Author Topic: Requesting the AH community's help  (Read 1810 times)

Offline Brooke

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Requesting the AH community's help
« on: July 15, 2013, 06:47:40 PM »
I run the "This Day in WWII" events, and I'm having increasing difficulty getting enough players.

If you have played in any "This Day" events and like them, please help me recruit more players.

If you know anyone who might like it, please invite them to join us.

If you are in a squad, please ask the squad to join us.

If you see anyone in the MA asking about special events, please let them know about "This Day in WWII" as well.

If you have any ideas on how to increase player numbers in "This Day", please give it a try.

Offline Isolate

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2013, 06:48:55 PM »
The travel times are what turn me away from that particular event.  I like events for a nice change of pace, but I personally care less for realism and more for fun.  Adding a role play edge to it is cool, but not enough to off set the cost of time.

Offline Brooke

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2013, 06:52:38 PM »
"This Day in WWII" are events that, once each month, commemorate the anniversary of a major battle.

For example, on Dec. 7, I run a Pearl Harbor event.  On April 18, I run a Doolittle Raid event.  D-Day, Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Battle of the Bulge, etc. are represented, each on the anniversary of the actual battle.

The events are built so that there is no preparation needed -- a person can just jump in and have fun.  They are unlimited-life events.  There are no player-enforced rules, so that if you can do it in the arena, you are allowed to do it in the event.  And the design of the event is meant to give maximum fun with the theme of the battle it is commemorating.

If you haven't tried one ever, please try it at least once.

Offline Brooke

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2013, 07:03:02 PM »
The travel times are what turn me away from that particular event.

Each battle is different, but typically, the travel to battle is 1 sector of flying.  Closer than that, and I feel like I'd just be making each event the same furball only with a different plane set.  Events with CV's, I could start the CV's closer to destination, I suppose.  I'll give it a try.

Which "This Day" event did you try?

Offline Isolate

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2013, 07:13:58 PM »
Each battle is different, but typically, the travel to battle is 1 sector of flying.  Closer than that, and I feel like I'd just be making each event the same furball only with a different plane set.  Events with CV's, I could start the CV's closer to destination, I suppose.  I'll give it a try.

Which "This Day" event did you try?

Um, I'm not sure, it was in europe, and it was either more than one sector, or the sectors were larger or something that made me go, wow this is going to take a while.  But before I even went in 2 or 3 people told me that was the reason they weren't going to go.  So I sort of assumed/based it on 1 experience that that was them all.

Offline Zoney

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2013, 07:19:46 PM »
Brooke, I have flown many of these events.  I have enjoyed every one and would not change any of the set ups presented.  I also think these events add to our game and are wonderfully immersive.  The August 13th Event occurs on my day off so I can attend.  Normally if you were to run the second event at 8:30 PM Eastern that makes it 5:30 my time and I am still working at that time.  I shall post this event to JG11's squad board as the event date gets closer.
Wag more, bark less.

Offline Brooke

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2013, 07:40:00 PM »
When I have the freedom to choose any time, I pick 10 or 10:30 pm Eastern, but some days, there are conflicts with other events, and so I adjust to accommodate.  In this case, 8:30 pm Eastern is about as late as I can go and not step on the air-racing event.

Offline SIK1

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2013, 07:56:58 PM »
Brooke, I have flown many of these events.  I have enjoyed every one and would not change any of the set ups presented.  I also think these events add to our game and are wonderfully immersive.  The August 13th Event occurs on my day off so I can attend.  Normally if you were to run the second event at 8:30 PM Eastern that makes it 5:30 my time and I am still working at that time.  I shall post this event to JG11's squad board as the event date gets closer.

+1
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Offline Arlo

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2013, 08:01:52 PM »
I'd wager you could probably count on my squad to participate in November if this was to be part of the rotation:

Battle of the Solomon Sea

 The Japanese stronghold on Rabaul, on the northeast corner of New Britain, remained a major thorn in the side of South Pacific Allied operations. In order to neutralize this threat, Task Group 50.3 (including the carriers Essex, Independence and Bunker Hill) launched a major strike on the morning of 1 November 1943.

While the carrier-based planes struck Rabaul, several land-based squadrons were assigned to CAP the task group. Fighting-17 joined VMF-212, VMF-221, the Hellcat-flying VF-33, and a squadron of New Zealand P-40s in this mission. The Jolly Rogers were to take off at 0400, CAP from dawn to 0900, refuel and (if needed) rearm on the carriers, and continue the CAP at 1030 until fuel/ammo/damage demanded they return to Ondongo.

