Hey everyone,
Well, registration for Hostile Shores has been overwhelming. We are excited that so many people want to take part. I want to explain how the flights are going to be staffed, and how walkons are going to work.
Fd-ski is slaving away organizing the flights as I type this. Previously, we had a limit of 8 pilots in each flight listed on the registration form. We had intended to raise that number to something higher when we saw the registration numbers. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond the CM's control, something I'm not at liberty to talk about, we've had to leave the number of pilots in each flight at 8. However, each flight is going to be overstaffed by an undetermined amount previous to the beginning of Hostile Shores. What we've done is essentially made a built-in walkon system using registered pilots.
For example(using hypothetical numbers), let's say that 308 Sqn RAF has been assigned 9 pilots to their flight. Only 8 of these will actually be able to fly in the frame(due to the 8 pilot limitation per flight). The 9th person is a built-in walkon. If only 8 squad members show up on the day of the frame, then everyone gets to fly in that flight for the frame. If, however, all 9 people show up, then the squadron CO will have to pick one person to become a "registered walkon". The FL's and command staff will then be responsible for finding an open slot in a different flight for that "registered walkon". As in most scenarios, we expect there to be enough no-shows per frame so that every registered pilot will be able to fly, whether it be with their squad, or in a different flight.
Here's the important part that you should all be aware of: Registered pilots will always get preference of slots in flights over non-registered walkons, as long as the registered pilot is in the arena and ready to be assigned by the cut-off time designated by the CM's. Any registered pilots that enter the arena after the cut-off time designated by the CM's will have their slot filled by another registered walkon, or any non-registered walkon.
Let's use me as an example. Since I'm registered to fly with 308 Sqn RAF, I will have a guaranteed slot(assuming that there are some no-shows in some flights), as long as I'm in the Special Events Arena by the cut-off time. If I arrive late, my slot is no longer guaranteed, and the command staff is under orders to fill my slot with the next available registered walkon, or the next available non-registered walkon(in that order). Because I was late, I've now just become an "unregistered walkon", and will have to pray that another open slot becomes available.
In short, be on time and don't be late. We are making it an important goal of ours to start the frames on time. In order to give us a chance to start on time, we are going to be ruthless about filling the slots of latecomers.
The cut-off time will be 3:45 Eastern time, or 15 minutes before the beginning of the frame.
We hope you all understand our rational for taking such a strict stance on latecomers. We don't want to punish the people who are on time and ready to go by starting late because of latecomers.
Whew! If you made it this far in the thread, thanks. I hope I was clear in my explanations. If you have any further questions, myself or fd-ski will do our best to answer them.
<S>
banana
Multi-Frame Events Team Leader
Aces High Scenario Corps.
[This message has been edited by banana (edited 03-24-2001).]
