Volunteers needed for DiD campaign.

[Olham 164]

Great, thanks, Creaghorn!

[Dej 17]

Ah, so it's 2 RNAS now. Drat! Just flew a couple of practices with 3 Wing and it seemed ambiguous as to whether there was a problem or not, the Brits did use the same aircraft as both bomber and escort. Anyhoos, 2 RNAS it is, off to reroll an Aussie. Thanks for the post Lou... sorry it proved premature.

[Stiffy 1]

Ok, ready to go!

 

 

[Ras 0]

Flight Lieutenant Yankee Doodledandy is standing at attention and awaiting your orders. SIR!

 

 

[Rickitycrate 10]

I'm afraid to start trouble, or extra work, but... seems we have a good thing firming up here under Siggi's guidance with dare I say one small aspect missing. Competition. Would it be much trouble have a running group tally of "Kills" and "Deaths"? For a friendly comparison between teams. Imagine being able to say you have the upper hand, or to know that more effort for the cause is called for to better serve King and Country. Of course it is possible this kind of thing has been planned and mentioned but I don't recall reading it. Thanks all.

 

Maybe total hours flown too? The killboard looks like a spreadsheet, is it one?

Edited October 28, 2009 by Rickitycrate

[Dej 17]

I'm afraid to start trouble, or extra work, but... seems we have a good thing firming up here under Siggi's guidance with dare I say one small aspect missing. Competition. Would it be much trouble have a running group tally of "Kills" and "Deaths"? For a friendly comparison between teams. Imagine being able to say you have the upper hand, or to know that more effort for the cause is called for to better serve King and Country. Of course it is possible this kind of thing has been planned and mentioned but I don't recall reading it. Thanks all.

 

Maybe total hours flown too? The killboard looks like a spreadsheet, is it one?

 

Wouldn't that be evident from Siggi's board, in a pure measure way? It's not always going to be fair to compare one pilot's perfomance against another given the switching superiority of aircraft in this period.

[Rickitycrate 10]

I was not referring to individual scores but rather a running tally for the group. Only to compare the Germans to the British.

[Stiffy 1]

Did I see that there is a website set up for this?... what is the address?

[Mr. Lucky 0]

Siggy,

So far, great idea and job. You too Herr Olham. I do take one exception to your rules. The Map. I disagree with your assertion that navigating with the scenery and real maps is difficult. I find it quite easy and realistic. I do it every mission. Still I would agree that allowing the map is a good choice as everyone doesn't have the experience and training in landmark navigation and/or ded reckoning.

[Rickitycrate 10]

Stiffy, http://www.hetzer.talktalk.net/

[Velvet 1]

To all pilots;

 

The website is finalized, after some revisions to the layout and look. The general theme is 'WW1 Eye Candy', but also functional (just like a tart's handbag then).

 

From all of you I need your persona names and ranks. Olham has dictated that all his pilots begin with the lowest officer rank. Louvert may or may not wish to stipulate similarly. Please use the Combat Report to update me in this regard.

 

Gentlemen, the rules for this version of DiD are hard. Not only will you lose your stats upon death, you are also required to start in recon/bomber outfits, flying and surviving a total of 17 hours and/or attaining at least 5 confirmed kills (yours and/or your AI crewman's). More than this, if you have made it to fighters and subsequently die there you are obliged to return to recon/bombers with your new persona and start all over again. For those who enjoy the two-seaters this won't be such a hardship, but for those who don't it will suck arse. This, then, will be the test of your grit, your perseverence and dedication to virtual duty. The weak will retire, the strong will endure. And for those who endure there is offered the possibility of glory.

 

In game-functional terms the rules will make virtual death a real pain (at least for those who don't much like driving a bus and dropping turnips out the door). But this is a two-sided coin; by suffering the pain of the two-seater, so much greater will be the pleasure of the scout. And it will foster within your breast an innate and genuine concern for your persona's welfare. Survival first, victory second.

 

I hope this concept, the core DiD concept, will give you added pleasure in your virtual flying and fighting. And so, onwards and upwards and good luck to you all!

 

 

Siggi,

 

Is there a reference to the DiD rules based on the current version of OFF. Weather settings? Gunner settings? etc?

 

Thanks,

 

Velvet

[Stiffy 1]

Just wondering if any allowance is made for the people who have the handicap of having no Trackir? Having no visual aids at all and no trackir put these people at a real disadvantage keeping track of enemy planes... the only way you can track them is by targetting them and using padlock... this only works if you have the radar up to scroll through the endless targets until you actually get a plane... if you just hit target button you will most likely be looking at a ground installation.

