this setup the one thing that would do it would be the addition of the Aussie Spitfires. I assumed it would be Spit IXs or Spit VIIIs only to learn through research it would be Spit Vs and contained in a very small area.
The repositioning of Ki-61s.. The IJAAF's participation in this theater historically went from next to nothing to a heavy concentration and then it wained again. I'm trying to represent that with the second frame addition of ki-61s active in the Solomons area in Frame 2 and then gone again by Frame -3. Because of the T-60 time limit for strikes I cannot keep the Ki-61 Rabaul only they had to be allowed to operate from the islands in the South. In fact the IJN bases Southeast of Rabaul on the game map have to act as my Rabaul for this setup. The USMC bases Southeast of them have to act as my Henderson Field, just as the USAAF bases midway up New Guinea have to serve as my Port Morsby for this setup. I only have so much time to get everyone in the fight. The one historical base that was convenient for this setup on the map was Lae.
On top of all this I had to deny a Navy oriented squad the chance to fly Allied this setup to make the numbers work. G3-MF requested Allied and got assigned Axis. They were disappointed but have handled it with class and we haven't heard one complaint out of them.
Like you Butcher I would love to see more Japanese planes in the planeset. Ki-43s Ki-45s D4Ys B6Ns and Ki44s are needed very badly just to name a few. It is no fun having to use A6Ms for Ki-43s. That's like giving a kid who wants a pet rabbit a guinea pig instead. This was the first setup I know of other than the Rangoon Scenario where the A6M3 was used. Plus it is the first it has been used against against mid war USAAF and USMC. Like I said earlier I expected a little more success out of them than they have had thus far.
Is the setup perfect? No way. Have I made some mistakes? You bet I have. However I will never do a setup where I expect one side to win a certain frame or the entire setup itself. I love WWII aviation history I have since I was a boy and that was a loooong time ago. I try and design these things to be historically accurate as possible yet as fun as possible for
both sides. Every Admin guy does Bino Warloc Nefarious and even CAP is working hard to make his first setup fun. This thread has really gotten to the point where it is counter productive. It is doubtful anybody wants to see a squad or even a single pilot leave the FSO.
In AH II there's nothing better than a good FSO night and there's nothing worse than a bad one. We're all going to get our share of both it doesn't matter who you are. Every squad that flys on Friday nights is what makes it special. Its not the CM the Admin guy the setup or the plane. It's the squads that come together fly together and fight together.
All the squads Butcher never hesitate to PM myself or any other Admin guy with an aircraft question or observation you have. Yes it's very possible we could over look something. Or at the very least give you an answer as to why there is an aircraft present or kept out of a setup. If you teach us something you're only doing us a favor.
