FSO December - D-DAY "White Flag"

[RufusLeaking]

Is your OP more a design issue or should this be a textbook example of one CIC set of Orders being more effective against another CICs set of Orders?

As the Axis CiC, I own the plan. The Allies had a good plan. They also had many more options.

The plan was to scout west with single ships in a screen. The main defense force was to intercept from the target. The field was under attack while the high alt scouts were still east of the field.

The only way to counter the Allied advantage in the scenario is to have perfect knowledge of Allied orders.

On frame 2, the Axis will rush to defend against NOE, and high alt bombers with 1000 rounds in the tail guns and P-47s in unstoppable dives will destroy the target in 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes. The design has balance issues.

Once the target is destroyed, there is no scoring reason for Axis pilots to rearm and re-up. Axis in undamaged planes were towering out.

The fun of FSO is the suspense. Who is going to win? Will you survive? Frame one had no suspense whatsoever.

[Becinhu]

As I stated before our squad was decimated by the axis defenders. I will say though as ( I know the FSO creators and CiCs have an overwhelming job to do and thank you for doing it) I have noticed this year in particular over any other of the many years that I have flown FSO there have been an a majority of months that have an gigantic imbalance issue. I'll use this frame as an example where the defenders had no chance to counter the initial strike, we have had frames with aircraft that weren't in the engagement (I know filling a plane set hole) where one side gets an overpowered monster instead of dropping to an older model, months where because some squads don't get their preferred ride or side just don't show up making a numbers imbalance, getting Bostons and your escorts decide to NOT escort you because they won't get kills, etc.

I don't know the solution. I do think however that some of these matchups need trashed...forever. If a FSO is planned where a proper plane set can't occur then that setup needs to go. Just my 1/2 cent.

Still love FSO. It is the only reason I am still around.

[Spikes]

I have noticed this year in particular over any other of the many years that I have flown FSO there have been an a majority of months that have an gigantic imbalance issue.

I think it is safe to say that the majority of the imbalance is due to numbers - not saying things don't play out perfectly all the time as we envision it, but with the numbers where they are at (low) it causes major issues when there is as little as a 2-4 pilot swing. We changed the commitment levels to better assist Admins with getting the numbers right, and I think it helps, but still relies on Officers caring enough to change their numbers month to month. With that said, it is understandable to not get numbers right every month/frame. We understand a squad might get an influx due to a holiday weekend whereas another squad might lose guys due to the same holiday.

Over the last few recent years we've had some trials and tribulations with designing new events to be fun, fresh, out of the box. Some work out great, some not so much. Some, we envision the perfect plan for both sides and the orders that go out make that go by the wayside. I personally think these 'assault' style setups (8th AF, attack only style) are the hardest to balance and get right. You basically have to assume the attacker will get to target with X amount of planes to determine what a 'reasonable' success rate is to determine points. I like WarHwk's change of pace with this month to make it objective based and not point based. You blow up your target, you win.

I don't know the solution. I do think however that some of these matchups need trashed...forever. If a FSO is planned where a proper plane set can't occur then that setup needs to go. Just my 1/2 cent.

Since I started to do Admin/design work 3 years ago I've heard it all - no more early Pacific events, no more setups with Stukas, no more 'assault' style setups, no more what-ifs, no more plane substitutions, no more lend-lease, etc. The issue is this rules out the majority of design possibilities, but I understand the various frustrations with some of these design elements. Hence why we've tried our best to avoid some of the most hated elements and work in new ideas to others.

With that said I think we always try to look back on the year and see what worked and what didn't, what could be improved, so feedback is always much appreciated.