I support being able to join buffs as a gunner largely because I have had a LOT of fun doing so after I was shot down, and it helps to stretch a frame for downed pilots to the full two hours.
Now, as one of the TBM pilots who was shot up by enemy CV 5" guns the major reason why I got close to the fleet in a TBM is because I had a gunner (whether he joined at the beginning or as a downed pilot really didn't matter) and we got two assists on zekes. When we got within visual range of the CV we started blowing up without dropping our torpedos. No tracers were visible but there were some nearby splashes. So, I would have to agree that the CV 5"ers should be off limits to human gunners as they are excessively brutal (I never knew they were proximity fused until this thread)
.
Perhaps a few simple rules would help, such as:
- if you are killed you are done, period. You may observe but that's all.
- if you bail/ditch and survive you can re-up as a gunner on a buff or a field/CV gun (non-5 inch)
- if you disco before the half-hour limit grab another mount.
- if you disco after the half-hour limit you can re-up as a gunner (your part in the game plan is gone anyways)
The BIGGEST problem will always to have players read, understand and follow the rules. However, I think this will happen eventually but not overnight. (I don't know all of the rules yet
).
