While nothing can beat the no-holds-barred no-excuses aspects of the Main Arena, if you get tired of the swarms and sometimes consequent warping and freezes in meltdown areas, try the Combat Theater.
I had gotten tired of the revolving plane sets in WarBirds, but this week found the Aces High Combat Theater a refreshing change of pace. The Malta scenario was wonderfully simple: Allies keep Malta to win or Axis takes Malta to win.
It was great fun matching F4Fs and P-40Es as well as Spits against Bf-109s, 202s, and Bf-110s, and the A-20s and Ju-88s provided plenty of bombing opportunities.
Most surprising was the different historical nature of the fleets. The Allies had cv fleet much like main arena, but the Axis had no cvs; instead, two cruisers rather than one, and in a couplel cruiser groups.
This demonstrated the axiom of keeping the cv outside of surface ship gun range. If the cv couldn't generate enough sorties to take out the cruisers, the cruisers could relentlessly pursue and destroy the carrier group.
Add to that roving mini fleets of destroyers, and the sea-based ack often became intense enough to evoke complaints from pilots trying to duel in peace.
The Axis eventually took Malta under the leadership of DJ111 and several others after a challenging battle in which newcomers gallantly asked which side they should join to keep the odds competitive.
The Allies cruiser gunner was one of the best I've encountered, twice sinking Axis cruiser groups with two cruisers each. Another salute to the Unknown Allies Cruiser Gunner!