After an hour of early-morning CAP, Blackburn flamed a lone incoming Tony which was detected by shipboard radar. There was no further action by 0900, when VF-17 and -33 landed to refuel. Blackburn noted that these landings proved to any skeptics that the Corsair was indeed carrier-worthy.

Morning faded into early afternoon, and the weather conditions over the task force began to degenerate. Puffy clouds developed into massive cumulous clouds; visibility shrank. At 1300, radar detected a large inbound Japanese strike, and the CAP was scrambled to intercept. A few minutes out from the carriers, the pilots of VF-17 sighted 65 Zekes escorting 25 Val dive bombers and 15 Kate torpedo bombers. The Hogs dove onto the Zekes with a considerable altitude advantage; Streig, Jackson, Hogan, Hedrick and Baker each bagged one, with Anderson and Chasnoff sharing the kill of a sixth Zeke. Burriss dove through the Zekes and flamed a Kate; Blackburn damaged a Zeke and followed it down to 2,500 feet, where he lost it in the clouds. The remainder of the Kates dodged into a nearby cumulous, and were temporarily lost from sight. Bell bounced the Vals, and flamed two. After searching unsuccessfully for the remaining Kates, Burriss sighted and downed a Betty twin-engined bomber. He then shared a kill of a Kate with one of VF-33's Hellcats.

The remainder of the Kates emerged from the protective cumulous and initiated a torpedo run on the Bunker Hill. They were quickly bounced by Kleinmann, Hill, Gile and Kepford. As the planes closed on the carrier, 40mm and 20mm AA erupted around them and sent huge plumes of water before and between the planes. Hill downed one of the Kates and pulled out to escape the AA; Kleinmann flamed a second, but was hit by an AA shell which shattered his windshield and peppered his face with broken glass. He disengaged and limped his Hog back to Ondonga. Gile came up on a Kate after it dropped its torp (fortunately from too high an altitude, causing the weapon to malfunction), and downed it after a prolonged hammering. Ignoring the Zeke cover which had materialized overhead, Ira Kepford dropped onto the tail of a Kate which had closed to 1,000 yards of the Bunker Hill. As the Japanese pilot closed his finger onto the release button, Kepford opened up . . . simultaneously, a Zeke dropped onto his six and started firing. The Kate burst into flames and crashed into the sea; before Kepford became aware of the Zeke, a Hellcat dropped behind it and blew it out of the air. Kepford successfully dodged the AAA, climbed to altitude, and spotted a flight of six Vals heading back to Rabaul. He zoomed up on their low 6, lined up, and flamed three in succession. As he opened up on the fourth, the last of his ammunition was expended.

For the day's action in what came to be called The Battle of the Solomon Sea, VF-17 was credited with 18.5 confirmed kills and 7 damaged Japanese planes. Two pilots, Baker and Hill, were forced to ditch their planes on-route to Ondongo; both were successfully rescued. The battle was a major strategic victory for the Allies, as the Japanese gave up all attempts to repel the invasion of Bougainville afterwards. Instead, they attempted whatever holding action they could in the Solomons while withdrawling their forces to the strongholds of Truk and Rabaul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And in doing so, we'd likely support the other TDIH events in whatever capacity needed.  :) :salute

Offline MK-84

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #9 on: July 15, 2013, 09:02:31 PM »
I used to live for the special events in AWIII and I participated in a lot of them in AH.  I've found myself doing it less lately though.  Here is what I think could help

...and I just spent the last hour trying to put in type what I want to say... :uhoh

It comes down to this: 
Make everything simple to understand
Use all of the tools that AH provides for mission planning
Roleplay it
Offer an incentive that translates to the MA
Make it special.

I tried typing why, and that is not working for me well.  I will be more than happy to explain each of those ideas over the phone if someone wants to pm me. 



Offline Brooke

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2013, 09:50:22 PM »
MK-84, have you tried a "This Day in WWII"?

They are extremely simple. 

Mission planning is up to each side -- I don't impose anything on a side's planning or execution. 

Roleplay is up to players.  I can't enforce that. 

Incentive that translates to the MA -- I'm not sure what that means.

Make it special -- I try my best.  "This Day" events have to be simple, balanced, fun to play, and themed on the actual battle.  I think I accomplish a great balance in that regard, but am open to suggestions for improvement.

Offline Brooke

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2013, 10:07:19 PM »
I'd wager you could probably count on my squad to participate in November if this was to be part of the rotation:  Battle of the Solomon Sea

I run once per month, and in that month, I have to pick the one thing to run.  I tend to pick whatever is was the most-significant engagement that occurred in that month.  Sometimes, the choice is up to interpretation, of course, and if it comes down to a couple of things, both of which seem about equally significant, I pick the one that is least similar to events that are already in the set.  I can't have every major battle in WWII because sometimes there are overlaps in a particular month.

