Lets discuss the Beau

[69th_Zeb]

Speaking of Beaufighters...check out what my work buddy brought to work this week! He brings his models for display on my desk, which I think is both agreeable and elegant. Wildcat is currently in production.

[QB.Creep]

+1 to air spawns for the Beaufighter. Great idea!

[SIA_Sp00k]

Here’s a thought:

It’s not likely we’ll see any tweaks of this nature coming through in the near future, the TFS coder is away on personal Real Life business for the time being. One idea the ATAG members are thinking of as a stopgap is to create an airspawn for the Beaufighter somewhere quite far inland (Hornchurch? Biggin Hill?) and at low altitude say, 2 angels). Normal ground spawns would still be available. This would encourage players with a limited amount of flying time to jump into a Beau for a sortie rather than resort to the faster startup of a Spit or Hurricane.

Although the Luftwaffe aircraft aren’t subject to the same extreme start up times, would it still make sense, on balance, to likewise have one Blue multi-engine with a low-altitude, inland air spawn? If so, which one would be best for this? Just thinking out loud here, but the objective is purely for playability enjoyment, not to just get “gamey”. We could try it on one map and see how it goes.

For anyone who has never tried an airspawn, simply log into our “Beta 4.53” server. The airspawns were invaluable for the repetitive testing that was needed.

Post your thoughts here. If the overall consensus is positive, we can get airspawns introduced fairly quickly.

You can marry my sister and have many babies.

[BOO]

if it helps people enjoy the game more there's nothing to object to?

if its like for like then it would be 110Cs wouldn't it?

[ATAG_Snapper]

if it helps people enjoy the game more there's nothing to object to?

if its like for like then it would be 110Cs wouldn't it?

That’s what we were thinking, BOO, although apparently the 110 doesn’t have a pronounced warmup period. I would like to hear from 88/111/Br20 pilots to see if an airspawn (low altitude/inland) would be a factor in opting to fly them. If we have enough pilots who could say, “Yeah, that would get me to fly the XXX more!” — then great. The idea is not to give any tactical advantage (hence the low altitude/inland aspect), but just to encourage a better mix of opposing aircraft.

[farley]

That’s what we were thinking, BOO, although apparently the 110 doesn’t have a pronounced warmup period.

Well Snap, the reason the 110 doesn't need time to warm up is because it is a hot plane flown by hot pilots

Er... or so they tell me....

[BOO]

How long does it take to warm up a Blenni these days BTW? Shouldnt these be considered to? As the only Red bomber perhaps it should be given the same love if the argument is for more of a mix. Unlike the 88s and 111s that can just roll if every Blenni restart takes several minutes that would be a blocker id imagine.

TBH is the tac advantage isnt there and its more a case of giving players a chance to fly a bigger model without the hassle (comparative) of multi engine start ups and takes offs then airstarts from the back of the map could be extended wider to all the twins.

[ATAG_Ribbs]

I say do it!

If it is low..make sure the throttle/ pitch and rad settings are in a safe setting. No time to mess with them. Good idea!

[9./JG52 gr00ve]

hm....air spawned beaus without fighter cover flying across england.....i have to say, i like it!

[ATAG_Snapper]

hm....air spawned beaus without fighter cover flying across england.....i have to say, i like it!

Absolutely! And, unlike their ground-spawning counterparts, no protection from anti-aircraft. So, it’s not ideal unless the air spawning Beaufighters can pre-arrange fighter CAPs ahead of time.

[BOO]

hm....air spawned beaus without fighter cover flying across england.....i have to say, i like it!

[ATAG_Highseas]

the Beau is a long punching Heavyweight with a limited vocabulary. The 110 is a little more Frank Bruno in that it can also muddle through the occasional Pantomime

Hahahahahaha!

[ATAG_kiwiflieger]

The BR.20 has by far the longest warmup time of any Axis plane - I imagine having an airspawn for this would go down very well.

[ATAG_Snapper]

The BR.20 has by far the longest warmup time of any Axis plane - I imagine having an airspawn for this would go down very well.

Good input. If this encourages more pilots to fly the Br20, then it’s worth a try IMHO.

[ATAG_Highseas]

Last Beau I started heated up in mear seconds.

But then thats what a 109 can do to you when you are sat just staring at a radiator gauge.



It doesnt actually bother me the warm up time.

I think the logic that this is because it is carburated not fuel injected is a nonsence mind given that it's the internal combsution that heats an engine block, not its fuel delivery system...

but also have no issue with allowing a low air spawn... sounds like a really good compromise.

[LuseKofte]

I do not know, airspawns kills the fun for me, using that leave going into flames and crash the only left thing to do. I enjoy the startup procedure, make me feel I am a pilot, until my demise prove I am not.
But I guess a alternative for all should be given

[DerDa]

I'm with Lusekofte here.

If these airspawns will really get more people to fly the Beau then do it.
But I will most probably not use them. Engine start procedure (even if the warming up might be a bit long), setting the compasses, taxiing, take off ... that's just a big part of the fun for me.

[ATAG_Snapper]

Sorry folks, I should have mentioned that normal ground cold starts would still remain in place unchanged. Not just for the purists, but also for the squads that like to organize and execute mass take offs.

[69th_Zeb]

I'm with Lusekofte and Derda. There's a lot of flight planning that can happen in the cockpit during warmup. I often find myself exceeding the warmup, because I sometimes want accurate low altitude nav and spend the time drawing it out. Some of us like the nitty gritty. If I already have everything planned out, I can Alt-Tab out and read an article or grab some goodies and drinks.

