Not so much, spray and pray

[HagarTheHorrible]

I'm not a very good pilot and my shooting could always do with a lot of work, but at least It might be said I make entertaining target practice for others.

 

I've recently returned to playing online, although finding time is always a challenge, not just to play but also practice, for which the A.I is a poor substitute anyway, but at least with recent improvements to my internet connection I rarely have to worry about lag or ping.

 

I do find it a bit disconcerting though that my success rate goes up, dramatically, the more I abandon any pretence of what I might consider realistic behaviour.  That is not to decry successful pilots who are skilled AND look after themselves.  

 

Firstly, I don't die any more often, or less, wether I worry about being attacked as I hunt for and charge in to attack others than if I fly with more tactical consideration, part of the problem being my second point.

 

JUST POINT AND FIRE YOUR GUNS

 

I always, in the past, tried to use my guns sparingly, as I imagined pilots really did.  I would try and get myself into a good firing position, at what I considered a realistic range and hammer away and, depending on several factors, would hit or miss.  

 

NOW

 

I've changed my tactics to suit the game, even if I find them slightly ridiculous or unrealistic ( hell, who am I to say).  Charging in to assist other players, as I like to do, nothing wrong there, I started shooting at long range, more frequently and in longer bursts, or at least as far as VR will allow and far further than I would usually consider realistic, but the advantages far out way the downsides.  The guns are usually firing full pelt, the target is more often than not relatively unmoving, even if it is in the midst of a dogfight, and I only need small control adjustments, thus reducing pilot error and workload and also improving my situational awareness.  With a bit of practice it's not difficult to regularly hit an opponent, nice little puffs of smoke and debris, even if ammunition expenditure to hits is relatively high.  Critical damage may not be done, but then letting rip long streams of bullets, with the occasional press of a button to clear jams, and it might just, and quite possibly will inflict enough damage, if you hit, to gain the advantage in the coming coup de grace, either from yourself or from the player you were trying to assist.  I'm often as not well outside the situational range of the enemy I'm firing at, when I start pressing the trigger.. Allied to this, although I don't do it myself, is what I would call "Stall" fighting, where a lower aircraft constantly pulls up into a stall, letting forth long streams of bullets at a higher enemy, using much the same philosophy as described above, a practiced aim and a long stream of bullets trumping sound tactics or historic notions of realistic behaviour ( Yes I know Dr1's and D VII's could use this tactic) but this is across the board.

 

it seems to be a game, as much about letting fly with as much lead as possible as it is about aircraft performance or historic notions of tactics.

[Zooropa_Fly]

I'm still not playing FC much, but when I do I find I can batter enemy planes from close up over and over... puffs of smoke everywhere... little or no damage done.

Probably 1/3 kills ends up being a flamer.

In RoF I can shoot down up to about 18 enemy bots with 1000 rounds. In FC I think 5-7 is the record so far.

 

So I'd be surprised if anyone (except that Halby gunner) can do any real damage from a distance out.

Plus fights take so long to find currently I'd be loathed to waste rounds as quickly.

 

S!

 

Edited July 29, 2019 by Zooropa_Fly

[[110]xJammer]

Surprising amount of points you outlined applies directly to the WW2 section of the game as well.

[TheOldCrow]

I can't give much of an opinion on Flying Circus since I usually don't get the chance to fly it much online, but there is still something to be said about using defined tactics in multiplayer. I usually fly on the WoL server and numerous times I've out the sun to my back, started with an altitude advantage and held my fire until close range come out on top. This is obviously alittle different because you're most likely firing Spandau's or Vickers where I'm firing American 50 cals. 

 

I do think there's a good deal of validity to you idea though it does seem like you get more kills not flying historically. But like some of the vulchers on Wings, you probably die alot from it.

 

Good luck and may you shoot down many enemies