Aces High Bulletin Board
Special Events Forums => Friday Squad Operations => Topic started by: TracerX on March 27, 2009, 02:17:07 PM
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I flew one or two of the S3 events (The Haze), and I don't have a good frame of reference since I was still trying to get used to flying the wacky plane models they have in Warbirds, but it seemed to be an extremely well organized event. S3 has more planes available, but FSO has way more maps, a built in radio, and a better flight model. Aside from the people in the event, what is keeping them from switching to FSO in AH? I even think that they have to pay extra to play in S3 right?
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I think many of them just aren't intrested in learning a new flight model/game. They may have tried a 2 week trial, and got thier tails handed to them, and decided they didn't want to have to re-learn a game and the flight models.
S3 is a very well organized and structured event, I enjoyed it for many years. But the lack of development and support eventually drove me to looking for a different alternative. Of course, the organization was based around 60-100 players per side, and much easier to deal with than say 250 players per side.
The S3 had (when I flew) more involvement and details associated with it compared to FSO. There was an additional cost to flying the S3, unless you had the unlimited account which was $20-25 bucks a month if I remember correctly.
The single biggest difference between FSO and S3's that I can differentiate, is that there is a definate focus on remaining alive and keeping your plane in working order. Penalties and shortages of aircraft, especially better ones, was a definate issue in many S3. If your side foolishly wasted your aircraft, then the better model planes weren't available in the later frames. When there's 5 frames, 3 hrs long each, that turns into a real diliema sometimes.
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The single biggest difference between FSO and S3's that I can differentiate, is that there is a definate focus on remaining alive and keeping your plane in working order. Penalties and shortages of aircraft, especially better ones, was a definate issue in many S3. If your side foolishly wasted your aircraft, then the better model planes weren't available in the later frames.
That is a good point. You do get that feel of stay alive at all costs more than in FSO. A good thing to think about, I know we are always trying to improve the FSO event.
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I actually never flew in an S3, but the S3 organizers/designers rock.
Back in 2001 when I was designing FSO (Tour of Duty back then) several of them gave me advice. Fd-ski and I in particular went back and forth on the FSO design.
As Chapel said there is a significant difference the stress of staying alive. Some shared with me over the years they felt it was too much stress and it actually subtracted from their enjoyment. I am sure that just depends on the individual. All and all I think the CM’s have hit on a nice fit for Aces High with FSO. No doubt about its popularity within the Aces High community. As for the S3’s, IMHO is one of the reasons WB is still alive.
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Nice DD. Fantastic job with that FSO thing by the way! :aok
The original question came to mind after I just visited the S3 website. FSO has topped 500 players for the last 3 or so FSO series, and it does not seem that the S3 event is growing much at all. I thought that there might be lots of S3 guys here in FSO now, and wondered what they thought of the event.
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I flew in a bunch of the S3 events, initially with Fletch's JG54. I eventually got burned out and quit WarBirds for a while. But then I rejoined for about a year, specifically to fly S3 events with Vadr's JG2. (Ja, I'm a LuftDweeb. ;) ) The first several S3's I flew were *great* fun. But the later designs kinda "jumped the shark", and got all wrapped up in screwy minutiae, IMHO. Wonderful bunch of people, though: really smart & funny & dedicated. Pity that Wild Bill let them all down so badly.
Comparing S3 & FSO is a little like apples & oranges, to me. For example, when I was still there, S3 did not have the tactical constraints that FSO has (i.e., mandatory targets, attack by T+x, etc.) I'm sure having fun in FSO. Thanks very much for putting on such a good show here. :salute
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Nice DD. Fantastic job with that FSO thing by the way! :aok
The original question came to mind after I just visited the S3 website. FSO has topped 500 players for the last 3 or so FSO series, and it does not seem that the S3 event is growing much at all. I thought that there might be lots of S3 guys here in FSO now, and wondered what they thought of the event.
