Time to suggest setups for February 2018 Scenario

[Delirium]

Nuisance Raids 1942
RAF and Luftwaffe trading blows following Battle of Britain.
Fighter combat, attack, tactical bombing.
Estimated planes sets are:
Luftwaffe: Bf109F-4, Bf109G-2, Fw190A-5, Bf110C4-B, JU88A-4
RAF: Spitfire V, Spitfire IX, Hurricane IIb, Typhoon Ib, Boston III

I am an absolute sucker for the Circus Raids in 1942. The aircraft are fairly evenly matched and is one of my most favorite periods to read about.

That said, with numbers like they are, I would recommend a previously run scenario that had high ratings and attendance. As much as I like innovation, I'm not sure the community would support a new design unless it was accompanied by a large amount of players. This upcoming year (2018) will be telling for the future of scenarios as well as Aces High.

Apologies for the pessimistic outlook, but I would focus on having more of the community interact with each other in events than changing events entirely. It will require a new mindset that highlight scenario advertisement within the game itself, rather than ground breaking designs. If for no other reason than to bring players who have not experienced events to embrace them as they become subscribers.

edit: It is up to us old farts to acculturate new players to the game and to events. Maybe a community focused plan?

[Nefarious]

(Image removed from quote.)

October 2016: Tunisia was also a 12 hour scenario IIRC.

There's probably not a map for it, and I've never seen a scenario like this in AH before, but... Battle of Crimea/Kuban region 1943-44

There is a map for it, and we're using it right now in FSO. It's a large scale version of it, but it does contain that area in the terrain.

[AKKuya]

Thinking out of the box for a different type of Scenario set up, what about an Early War plane set between the Luftwaffe and RAF in North Africa with a unique challenge objective?

Both sides have one objective.  Who can destroy the most objects at the same neutral large airfield?

Each side trying to gain air superiority over the target to allow the bombers in for destruction.  Many different ways for each side to plan the attacks and explosive dog fight action.

RAF
B-25C with formations
Spitfires
Hurricanes

Luftwaffe
Ju-88 with formations
109s
190s

Points
Hangars - 500 points
Strats - 10 points
Guns - 1 point
Town buildings - .5 point
Bomber - 100 points
Fighter - 25 points

The point system is designed to place emphasis on first to arrive and grab the lion share of points through accurate bombing while friendly fighters ensuring solid protection while in the bomb scope. 

Each side starts off with equal opportunity to win the frame.  Victory will be determined by the best planning, execution and luck.

[Zoney]

AKKuya, what an interesting idea.  I like it.

[Krupinski]

There is a map for it, and we're using it right now in FSO. It's a large scale version of it, but it does contain that area in the terrain.

Ah ok cool, good stuff, perhaps a kuban/crimea scenario is plausible then if people are interested in it. 

btw edited my suggestion post with a few more details.

[Nefarious]

That is an interesting idea Akkuya, I'd be willing to create a design using that method.

[Krusty]

Krusty,

Old habits die hard don't they. We just went through a scenario and upgraded the planes a little so that we could get guys to register. So why would we downgrade the aircraft for this event? 

We have to begin to change our way of thinking just a bit, yeah.

Saying no is an okay answer if you don't want to fly this event for a particular reason, but we're not going to downgrade the aircraft and think that guys what to spend four weekend getting severely pummeled, right?

You're not understanding my post. That's a Battle of France suggested lineup with planes that were significantly more powerful and faster than those that were available DURING the Battle of France. It would be the same problem we just had with Rabaul 2017, on top of the other fact that we just did BOB this year also.

[Guppy35]

I am an absolute sucker for the Circus Raids in 1942. The aircraft are fairly evenly matched and is one of my most favorite periods to read about.

That said, with numbers like they are, I would recommend a previously run scenario that had high ratings and attendance. As much as I like innovation, I'm not sure the community would support a new design unless it was accompanied by a large amount of players. This upcoming year (2018) will be telling for the future of scenarios as well as Aces High.

Apologies for the pessimistic outlook, but I would focus on having more of the community interact with each other in events than changing events entirely. It will require a new mindset that highlight scenario advertisement within the game itself, rather than ground breaking designs. If for no other reason than to bring players who have not experienced events to embrace them as they become subscribers.

edit: It is up to us old farts to acculturate new players to the game and to events. Maybe a community focused plan?

Do Operation Starky, August 43.  Spits V and IX, Tiffies, RAF Boston’s, Mitchell’s and a few Mossies,  vs 109Gs, 190A and 110G and or 410s.  Luftwaffe defending against RAF raids into France.  Map is available, area of combat is compressed due to range limitations of the fighters.  Easily adaptable to either a smaller or larger crowd.  Should allow for a couple of bombing runs a frame, could have fun with the weather over the Channel, etc.

[AKKuya]

AKKuya, what an interesting idea.  I like it.

 

That is an interesting idea Akkuya, I'd be willing to create a design using that method.

Just needs the right map and aircraft type balance for fighters.

