vadr posted 05-03-99 08:15 AM            

Well, here's the bottom line on 2.6 for me: it has changed my tactical approach to the Sim.

I come from the vertical maneuvering, bounce 'em at high speed school of tactics (thanks --ik--). I prefer sitting on my perch until I pick out a (hapless) victim below, diving down to d2 or less, shooting out about 20% of my ammo, and then climbing away. This befits the airplane I fly (the 109), and I didn't change a thing when 2.6 came out because we were in the late war RPS, and I did just fine using these tactics in the 109K.

However, I noticed a real drop in my kills/sortie when the new tour started. The simple truth is that the airplanes are too hard for me to get away with these tactics with 109E/F/G firepower. I have to stay in the saddle longer and bleed more energy, which puts me at far greater risk of getting into an angles fight with my opponent. (Can you tell I've been reading too much Shaw?)

Now, I AM NOT complaining about this, just making a comment. I don't mind adjusting to the sim, and I understand that some of these things will get addressed in the next release. There are a couple of positives for me:

I am having to learn better speed control to get into an optimal firing position.

I am brushing up on some slightly rusty ACM skills.

The 109F is now competitive for a longer period in the RPS, due to the reduction in 750 yard kill shots. This makes me happy because it's my favorite 109, and my squad's 'Signature' bird.

The current situation of improved ballistics and 'tough' targets make 2.6 very much a T&B release. Snapshots have been a lot less effective; you have to get close to the guy and kill him with a tracking shot, or at least that's been my experience with anything less than a 30MM.

So, I thought maybe we'd talk about something other than the politics at IMOL/HTC/Playnet for a while. I'd like to hear what adjustments others have made to stay effective in 2.6. Rather than complain about it, let's try sharing some stuff that will help us all have a good time in the arenas.

Hptmn. Vadr

Stab. / JG 27 'Afrika'

Bombom posted 05-03-99 08:48 AM            

One thing that hasn't changed a bit is the effectiveness of wingman tactics <grin>.

Try this for laffs, against sleeping stooges:

A booms in as usual (compensating for 2.6 gunnery) and zip away, cigar or no cigar. The stooge wakes up and says "hey", then "gonna keep an eye on that guy". Consequently, he points his prop at the quickly vanishing A - while B motors in and effect the coup de grace.

Granted, it won't work every time due to that bloody NEON, but when it does, you've got a chuckle coming

-bmbm-, XO 56th FG

56th Fighter Group: 56th.warbirds.org

Dslick posted 05-03-99 09:52 AM            

I still B-n-Z.

I just do it in a Spitfire now.

Dslick

funked posted 05-03-99 11:20 AM            

Vadr I agree with you about the different tactics required for E fighting now.

But fortunately your victims are handicapped as well.

No more d10 pings during your pitchback.

This means you can go for a rope-a-dope with only d5 separation or so. Which gives the bandit very little time to react when you reverse.

If you are dumb (like me lately) and run out of energy and the Hordes come after you, and you have to run home, you don't need as much separation to be safe. So you can get by with a smaller energy "cushion" as long as you have a fast plane.

Finally, I'm pretty sure the planes will be softened up. So I'm hoping my 20% gunnery will translate into more than .8 k/s!

Jagr posted 05-03-99 11:28 AM            

Funked pretty well hit it on the head..there are advantages now too..that being when going vertical at 1000 yards you dont get killed 50% of the time anymore

The trick for me is not to push the shot..take what you have..hammer the guy and continue your maneuver up...then look back and see what shape he is in..repeat as necessary. I've noticed people tend to wait to see the bad guy "Pop" and fly up his rear end or follw them in defensive breaks losing all their E.

ik Jagdgeschwader 77 posted 05-03-99 11:40 AM            

I've just decided to accept a lower K/S count. There's not much else you can do but that. I think 2.6 is a big step, but the lethality of your weapons is obviously undermodelled (14 MG151 pings =28 20mm shells, from d1.5 to kill a Spit9?). So, I'm waiting for the r1 patch before i really start flying a lot again.

Tschüß

ik

paarma posted 05-04-99 12:23 PM            

Just made a check for gunnery%, once new tour has started: 22%. This is about the same as it has always been.

Granted, at first it was kindof hard, but with time, pieces found their place.

Lethality is not the same (until the incoming patch, hopefully), but so? It's the same problem for everyone, and it's temporary.

30mm has been a very pleasant suprise, just like MO wrote. It's a Killer weapon, and feels easier to aim/hit too!

Low lethality raises problems on those hi speed diving passes, but that should not be a biggie to 109 pilots - except R6 maybe, 109 can be competitive in E contest with somewhat slower speed too. Have succesfully bounced & killed spitfires with one pass behind (of course, have succesfully failed too - usually because of too much speed).

The speed margin needed is only such that he cannot get inside D5, in case target smells ya and manages to do a barrel roll or something. If he split-s's or breaks, he's gone, and can't catch.

I use all guns all the time. Once upon a time it was good to not use mg's at the same time to not to get confused by mg hit sparks, and be lost with cannon.. Now the shooting takes place SO close, even closer than before.. so close - "and then he of course falls down"

Patience will be rewarded! Once one gets happy with current settings, how bout after the R1?

//paarma

Fenris posted 05-04-99 09:19 PM            

Yes I've noted that with the cons come the pros of the new guns....

Was in a 109G6 the other week and got into a scrap with a Spit9 down low after chasing (and killing ) a Ki84 near his base. Did a bit of fancy stuff and ended up in a spiral climb He'd started with alittle alt advantage and we was able to gain on me....I ended up looking back over my left shoulder in a tight climb watching this spit at d1.6 firing at me. Dunno what the story was but I took 2 or 3 pings but no major damage. I managed to escape by doing a complete roll all the way to the left and the ending up climbing in the same direction...He followed half way and broke right, he must have lost me under his nose or something Sure was a great fight...

But then there's been times when I'm in a 109f and you can ping away with the 20mm till the cows come home, conversly tho the new model lets you stay in real close and live.

There are good and bad things in the new model and we just have to adjust and wait and see what happens in the next update/version - I'll wait and see, luckily for me there have been some other things that have come out that have taken my interest away from WB.

In the end my current gut feeling is that I prefer 2.6 to 2.5

Still looking forward to an ETO SL

Regards,

Hptm Fenris

ik Jagdgeschwader 77 posted 05-05-99 02:10 AM            

Fenris, the Spit9 climbs better than the 109G6. You're very lucky that guy couldn't shoot.

Fenris posted 05-05-99 03:02 AM            

Rgr that ik, was cool seeing the muzzle flash of his guns...he must have been low on ammo and out of 20mm or something, couldn't believe I survived...Too bad I wasn't able to reverse and kill him that would have made it perfect, I bugged out and went home

I still think 2.6 sure makes 109 moves even more doable and the rewards are quite sweet.

'Tis a beautiful bird..

Reg's

Fen

ps - Aviation History mag has a large article on the 109 this month and even they call her a sinister a/c - haha - lets start the mystique debate again!