The event in Fighter Ace 3, only one I was at (pearl harbor) was like 400 people :O
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Many, many years ago...when it was $2/hr.
I think we could benefit from a little more incentive for staying alive... People are far more worried about getting action than flying like it means something.
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Many, many years ago...when it was $2/hr.
I think we could benefit from a little more incentive for staying alive... People are far more worried about getting action than flying like it means something.
If they actually die, or get captured, they can't fly the first 30 minutes of the next frame?
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If memory serves, the very first S3 ('Three Days in August', a BoB scenario) had a rule that you only had 3 'lives' allocated to you over the course of the 5 frames. If you got killed or captured 3 times you sat out the last two frames. Brought a little bit of combat attrition into the mix and made you a bit more discerning wrt tactics. That was 10 years ago, I don't remember if there was an extra charge for the S3s back then, any time spent online was 2 USD/hour until they came up with the flat rate charge.
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Aside from the people in the event, what is keeping them from switching to FSO in AH?
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According to what I hear from the very few JG2 guys still flying S3, that's the primary thing: the people in the event.
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According to what I hear from the very few JG2 guys still flying S3, that's the primary thing: the people in the event.
That is what I figured Bino. We have a great community here, shure would be nice to have some of those chaps give FSO a try, I think they would like it. About 2 years ago, I got in a discussion on their boards to see what they though of AH and it was almost like trying to convert a Muslim to Christianity. Lots of people with very strong opinions about AH or Warbirds that kinda removes the opportunity for open discussion. Still, it seems like people are slowly making their way over to AH and FSO.
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I'm not sure that comparing S3 to FSO is the proper comparison. It seems to me that S3 is more comparable to our Scenarios.
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I'm not sure that comparing S3 to FSO is the proper comparison. It seems to me that S3 is more comparable to our Scenarios.
The WarBirds Squadron Select Series is a registered-squad-only event that occurs on a regular schedule. The designs of the Frame set-ups might be different, but the basic premise is pretty similar, IMHO. The S3 designs seem to put more of a premium on staying alive (i.e., S3 scoring, medals), rather than making sure that everyone sees action (i.e., FSO mandatory attacks, attack timing). Not saying that I personally prefer one to the other, really, as I find they both have their good points.
WB also had (still has?) big, formal historical Scenarios that happened once or maybe twice a year, with registrations and all. And they had small weekly Scenario Lite "historically flavored" events that were very impromptu, with folks showing up only minutes beforehand. I ran a whole bunch of those SLs as a CM, and even took over from Roan for a while as the CM Trainer.
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Hey Beeno!
I flew many JG2 missions with you way back when. I still get email from those guys. Good to see you.
Chumly
According to what I hear from the very few JG2 guys still flying S3, that's the primary thing: the people in the event.
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Ho, Chumly! Good to see you, too. How goes it?
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Never flown in S3 so can't comment. As for FSO, the more structure such as having hit a target by T+XX and so forth basically grew over time from player experience and wanting to make sure that everyone had an opportunity for action against decent odds.
Way back when I think 2003 we didn't have the hit target by X time rule. So several CiCs would hold back their actually bomber strikes to say T+90 as they tried to either wipe out the defenders with fighter sweeps, out wait the defenders (catch them when refueling), or take very long routes to out flank them. All valid tactics but it resulted in a decent amount of people not seeing action. So we modified things to up the opportunity for combat since that is what everyone wanted.
Basically things like that are behind all the rules we have in place. Such as attacking and defending with a credible force. Who wants to be a squad of 4-6 and defending a base and then get hit by a 40 plus plane attack group because your CiC has the bulk of your forces also on attack.
It all comes down to game play for us and trying to give you guys a relatively equal chance of winning, opportunity for combat, etc. which becomes a little harder as the numbers grow. I remember the days of 180 pilots (both sides combined) in FSO and definitely was easier designing things back then.
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Hi guys,
Chapel was my wingman for awhile when we were in the Haze flying the S3.
I was the guy who got tracerX hooked up to fly with the Haze when he inquired a year or so ago.