I think though it'd be fine to have a single mission in the rotation that would include one air spawn. That would trigger others to give it a try. Might also create a hot zone for campers that could mix things up.

-Z

[BOO]

The only advantages that the airspawn proposed is going to likely give is for players to be actually doing something other than waiting. Since there will also be cold starts I see no problems and its a good solution for everyone.

The only things id ask is for the airspawn to be some distance, and not in a line with, any similar type's cold start locations. We don't want Gr00ve to have too much choice now do we?

And just upvoting myself here but please consider the blenni and the BR20 for this too.

If I'm being selfish, the BOOmer events would be a lot more practicable if anyone stuffing their aircraft (or having it stuff for them by bad spawn points) didn't automatically get a 5-15 minute warm up penalty.

[ATAG_Snapper]

The only advantages that the airspawn proposed is going to likely give is for players to be actually doing something other than waiting. Since there will also be cold starts I see no problems and its a good solution for everyone.

The only things id ask is for the airspawn to be some distance, and not in a line with, any similar type's cold start locations. We don't want Gr00ve to have too much choice now do we?

And just upvoting myself here but please consider the blenni and the BR20 for this too.

If I'm being selfish, the BOOmer events would be a lot more practicable if anyone stuffing their aircraft (or having it stuff for them by bad spawn points) didn't automatically get a 5-15 minute warm up penalty.

Yep, as you probably saw, I included the Blennie and Br20 because of their lengthy cold starts. Even threw in the 110 even though I don’t believe they take very long to be combat ready. I specified low altitude, inland airspawns to negate any tactical advantage to airspawns.

I had a detailed TeamSpeak discussion with one of our frequent online players. He recounted that the other night he was vulched and killed 14 (count ‘em: 14! ) times sitting in an idling Blenheim before he was able to successfully launch in his 15th Blennie. He wasn’t complaining; he said he was admiring the effective airfield suppression by the enemy and that he would do exactly the same if the tables were turned. Not all players would have that kind of patience or dogged determination. They would likely go to another server or even a different air simulation. This player also mentioned that it is frustrating to sit through a full warmup, then be killed while taxiing due to an unseen ditch or collision with another player.

I thought the specified airspawns would be worth a try as a work around to the long warm ups as a choice for those who wished. Clearly further study is required.

[QB.Creep]

Just want to clarify that I am supporting the idea of air spawns as a short-term measure until the long warm-up time can be remedied.

[ATAG_Ribbs]

The only problem I have..and it's not an issue with the airspawns.. it's how the Carburated aircraft are portrayed in the game. If we are playing Raiders..and the ambient temperature is winter and cold..then I can understand a Carburated engine sputtering the way it does. If it's spring and summer and it's warm..a properly tuned Carburated engine shouldn't cough and sputter for 3-5 min. Air spawns are a good idea in this case.

[SIA_Sp00k]

[SIA_Sp00k]

Rad 100% open admittedly and jumped the gun a couple of times wanting to open the throttle more.

[BOO]

Sp00k,

On ya for sticking to your guns so far, the result of which will hopefully benefit everyone. Snapper and ATAG with those options, I think the possiblity for having a few more "allcommers" events is opened up again.

Thanks

[LuseKofte]

I'm with Lusekofte and Derda. There's a lot of flight planning that can happen in the cockpit during warmup. I often find myself exceeding the warmup, because I sometimes want accurate low altitude nav and spend the time drawing it out. Some of us like the nitty gritty. If I already have everything planned out, I can Alt-Tab out and read an article or grab some goodies and drinks.

I think though it'd be fine to have a single mission in the rotation that would include one air spawn. That would trigger others to give it a try. Might also create a hot zone for campers that could mix things up.

-Z

This is so true, and one of the reasons I never really gotten into BOX series. These small things like startup procedure , more complex internal DM , and a directional Autopilot that make me feel is realistic . I am now in the prosess installing Blitz in my new PC . And I will oonly choose airspawn if there is no time for anything else on the end of a mission, or all the airfields my Beufighter can spawn is under attack. BTW I have noticed a huge imbalance in favour of Red the few times I visited, is this the norm now a days?

[PanTast]

I guess if we have airspawns, purist may ignore them and others like new pilots are free to use them without having an advantage. Just don't sacrifice QoL stuff for many for the sake of immersion of few veterans.

o7

[ATAG_Snapper]

I guess if we have airspawns, purist may ignore them and others like new pilots are free to use them without having an advantage. Just don't sacrifice QoL stuff for many for the sake of immersion of few veterans.

o7

Exactly. The best of both worlds.

[DerDa]

I guess if we have airspawns, purist may ignore them and others like new pilots are free to use them without having an advantage. Just don't sacrifice QoL stuff for many for the sake of immersion of few veterans.

o7

That's why I said: Let's have them, even if I probably will not use them.

Actually I am really more concerned with the lack of targets for the Beau.
This morning we had 'War' but there are just airfields to attack, which will not really work without bombs (we took Blennies then and managed to drop everything on Caffiers, I think, before being shot to pieces by flak without getting any success message, but that's another thing).

The artillery base on the Dunkirk map is perfect Beaufighter fodder, instead. Lots of single soft targets to take out, some easy, some difficult to spot and its tricky to attack the column on the street because of the trees. Doable with two Beaufighters, maybe even one, if your aim is better than mine