"RAF Spoken Here"

[ATAG_Snapper]

Hi everyone,

Just an idea I'm floating here which I plan to try later tonight (21:30-ish EST) in response to some recent PM's I've received. We have lots of bandwidth room on TS, so I will be creating an open, non-passworded Red channel called "RAF Spoken Here". Everyone and anyone flying Red is very welcome to join, with the expectation that conversation is voluntarily kept as close as reasonably possible to conversation one would normally expect to hear over BoB aircraft in 1940.

Here's the reasoning: the general Red channel has, at times, gotten very busy with upwards of a dozen players frequently competing with each other to be heard. Frequently the conversation gets quite spirited, along with general conversation on the usual stuff like computer settings, joystick assignments, other sims' progress, etc etc. Don't get me wrong, this is good and fine! As long as there's no (or, at least, little) swearing or foul language -- knock yourselves out. I'm frequently right in the thick of it! :D

That said, there have been a number of players who privately have discussed with me that, for them, it can kill their immersion of what Cliffs of Dover is all about for them. Not wanting to cramp anyone's style since we all enjoy Clod in our own way, I suggest this "RAF Spoken Here" channel as an option. It's voluntary, no one is going to be "RAF banter monitor", but anyone joining in is simply asked to keep the spirit of the era in mind.

I'm going to be trying it tonight. Anyone is welcome to join me. Your comments are welcome. Hey, I might very well be flying all by myself this evening! LOL

[Ohms]

Great idea Snap, I have started to fly blue some nights and find that the blue guys are very quite and only talk when needed, this is a drastic difference from what you can here on the red channel.

[ATAG_Snapper]

Thanks, Ohmie. The Red channel can be rollicking at times and, hey, that means a bunch of guys are having fun. That's good. :thumbsup:

OTOH, sometimes I've had a long day and not at a high energy level, so I'll either flip down to an empty channel or mute TS outright. Or, I might just want to be in 1940 for awhile. Also, movie makers may prefer the audio of the "RAF Spoken Here" channel (or they might rather have the spirited "Hey dudes!!!" Vive la difference! :D )

We'll see how it works out.

:)

[Ohms]

Agree completely. The reds are always having a laugh or crying about being shot down. I have in the past done the same as you but it would be nice to have help when needed on your channel.:thumbsup:

[Dutch]

Great initiative. We've all been guilty of getting too far into 'pub conversation' mode on TS, instead of concentrating on where the bad guys are and who needs help if he's got three 109s on his six and who needs escort.

Shouting 'help, help' in a feeble squeak, whilst we listen to some stentorian voice waxing lyrical about his fps improvement since using 'dental floss, paf' to clean out his win7 temp files which is a free programme downloadable from 'oh I'll send you the link through TS' ''where can I see that?' 'oh it's down at the bottom just click the tab' 'sorry don't know what you mean' 'it's at the bottom' 'where?' kind of conversations, can be a little frustrating to say the least.

I'm in. Good call, Snapper old bean. :thumbsup:

[Combat Wombat]

Jolly good show old bean

[ATAG_Freya]

Good thinking, Snapper. I wonder if this channel may act as a sign to others, who commonly go on to "allied forces" first (that's what we all seem to do), that the people in this channel mean to get organized and fly in a serious way. And from there, could break off into "flight 1", "flight 2", etc, to lessen the confusion of radio chatter. We've all heard the fight in the north trying to talk over the patrol in the south, It's get's crazy to understand sometimes. Often I see about a dozen or more people on the one channel and they are scattered all over the map and some people don't even bother trying to get a word in. Even when their into it with the enemy! I'm hoping this gets some of those less talkative players involved more. People seem so scared to break off into "flight 1", "flight 2" channels etc, because they want to stay informed by the majority group. It's so much better to have one coordinated group on your channel. More real too, I would think. And better information when the other pilots are right beside you! Thanks for taking the initiative!