I check in here at AH now and then, but I fly WB's 99.9% of the time. I've done the CM training for WB's and should soon be an active CM there. I have also CO'd 20 S3 frames the last 2 years. I was supreme Allied S3 commander in the large event "The Ardennes Wargame" completed last month. So I speak current S3. Anything I can pass along concerning the S3, how we do things, rules, setups etc - let me know. I'd be glad to help answer your questions. I'll have to check out your FSO's in the future, they sound like fun events.
I currently belong to the 352nd FG in WB's, and have 352nd and Haze friends here in AH. In a perfect world, I'd fly both sims extensively. But I just don't have that kind of time. My interest is designing fun events folks want to fly. I fly every fighter, buff, and GV the games offer - I do it all.
Just thought I'd say Hi, and I enjoy reading your thoughts on the events you put on here. Nice to see ya Chap!
<S>
trace
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Welcome sir! :aok
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I used to fly S3's, mostly as a Bomber pilot with 550th Tigertails and 100th HBG, great fun!
Often Daddy's 31st FG were our escort, our WB's squad (367th Dynamite Gang) all came over here in '02 during the mass exodus. Glad to see WB still kickin, I miss that rolling plane set
When I first joined WB's back in 97', I always checked out the "Haze" website to learn more about the game, great squad
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Thanks fellas,
Good to see folks still kickin around here/there and everywhere in between.
Great communities are what makes these games great.
Glad things are still going well for you in WB's Tracer.
Hope the pup (adult now) is doing well also.
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I used to fly S3's, mostly as a Bomber pilot with 550th Tigertails and 100th HBG, great fun!
Often Daddy's 31st FG were our escort, our WB's squad (367th Dynamite Gang) all came over here in '02 during the mass exodus. Glad to see WB still kickin, I miss that rolling plane set
When I first joined WB's back in 97', I always checked out the "Haze" website to learn more about the game, great squad
Howdy Cooley, I kinda sorta remember you from the 550th in WB. Currently flying there in the S3's.. Love the organization and discipline. Just finished a hairy S3 5 frame series getting B17s into Germany with the 31st flying this time as LW. What a challenge to stay alive in the B17s, as well as for the escorts..
Organization is why I love the S3s....
New to AH and hope to soon check out all the events, but will always make myself available to the WB S3 due to squad camraderie and organization that goes into the S3...
See you in AH on non-squad days!
<S>
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As for comms, it's really no big deal installing Ventrillo / Teamspeak to load to join your squadmates... Even moreso, our comms in 'ventrillo' are even more secure.
You get used to it, just like you get used to AH not increasing engine RPM sounds during a dive while using the stock game sound effects (haven't yet used tictoc sounds though).... How strange is that to experience 'sterile' sounds that are unnafected by gravity. The prop should/ would turn faster and the engine RPM sound would increase?
If WB can model it, why cant AH2? I know this is probably a tiresome repeated topic. Just comparing one disadvantage to another...
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If WB can model it, why cant AH2?
I think I have seen this question a thousand times. :) It is all a matter of priorities. They can do it in AH, but HTC chooses to do other things instead. I am sure Aces High has some features that WB does not and someone could be asking if AH can do it why don't they in WB? ;)
Also you may or may not know that the creator of WB, (hitech) is also the creator of Aces High. It is never a matter of can't.
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I was the guy who got tracerX hooked up to fly with the Haze when he inquired a year or so ago.
Tracer, excellent to see you are still around. When I say that there are a lot of excellent people in S3, you are one of the people I am referring to. It was a pleasure flying with you guys, and I am glad you got me hooked up with the Haze. I would be happy to return the favor if you ever want to sample FSO. Just drop me a line. I have cut my flight time way back, so FSO is about the only time I have online anymore.
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You get used to it, just like you get used to AH not increasing engine RPM sounds during a dive while using the stock game sound effects (haven't yet used tictoc sounds though).... How strange is that to experience 'sterile' sounds that are unnafected by gravity. The prop should/ would turn faster and the engine RPM sound would increase?
