When Is It Alright to HO?

[MachFly]

When it feels right.

 

 

 

[SuperDud]

It's ok to HO whenever you want to **** most people off. I love to face shoot!

[titanic3]

PF, the first time, when I said "if you can't beat them, join them", frankly, I was already angry that day at the fact that I was HOed or attempted to be HOed every sortie. (can't dodge all of those HOs). The day after, I went back to my usual flying habits, only HOing in situations I mentioned above.

When you pinged me and insta killed me in my Fw190, I wasn't angry as I was dissapointed and surprised. Everytime I fly, Im always hoping for a good fight. That insta death was kinda lame, NOT bad or dweebish, just lame in that I couldn't do anything against it. (Yoi caught me low and slow) So I said on 200 that I was looking for a fight and was pretty much annoyed by it, I NEVER called names or anything. Other guys agreed, saying there were plenty of pilots that flew the 190 like a dogfighter, and not to just HO like you said. So I can't fly 190s without being frowned upon?

As for my so called "HO", if I remember correctly, you were in a Mustang and I in a 110G. Not only did I not HO you, we both broke and into a rolling scissor. I was naturally slower than your Stang and got guns on you before you couldve on me. Twin taters solved that problem. Not only that, there were both other friendlies and enemies planes around, all of which were higher than us. Meanining, whoever wouldve won that fight had it gone longer, wouldve been picked out of the sky by the other team anyways.

[Rich52]

The other day I was in a B-25H OTW in to a base and saw a spixteen OTW out. He wasnt being chased, he even had elevation and speed on me.  As he got to about 1500 I started figuring what I was going to do when he broke to come around and attack. I was so surprised he kept coming I actually forgot to shoot back for a moment. Who in their right mind would HO a B-25H in a spixteen ? Well he got lucky with a few shots and even tho I saw his spit break up to pieces he ended up getting the kill. I used to see the same thing when in IL2s and usually they'd come crying in here about F3 making it to effective a fighter.

Thats the kind of HO I hate. When someone has every possible advantage on you and still they choose to suicide.

[Becinhu]

While I agree on the 3 v 1 scenario, unfortunately it is normally the 3 that are going for the HO every pass trying to get the kill before the other 2.

[coombz]

When flying a Mossie

When you know you're fighting someone who will cry about it

When bored with flying and ready to do something else

[bj229r]

Russian Roulette...coin flipping, call it what you like, THAT is what it is, and folks who use it as their first option rarely have even 1 kill per sortie. I always aspire to kill many, (though I rarely do) But ho-ing isn't the way to get there

[Midway]

I don't always HO, but when I do... I prefer LTARs.

 

[skorpion]

its always OK to HO because it makes the enemy cry and i live off of those yummy tears.

[waystin2]

Try your darndest to get your plane offset from the enemies flight path for your merge, if you can't do that then open up with the guns!  Anything other than nose to nose is a deflection shot.  Don't let anybody with an overly enlarged HO range tell you different.

[Nathan60]

It is  perfectly acceptable...nay it is  REQUIRED. To ho a  brewster in any situation on any pass.

[dedalos]

Lets make a list of situations where HOing is and isn't ok.

OK to do it when:
It's 3 v 1 or more
It's against a horde
It's against bombers
At extreme altitudes where you may only get one pass (unless you both bring it down to the deck)
During base defense
When you are badly damaged
When you are out of fuel
When you are saving a friendly from 3 or more cons
Against 262s
The other guy fires on you first (most important)
 

When it's not OK to HO:

1 v 1 situations (regardless of alt/E)
The first merge
When a friendly is dueling an enemy, unless the friendly asks for help. If the con complains, all complaints must be made against the original friendly, not the HOer that tried to save him.

Note: If there are other planes around you, still do not HO on the first pass unless you know for sure all planes involved are gangbanging you. That person you're merging with just might be calling his friends off for a 1 v 1.

When
When

There is no way to answer that since it is different for every person.  There are two clear reasons arguments over HOs happen (maybe more, but those are the ones I see most of the time).

1) This one is easy.  The when is it OK to HO is different for every one.
2) This is the most important, people get very upset when they are told they did HO, even though they think it is OK.  Strange, its like they know they did something wrong and got called out.  Normally this happens when: a) It was a clear 1 vs 1 and the HO victim is left wondering why?  If he asks, hell breaks loose on 200.  b) A player very vocal on 200 about how he cannot find a "fair" fight takes that shot at the merge.  If asked why, sit back and enjoy the fireworks lol.   c) The victim was already engaged with 3 or 4 guys and "vet" comes in and takes that shot.  In this situation look for smartarse remarks on 200 if you ask why.

Bottom line, the arguments start when the victim cannot understand the reason behind it and asks why.  The last thing the HOer is going to do is give some kind of explanation.  From then on it is all down hill.

[PFactorDave]

As for my so called "HO", if I remember correctly, you were in a Mustang and I in a 110G.

You do not.  I can't remember the last time I flew a Runstang.

I find it telling that you had enough HO events last night that you are confusing them in your memory.

[shiv]

its always OK to HO because it makes the enemy cry and i live off of those yummy tears.

Griefer [n] One who griefs: a player who plays a game primarily to reduce other players’ enjoyment of it

[Wiley]

I'll take it if it feels like the right move at the time, I generally avoid it if there's only one bandit that's a threat to me.

The one time I will 'maliciously' take the HO is if I'm in the right mood and see this even though I start maneuvering to avoid:

4.0k
  .

3.5k
  .

3.0k
 _|_

2.5k
 _|_

2.0k
 _|_

and the guy just doesn't deviate from pointing directly at me.  If you're that intent on it, I'll sometimes face shoot you and laugh while doing it.

Usually I believe there are better options than the HO, but not for 'moral' reasons.

Wiley.