Gentlemen Good morning,
I’m sorry for not replying to this thread sooner. Life, as it has it’s way of doing, has interfered with my game playing, and I only saw this thread this morning…
I am writing this to dispel the any inference that the AXIS MIN-numbers that were missed during Frame 2 of Der Kessel were in any way contrived or intentional. I am in a unique position to answer that charge of intent, as *I* was the Axis CIC during that frame. That said, numbers WERE missed, I WAS in charge, and therefore I DO take responsibility for that. (Just so we’re clear
)
During this thread I will show what my intentions were during the writing of the CIC orders. I will show how the numbers were indeed a question, but that the Frame Admins ultimately approved my plan. And I will show how the missed numbers were an accident, and not intentional.
*** Frame setup Intentions.
While I wrote the order for this frame I attempted to balance two things; and keep in mind that for the whole month squads could only do one job during the PITOMNIK AIRLIFT. These two intentions were:
1) Do not soak up all the big squads in frame 2 so that the Frame 3 CIC guy has no big squads to work with.
2) Give some important jobs to the little squads – from whom I’ve oft heard the complaint “Little squads never get good rides, we just get pigeon-holed into what ever garbage the CIC has left”
Therefore, I assigned a bunch of little squads to 109 E’s, and the very important task of He-111 Airlift Defense. Also, I assigned mostly middle level squads to He-111’s, again to leave larger squads available for frame 3.
I did give 109G2’s to the PITOMNIK DEFENDERS. And the balance of 109G2’s were given only to two squads – albeit, two squads with a known history for killing stuff <S> AOM & Komando Nowotnie
*** Frame Setup Mechanics
Now, about how I calculate numbers. I like to take the average of the Min-Max numbers to count as ride commitment. For example, a 4-6 level squad, I would count 5 for making my number of aircraft. Is it the most accurate, no, and I acknowledge that. But some quads bring more, some bring less and that usually averages out.
*** Responsibility
During the FSO Admin review of frame orders (Before they were sent to the squads) Nef did contact me and voiced a concern about numbers. (I have included some of that email thread below for the communities review.)
To summarize the thread, I said that I would attempt to manage numbers during Frame launch, and Nef said “Ok”.
That is where I failed. I can only claim, in my defense on this charge, the mitigating factors of
1) Real Life (I had a bathroom in my house that blew up and I was forced to gut the morning of FSO).
2) Home-Squad Management – we had some new guys flying with {The Gun Fighters} who needed orientation.
3) Fog of war. I did not see all the Squad Number Level reports as they came in on 150.
It was the juxtaposition of these three factors that caused me to not manage the numbers as closely as I promised I would. If this caused displeasure, frustration, or angst on the part of the FSO community, I apologies and take responsibility for that.
------------- Email Thread ------------------
From: nefarious
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 5:52 PM
Subject: Re: November FSO: Frame 2 Nov 8, DER KESSEL Axis Orders --- DRAFT
Ok, just some number issues it looks like.
Right now the Minimum numbers on the He 111 look like 37 while the max is 51.
Same with the Bf 110C, Right now it's 18 Min and Max 25.
I understand that the Maximums do meet the requirements, but It's better to plan for the Minimums. I will be enforcing a penalty on Aircraft that don't meet the requirements in
scoring every plane not used counted as lost.
FROM: InCrypt
SENT Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 6:12 PM,
If you look at the XLS, You’ll see that I planned for the median. And yes, some of them were below the numbers, but only by 2, or 4 for the 111’s – which also have the largest margin for overage. I think we should be good, but I’ll keep abreast of the numbers if that’s ok.
Chris.
From: Will Hyman [mailto:nefarious@ahevents.org]
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: November FSO: Frame 2 Nov 8, DER KESSEL Axis Orders --- DRAFT
Yes. That's ok.
------------- End Thread ------------------
*** Closing Arguments
I would like to also say that I intentionally took a Hands-Off approach to CIC this frame. I have a history with my squad, {The Gun Fighters}, and they will tell you all about this, of over planning everything. My CO and XO have even accused me of having a 64 step plan, filled out in triplicate, just to take a dump! I cried Hog-wash! And explained how that is absolutely ridiculous, because it only takes 59 steps to take a dump!
<Cough> <Grumble> <Get back on point>
Sorry, I digress, it has taken {The Gun Fighters} almost 2 years of intensive intra-squad therapy (Mostly in the form of harangues, jeers, and ribbing) to “Calm my butt down”, and I attempted to bring this form of leadership to the larger FSO Community – many of whom have seen some of my more intricate and detailed plans in the past
.
I believe I have answered the charge of Intent. It was not to contrive a win. It was to have fun, and allow the CO’s of each squad as much latitude as possible to dictate their own fate. It was to give the little guys a voice, and a chance, and provide the Frame 3 CIC some resources. Was it a total success? The score may say not, but I had fun. My squad had fun. Many others had fun. And I consider that a success.
After all, we’re here to have fun Gentlemen. To fly together and kill stuff (It’s a male primate thing). The points that are settled in the end are, in my opinion, just a way to gage how the TEAM did during the frame. When I pull CIC duty, I will always make a best effort to abide by the rules of the frame (I consider that fun too), and can only say “The wins belong to the players. The faults belong with me.”
InCrypt out.