I hope this doesn't get off topic, but...
My understanding of a variable speed prop tells me that the pitch of the blade adjusts to keep the RPM constant at the selected level. A dive would not increase the RPM of the engine any more than an increase in throttle would. The only sound difference should be changes in power. Is this a case of Hollywood giving us a false sense of reality?
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Might be a throwback from early war props, when those 1930s dive bombers went into a dive they sped up (hence worry about over-speeding your engine in a dive). Probably had that shrieking noise most expect.
However, if you look at RPMs you'll see they do spike in high-speed dives. Not much, but often you'll see it maxed out (at whatever the safe level is for that plane) until you level out and then slow down.
Some planes absolutely won't reduce RPM at certain speeds.
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S3's in WB were (are) the penultimate in scenario flying. The limited lives added a sense of realism that you don't often find in any MMO, let alone the flight ones.
Only reason I left WB for AH2 is the cockpit views suck in WB. You cannot adjust your head to maximize your views like in AH2, and that makes SA all the harder to maintain.
:salute
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I hope this doesn't get off topic, but...
My understanding of a variable speed prop tells me that the pitch of the blade adjusts to keep the RPM constant at the selected level. A dive would not increase the RPM of the engine any more than an increase in throttle would. The only sound difference should be changes in power. Is this a case of Hollywood giving us a false sense of reality?
Interesting topic. I know that in a plane without variable speed prop (172 Skylane) you can audibly detect when you're changing airspeed. Haven't seen videos of p51s or F4u's but heard the F4u usually makes a sound in the dive?
Yes, I agree that AH has things that WB does not, which is why I'm giving it a try and going to attempt to compensate with the lack of certain sensory inputs. Hopefully the other sensory inputs AH currently provides will outweigh WB's sensory inputs. Stereophonic gun fire from 50 cals of the P51 alone sent adrenaline rushing, which WB currently does not :)
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I hope this doesn't get off topic, but...
My understanding of a variable speed prop tells me that the pitch of the blade adjusts to keep the RPM constant at the selected level. A dive would not increase the RPM of the engine any more than an increase in throttle would. The only sound difference should be changes in power. Is this a case of Hollywood giving us a false sense of reality?
Greetings TracerX! (still like his name for some reason) ;)
As you found out, there's a lot going on in the S3, and it's hard to just "drop in" and get the full experience as FM's, views, etc are
different between games. I'm pretty well connected to the S3's, and if ANY of you guys here would like to give a S3 series a spin, just to check it out, let me know and I can connect you with the right squad as a guest pilot.
Chappel - little pup Sebastian is now a full grown lab who loves to swim at the lake. He's my fishin buddy.
New S3 series starts again in 10 days, if anybody interested.
<S> guys
trace
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Haven't seen videos of p51s or F4u's but heard the F4u usually makes a sound in the dive?
If recorded from the ground, they all do. But that's because of doppler effect (it gets louder as it gets closer) and not necessarily from the engine making more noise.
You'd have to hear it from the cockpit, instead of the ground.
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Krusty,
The corsair earned it's Japanese's nickname "whistling death" from the fact that in a dive (with the oil cooler door's open) it produced a loud whistle. This is not related to any Doppler effect but from the air moving through the oil coolers in the wing roots.
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Krusty,
The corsair earned it's Japanese's nickname "whistling death" from the fact that in a dive (with the oil cooler door's open) it produced a loud whistle. This is not related to any Doppler effect but from the air moving through the oil coolers in the wing roots.
yea its pretty bad bellybutton sound IMO
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Krusty,
The corsair earned it's Japanese's nickname "whistling death" from the fact that in a dive (with the oil cooler door's open) it produced a loud whistle. This is not related to any Doppler effect but from the air moving through the oil coolers in the wing roots.
But that's a steady sound, not so much the prop over-revving in a dive, as was the comment.