Historic Encounters Opinions Needed

:FI:TacticalS! · Post by **:FI:TacticalS!** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:16 pm

Well folks as we find ourselves coming to the end of 2005, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have participated in Historic Encounters. I do appreciate the interest from regulars, and have really enjoyed the odd (they're all odd right?

) Euro mate that ventured to join us late in the night.

Now would be a great time to discuss what YOU want to see with these sessions. Are they becoming boring? Not seeing your favourite plane? Would you like a different setup/approach? What about the game settings?

Really would appreciate hearing from you guys concerning these sessions. DCG can be customized a fair amount so it should be possible to entertain a wide range of choices.

Right now the missions are primarily designed to have 8 vs 8 dogfights with a bunch of neutral flights also available. Would you guys like the odd night with just some groundpounding missions? Again, are there certain planes/scenarios that you would love to try?

My hope in the New Year is to get more folks to enjoy human vs. human contests. I also will try to have sessions where we can meet other IL-2 gamers, including future sessions with Danger Dogz & Friends, whom I have been keeping in contact with since our last session several weeks ago.

TS!

:FI:Noter · Post by **:FI:Noter** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:48 am

I really enjoy the sessions and the setup you have with regard to the missions. I like that we can choose to fly as the fighter or the attack role, even if it's just one guy by themselves. Also vote to keep externals off.

I thought it was cool last night how the FW's flew an attack mission and bombed and then got into a furball with the La's. I would enjoy some more missions like that, we go in with bombs or rockets and fight our way back out. If we get jumped and have no cover, do we scrap the mission drop the ordanance(sp) or push on (what do we do leader?). In essence, a fighter plane in an attack role, not a purely attack aircraft. Straffing the airfield was great fun last night, more of that would be great.

I like that we are all on one side personally, if we get, say, eight or more, than I can see maybe being on different sides. I like that the CAP for my attack mission are human. I like flying with a large number of friendlies, it feels good to call out break and help someone stay alive and come to their aid and vice versa. Obviously it's just not the same with ai pilots, just don't care as much. Really taking pride in not losing my wingman or watching over the element lead, even if there are no points.

Really enjoying the formation/wingman element we're striving for. I still think it needs some practice, but we are much better than we were when it started. Would like to go for some tandem takeoff's and really work on joining the squad up in the air better and get us evened out in a more horizontal manner (still feel like we fly in a trail, which could work with the right tactics)...and from there work on division/element tactics.

That's the really big thing that would add alot, man we would clean up if we could fight as a unit with tactics. Having said that...I have no idea how to implement that, requires a lot of time and practice and it might be more than time permits in reality. I know we are a very relaxed squad and some of this might be pushing the boundaries a bit, and if that the case then I'm cool with the way we are now too.

Just wanted to throw my opinion out there, all feedback is welcome. Like TactS, I would like to know what other think and if they would like some new things.

Sheesh... all this for about three hours, one night a week. And that's if I'm lucky.

Noter

:FI:TacticalS! · Post by **:FI:TacticalS!** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:11 pm

Good post Noter! Indeed I think as a group we have made significant progress. Heck don't you remember all the failed takeoff attempts when we first started? Mind you tonight we are returning to that aircraft carrier so maybe our troubles aren't over yet.

Of course, as you pointed out mate, we certainly need to always keep working on formation flying and tactics. Glad to hear you like the general DCG setup. I switched back the possible mission types from strictly Escort to Random. Think some nights depending on the plane I will select specific mission types like Groundpounding (with appropriate fighters) or Intercepting.

Would folks be adverse to flying the odd mission in planes like the IL-2 or P-38 and explore a little bit of groundpounding? I primarily enjoy dogfighting but enjoyed intercepting those IL-2s on Wednesday.

TS!

:FI:Snoop Baron · Post by **:FI:Snoop Baron** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 4:22 am

Just a quick post.

I'd like to try the tandem takeoff but keep forgetting about it!

I totaly agree we are trailing to much it would be cool if we could fly spread out closer to line abreast, but its not easy, I know.

I think it's a great idea to add in some more variety in the flights we fly. It would be cool if we switch between our regular intercept fighter type flights and ground attack (with different bomber types, from fighter bombers to dive bombers and level bombers) and bomber interception missions.

Perhaps Helo could take the lead as our first flight leader for the ground attack missions while others get up to the task and give it a go

I'm looking forward to the new year

s!
Snoop

:FI:TacticalS! · Post by **:FI:TacticalS!** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:00 am

Funny you should mention this.

Started my Christmas vacation and found some time tonight to revamp Historic Encounters a bit. I have setup six campaigns for us to hopefully enjoy in the coming weeks (more of course will be added). They attempt to cover early/med/late war and all three (make that four - Africa) theatres.

