Report from the Front: 1916 DFW Recon... N11's defend
Sorry no screenshots, my PC is simply not tough enough to show the best of Phase 3... it runs it really well, just not Polovski stratospheric quality is what I mean...
OK... I hop into my DFW and crank her up. First you'll notice the difference in sound. It's A LOT louder, but stronger. If you have 5.1 speakers, it sounds like an engine should, sitting right in front of you. The DFW is dressed in classic 1916 camo, with large white bordered crosses on brown/green camo. It looks fantastic. The weather is looming, dark skies, looks like rain, but none forecasted in our area. All is good, I check around and we're clear to roll-out.
Off we go! She feels heavy, like a 2-seater should. Responsive, yet slow. She side slips a little in the turns, as expected, so nose up and keep her full throttle. We're up high now, and I switch to the back-seat. I'm not interested in flying this run, I'll let the AI take control. Yes, in Phase 3, you can back-seat till the cows come home... or in this case, till the Babies bite back.
It's great. A clear view of open sky and rolling hills. The Somme has NEVER looked so good. Plenty of trees, lakes, and farms all around, everywhere. It's serene... for now. One thing you'll notice right away... it's even louder in the back-seat. WOW! I feel like I'm really exposed to the elements!
The AI does a pretty good job of getting to the target, some enemy troop emplacements dug in at the front. We're a little off target, but I expect this. This is WWI, there is no radio guidence, there are no VOR's, nothing, the auto-pilot is a first Generation Saurkraut Model 1, he just dead reckons and fights the stick. So we get to target, about 2 miles off, no problem, we can see it, the wind was pushing us off course. The sky is looking ever so dark now, but no rain in the forecast.
From above I see a squadron of Esc 12 N11's high, I don't think they saw us... wait... yes.. they did. I spin my gun around and get ready. They are charging hard!! WOW!! 7 of them, pass me, all around the DFW, like arrows falling from the sky. I take some pot shots, trying to get a bead on one of them as they pass by. One banks hard off my tail, and I lay into him... he's smoking... white smoke, must have been fuel. BOOM... he explodes. Down he goes.
I look around for my wingmen, they break off in two directions, it's total mayhem. The AI is tossing the crate all over the place... I'm actually getting sick!!!! As we roll, I take a shot at one, we level, I get at another. This is insane!!! I can't see anything but the horizon, the sky, the trees, the sky, the plane .. the sky.... when will it end. Noops are all over the plane, and I'll blasting away whenever I can get a shot in. Whew... this is actually hard work!!!
Finally, we head for home... but they give pursiut. Thankfully, the advantage is ours as the DFW was a fast plane, and we easily outrun the much slower N11's. However... it starts to rain. Stupid weather officer! I take over at pilot as I simply don't trust the AI with my life anymore... at least not in the rain.
Looks like I lost my squadron in the Mele... I hope they make it back OK.
WOW... forget the Recon photos, I'm lucky I stayed alive in this one. We get back in once piece, we lost the N11's over friendly territory. I log my 1st kill as a Gunner. It was kind-of a glorius moment... special even.
Anyhow... that's what a 2-seater encounter will bring you in OFF P3. So to add to your possibilities, you can simply be a gunner. And, it's a lot of fun I might add!
Phase 3 shipping to your door sooner than you think.... keep the faith in us.
OvS
