Scenarios have always been a favorite of mine. For years, I have personally enjoyed participating in them, but far more enjoyable for me is the ability to spend my time hosting an event for all of you. There is nothing I enjoy more than working with the CM team and players who help draft and participate in these events.
Scenarios attract a different breed of player. We simply have to be nuts. There is a great deal of time spent putting the event together, trying out and testing the game board to make sure that each side has enough stuff to accomplish their goals. It's important to us that the event is stable and functional, and consistent. Nothing is worse than a command team spending an entire month drafting orders, running missions, testing flight times and bomb drops, simply to have something "we" forgot be changed at the last minute. It's never perfect, but we strive to make sure this doesn't happen.
There is a great deal of importance placed on each side having the time to recruit players to their side, practice and train for the eventual battle. That, I believe, is the majority of the Scenario right there. The days and nights spent putting out a plan, testing and re-testing, drilling the basics into the team and building up to the actual fight. Most of the work is done outside of the 3 hours of the frame, mission planning and command discussions often take longer than the frame itself. This is an amazing thing to watch unfold especially since in most scenarios, there are always new people in those conversations.
The single most amazing part of a Scenario, imho however, is the raw determination to take what has been placed in front of you and figuring out how to succeed with it. There is no way to accurately duplicate what those brave souls went through in a battle for their lives, yet we can, in a game, learn from that example. Not one battle ever went forward with exactly what was needed. Most of the success stories that continue to be told are not of the battles won by overwhelming force, it's of those battles that had no chance in hell of success and were reversed. Those battles in history, the fights in this game, those are the elements that bring out the best in people, it brings out the creativity, drive and determination of people who fully commit to winning despite the odds.
Scenarios are designed to allow these things to happen. They are not designed to make it happen. We fully account for the fact that some people will rise, and others will not. We allow for the fact that imbalance is part of life, and obstacles are there to be overcome. The amazing part is that for the most part Scenarios attract so many like minded players that obstacles are blown apart and rendered irrelevant. This particular event has seen more time spent on orders and planning by both sides than I have seen in a long time. Discussions have been incredibly well focused on what can be done, what needs to be done, what must be done, and everyone is actively engaged in those discussions. The positive and proactive energy has been infectious.
It has been a true pleasure hosting this event, and I am sincerely grateful for Stellaris and Bruv119 for their leadership of the RAF, SIM and ASW for their superb efforts in Radar Ops, Redtail7 and 68Raptor for their leadership of the LW, all of those who have done a remarkable job on rescuing their fellow pilots and getting them back into the event, and for those who have participated in the event. Mostly, however, regardless of your position as pilot, group leader, or command, none of this would be worth it if you all didn't show up and fly. If we wanted to watch The Battle Of Britain on the history channel we would, Guys like Arlo and others who have been recruiting monsters, Max and others for their incredible rescue efforts, all of the history being shared and re-discovered, everyone brought something to the event that was positive and productive, you have lived this event, not watched it. Scenarios are not a spectator sport, watching on the sidelines until the conditions meet your approval then jump in. This is a game, some games are made to be played, Scenarios are made to be immersed in. Thanks for not just playing but participating.
Frame 4 is coming Saturday. This is it, it's the last one. The RAF is determined to hold off the LW in their final massive assault. The possibility that London will be attacked is real. Frame 4 has the very real possibility of being the single most "don't miss" frame in years. Walkon or Registered, this is the last one. Let's put together one last amazing fight.