Go take a quick look at the website - http://ca.geocities.com/ohearnsmcmm@rog ... ncounters/

I have also figured out how to ensure full flights of our two active squads so we don't find ourselves unevenly matched.

Also, to ensure even smoother performance for those with older machines I have reduced the Flight Density from Heavy to Moderate.

And finally, I have increased the ground units to Full to hopefully facilitate more groundpounding missions. Speaking of which I intend to feature more ground attack sorties for the group. Not to worry fighter jocks (me included), our main focus will still be dogfighters, but I also want to widen the plane and mission variety by including our beloved groundpounders.

I also want to start featuring two or more campaigns per session. This way more folks will hopefully find a plane or situation that they really enjoyed each time.

-----

This week (Wednesday, December 21st) we will start our session flying IL-2 in Kursk and attempt to knock out some German tanks while staying alive! More than ever the need for tight formation will be self-evident.

I am hoping to enjoy two sorties (unless we really suck), then return to HyperLobby for a short break, before starting two more sorties in a dogfighting role. Not sure what campaign I will use - something completely new for us though. Either Murmansk 1941 or Guadalcanal 1943. I also have an earlier African campaign now too (Tobruk 1941).

So expect even more variety and roles in future sessions folks! Also, I may begin messing around more with DCG for some surprises along the way.

Regards,
TS!

:FI:Noter · Post by **:FI:Noter** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:27 pm

Don't know why it never occured to me, but the 38 is perfect for the tandem takeoff, that tricycle gear makes cockpit views great, you can see down the runway and the opposing element. McBiggles and I tried a couple and they were much easier with the 38. So maybe a session or two with the 38 should be in our future.

Noter

:FI:TacticalS! · Post by **:FI:TacticalS!** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 7:52 pm

Sounds great!

:FI:Snoop Baron · Post by **:FI:Snoop Baron** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:50 am

Sounds good Noter

:FI:Heloego · Post by **:FI:Heloego** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 5:33 pm

I always enjoy the sessions!!

So are we "on" for the 4th?

:FI:TacticalS! · Post by **:FI:TacticalS!** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 3:12 am

:FI:Noter · Post by **:FI:Noter** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:09 am

One thing I thought might be cool, was personal skins. We have 8 or so consistant guys that fly, I could do skins for each of us have our FI numbers on the plane personal nose art, etc. Most of my skins have the FI insgnia on the wings which is obviously not historically accurate. But my aircraft are done for the time period, nothing looks like a racer or anything outlandish like that. If the FI insignia were an issue I could come up with something in the correct markings but still do numbers, names, and nose art.

I have talked with Tactical about it and the big issue was what it might do to server performance, and also the best and easiest way to implement the skins with the smallest hit to the server. So maybe we give it a go on a planned night and see if it's too much, if so, we just go back to normal, if it's ok, maybe we could come up with something for some other sessions.

I would need to know what aircraft we would be flying and do the skins accordingly. I thought it sounded pretty cool, nothing like flying your own personal plane, as a member of a squadron that means something to ya'.

If this sounds good to others I could post some skins I've done and let you see what I'm talking about.

Noter

:FI:Falcon · Post by **:FI:Falcon** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:36 am

Noter,

One ac Tac may be flying is the IL-2. If you want, I can send an enhanced PaintShop Pro (PSP) Sturmovick template that you can dress up.

I think it has the sheep/FIS markings/and name stencils for some on it.

Let me know if you're interested and I'll put it temporarily on Gurb's/my FTP site.

Falcon

:FI:Noter · Post by **:FI:Noter** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:09 am

Thank you Falcon, if this idea takes off, I'll gladly use the IL-2 skin and probably others if that's ok? We'll see what the rest of the guys think and how things play out.

Noter

:FI:Falcon · Post by **:FI:Falcon** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:38 am

Great,

I'll check with Gurb first and try to get it on the FTP thingie for you ASAP.

The address is: http://www.pigyn.com/falcon/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Falcon

:FI:TacticalS! · Post by **:FI:TacticalS!** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:04 am

As we discussed previously Noter I think this is a splendid idea mate!

Server performance actually wasn't a significant concern, but the realization that this will likely involve a lot of skins to be fully implemented mate. I anticipate messing around with a fair number of AC this year. This could require a lot of work, even if we use just one default :FI: skin per plane (which I assume to be the case). Would be neat to have the words "Historic Encounters" along with the Squadron identification on each plane.

The implementation is still a mystery to me too mate. Can I add these skins in my DCG/IL-2 setup and have them downloaded automatically to everyone playing? Or will they have to be first placed in everyone's skin folders locally? Since you still are interested in trying this out Noter, I'll go over and ask Paul Lowengrin what needs to be done.

Again, thanks for the interest in doing this and some video/pic creation.

Regards,
TS!

Historic Encounters Opinions Needed

Historic Encounters Opinions Needed

Keep up the excellent work, Tact!