 

Any thoughts?

[Velvet 1]

Siggi,

 

Is there a reference to the DiD rules based on the current version of OFF. Weather settings? Gunner settings? etc?

 

Thanks,

 

Velvet

 

 

Siggi

 

Never mind, I've just found your website with the rules.

 

Velvet

[Rickitycrate 10]

Velvet, here are the rules http://www.hetzer.talktalk.net/rules.html

 

Stiffy your answer is there too. It reads:

External Views: Not allowed, except to take screenies while paused. All flying and fighting must take place while in the cockpit with cockpit visible.

 

Padlock: Allowed. Inferior to TiR, which is most certainly allowed and highly recommended.

[cptroyce 0]

Stiffy- I don't have TiR either...believe we'll need to be more careful then most ;>)

 

Royce

[RAF_Louvert 101]

.

 

To all Officers and Pilots of #2 Squadron, RNAS:

 

As most of you are already aware, Allied HQ has determined our services are needed elsewhere along the front, and we have been reassigned to Number 2 Squadron. We will still be flying our stalwart Strutter 1 1/2's so our recent training has not been in vain. Keep a stiff upper chaps, and continue to get in as much flight time as possible in anticipation of the big push on 5 November. I expect each of you to fly as many cook's tours of our new AO as you can in order to familiarize yourselves with the locale, and if you happen across the odd Hun scout during these exercises by all means send him packing. Remember to keep your alt and give your gunner some good clear shots. The Strutter turn climbs very well so use that to your advantage when engaging enemy aircraft. Also, I encourage you to take advantage of the offer made by AM Bunter and his crew. Having a personal emblem or insignia painted on your kite helps build a sense of pride and esprit de corps not to mention causing a fair amount of consternation in the enemy when they see a stand-out flight of cracker jack aerial warriors coming at them en masse.

 

That is all for now gents. Keep your gear in order and be prepared.

 

For King and Country!

 

 

Capt. W.L. Elder

#2 Squadron

Royal Naval Air Service　

 

 

.

[Siggi 10]

I'm afraid to start trouble, or extra work, but... seems we have a good thing firming up here under Siggi's guidance with dare I say one small aspect missing. Competition. Would it be much trouble have a running group tally of "Kills" and "Deaths"? For a friendly comparison between teams. Imagine being able to say you have the upper hand, or to know that more effort for the cause is called for to better serve King and Country. Of course it is possible this kind of thing has been planned and mentioned but I don't recall reading it. Thanks all.

 

Maybe total hours flown too? The killboard looks like a spreadsheet, is it one?

 

If you look at the killboards you will see a space at the bottom of each column. Running totals will be kept there. The killboards are not spread-sheets by the way, just simple tables.

 

You chaps with no TiR, I'm afraid you're the sterling lads who circumvented the medical officer's prohibition on flying-duties due to poor eyesight/stiff necks and finagled your way into the RFC/GAS. I dare say you'll find a way to cope, and with xmas looming on the horizon you may even get a packet from home with some whizzo bit of kit knocked up by pater in the shed. :wink2:

[Siggi 10]

Just wondering if any allowance is made for the people who have the handicap of having no Trackir? Having no visual aids at all and no trackir put these people at a real disadvantage keeping track of enemy planes... the only way you can track them is by targetting them and using padlock... this only works if you have the radar up to scroll through the endless targets until you actually get a plane... if you just hit target button you will most likely be looking at a ground installation.

 

Any thoughts?

 

I believe if you have a target right in front of you and hit the padlock button it attaches to it? Or the enemy plane nearest to your centre-view?

[Siggi 10]

Flight Lieutenant Yankee Doodledandy is standing at attention and awaiting your orders. SIR!

 

 

 

Ras, no offence old chap, but that name...really. The King's Regulations clearly stipulate the need for a real name when signing up for military service. We simply don't hand out planes to Doodles or Dandies, Yankee or otherwise.

[Stiffy 1]

Velvet, here are the rules http://www.hetzer.ta....net/rules.html

 

Stiffy your answer is there too. It reads:

External Views: Not allowed, except to take screenies while paused. All flying and fighting must take place while in the cockpit with cockpit visible.

 

Padlock: Allowed. Inferior to TiR, which is most certainly allowed and highly recommended.