Cheers,
Freya

[Roblex]

Good thinking, Snapper. I wonder if this channel may act as a sign to others, who commonly go on to "allied forces" first (that's what we all seem to do), that the people in this channel mean to get organized and fly in a serious way. And from there, could break off into "flight 1", "flight 2", etc, to lessen the confusion of radio chatter. We've all heard the fight in the north trying to talk over the patrol in the south, It's get's crazy to understand sometimes. Often I see about a dozen or more people on the one channel and they are scattered all over the map and some people don't even bother trying to get a word in. Even when their into it with the enemy! I'm hoping this gets some of those less talkative players involved more. People seem so scared to break off into "flight 1", "flight 2" channels etc, because they want to stay informed by the majority group. It's so much better to have one coordinated group on your channel. More real too, I would think. And better information when the other pilots are right beside you! Thanks for taking the initiative!

Cheers,
Freya

Am I the only person that feels a bit reluctant to join an existing sub channel in case I am gatecrashing a 'private party'? Sometimes I think we need a tag that says 'private' or 'open' so people know they can join you. Maybe we need the sub channels to be labelled 'Hawkinge Furball'. 'French Point Vulch', Estree Suicide Run' etc :D

[92 Sqn. Philstyle (QJ-P)]

I kinda like Roblex's suggestion.

Sector based TS sub-rooms could work well. Although it would enable to enemy to see where our pilots are distributed.....

[SoW Reddog]

I'm sorry, I don't understand your banter:)



Agreed on the splitting into flights too. I suggested doing so one night when there were about 20+ on TS and was poo-pooed immediately though, so not sure it'll get much traction. I can understand the "crashing a private party" comment too.

[ATAG_Colander]

You guys should give my TS plugin a second try.
It allows for "sub-channels" in each channel. It does this by muting those not in the same channel.

You can assign keys to change channels and channel 0 is heard by every one (like a help me channel).

Of course, this would require every one to use it.

Edit: I would have to recompile it for the lattes TS version :(

[ATAG_Snapper]

Excellent input from everyone -- thanks! :thumbsup:

Roblex, I agree 100% about seeing someone down in one of the Flight sub channels and being reluctant to join. Like you, I figure he's waiting for his squaddies, or has reasons for wishing to fly alone. A lot of times it's someone who just found the main channel a little too busy. Only if it's another player I know and have flown with often do I actually join in to say hi.

The "RAF Spoken Here! :)" channel worked fine last night, with about a half dozen regular players joining in. To be realistic though, every player was a regular who knew me (friendly guy that I am :D). Not sure less-frequent or new players would've done the same. Likely not.

None of the regular players had read this thread when they saw the new channel. They joined out of curiosity, and laughed when I told them they'd have to switch out "dude!" for "old bean"! The concept seemed well-received when I explained it.

As you can see, I don't want this new channel to have any bearing on the main Red channel. Nothing changes on the main Red channel. No swearing/foul language,of course, but if you want to talk about joysticks, video cards, whatever -- knock yourself out. For those looking for some BoB-period immersion, try dropping down to the "RAF Spoken Here! :)" channel.

I will periodically bump this thread so hopefully more forum members/players will read it, then try it on TS.

[Catseye]

Excellent input from everyone -- thanks! :thumbsup:

Roblex, I agree 100% about seeing someone down in one of the Flight sub channels and being reluctant to join. Like you, I figure he's waiting for his squaddies, or has reasons for wishing to fly alone. A lot of times it's someone who just found the main channel a little too busy. Only if it's another player I know and have flown with often do I actually join in to say hi.

The "RAF Spoken Here! :)" channel worked fine last night, with about a half dozen regular players joining in. To be realistic though, every player was a regular who knew me (friendly guy that I am :D). Not sure less-frequent or new players would've done the same. Likely not.

None of the regular players had read this thread when they saw the new channel. They joined out of curiosity, and laughed when I told them they'd have to switch out "dude!" for "old bean"! The concept seemed well-received when I explained it.

As you can see, I don't want this new channel to have any bearing on the main Red channel. Nothing changes on the main Red channel. No swearing/foul language,of course, but if you want to talk about joysticks, video cards, whatever -- knock yourself out. For those looking for some BoB-period immersion, try dropping down to the "RAF Spoken Here! :)" channel.

I will periodically bump this thread so hopefully more forum members/players will read it, then try it on TS.

Here is a quick lexicon of RAF phrases for the un-initiated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rKYL0tW-Ek

:)

[ATAG_Monkeynut]

So not like this then.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JdAlYF67r9E&feature=relmfu

:)

(Caution mild bad language!)