Hello all,
Okay, I flew quite a few QC sorties and practiced my stuff. So I thought, it's time to campaign! I've flown three missions now, and I have some questions, as I don't think things are working as they should, so I wonder what I am not doing correctly.
First, I'm a bit miffed at my flight. We flew to an enemy airbase today to attack it. On the way, we were jumped by some Halb. DIIs. I was warping with the flight (late at night and didn't have time to fly the 100+ miles each way...not counting all the circling to start with), and as we dropped out of warp, there they were a little low and about 1000 yards off to the right. Well, my wing just flew away and left me. There were six of the enemy! Since the odds were really not to my liking and we were already over enemy lines, I climbed as rapidly as I could. It was touch and go there, but I outclimbed them. They really weren't far behind me at one point (less than 300 yards) but I guess they were climbing at their best and couldn't get a good shot. I eventually outran them and caught up with my flight. But what were they thinking?!!?! That one had me sweating, and it was winter outside with a steady snowfall (which was very cool, by the way!).
This leads to my questions. First, how do you fire the rockets. I finally managed to with the <Enter> key, but that didn't work for the longest time. I kept hitting <backspace> as well. Did I finally cycle through to the rockets? Is there something that tells you which weapon is active?
Second, so far, my experience of attacking places with my flight (railway, airfields) is that they loiter in the area a ridiculously long time, swooping down and then climbing away only to swoop down again. I dutifully follow them, but they don't really do anything. No shots, no other weapons. I'm sure they are gesturing rudely and hurling imprecations, but, really, shouldn't we be trying to do a bit more damage? Is this normal? I've tried to shoot things up, but this seems a waste of bullets for the most part. I tried to shoot some marching soldiers. I'm either a very bad shot or they were invulnerable.
Also, what's with all the swooping in general. When my flight climbs away from a swoop on the target, they go into this funny routine of climbing steeply then diving and then climbing steeply and then diving, like they were trying to fly a roller coaster track in the air. Is this some kind of evasive maneuver for AA fire? Wouldn't it be simpler just to set a reasonable climb speed?
Also, on the flight list, there is someone listed as (Wingman), but in the air, this same person is listed as Flight Lead when I turn on labels. So am I his wingman? I can't figure out who I'm supposed to stick with. There's this "Flight Lead" guy and "Wing 1" and "Wing 2" and me.
Also, what's with the waypoints? The map/mission board keeps telling me my flight has to go to all the waypoints and survive, which we do, but once we reach the target, that waypoint seems to stay operative. Perhaps it's because my bloody flight is probably still swooping on them (or ran out of petrol and had to land there). I get tired after a half hour or so and head back, which I have to fly all the way without warping because it thinks that the next waypoint is the target. Is there no way to get it to advance waypoints?
Finally, if I just run out of time, can I cross the lines and land at the nearest airfield? I ended my mission tonight while in the air (just ran out of time) and it said I landed behind enemy lines. Luckily I escaped after a few weeks, but that wasn't kosher!
So, as you can see, my side isn't inflicting a great deal of punishment on the other team, and I'm feeling as if I'm flying with some none-to-bright recruits. What am I not getting right? Any tips or advice welcome!
Okay, I flew quite a few QC sorties and practiced my stuff. So I thought, it's time to campaign! I've flown three missions now, and I have some questions, as I don't think things are working as they should, so I wonder what I am not doing correctly.
First, I'm a bit miffed at my flight. We flew to an enemy airbase today to attack it. On the way, we were jumped by some Halb. DIIs. I was warping with the flight (late at night and didn't have time to fly the 100+ miles each way...not counting all the circling to start with), and as we dropped out of warp, there they were a little low and about 1000 yards off to the right. Well, my wing just flew away and left me. There were six of the enemy! Since the odds were really not to my liking and we were already over enemy lines, I climbed as rapidly as I could. It was touch and go there, but I outclimbed them. They really weren't far behind me at one point (less than 300 yards) but I guess they were climbing at their best and couldn't get a good shot. I eventually outran them and caught up with my flight. But what were they thinking?!!?! That one had me sweating, and it was winter outside with a steady snowfall (which was very cool, by the way!).
This leads to my questions. First, how do you fire the rockets. I finally managed to with the <Enter> key, but that didn't work for the longest time. I kept hitting <backspace> as well. Did I finally cycle through to the rockets? Is there something that tells you which weapon is active?
Second, so far, my experience of attacking places with my flight (railway, airfields) is that they loiter in the area a ridiculously long time, swooping down and then climbing away only to swoop down again. I dutifully follow them, but they don't really do anything. No shots, no other weapons. I'm sure they are gesturing rudely and hurling imprecations, but, really, shouldn't we be trying to do a bit more damage? Is this normal? I've tried to shoot things up, but this seems a waste of bullets for the most part. I tried to shoot some marching soldiers. I'm either a very bad shot or they were invulnerable.
Also, what's with all the swooping in general. When my flight climbs away from a swoop on the target, they go into this funny routine of climbing steeply then diving and then climbing steeply and then diving, like they were trying to fly a roller coaster track in the air. Is this some kind of evasive maneuver for AA fire? Wouldn't it be simpler just to set a reasonable climb speed?
Also, on the flight list, there is someone listed as (Wingman), but in the air, this same person is listed as Flight Lead when I turn on labels. So am I his wingman? I can't figure out who I'm supposed to stick with. There's this "Flight Lead" guy and "Wing 1" and "Wing 2" and me.
Also, what's with the waypoints? The map/mission board keeps telling me my flight has to go to all the waypoints and survive, which we do, but once we reach the target, that waypoint seems to stay operative. Perhaps it's because my bloody flight is probably still swooping on them (or ran out of petrol and had to land there). I get tired after a half hour or so and head back, which I have to fly all the way without warping because it thinks that the next waypoint is the target. Is there no way to get it to advance waypoints?
Finally, if I just run out of time, can I cross the lines and land at the nearest airfield? I ended my mission tonight while in the air (just ran out of time) and it said I landed behind enemy lines. Luckily I escaped after a few weeks, but that wasn't kosher!
So, as you can see, my side isn't inflicting a great deal of punishment on the other team, and I'm feeling as if I'm flying with some none-to-bright recruits. What am I not getting right? Any tips or advice welcome!