In November, I picked the invasion of North Africa.  For the Pacific, I've got Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Milne Bay, and Pearl Harbor.

What I hope is that people realize that I'm picking anniversaries of lots of things and come try out various battles, not just their own particular favorite while skipping all others.  I think that they are all fun in different ways, with action and plane sets that run the gamut from early war to late war, from naval battle to land battle, from low alt-tactical stuff to high-alt strategic stuff, with air to air, air to ground, bombers, fighters, attack, and periodic ground fighting available for those who like that.

Offline Arlo

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2013, 10:13:12 PM »
I understand completely. And I hope the choices you make attract the most players to them. I flew the Coral Sea one. But please bear in mind that there may be less draw to a particular event, depending on what the players prefer.

For me, I've always had a difficult time getting excited about Pearl Harbor and the Mitchell raid. Both of those battles were all about complete surprise. It's really hard to put limitations in place to simulate such surprise.

I'll monitor TDIH more and share it with the squad. We're active FSO and our MA participation (as a group) is increasing but I/we may be able to help as long as it doesn't involve conflicting commitments.  :)

Offline Brooke

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #13 on: July 15, 2013, 10:18:44 PM »
The full list, by the way, is:

•January 25, 1945: Battle of the Bulge (late war US/Brit vs. LW with lots of ground action)
•February 2, 1943: Battle of Stalingrad  (mid war Soviet vs. LW with ground action)
•March 7, 1942: Siege of Malta (Hurri II, Spit V, Boston vs. 109, 190, c.2, Ju 88, Ju 87, with anti-shipping)
•April 18, 1942: Doolittle Raid (B-25's from CV's vs. Ki-43's, but unlike what you might think a fun balanced setup that folks like)
•May 8, 1942: Battle of the Coral Sea  (f4f, sbd, tbm vs. a6m2, d3a, b5n, cv vs. cv)
•June 6, 1944: D-Day (late war US/Brit vs. LW and amphibious assault)
•July 9, 1943: Operation Husky  (US/Brit vs. LW/Italy, amphib assault)
•August 13, 1940: Battle of Britain (Adlertag)  (Spit I, Hurri I vs. 109E, 110C, He 111, Ju 88)
•September 7, 1942: Battle of Milne Bay (P-40, B-25 vs. A6M3, D3A, B5N, with some antishipping, ground action, and amphib)
•October 14, 1943: Black Thursday (B-17's, P-47's vs. 109,190 in air-spawned 8th AF raid on Schweinfurt)
•November 8, 1942: Operation Torch (early war US/Brit vs. Vichy fighters and LW bombers, amphib, antishipping)
•December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor (done as "what if US didn't ignore radar reports" -- fun and balanced, although obviously not what happened in history)

Offline Arlo

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Re: Requesting the AH community's help
« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2013, 10:24:32 PM »
The full list, by the way, is:

•January 25, 1945: Battle of the Bulge (late war US/Brit vs. LW with lots of ground action) -  :aok
•February 2, 1943: Battle of Stalingrad  (mid war Soviet vs. LW with ground action)  :aok
•March 7, 1942: Siege of Malta (Hurri II, Spit V, Boston vs. 109, 190, c.2, Ju 88, Ju 87, with anti-shipping)
•April 18, 1942: Doolittle Raid (B-25's from CV's vs. Ki-43's, but unlike what you might think a fun balanced setup that folks like)
•May 8, 1942: Battle of the Coral Sea  (f4f, sbd, tbm vs. a6m2, d3a, b5n, cv vs. cv)  :aok
•June 6, 1944: D-Day (late war US/Brit vs. LW and amphibious assault)
•July 9, 1943: Operation Husky  (US/Brit vs. LW/Italy, amphib assault)
•August 13, 1940: Battle of Britain (Adlertag)  (Spit I, Hurri I vs. 109E, 110C, He 111, Ju 88)  :aok
•September 7, 1942: Battle of Milne Bay (P-40, B-25 vs. A6M3, D3A, B5N, with some antishipping, ground action, and amphib)
•October 14, 1943: Black Thursday (B-17's, P-47's vs. 109,190 in air-spawned 8th AF raid on Schweinfurt)  :aok
•November 8, 1942: Operation Torch (early war US/Brit vs. Vichy fighters and LW bombers, amphib, antishipping)  :aok
•December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor (done as "what if US didn't ignore radar reports" -- fun and balanced, although obviously not what happened in history)


I anticipate half may be hits with out group but that's a preliminary guess. I'll take it to the boys.