New training idea, maybe.

[Doomsday]

Seeing as how we have a large squad would it not be an idea to have a squad training night? One day out of a week or month or however we all go into the training arena and train with each other? The more we get to do it the better I think we would react as a squad to several situations. It would also give us the chance to practice multiple plane scenarios since that tends to be the way it goes in the MA. If we can get to where we know how each other fights and work together there is no chance we could be beat....

[Waystin2]

I think it's a good idea Doom. I like your thoughts on training for MA scenarios. Multiple planes, squad tactics, etc. What day are you proposing?

[Doomsday]

The day would be agreed upon by whoever wishes to participate preferably. If not, then we would have to setup a day to do it and just leave it set for that day. My idea behind it is this, when in the MA's you almost never encounter many 1 on 1 situations. We fly into hordes all the time so why not train for that situation? How many times have you tried taking off from a field that is being attacked? How could you handle a 3 or 5 on 1? If we have enough involvement we could have the good sticks in the squad lead the vulching horde and another lead the reacting flight of planes from the ground. I want 2 or 3 planes to fly into a gaggle of fighters and see what we can learn from it. Basically it comes down to a set day. but we can practice against a multitude of situations with the squad size we have. It would form a sense of team work and mutual awareness with all of us, plus bragging rights if the new guys manage to get a shot on the old timers that are here, lol. What do yall think?

[Waystin2]

Hey Doom,

I am working up some training ideas and will set a time. Here are my thoughts on engaging multiple cons:

1) The first thing to realize is be honest with yourself. If your goal is to kill them and not be killed yourself, then sometimes there are just too many cons to up at the field that is under attack. Up at an adjacent field and give yourself some advantage in altitude & speed.

2) Always Pig up. Wait that extra minute or two for another Pig to be ready to up with you. One Pig can kill many, two or more Pigs can kill lots.

3) Straight and predictable flight paths will get you killed. Change your vector every few seconds, and make your turns unpredictable. Turn right this time, turn left the next. Switch it up because a good pilot could be watching you and observing your habit of always turning the same direction. This make it easier to get a shot on you.

4) Try to get all if not most of the enemy cons on one side of your plane. Left, right, above, below, it does not matter. It makes it easier on oyu for keeping track of them and what they are doing.

5) Use friendly ack and Flak to your advantage at all times. The Pigs have some of the best Flakkers in the game, so use them when they are available.

6) Do not commit to a single con, until you have separated them from their friends.

7) Take snapshots as they present themselves. These will be your killing shots when engaged with multiple cons. Some will be great high percentage, some will be low percentage. Just get bullets into the enemy planes whenever and however the opportunity presents itself.

8) Always try to keep building your speed and altitude as you are manuevering, while trying to reduce the enemy's speed and altitude at the same time.

I'll add more as I think of them, but these are the thoughts that came to mind for now...

[Doctahg]

Guys..you always seem to have plans so i don't ask, but maybe someone could grab me once and awhile and do a mission with me. that would be good training.
Doc

[Waystin2]

The Pigs planning is done very much in the moment. What kind of mission would you like to participate in? I will set up some ops to accomadate what you are after. I really want to offer training to those who desire it. Training is better carried out in the Training Arena or Dueling Arena when you do not want to be disturbed. I was born and bred in the MA's and never trained outside of there. So at times I lack the background so to speak to offer formal training. Now what you are asking about is right up my alley. No better way to train than live fire exercises Sir!

[Doctahg]

I dont really care if I die so it's more fun live. Just would be nice to wing with people, get some orders, and on the job training. Of course that person has to not care if he dies, since I may not be able to save him!! lol

[Waystin2]

I am able to lead the Pigs because they trust me, not because I give orders. So here is your first bit of "guidance": pick a Pig, any Pig when you log on and stick to their six for the entire time that you are online. If they up a plane you up the same plane. Ask them what they are in and duplicate what they do as best as you can. Above all keep their six clear. Then ask questions as they arise. I will grab onto you later Doc, and make sure that you are incorporated into ops. By the way, you are in that first few weeks iof hell that we all went through. So much to learn and so much coming at you in the game it makes your head spin. You are doing the best thing you can, asking questions. So keep asking them...

[Bugs]

[QUOTE=Waystin2;17777] ...when you log on and stick to their six for the entire time that you are online. If they up a plane you up the same plane. Ask them what they are in and duplicate what they do as best as you can... QUOTE]

I do that! Most of the time I don't even get to shoot at anyone. But I'm learning. Sometimes I feel like the little kid who always wants to tag along with the older brother, but I've never been made to feel that way by any Pig.

-Bugs

[Doomsday]

Hey Doom,

I am working up some training ideas and will set a time. Here are my thoughts on engaging multiple cons:

1) The first thing to realize is be honest with yourself. If your goal is to kill them and not be killed yourself, then sometimes there are just too many cons to up at the field that is under attack. Up at an adjacent field and give yourself some advantage in altitude & speed.

2) Always Pig up. Wait that extra minute or two for another Pig to be ready to up with you. One Pig can kill many, two or more Pigs can kill lots.

3) Straight and predictable flight paths will get you killed. Change your vector every few seconds, and make your turns unpredictable. Turn right this time, turn left the next. Switch it up because a good pilot could be watching you and observing your habit of always turning the same direction. This make it easier to get a shot on you.

4) Try to get all if not most of the enemy cons on one side of your plane. Left, right, above, below, it does not matter. It makes it easier on oyu for keeping track of them and what they are doing.

5) Use friendly ack and Flak to your advantage at all times. The Pigs have some of the best Flakkers in the game, so use them when they are available.

6) Do not commit to a single con, until you have separated them from their friends.

7) Take snapshots as they present themselves. These will be your killing shots when engaged with multiple cons. Some will be great high percentage, some will be low percentage. Just get bullets into the enemy planes whenever and however the opportunity presents itself.

8) Always try to keep building your speed and altitude as you are manuevering, while trying to reduce the enemy's speed and altitude at the same time.

I'll add more as I think of them, but these are the thoughts that came to mind for now...

1. I do watch the map, it just depends on the situation. If there are 3 or so over a field then I may go ahead and up from there. I tend to build up speed as long as I can on the ground cuz I know if they want me and they are high up, they have to dive in to get a shot. Sometimes I can get them to over shoot and auger somewhere around me.
2. I agree to this, maybe having a quick "Im down" or "Im uping" would make communications better.
3. I have no problem being unpredicatable since I took the stall limiter off! LOL
4. I think sometimes I will gauge what they are doing and by the time I react they are already head on to me.
5. Ack is definitly my friend.
6. Sometimes the con selects me with his buddies in tow, I generally just pick on one at a time.
7. I try to make my rounds count, think I need a bit more work on deflection shots though.
8. This tactic never seems to work for me. I try defensive circles while climbing and try to keep E up but it seems like they have RATOs straped to them just in case.

I figured if enough of us did the training and had the multiples on 1 or 2 planes, it might help get us out of some situations at least. That way if im doing something wrong one of the elder gods on the squad can say hey dont do that, do this. Each situation is different I know, but tactics can be modified and adapted for more than one situation. Let me know what you decide on the training you have in mind.