A recommendation for FSOs

[CUTT]

IMO the FSO is fine the way it is. Controlled furballs would be boring in the long run. Using strategy within given parameters of historical battles and A/C, always provides the change needed to keep it interesting. The challange of completing the objective with out damage has always been squad policy for the 325th. Something we pride ourselves in doing! Yes some of us do view the FSO differently!

Cutt
325th Commanding

[Dantoo]

Nef.  I thought it was a good frame too.  I made a couple of gambles and they paid off, one didn't.  

I left the northern approach uncovered.  This gambit was calculated upon the speed of your aircraft and the distance from the best fields to use that approach.  With less targets than me, there would have been a temptation for you to make a quick hit and then hold back - strolling in big time in the second hour.  I wanted to upset that concept early.

By the time we had set up our attack force properly we had a very heavy southern bias.  This required me to overturn, somewhat, a major strategem that I had not to reup anybody in the north.  There wasn't any way with this plane set that you could rush and plug holes.  Once committed you truly were committed.  In the end I had people upping second rides in the north to provide defence.

All these possibilities are very good because they truly give CO's something to think about.  My objective for the frame was simple.  I didn't set out to win it.  I set out for everybody on both sides to have fun.  The one thing that I truly feared was an immense furball 10 minutes after the start with 90% back in tower with an hour and 40 minutes left in the frame.

I will say one thing on the design.  I believe the F4f is an unbalancing factor.  I flew one in Rangoon and I thought it was unbalanced there.  AH models it tougher than an M8 to kill and with the 4 gun pack you can hold down the trigger for at least 30 seconds before you are out of ammo.  Zekes use half their cannon to get one, but fall apart themselves with a burst of 50s.

Next time limit the F4fs not the P40s.  I haven't looked, but if I'm talking through my hat then it will be borne out in the k/d ratio.  I know when I was preparing for this frame all I could envision was a battle with 60 f4fs and only wielding enough firepower to down maybe 20 of them.  Of course I would be happy to respond by substituting the La5 for the Oscar!  

[Joker312]

FSO is great! No need to change anything.

I look forward to the strategy and the unexpected outcomes. Some Frames are decided on the smallest detail. Thats fun for most of us.

One life and Planing are what makes FSO what it is. If you want balanced squad fights then set up squad duels.

[FireOf59]

I agree that the Squad Ops/FSO should be left as it is today.

The 325th is full of people that love to get in the AvA or MA and furball. When we get together on Friday nights for FSO is when we really come together as a Squad. As Viper61 said, sometimes, we dont see any action at all, but still complete our mission. Sometimes we see a lot.

Several members of the 325th AH squad have spent hours talking with original WWII Checkertails and there were missions they saw action and missions that were quiet...They didnt mind the quiet missions...

These FSOs have been fantastically planned and executed on both sides..closest thing to war we'll ever see in an online experience. IMHO the planesets have been the most evenly matched, with what was really in the theater we are reenacting at the time...

I had a member of the TBM squad we were escorting mention how happy he was that they were being escorted by the 325th, as he knew we would do everything we could to perform our mission and wouldnt leave them undefended... We've flown slow bombers in the past where our escorts were more concerned with furballing than escorting and we all get slaughtered the minute we are left to fend for ourselves.

Squads that want to purely slug it out are free to use the DA to challenge each other..

Please leave FSO as is....

Fireof59
325th

[Swoop73]

I have to agree with my squadmates and aparently with just about everybody else. :-) FSO is just right as it is.

Read most of this thread and what's apparent is that this is one awesome game with considerable and refined thought being brought to bear. Everyone gets to contribute. Into strategy? Have at it. Walk away two hours later proud or humbled. Hot stick? Bring all your skills as you fight as a team player...die alone....Save a squadmate....run out of gas with 4 kills...Whatever the outcome it will be because of the decisions you made perhaps seconds earlier.

Nothing makes success feel better than a long slog through great risk. I'd rather fly an FSO with no contact but knowing we did our assigned job than be in one fight after another...That I can do any night in MA. This is about imersion...maybe of getting a glimps of what 83 year old men went through for us all in '41 or '44. Maybe just the fun of doing something without a net.

Swoop73
XO 325th FG Checkertails

[doobs]

My only beef with FSO is it's only once a week, that and I have to curb my drinking on friday night, instead of starting at 7ish I have to wait till at least ten. ah the humanity.


btw filth it was great to see ya in the air. hope ya reconsider

[Kuhn]

I feel the same way as the rest of my squadies!! FSO is the way its suposed to be, don't mess with it!:D

[lowtec]

I think the FSO should remain as it is now.  I fly with the 325th Checkertails and I usually fly only on the Friday night Squad Operation.  Most of the "adventure" of the FSO is aerial combat "reenactments" of WWII theatre ops.  I'm, personally, not very good at fighter-to-fighter engagements.  Everyone reading this post has shot me down at least 10 times in the MA.  However, in the FSO I do well, mostly because I'm with my squad and I'm mission focused.  Reciently, I have been very surprised by the quality of the enemy (Axis) commanders in the FSO.  The Axis commanders have demonstrated a very high level of tactical ability that I did not expect from anyone in AHII.  Thier overall plans have consistently presented a great challange to the Allied side.  For the record, I'm a professional military tactical planner, so my assesment should mean something.  Another point: Every time I fly one of these FSO missions, I gain a new and higher level of respect for the guys who flew these missions 60+ yeas ago.  So, my vote is to keep FSO as is.
Lowtec
325th Checkertails