Edit: I wrote this once already today (40mins typing), but the fargin BBS ate it, saying it had too many images. It didn't have a SINGLE image in it.
Ok... Its a psuedo Monday, I have a headache, and I'm in a generally pissy mood. So watch out, a
rant of major proportions is coming. You have been warned.
Call me "CommieWobble", a "Red Star Whiner", a "Nancy Boy", or just a general "Whiner", I don't care, but what in the world is up with the serious anti-VVS bias to Aces High?
Its starting to become glaringly obvious.
For the longest time the only Soviet/Russian aircraft to grace the skies of Aces High was the La5FN. The 1943 La5 versus the 1944-45 planeset of the other combatants was the only choice for most of the time AH has existed.
Now don't get me wrong, the La5FN (a midwar varient) is a capable opponent when it is matched up against aircraft from its own time period. But I think we can all agree that its generally outclassed by the late war AH planeset.
But can someone tell me why it is modeled with the worst possible flight test performance data available (an issue that has been debated to death on this BBS)? Oh and why it mysteriously lacks its ground attack rockets, in addition to its rightful dearth of external ordinance and fuel? Strange... but not really a pattern.... yet.
So for much of the life of Aces High, fans of Russian aircraft suffered with a distinct disparity in aircraft, but took it well.
And then one day, after much campaigning and bribery to HTC, the much sought after Yak-9U was announced to be released in 1.03 !!
The Yak-9U, widely touted to be the equal to the P-51D Mustang, in all regards. Hurray!! Oh wait... weren't you told that the Yak-9U would also be modeled with the worst possible performance data?? That your 437mph Yak-9U, the fastest plane at its altitude, would become a 417mph Yak-9U, thereby losing 20mph at both altitude and sea level? Sure its still a great performing aircraft, but how would YOU feel if your favorite plane lost 20mph all around?? Can you imagine what would happen if the Dora came out 20mph too slow? The BBS would be flooded with posts of "I QUIT!", and threats of everything from boycotts to actually storming the HTC offices in Texas with a well organized mob.
And did I forget to mention the lack of subclass armament options for the Yak-9U, the Yak-9UT ? We have the
Fw190A8/R2, the
Me109G6/R6, the
Me109G10/R6, and many others. So
why is the Yak-9UT any different? Where is its x3 20mm option, the 23mm option, the 37mm option, or even the vaunted 45mm option?? Well its not any different, and I won't even mention the words F4U-1C... ooops
Why are the VVS aircraft stuck to their weakest most common armament options when most every other nationality has multiple options, including rare "cannon birds"?? Wow those x2 20mm ShVaks in the La5Fn are simply devastating, and the Yak-9U with its single 20mm cannon with 150 rounds is a real terror.
But Pyro stated that he would add the Yak-9UT at a later date so that he could better control it with the Perk System, and many complaints were quieted. (Admittedly, primarily mine)
So now the promise of 1.06 is on the horizon, and the much anticipated Yak-9UT that was hinted at is here !!
Oh wait.... your not getting the Yak-9UT, your getting a Yak-9T.
Another midwar varient, that has a max speed of around 360mph, and otherwise poor performance compared to the planeset in AH. True its got a BFG cannon, a potent 37mm NS-37 cannon, but its otherwise fodder for the rest of the arena. It will be fun to fly once in a while, but about as surviveable as a Zero.
Can someone tell me why we didn't get the much anticipated Yak-9UT instead??
I know I know....
You'be been thinking all thru this post "SHUT UP whiner, your getting the La7 !!!".
But are we?
I keep getting this itchy feeling in the back of my mind that the La7 is gonna be added as a perk plane, even tho its performance doesn't warrant it.
So here we go again... the VVS is stuck flying the worst possible configuration and performance that can be managed. And I won't even go into the lack of a Russian attack plane or bomber. And wasn't the Soviet Union the 2nd or 3rd largest producer of aircraft in the Second World War?
About the only country's that may have it as bad or worse in the "holding the crappy end of the stick" deal than the Soviets in AH are the Italians and the Japanese. But hey.. how can you complain when you have the N1K2 ?
Yup you might have guessed it, but I will spell it out. I'm simply......
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure