S3 Series

So I understand the reasoning we are now going with 3 lives. But for 2nd and 3rd lives there needs to be a rear field that you rebase from. Fighting an endless line of zombies is a little too Main Arena-like for me.

Thats a good point. I don't want this to become the main either. We also don't want it to take 40 min to get back into the fight. However, Im sure we can find a middle ground. Maybe a rule a simple as, for second and 3rd lives you must start from a field at least x number of miles from the front line..(which we would have to determine each frame)

Im open to other suggestions.

Yeah, last night at field 45 I had seen it was closed and elected to engage a group of bandits just off the field. Apparently it was reopened for use during the middle of the frame, which meant the initial evaluation of the situation was completely different than the new reality of 1. It now being available as an operational base and 2. we'd be fighting each pilot up to 3 different times.

Long ride to combat, ko kidding, Th Blak Shep had tof ly from Henderson field F59, the same one we used on Frame One, even at 370mph + it took 1/2 hour to get there and the like correspondingly when we needed reueing/rearming.

<S> Tod

I agree, it was a little close to the action compared to a RL scenario. I wasn't aware 45 ever closed, we didn't up at 40 because we knew it was closed. May have been a glitch if so. You are correct on the Zombie thing, for us as well, it seemed to most of us that our .50 cals didn't do any damage unless it was a head shot . Lot of guys on the radio yelling "these guys just won't die" lol. I did see though at the end of the frame there were plenty of deaths on both sides of the fight. Good fun none the less.

Keep the comments coming. I'll have a discussion with the S3 guys as to all comments. And see how to adjust. Its a fine balance between dweebery and flying for 45 minutes to get to the battle. We certainly don't want this to become the Legacy arena.

Black Sheep were first based at Henderson but were moved up quickly. You should have been able to rearm closer however. You will be closer to the action Frame 4 and 5 for sure.

I think there was a few glitches this week that we, the S3 team, apologize for. One being 40 and I think 45 had an issue as well? We will make sure to reset everything next week.

I remember some years back with 1 life to live, every squad was assigned a homefield and you had to only operate from that field. You could land at other fields in emergency, but would then need to fly back to the homefield and replane before allowed to join the fight again. WW2 wasn't just about taking off and be in a fight within 5 minutes. There was a lot of cruising etc. I remember some S3's when the squad didn't get into a single fürball for a whole frame, maybe just a single encounter where neither squad felt confident enough to engage, and one of them decided to retreat instead of taking a disadvantaged fight (1 life to live).

Maybe not doable now with 3 lives to live, but I've been thinking about another suggestion. How about each squad has a home base they must take off from whenever starting a new life? So at the start of the frame the pilots of a squad must take off from their home field. The squad's pilots can then replane at any field during the frame, but any pilots losing a plane/life must then begin their new life from the squad's home field. This would make sure you can rearm close to the action, but not die and then instantly respawn in the thick of the fray.

The exception would be pilots flying a special mission, like the Yamamoto flight. These would of course be allowed to take off from a field assigned for that mission, then after the mission take off from their squad's home field again.


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/Robert

I am all in for assigning specific bases for the S3. We did in the past but it had gotten left behind since the change over. It was not done purposely but unintentionally overlooked with the wealth of knowledge to be gathered when change happens. Please be patient with all members of the S3 team, as volunteers, they have to balance personal lives with the demands of designing a full S3 series of 5 frames and all the maintenance and preparation needed between each frame.

I will have to admit the foul up with the allied bases not being restored for the frame 3 was mine. I had 7 AI routines to plan, design and test. I just forgot to restore the necessary fields. I have added that to my list of things not to forget for Frame 4.

Regarding the distance of flights. This terrain has the opportunity for much shorter flight times if you are not naval. However, naval aviation was essential to this battle's historic authenticity. I hope all remember that the purpose of the S3 was to create historic battle scenarios with as much accuracy as possible in a virtual environment. It was never intended to in any way resemble the Legacy, main, etc arenas. They are arcades designed for fast action with a 'reality' that only exists in the terrain design. It was created so someone could come in and get in a battle fast and play like the kids again. However, and meaning no insult to anyone, the S3 was designed for adults not teanages. I don't mind playing in the Legacy as it is a good distraction but if I want to feel as close to the history of military aviation as possible, I fly the S3. I endure the long flights with a bombers and if a fight develops I follow my orders and work for the success of my team.

I strongly feel that the real strength of Warbird's longevity is the S3 and those who have supported and dedicated there time to its continuance. Bravo for all of you that have endured.

final note: Since I have been in Warbirds and flown the S3 I have heard countless stories of the 'old" days. If we were still back then, many of us would still be striving to be allowed to play. For some squadrons you had to earn status outside of the S3 to even be allowed in. I am not a big fan of exclusionist attitudes but deal with them when they happen. I like an open atmosphere that encourages growth by participation but at the same time encourages that S3 traditions should also be respected. I see signs of that everytime I fight in an S3

Nooky you are correct. Comments are always welcome, wanted and key to improvement.

Yeah as I think about it. I like the idea of one assigned base not near the battle lines. 3 lives is too much of an incentive to ‘ take one for the team’ as you can just re launch. If a player has to fly for 10 minutes or more back to the battle, that will be an incentive to stay alive. Not as good as the1 life rule, but it helps. Of course if your home base is being hit and you just landed ( no teleporting) you would of course re launch. I guess we need to figure out if you die as your field is being hit, where do you launch from that is fair for both sides.

Used to be if you were in tower and your field was being hit, you waited. If they closed it you lost that airframe and moved to another friendly field.
Going waaayyyyy back you would lose your only life if you got caught in the tower of a closed field. Anyone that gets caught in tower and then the field closed
deserves to lose a life and airframe...for stupidity.

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