ATAG Dedicated Server is up!

[ATAG_Snapper]

TBH Klem, I feel much worse for those of us who chose NOT to stay away but refused to give up and persevered, only to be badly disappointed with the final FM outcome.

One of our new forum members is in the process of developing data sheets for each of the C0D aircraft. He's been plugging in the aircraft specs, then getting our input to modify them to CoD-specific. He has the Spitfire 2a listed at 450 mph IAS max speed per spec. To me, this seemed a little high based on my own experience flying the virtual 2a in CoD. Earlier today I took a CoD Spitfire 2a on our ATAG server to 20 angels, levelled out, coarsened prop pitch to bring rpms down to 2200, then gently bunted over into a 45 degree dive. Sure enough, at 430 IAS (captured on FRAPS), the wings flew off at 430 IAS (= 672 kmh IAS). Oops. Compare that to the CoD 109's Vmax of 750 kmh IAS and it's easy to see why a Spit pilot in CoD would be foolish to follow a 109 in a dive. Not historic, but that's Cliffs of Dover.

https://vimeo.com/52493047

Changes in mission design are ongoing, with certain adjustments made to effect better gameplay. I can't personally say if bomber formations will be dropped down to 5 angels to effect fairer gameplay above, co-alt, and below for both side's fighters, nor am I sure that I'd want to see the elimination of high formations. But we've had low AI formations already on ATAG, to mixed reviews from Blue and Red pilots.

There's no pleasing everyone....be sure. The best thing is to mix it up a bit so there's something for everyone at some point.

[klem]

All true.

What do you think would happen if most RAF bomber missions were removed? Do you think they are a distraction for the 109s from the job of escorting and sweeping?

It would be interesting to try one map where the 109s have nothing to do except escort and sweep. No RAF bombers and massive AAA to stop vulching.

Of course that might empty the server of Blues, perhaps our best bet is the occasional SOWC for that 'BoB' feel.

[notafinger!]

Originally Posted by klem

All true.

What do you think would happen if most RAF bomber missions were removed? Do you think they are a distraction for the 109s from the job of escorting and sweeping?

It would be interesting to try one map where the 109s have nothing to do except escort and sweep. No RAF bombers and massive AAA to stop vulching.

Of course that might empty the server of Blues, perhaps our best bet is the occasional SOWC for that 'BoB' feel.

Klem,

From a blue perspective there are several problems with escorting the bombers on ATAG.

For starters there are too many different AI flights at one time. There is a mission where blue AI waves come over every 30 minutes or so which leads to us covering one group while we see server messages about a different group being slaughtered. You simply don't have enough time to cover a wave then return to base to rearm/refuel and cover the next wave. It leads to cheap easy kills for red pilots. That gets frustrating and you stop caring about them.

Then there is a problem where they go on a tour of England after bombing their targets. We end up following them way out over the sea north of Manston or way west past Dungeness only to have them turn around and fly back up the coast towards Hawkinge. Why don't they bomb and get the hell out of there? Again, as an escort this gets frustrating and you stop caring.

Finally, there is the issue of Hawkinge and other forward airbases. Most blues know it's easier to just vulch those bases then to bother with the objectives or escorting bombers. Rather than intensify AAA, which is bad enough as it is, the red bases should be moved to the rear (Eastchurch, Biggin Hill, Gravesend, etc). This removes the temptation of the coastal airbases and would probably push more people to do the objectives but would displease the airquake crowd.

Really there is only so much you can expect from a public game and like you said SOWC is geared more to the historical crowd and we plan on hosting more events in the future.

[klem]

Thanks notafinger,

I understand. I'm forced to the conclusion that its just not possible to expect 'The BoB' on a public server. Even in SOWC the servers just can't handle large numbers so its very limited and I think that's the only reason I'd be interested in a MMO. I was raised, 'virtually', on Air Warrior and Aces High where you could expect 300-400 players in a big scenario run over several weekends.

Ah, the ol' days.

[ATAG_Colander]

Custom skins "enabled" in server 1
More information Here

[Roblex]

I posted on the general 'COD multiplayer' forum that there may be a problem with the information given out by Ground Control to bombers but I wonder if it is something specific to ATAGS settings?
Basically if you fly a bomber and ask GC for Vector To Target (TAB, 7, 1) it gives you a vector to your own home base instead. The vector for fighters is fine and gives you a list of vectors to fighter & bomber air targets but when a bomber asks he just gets a single vector to a target that is actually the home base.

******************
Ignore that. I have just done another test and this time it worked. I still got the silly 'Mission Target bearing 0 degrees' but then it went on to tell me about ship and AAA targets. I am not sure why I did not get that last time, it was not the Sealion Mission which has no bomber targets, it was the Dunkirk one and I have just flown that and got targets.

[Redroach]

Heey, the mission which is running right now finally lets us operate over London! Yay! Kudos, guys, even though it's a fictional scenario.
And while I noticed this new scenario, something else came to mind: I wasn't online all too much in the middle of the night, BUT, last time, a few days ago, ingame-nighttime seemed to roughly correspond to real-life nighttime (it got pretty dark, but maybe not AS dark as in RL - you could take off and fly in a single-seater.)
What would be awesome for those nighttime-periods, is a little "Luftwaffe bombs London" scenario! Nothing special; after all, it's at night where a lot of people are sleeping - but I would definately enjoy to intercept German bomber waves, employing Knickebein and the like, with me having to resort to "Wilde Sau" style (the british way ).
I can see it already... the flak searchlights, the tracers, the sweating...

Oh, one final thing: I noticed that today's been a pretty windy day on ATAG. In fact, it was that windy that I couldn't turn my plane against engine torque at times; when spawning, the plane was already "on the move", being blown away...
Is this intentional? Do you have some kind of random weather setup? Of course, Weather should certainly be included, but... hey... Sandy came 72 years later!

[ATAG_Snapper]

Hi Redroach,

Just after I read your post here re London blitz, I read this thread (check Colander's post #4): http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.co...1892#post21892

[ATAG_Colander]

All,

Please take a look at this thread.

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.co...-Skins-on-ATAG

[DUI]

Hi ATAGs,

Probably you already know about it, but: On the Dunkerque map the British convoy target can't be accomplished. We sunk the whole convoy and still 0 of 15 ships destroyed...

Still a great map!

Regards
DUI