Today, I couldn't win for losing. Dive on a B-17, front quarter, high-speed pass. What I didn't know was Luke Skywalker was manning the guns - "
Luke, use the Force!" Didn't even get my guns on that buff before I was a 450mph ias crispy critter.
Oh, and let's not forget the leader of laughter, Lord HaHa. I engage in a vert fight with him from an alt advantage, resulting in a diving merge that my FE interprets as a collision. I bail after losing a wing while the Lord lands deadstick at his airfield a hop skip away. We meet yet again, same initial conditions, and end up with the same result, except this time a B-17 decided to help the Lord, and opens up on me just as I bail. I'm swiss cheese before I hit the ground.
Of course, not all my days are like this, in fact, they mostly aren't, but days like this do occur on a regular basis. Why? For many reasons, a good many of them my fault, but some of which I have no control. Why am I telling you this? Because, I've been playing online flight sims since 1997(?), which isn't a whole lot of time (my wingie's been at this thing for ten years, and yes, he's better than me), but it's not bad either. I've also put a lot of time into ACM's, VVS group tactics and history, and have CO'd two VVS squads. And, still,
still, I have days like this.
Is this bad? No, of course not. Much of what I do is not as score-oriented as it is country-oriented. But, if I was only score-oriented would such days still occur? I believe so. It's just the way of things. And if you're smart you'll know when these days pop up and you'll adjust, or at least recognize it for what it is. Me, when I get these kind of days it just means I'm going to be dying a lot, because I'm still going to do my damndest to stop that buff or C-47 from hitting my base. Whatever it takes. But that's me.
What you need to decide is what you want to do here, and then recognize that there will be some days when nothing 'clicks', when anything you do is off, or just plain wrong. Prepare for those days and have a backup plan if you want to keep a good score. For example, if you feel 'off', be very cautious, stay high, and only attack if you have an immediate way out, considering it an acheivement if you can live through the session, kills or no kills. Or, say, "Whatever," and take it to them as is, but realize you will probably die.
So, if you're a newbie and are feeling down and out, because it's just too damn hard, I hope this article makes you feel a little better, because while in time you will most definitely become better, bad days will never cease.
Remember, almost every hill has a valley. You might as well accept them, and figure out a way to make those pilot blues a part of your routine. If you do, you'll feel a whole lot better, and probably do a bit better too. But, of course, you'll still get pissed at times. After all, we are
human, right?
Have fun
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leonid, Komandir
5 GIAP VVS RKKA"Our cause is just. The enemy will be crushed. Victory will be ours."