Looking like we are facing the dreaded double denial of fun, before the Dec. set up begins. This fact, coupled with the Stalingrad threads, and the lousy hunting weather outside, prompted me to waste your time and mine on this dreary Sunday afternoon with the above and following thoughts.
I don't mean to preach, and certainly never take to the pulpit on behest of the CM team, (and I've had my tussles with them too) but, and I hate to use yet another line from Tolkien here, there comes a time when you must choose between what is right, and what is easy. My reference is...when we have a bad night, a crappy assignment...the dog is barking, kids crying, wife looking like a rabid dog manning an 88...etc... It is easy to blame the CM. That guy on the other end of the virtual phone who wrote up this god awful drivel, and then on top of that forced you to give up a Friday night and suffer through it. No one wants to see less guys flying on Fridays.
But is that right?
It's really far from right, and most acutely far when you consider the FSO CM guys. These breaks between Friday night revelry with squadmates really drives that point home. No FSO
for me is almost equal to no AH. The Scenario CM guys have to come up with something fun twice a year. Snapshots...we see re runs all the time...but consider FSO where the fun must be enough for 300 plus guys and every month! Frankly, given the constraints of the game itself and the planesets, historical events, and the above...the fact we don't often replay the same scenarios and mission in FSO is amazing! I think Drone made the comment in the Stalingrad thread about playing these missions for a decade now and being the bug and the windshield accordingly. This of course is very true, and on top of that, it is what spawned my thinking about the Variety we continue to see in FSO...month in and month out!
I offer the following film for two reasons. When I can't play FSO I tend to watch it on TV. And two weeks is a long time without FSO. But more so...as evidence of this Variety...and as a tribute to the guys over the years who continue to dedicate their time to this Friday night goodness we all love so much.
'Der Kanalkampf' - A popular set up...but yet...it's been 5 and half years since this film was made...and we are yet to see a repeat of the set up! That's amazing work by the designers here. Think about it. Brava!
This first of Turner's JG11 feature films, dates from May of 2008 when we had 500 guys in here on Fridays,...and JG11 was just a green upstart luft bunch trying to make a name for ourselves. I laugh when I watch this film...full of strategic and tactical mistakes, but also...from my seat I can recognise the roots of many good things that have come to fruition in the unit. Certainly worth a watch in HD on a gloomy Sunday afternoon or any time over the coming 2 week period of impending withdrawl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWG2UXmIKSkWARNING: Strong profanity in closing moments.
Anyway...Thank you CM team for making this all possible over these many years. Still the best part of the game and you all probably deserve a whole heck of a lot more kudos and certainly less grief. This CO recognises what goes into making an all around successful and lasting unit, and likewise, a successful event like FSO. A team is a team. A goal, a goal.
My hats off to you all, and another sincere thanks for all you do.
