Your overall opinion on Squad Operations.

[daddog]

There is no reason why AH cannot have events of similar quality.

Who says we don't? Have to fly in them to know the answer to that esme.

Ok, ok.. that was defensive.

For the most part comments have been very constructive, but lets avoid passing judgment on events in Warbirds vs the Events in Aces High shall we?

[Marco50]

hey daddog rn't u a CM in the SEA?

[ghostdancer]

Actually Daddog I would not say that is defensive at all.

Rendering a judgement of the quality of an event that a person has only flown once in out the last 79 frames (stretching back almost a year and half) can not be construed in a constructive or positive manner.

Warloc, Ramzey, and Lucull do participate in squad ops on a regular basis and know from first hand experience how it operates, the quality of the participants, the quality of the designs, etc.  Because they participate on an ongoing basis they can make value judgements and comparisons between events (Squad Ops and S3s) and provide feedback on what they like and what they don't like and making suggestions on how to improve things using comparisons to the two.

Its hard to make a valid comparision between the two when you don't participate at all in one of them.

[daddog]

Yes Marco I am.

[Zanth]

Originally posted by BlkKnit
MAW will usually turnout 12-15, sometimes more.  We have such numbers because we are a HUGE dang squad!  with 15 showing its less than 1/3 what our our membership was a few months ago.  Even now I think we have around 40 members.  Some guys come and go, some are regulars.  

We are a similar sized squad but we also only get a portion to come to the events.   For EST people these events happen really really late at night and a "bad" frame here and there makes it real hard to get guys to come back again.

I don't know if alt caps are the answer, but this is one element I wish would get looked at.  I have most often found that I am spending quite a large portion of event on autopilot just getting as high as I can.   It would be more fun (especially this late at night) if we could reduce the "alt-grabbing contest" phase and get to some sort of action/objectives faster.  

I do not know the best way to go about it, but I would enjoy an air start like the Air Warrior auto scenarios used.   They cut out the autopilot grabbing phase (mostly) and you were given preset waypoints in the event design that decided (unknown to you) where contact would occur.

[EsmeNhaMaire]

(edited for typos only)
The question of my experience of squadops has arisen.

Very well; it was very much inferior to that of the S3s, at my last experience of each.  One of teh MAJOR issues being what I have intimated with regard to bomber operations. Aside from what the software does and does not provide to make buffing interesting and enjoyable, there was also the issue, as I have already explained, of specialist bomber units not really being catered for.  As I've remarked, it's no fun being told to fly a mission profile that you can be almost certain will get you killed when you;re perfectly capable of planning one that will improve your chances of survival, if given enough notice.

I do not intend going over why KG2 actually left Squadops, which has nothing to do with the nature of the squadops game per se.

I would also point out that it is a mistake to take the view that I was in some way attacking Squad ops. I do not doubt that many enjoy them as they are, all well and good.  I have merely expressed my views about what I personally am missing - and which was certainly absent when last I was flying squad ops.  If Squad ops is not catering for the kind of thing that I want - and no-one so far has suggested that it does - and if it is not likely to do so, then OK, I'll just keep on waiting until I find something that DOES cater for what I want.  Which, once I have a PC powerful enough to run WBIII, might mean my flying the S3's back in WB again.

On the other hand, it could perhaps mean seeing if there are enough others here in AH that want something similar to what I do, and seeing if we can get something new going.  Or both.

Please do not try to paint my position as being particularly critical of AH and Squad Ops in particular and supportive of anything else. For the record, when last I saw it, I hated WBIII. That is why I left WB. But I get feedback from KG2 members that fly in it and hear how it is developing, and how my unit is doing in the S3s there.  What I am hearing suggests that things are picking up nicely over there.  Whether I'd be happy flying over there again remains to be seen (and I won't be able to find out until I have upgraded my PC)

As I remarked earlier - feel free to try persuading me that Squad Ops is an enjoyable place to be for a dedicated bomber pilot that loves proper flight planning, flying no-GPS, etc. Or not, as you wish.  I'd LIKE to find something I could feel happy flying in reasonably regularly  in AH.  What I experienced in Squad Ops before just didnt excite me sufficiently.  So, now that you know what I'm after, anyone care to tell me if it's likely to be worth my trying Squad Ops again now?

