A few things to remember about "The Few," from my limited but painful experience:
You will rarely if ever come across just one of them - they are pack hunters and do not believe in the 'nobility' of a 1v1 fight (if there is such a thing as 'nobility' in a cartoon airplane fight), with very little exception. The kill is of paramount importance, and all of what is needed to make that happen is employed (with the notable exception of the HO shot, you will almost never see a member of this group use that tactic ). Don't like to be picked or ganged by as many as 5 or 6 to 1? Stay away. There is no such thing as a 1v1. Not gonna get it. It's a feast and you are are the main course, and the meal is for the whole pack to see who can get it first. Individually, if you can EVER get that rare chance, many/most of them will run to ack or friends as soon as you equalize the fight and they lose advantage. The "A Grade" will have a go at you alone, though I've rarely ever actually caught one alone except for today, when one ran after 3 turns. Oh well, he did have 7 kills in that Tempest at that point. I can hardly blame him. Twice before I have caught one of them in a 1v1 and ended up on the losing end both times, but they were great fights. I extend another to those two guys once again... they are the few among The Few who don't need more than one of The Few to get the job done.
A great fighter score is achieved by taking few chances. Capping a field and vulching those dumb enough to fight back is a great way to improve your k/d. The Few are vulchers of the highest order. No shame there. It is what it is.
Me I'd rather die fighting than live and run, but I understand when you have an image to upold and score is of the utmost importance, you do things a certain way for a reason.
to you guys for the part you play in this game. What that part is is up to you.
edit: This is not meant as any disrespect, just a harsh reality check for those among the AH cartoon ranks who haven't been quickly towered by this group - yet. They are without mercy and don't care about what you think is fair in a fight. Are they better than you? 99% of the time yes. Does that mean you're not gonna get dog-piled by the whole pack? Heck no.
Live with it an beware.
The simple fact of the matter is this, and take this from an ex/inactive member who knows many of the "old skool" as well as some of the newer guys. The squad has become more and more social, both ingame and out of it, the bottom line is they are a community, they enjoy flying with each other and tactically we enjoy air superiority through well managed winging and tactics. None of the guys I know are arrogant or bigheaded and certainly NOT score ho's either, in fact many of them aren't overly fussed about the scoring.
After reading this thread I have felt saddened by some of the comments in it. This bunch of players in my opinion is one of the best most sociable, DEDICATED groups one could wish to be a part of and for a long time it was them, the people in that squad that kept me subscribed to this game, and it's also those same people that I would come back for if I ever did re-sub.
All the whining in this thread should really just stop, Don't hate the playa, hate the game!
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