109k or P38L

[Chubbie]

Do stats account for GVs too cause I bombed quite a few tanks and such in the 38. The only two planes I really really LIKE are the p38 and p51, I don't like how the p51 doesn't have a cannon and I don't like the 5 eny value.

[DoNKeY]

Originally posted by Chubbie
Do stats account for GVs too cause I bombed quite a few tanks and such in the 38. The only two planes I really really LIKE are the p38 and p51, I don't like how the p51 doesn't have a cannon and I don't like the 5 eny value.

Eight isn't it?

[Lusche]

Originally posted by Chubbie
Do stats account for GVs too cause I bombed quite a few tanks and such in the 38. The only two planes I really really LIKE are the p38 and p51, I don't like how the p51 doesn't have a cannon and I don't like the 5 eny value.

You only killed 2 vehicles in a p-38 and were killed 2 times by them, so it doesn't change much - You are still as good or bad in a 38 as ina  La7 (unlike me - I really suck in 38's.)

So if you really like 38's stick with 'em!  Don't be impatient. Hook up with a trainer, some of them really excel in 38s and can help you master that very capable bird in short time.


(And yes, P-51D ENY is 8 not 5. You could fly the B pony with 20 ENY only, but I'm sure you won't be fond of having 2 guns less )

[Chubbie]

Where do you find these stats, that's kinda cool.

Also I think my main issue with the 38 is that nearly every fight I have much less e than my enemy and in the 109k that's ok cause I can for some reason get away easier and come back at a higher alt. In the 38 I die pretty much every time.

[DoNKeY]

Originally posted by Chubbie
Where do you find these stats, that's kinda cool.

Community-->Scores-->Your in-game handle-->This tour  and then same except expanded scores.

donkey

[Lusche]

Originally posted by Chubbie
Where do you find these stats, that's kinda cool.

You can find these stats under Community/Scores/Kills stats in an expanded format. If you then select "player stats", tour of choice and type in your handle, you can see in which planes you killed and were killed and what you did shoot down.

There is just one problem: "Player vs" is not displayed properly. To see how often you died in your 38 vs vehicles, I had to use Opera, select the browser's "user view" mode then manually select "Chubbie" vs Panzer, T34, Tiger ect to see if you scored / died in P38's. Quite cumbersome.

[Chubbie]

Any advice on my edit?

[RumbleB]

Originally posted by Chubbie
Any advice on my edit?

That's just an SA issue Chubbie. You need to be aware of enemy alts, aware of your own alt and when a higher con is getting close enough to take interest (unless you're comfortable with your reversals and evasives that's when you start moving away)

You should always be looking around. If you suddenly look up and see there's a con 2k and closing that's a bed you made. If the skies are clear all you should see are dots, 6k, judge their E and decide what to do.

Yes, it will be easier to stay alive in a k4. That doesn't mean it's hard to in a p38, it's all SA.

[The Fugitive]

Originally posted by Chubbie
Ok I still can't decide and I'm about to quit, I can own with the LA-7 but I don't wanna fly that noob ride. I really suck with the 30mm and I use up tons of ammo cause of my gunnery, so I need someone to teach me how to fly the p38 before I quit this game and just go back to owning people in WWIIOL.

I think Lusche is right, you need to adjust your attitude. You said you "own" in the LA. According to your stats last month you died as many times in the LA as you got kills. You died more often then you got kills in both the 109K4 and the P38L, tho you did better in the 38.

The adjustment you need to make, is you are going to get "owned" quit often. There is ALWAYS someone better, this is what make the game so challenging. We alway strive to be that ONE! Also take into account you can't be looking everywhere at once. This means when you take your eye off a guy for a second, it's very possible he's the one that going to kill you before you look back at him.

I don't care where you flew before, or how much, nobody gets real good at this game in a couple months. I've been here years and still stink more often than not. Fly what you want to have fun, even if its the LA      Just remember when you get slammed, remember what they did good, or what you did wrong and go from there. Have fun doing what you like, the kills will come at a steady pace....over the long run

[BaldEagl]

Maybe we're all asking the wrong questions/offering the wrong advice.  How is it that you like to fly/fight?  T'n'B, B'n'Z, Energy fight, furball, cherry pick, combination of all of these?  The answer to this will guide your plane choice.  Above all, be honest with yourself.  Don't worry about labels or what's considered dweeby.

You also seem to have a preference for cannons (as do I) but don't discount the .50 cal U.S. planes.  They are highly accurate and effective weapons.  4x.50 are about the same as 2x20mm Hispanos.  Most U.S. planes carry 6x.50.

BTW, if you're comfortable in the La-7 why not try the La-5 or the Yak-9U?  Neither of these is labeled a "dweeb ride" yet both are competant aircraft.  Many swear by the Yak (one of my favorites) and I've got a squaddie who fly's the La-5 almost exclusively.

As to getting bounced in the 38, it simply sounds like you need to visit the TA and get with the trainers or a dedicated 38 stick to learn how to control a disadvantaged situation.  Obviously, this isn't always possible as the best sticks aren't going to give away an advantage but it would help you with 80% of the arena.

As to the K4, again, a trip to the TA using the .target command might help out your gunnery.

Don't give up.  It takes time (11+ years for me and I still make mistakes daily) and practice.

[Krusty]

Agree with the previous 2 posts, except for 1 nitpick.

3 .50 cals are about the equivelant of 1 20mm, so most US planes with 6x .50cals are about equivelant to a 2x 20mm-armed plane. That said, you can still get plenty of kills with a single 20mm cannon (see the 109F, 109Gs yak9u, p38)

[Chubbie]

Originally posted by BaldEagl
Maybe we're all asking the wrong questions/offering the wrong advice.  How is it that you like to fly/fight?  T'n'B, B'n'Z, Energy fight, furball, cherry pick, combination of all of these?  The answer to this will guide your plane choice.  Above all, be honest with yourself.  Don't worry about labels or what's considered dweeby.

You also seem to have a preference for cannons (as do I) but don't discount the .50 cal U.S. planes.  They are highly accurate and effective weapons.  4x.50 are about the same as 2x20mm Hispanos.  Most U.S. planes carry 6x.50.

BTW, if you're comfortable in the La-7 why not try the La-5 or the Yak-9U?  Neither of these is labeled a "dweeb ride" yet both are competant aircraft.  Many swear by the Yak (one of my favorites) and I've got a squaddie who fly's the La-5 almost exclusively.

As to getting bounced in the 38, it simply sounds like you need to visit the TA and get with the trainers or a dedicated 38 stick to learn how to control a disadvantaged situation.  Obviously, this isn't always possible as the best sticks aren't going to give away an advantage but it would help you with 80% of the arena.

As to the K4, again, a trip to the TA using the .target command might help out your gunnery.

Don't give up.  It takes time (11+ years for me and I still make mistakes daily) and practice.

I TnB if it's a bunch of friendlies vs. 1 or 2 planes. I BnZ and all that other stuff when the odds are more even. So I pretty much do everything.

[BaldEagl]

OK.  So I've assembled a list of those fighters that are "jack of all trades" types absent the Spits (and other British planes), the La-7 and any perk planes.  Obviously, some are better at some aspects of fighting than others (t'n'b, b'n'z).  Here it is:

C.205 (good all-around fighter)
Bf 109G-2 (good all-around fighter... I prefer this one with the 20mm gondolas.  All 109's require care in a dive)
Bf 109G-14 (very much like the K4)
Bf 109K-4
F4U-1  (good all-around fighter but the rear views are difficult in the F4U's)
F4U-1A  (good all-around fighter.  All F4U's require flap use)
F4U-1D  (leans toward ground attack)
F6F-5  (good all-around fighter, requires flap use)
Fw 190A-5  (leans toward B'n'Z)
Ki-61-I-KAIc  (good all-around fighter)
Ki-84-la  (good all-around fighter, careful in a dive, requires flap use)
La-5FN  (good all-around fighter)
N1K2-J  (big gun loadout and lots of fuel)
P-38G
P-38J
P-47D-11 (8x.50's in the Jugs.  This one turns best but has difficult views through birdcage)
P-47D-25 (best all-around Jug IMO)
P-51B (better turning than the D and still pretty fast)
Yak-9U (a true E fighter)

If we eliminate non-cannon birds we're left with:

C.205
Bf 109G-2
Bf 109G-14
Bf 109K-4
Fw 190A-5
Ki-61-I-KAIc
Ki-84-la
La-5FN
N1K2-J
P-38G
P-38J
Yak-9U

It would probably take you about 3-4 hours to take each one up and get a rough feel for it, less since you've already tried a couple of them out.

I'd highly suggest you do this as, whatever you decide on, it will help you to have some idea of your opponents capabilites when you engage them.

Also, I'd still do the TA thing no matter what.

[EDIT]  Once you've decided on a plane, visit the Aircraft and Vehicle forums.  Do a search on it.  These have all pretty much been discussed at one point or another.

[Chubbie]

Why not the p38l instead of the j? Isn't the l the same plane as the j except it has better high speed maneuvering?

[BaldEagl]

Originally posted by Chubbie
Why not the p38l instead of the j? Isn't the l the same plane as the j except it has better high speed maneuvering?

I left it off the list as the L is generally used as a ground attack platform.  You could certainly add it.