If it is a crime to explain what it is that one enjoys and has found absent in games, so that CM's may better know what people want (I might be the only one that wants that - there might be dozens that want the same. If I dont speak up, though, you can;t know, eh?), then I am guilty as charged.  If it is a crime to enquire whether Squad Ops nowadays includes that which I am looking for which was absent when last I took part in Squad Ops, then again, guilty as charged.

Any other reading of what I have posted is down to overactive imagination and paranoia.

Esme

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by EsmeNhaMaire
Any other reading of what I have posted is down to overactive imagination and paranoia.

lol, that will go a long way towards promoting understanding.

-Sik

[Squire]

I think making sure that bomber ops are "doable" by ratios, several targets, and better mission planning is an area I can agree on. Bombers are the cornerstone of many of the frames. Thats something we need to ensure continues.

Lets keep the thread positive shall we? its been a good one so far.

Esme, I would like to hear your thoughts on bomber ops, and what mught be done to improve on them. Just stick to that, never mind the "what you all think" stuff. Stick to what we can use, what a CM could say "hey, that we can do".

[jodgi]

The "walkons not allowed" thingy will throw off some people.
I'm sure it's a dilemma; to get people on and still have an organized event.

My squad rarely, if ever, participate in such events. We have trouble even getting together for MA squad-days.

Just a thought...

BTW check out my post in this board and invite me for this sunday

[ghostdancer]

Walkons are not allowed to fly fighters. This is do to a couple of reasons. One of which is side balancing. Squad Ops unlike scenarios has only 1 setup CM during the event and does not have a dedicated person setup for handling walkons.

However, CM's don't usually have a problem with people gunning buffs. Also if you contact a squad before the event and not actually in the arena just before the event is to run you are more than welcome to fly.

Its a key point that many squads overlook at times. People just have to make arrangements before the event to fly in it. As long as the squad doesn't go over its max committment +2 there is not a problem.

So its perfectly acceptable to contact a participating squad and ask if you can fly with them or to be put on their email list for the event and you will participate when you can.

In the case of the Nightmares we send out emails about each frame to 56 players. 38 of those are from our squad and 18 of those are to players who have approached us about flying with us when they can (3 independents and 15 players from other squads in the MA).

From this we normally field from 24 players on average per frame.

So my advice Jodgi is to look over the squad listings for the sunday event and friday event and just ask a squad if you can fly with them / be put on their contact list for the event. And participate when you can.

Most squads are thrilled to have more players to fill out their ranks. And when you get enough interest you then can move on to field your own squad in the event.

[ramzey]

well, i not agree

"no walkons" its only excuse for som people
when i start fly AH was no problem to ask on country channel for assignment. Usual i was asking somone for invite me (mostly  for friday Sops) . And allways i was able to find good soul who pick me up, and give me uniform. So i flew with 56FG, Arabian Knights, JG2.............

All what somone need is to ASK on country channel for assignment

But this "walkons not allowed" looks scarey when Flossy write it;-)
ramzey

[Flossy]

Originally posted by ramzey
But this "walkons not allowed" looks scarey when Flossy write it;-)

LOL, Ramzey    I'm not saying that doesn't go on and in many cases where someone is 'known' it can be acceptable, especially if they arrive in good time well before the start - heck, I did it myself at the US Con.     However, it is generally discouraged for the majority of people who might wander in on their way to the MA, minutes before or even after the start, and have no clue what the event is about.

[ramzey]

I know Flossy:) for regular SEA player its nothing unusual;)

Maybe we need just " This is organized event for squadrons, walkons are accepted only before frame start"

and when somone late "pls try next week before frame start"

but when somone like to fly squad ops this is poor excuse, as i said before


ramzey

[coyote22]

perhaps,a "generic" squad could be created to deal with walk-ons. also could be used to help balace teams.  just a thought:)

[Marco50]

Not a bad idea! It would help for all (Especislly the CM's)~~~
The group people could check to see if a walk-on comes in~ so that the CM's dont have to get away from their job to deal with it! A really good idea~