 

[Devil 505]

Thinking out of the box for a different type of Scenario set up, what about an Early War plane set between the Luftwaffe and RAF in North Africa with a unique challenge objective?

Both sides have one objective.  Who can destroy the most objects at the same neutral large airfield?

Each side trying to gain air superiority over the target to allow the bombers in for destruction.  Many different ways for each side to plan the attacks and explosive dog fight action.

RAF
B-25C with formations
Spitfires
Hurricanes

Luftwaffe
Ju-88 with formations
109s
190s

Points
Hangars - 500 points
Strats - 10 points
Guns - 1 point
Town buildings - .5 point
Bomber - 100 points
Fighter - 25 points

The point system is designed to place emphasis on first to arrive and grab the lion share of points through accurate bombing while friendly fighters ensuring solid protection while in the bomb scope. 

Each side starts off with equal opportunity to win the frame.  Victory will be determined by the best planning, execution and luck.

Cool idea, but I'm not keen on a neutral field being the central target. This is such a non-historical concept. Perhaps if there were a custom "Tank Battle" object built with destructible tank shapes it would work. El Alamein or Kursk could be perfect for this kind of design.

[AKKuya]

Cool idea, but I'm not keen on a neutral field being the central target. This is such a non-historical concept. Perhaps if there were a custom "Tank Battle" object built with destructible tank shapes it would work. El Alamein or Kursk could be perfect for this kind of design.

Why do each Scenario needs to be "historical"?  Maybe each side received bad intelligence, thinking that the base belonged to the other side.  A "fog of war" fiasco that may have happened.

[oboe]

Do Operation Starky, August 43.  Spits V and IX, Tiffies, RAF Boston’s, Mitchell’s and a few Mossies,  vs 109Gs, 190A and 110G and or 410s.  Luftwaffe defending against RAF raids into France.  Map is available, area of combat is compressed due to range limitations of the fighters.  Easily adaptable to either a smaller or larger crowd.  Should allow for a couple of bombing runs a frame, could have fun with the weather over the Channel, etc.

Looks like Martin B-26s were also involved:
http://spitfiresite.com/2008/12/operation-starkey.html

I think this set up has a lot going for it.   A balanced plane set including the Luftwaffe is sure to be an attraction.  The nature of combat would be many smallish, escorted raids over a few or single large raid, and lends itself to the 12 hour format, which has shown itself to be a popular option among players.  It may also be the best format to introduce scenarios to new players, requiring only a single day commitment and being very open on the "show up" times during the day.   12 hours long with flight windows open every hour on the hour basically means a 12-life scenario, which may also be an encouraging aspect for new players.

Combine a scenario like this with in-game login adverts and we could see a strong player turnout. 

[Chris79]

Devils idea seems interesting. Although I doubt numbers would allow for human controlled GVs, but have the GVs set up like the truck convoys in Ah2.
A. Kursk German convoy, 6 Panzers 3 Panthers, 1 Tiger and 8 SDKFZs
B. Soviet 10 T34s and 8 M3s

Attack aircraft objectives are to kill enemy GVs, fighter objectives would be to cap the respective battle areas. Maybe have an ammo strat near by for the buffs to hit.
Aircraft would consist of
Germany 109gs and 190as as fighter support, Ju87 and 190fs as ground attack, and ju88s as bombers
Soviet, La5s Yak9ts and yak7 as fighters, P39s and Il2 as ground attack, and B25s as bombers.
Ought to be evenly matched AC wise.
Weight the point allotment towards tank busting.
I would think a nice down and dirty fight like this would garner enthusiasm

[Nefarious]

I've done the neutral field capture in FSO a few times. It could work with a scenario I think, even half of the registered participants would make a decent unlimited live GV battle.

For Kursk, T+60 GV fields would open, Tigers, Panthers vs T-34/85s, Shermans for 5 or 10 minutes, then Panzer IVs and T-34/76 open for the remainder of the event. Support vehicles like M3, SDKFZ and then M8, JEEP and M16MGMC available for both sides.

It's basically capture the flag.

[Guppy35]

Looks like Martin B-26s were also involved:
http://spitfiresite.com/2008/12/operation-starkey.html

I think this set up has a lot going for it.   A balanced plane set including the Luftwaffe is sure to be an attraction.  The nature of combat would be many smallish, escorted raids over a few or single large raid, and lends itself to the 12 hour format, which has shown itself to be a popular option among players.  It may also be the best format to introduce scenarios to new players, requiring only a single day commitment and being very open on the "show up" times during the day.   12 hours long with flight windows open every hour on the hour basically means a 12-life scenario, which may also be an encouraging aspect for new players.

Combine a scenario like this with in-game login adverts and we could see a strong player turnout.

From the logbook of a Spit XII driver I have.  Last 10 days of August.  Mitchells and 26s with a sweep and rhubarb thrown in.  Look at the actual times.  Fits right in in real time.  Fighter combat would be fairly even in performance with the Spit Vs being the low end.  Also note the issues with weather noted in his comments.