Thanks for starting the thread Lucull. After running this experimental frame this is my perspective.
I do not think this attrition and resupply system added anything to the frame or the fun factor for the squads. I don't think the test rules destroyed the fun but I do know that they definitely made things contentious and put more of a work load on the frame CiCs.
The premise was (in previous BBS posts) that:
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- Squads start frame 1 with the number of points equal to their max committment number (not counting the +2)
- They received resupply points in the following frames based on their actual turnout. A squad turns out 7 they get 7 for the next frame.
- Resupply points were affected by damage to that Squad's country facilities. Each facility was given a point amount (100 pts for bases) and light damage counted as -25, moderate -50, heavy -75, total -100. Then basically figured out a percentage from this.
i.e. Frame 2 Germans 200 points (2 bases), lost P38 -100 ... 100/200 = 50%. So we reduced each squads resupply by 50%.
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In practice there were many problems. Here are some:
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- Tilt and ViFF pointed out that in frame 1 that by giving a squad a set number of points it actually can reward a squad for having a low turnout. If you are given 10 points and only turn out 5 pilots (min 7 -2 so legal) then actually that squad can up all 1st line planes. Instead of being confined to 2nd line planes.
So it can reward low turnouts or at the very least does not reward or encourage high turnouts.
- As lucull and Ramzey and others pointed out. Its next to impossible to make sure or know how many will turnout per frame until the frame actually happens. This makes it hard to plan. You plan on 7 turning out and 5 only turnout. Do you bank the points or upgrade two pilots.
Or as lucull stated you plan on 7 and 9 turnout. You don't want to punish the 2 who turned out by making them fly 3rd line planes. Again discouraging higher turnout for squads.
- Next once the C.O.s understood points it was fine but the information did not migrate down to the troops. On both sides I saw emails asking why they were confined to 2nd line planes (didn't know they didn't have points for 1st line) and also why they ran into 1st line planes in such numbers.
This contribute to a feeling of things being unfair. And truthfully on reflecting supply and attrition does make things unfair. A squad that does really well will have all 1st line. A squad who took a beating might end up flying 3rd line for two frames.
While such a situation is based on squads performances it does result in the possibility of some really lop side match ups after the 1st frame.
And its hard to educate all of your pilots about these point rules when you are never sure how many and who will turn out.
Again putting much more pressure on the squad C.O. to brief everyone.
- Being told by the CiC how to use your points caused some conflict also. Instead of being told fly LA5Ns and squad doing it, since plane types were left open and points usage left up to the individual squads .. well it decentralized things.
Both the Germans and the Russians had squads who were assigned certain plane types and then told to use points to upgrade but instead actually switched one second line plane type for another. While seeming almost a non-issue switching planes from one type to another without asking the CiC does impact his plans and causes him some confusion because he expects a squad to be in this 2nd line plane or this 1st line plane while the squad is actually in something very different.
The way the points rules worked out sort of encouraged this confusion and decentralization.
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So overall right now, as I said I don't think the fun factor was ruined by this experiment. But I personally would rate the experiment a failure and would not use these attrition and resupply rules again without major rework.