Imaginary Grief

[MikeDixonUK]

Does anyone else find themselves becoming saddened when they hear that a certain Wingman has become one of the glorious dead?

 

The longest lasting imaginary wingman in my DiD campaign, Flight Lieutenant Michael Webb, was killed in action today, he'd managed to survive since the end of last year, the poor Chap had just had his 5th kill confirmed as well!

 

(Incidentally he also had the same name as a character from the Bill, go figure.)

 

To Mickey, may he rest in imaginary peace.

Edited March 17, 2010 by MikeDixonUK

[Dej]

Does anyone else find themselves becoming saddened when they hear that a certain Wingman has become one of the glorious dead?

 

The longest lasting imaginary wingman in my DiD campaign, Flight Lieutenant Michael Webb, was killed in action today, he'd managed to survive since the end of last year, the poor Chap had just had his 5th kill confirmed as well!

 

(Incidentally he also had the same name as a character from the Bill, go figure.)

 

To Mickey, may he rest in imaginary peace.

 

In my first serious BHaH campaign I had two wingmen KIFA whilst 56 Sqdn. were on a posting back in Walmer, England in June '17. They'd been with me since April, when I'd joined 56, and had saved my ass a number of times. I was really saddened, and livid that their imaginary lives had ended in such circumstances... Jem Spillsby and Drew Palmer, I still remember their names, even.

Edited March 17, 2010 by Dej

[FastCargo]

This shouldn't surprise anyone really. We become emotional about fictional characters in a novel, a play, in movies. It's only logical that this would happen in a sim...even more so because our virtual lives have been directly affected by their presence vs by proxy in a story.

 

FC

[Duce Lewis]

It's a good rule to stay high in the fight

But if I spot a wingie getting pasted down low in a scrap, I'll often sacrifice all saftey and attempt a rescue

Even though this has no effect on their fate via the Duty Roster, the attachment requires the effort be made

Speaks to the depth of the Dynamic Campaign

[catch]

The time for reflection is over Mike ! It's now time for revenge ....

 

1) Go to the mess, get embarrassingly squiffy, have a larf and a joke and regale all and sundry with ribald and humourous accounts of Lieutenant Webb's adventures whilst spruiking his finer qualities as a pilot and gentleman. Don't mention his sister.

 

2) Fall asleep at the bar.

 

3) Wake up at dawn, dishevelled and spoiling for a fight.

 

4) Hunt the bastard down.

 

Disclaimer: Any resemblence to characters or storyline that may be associated with Dawn Patrol is purely coincidental and unintended. Honest.

Edited March 18, 2010 by catch

[Herr Prop-Wasche]

To more accurately simulate reality, on occasion we should fly the campaign when hung-over, or just after a fight or break-up with a loved one, as I'm sure happened in real life with the actual pilots.

 

Speaking of which, do any of you role-play as if you are angry or in mourning about the death of a wingman or close personal friend stuck in the trenches? I imagine the good pilots managed to maintain a fairly level head about them at all times, whereas the lesser pilots may have let their feelings get the best of them--for better or worse.

[MikeDixonUK]

I sometimes get angry when I see a wingman get shot down, then take dangerous risks to avenge them by killing the swine who shot him down, such as chasing them low over enemy lines. (They often seem to withdraw after shooting someone down it seems) - I suppose I shouldn't realy, else I end up like the Red Baron...

 

I'll have to try that getting drunk after a wingman dies thing, just for the sake of realism of course, should be interesting come Bloody April

[UK_Widowmaker]

You think you have it bad?...I killed my own Wingman with a Blue on Blue last month!..Now THAT's bad!

[Olham]

I know that very well. Part of the "immersion factor".

When flying OFF, I am really there, in my crate, with these wingmen.

 

Since I lost three good ones, I changed my tactics.

I now remain high, observing their fight, and dive on those enemies, who bring them into trouble.

My Wing1 always remains with me.

Still though, I couldn't save them all. I am just happy, when I bring wing1 back home.

[themightysrc]

Isn't it all a bit random anyway? I vaguely recall reading on her a few months ago that it's possible to shoot down your squadron's pilots in flames and the next day, there they are, wraith like but raring to go...

 

It'd be about the only bloody way I'd ever get kills, to be honest.

[Olham]

It may be random, if a wingman gets carried away in a battle or gets shot down,

whether he'll return or if he's dead.

But as far as I could see, those wingmen I have brought back to base with me,

never died through some random choice. Maybe luck? Not sure.

[MikeDixonUK]

I suppose if you realy wanted to up the immersion you could keep track of who gets shot down in your missions and then edit the dossier to say which ones did die, so they're classed as actualy being killed - but then you edit files at your own risk as they say.

[Creaghorn]

my most successfull AI-pilot was horst pagels. he survived almost 2 years and raised his killtally quite impressively.

i think the longer an AI survives, the better he gets and the better he performs ingame. although true that getting shot down does not have a direct impact on AI pilots, i think they survive longer the more experience they get.

how often i have seen new AI pilots coming and beeing missed or killed within two days.