ATAG Dedicated Server is up!

[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.