 

 

Sorry... but that doesnt really solve the problem. Allowing padlock is all very well but it is useless unless you are able to target the correct object... otherwise it's just a tool for looking at the floor of your cockpit. Targetting with any speed is impossible without the radar up to help you select your target.

 

Unless I suppose we could pause for a long time while we scroll through all of the targets... loses some emmersion that way though.

[Stiffy 1]

I believe if you have a target right in front of you and hit the padlock button it attaches to it? Or the enemy plane nearest to your centre-view?

 

 

no... padlock just locks your view to whatever you have targetted.... dont know if maybe the target button locks on to closest enemy?... seems to lock on to a random ground installation for me.

[Siggi 10]

Well, without meaning to sound harsh (I don't mean it to be), it's either a case of dumbing down the rules or smarting up the hardware. Or those players with a genuine need improvising with forbidden functions just enough to make themselves combat-capable without over-using the forbidden function and cheating. Nobody's looking over your shoulder and there is the spirit of the rules as well as the letter.

 

Do what you have to do to overcome the limitations you find without TiR. And let's face it, using TAC, even full time, you're still at a serious disadvantage in an actual dogfight without TiR. With TiR, there is absolutely no excuse for breaking the rules. Without it, do what you have to do to give yourself a fair chance (that will still be less of one than that enjoyed by those who do have it).

 

We're all adults and all honourable players, and as such know what's right and fair. My recommendation remains the same though, get a TiR by hook or by crook asap.

[Siggi 10]

Allied scout units...

 

I've been going through the lot and we have a pretty poor choice of immediately-available kit. The Pup is the best of the bunch, but the earliest that becomes available is Dec 24th 1916. Which is doable, if pilots who become elegible for transfer before that date stay in the bomber outfit until dec 24th.

 

Otherwise it's the DH2-110 or the N11 or N17 (from Nov 10th). The DH2-110 is a real floater but I held my own against four Albatri DII, shooting down two before running out of ammo. But my survival was largely dictated by the DIIs' poor behaviour at very low altitude. The N17 (and I assume also the N11) is very nimble but has a lousy gunsight and one of the wings fell off.

 

So, unless there is a roar of disapproval, I'm going to go with RFC-54 and the Pup for the allied scout unit. Which means no transfer out of the bombers until nov 24th at the earliest. I have a lot of time on the Pup and it's a grand plane. As more squadrons open up in the timeline we can switch to another if it's wished, but RFC-54 transitions to the Camel eventually (quirky but a real killer in the right hands). If we get enough pilots over time I'll add additional units for availibilty anyway.

[RAF_Louvert 101]

.

 

Siggi, you know I'm pretty darned agreeable with whatever is decided on the fighter unit. However, in an effort to build a feeling of unit loyalty I'd recommend we stick with the RNAS and take the scouts as they become available to our squadron. I believe we do get the Pup and Camel, in that order. It would be more in keeping with the whole historic bent and immersion factor of this exercise. Just my two pence worth.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

.

[Siggi 10]

.

 

Siggi, you know I'm pretty darned agreeable with whatever is decided on the fighter unit. However, in an effort to build a feeling of unit loyalty I'd recommend we stick with the RNAS and take the scouts as they become available to our squadron. I believe we do get the Pup and Camel, in that order. It would be more in keeping with the whole historic bent and immersion factor of this exercise. Just my two pence worth.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

 

.

 

Eh? I had to have a quick look after that. 2-RNAS doesn't get either the Pup or Camel. RNAS 3 and 4 do, but are on Strutters until then (in fighter roles). All of the RNAS units get good planes, but in all cases not until well into 1917.

 

The Bosche are spoiled for choice, so much so they can be picky about the locations from which their scouts are operating, never mind which actual types they go for. At the end of 1916, beginning of 1917, however, us lot are rather stuffed. And I don't think going from Strutter bombers to Strutter fighters is quite going to cut the bally mustard.

 

However, you're the C.O. and you have the last word. But I feel obliged to point out that at this stage in the air war a foot put slightly wrong could lead to an increased incidence of AWOLs and outright desertions. The Fokker Scourge lowered morale considerably and we're still badly out-classed in terms of scouts. The Pup is our latest and best plane and we'll be lucky to get any at all anyway.

 

RNAS-1 has the N17B available, and transitions to the Tripe on jan 16th 1917.

Edited October 28, 2009 by Siggi