Snarling Trolls Ace of the Month Competition

[ST_Catchov]

You sexy beast.

[Todt_Von_Oben]

I flew the D7F in VR at the Zoo tonight about midnight Hawaii time; there were a few guys on and it seemed to run about as smoothly as when I'm playing QM.

 

It took me a while to figure out I needed to set the radiator.  Landing and checking the key mapping took care of that.  After that it all ran pretty much normally; people flew and fought well.  Saw some respectable close-maneuvering.  The human pilots were in SPADS, Camels, and my D7F and the action was a good mix of turning and hit-on-the-run.   Went something like this:

 

I went high, encountered a lone bot Camel, engaged and shot him down.  He absorbed a lot of damage but it got results; he was steaming and streaming.  I scored a lot of hits on his fuselage and center section; then he went into a vertical dive he didn't recover from before a damaged wing came off.  Credible DM?  I thought so.

 

Next I saw DRAVAN in a SPAD down low over town, trailing steam.  I swooped into position to shoot and we did a semi-street race for a while while I'm taking pot shots.  (That was fun.  Seems like I always get into either a street race or a steeple chase on Zoo's sites.)

 

Meanwhile, ST_CATCHOV is above us, sees what's going on, and does a descending turn to fall into position on me.  I never saw him coming.

 

And checking the FR: I don't think he was able to see the bot Camel closing from my distant six, below  his fuselage, either.

 

So I'm turning behind DRAVAN and all of a sudden there's bullets zipping by; CATCHOV was in close and firing on me.  I broke into a hard right 180.

 

At that instant: the bot got too froggy and crashed into CATCHOV; and again, he might not have seen it coming.  The AI came out of CATCHOV's 7 - 8 o:clock zone and slammed into him sideways.

 

But that was close behind me and I hadn't seen it yet.  For me, it was a hard right turn and all of a sudden my field of vision is full of airplanes and wing parts; the three of us flew through each other without contact and that in itself was startling in VR and something to see on the replay.

 

I kept turning, the bot Camel broke and went down.  As I maneuvered around to fall in behind CATCHOV, I saw he had serious damage to his left wings; his prop was gone but I couldn't see that at the time.  He was descending to a landing and I came around taking shots that missed except for a couple last moment hits to his outer right wing that didn't amount to anything.  He crash-landed (would have even if I hadn't been there) and survived.

 

And right then, DRAVAN attacked in his SPAD.  We got into a steep turning fight; I reversed and started to cut inside; he also cut inside and we passed as close as we could have without colliding.  

 

We both broke off and I straight-lined for a few seconds to get some distance.  When I turned back I saw a red bot triplane had gotten involved and DRAVAN was turn-climbing; possibly in response thereto.  That gave me a clear silhouette against the sky, but at a distance.

 

I pursued and fired several short bursts; one or two of my bullets struck his upper left wingtip area; nothing significant.  

 

But then, the SPAD went out of control, began a spin, and augered-in.  Without closely examining the FR, I don't know whether the aircraft control systems failed from battle damage; or the pilot lost control, still had control function, and was trying to recover when he impacted.  Could have gone either way for all I know.

 

I was down to 85 and 120 rounds in the left and right guns, respectively; so I pointed the D7F toward the aerodrome and departed the dogfight zone at full speed.  I got bounced by two bot Camels on short-short final but hid behind a tree while coming around to engage them and then they split.  So I landed.  End of sortie.

 

Does everything at Zoo's server seem to work okay?  Yes.  I have no problems with any of it.

 

Did it seem like anyone got disadvantaged by the DM?  Not that I could see.

 

Did the sim perform well.  Yes.  Even in VR.  Pretty smooth.

 

I can't text in FR but I tried to text "S! all" before I logged off but couldn't get texting to work.  That's okay; I don't usually use it anyway.

 

Was it fun?  Yes.  To some, this kind of thing is "practice" for organized events.  To others, this is the game; this is what we like; we just want to get into the air and dogfight with others of like mind.  The less time wasted getting to the arena and the more dogfights we can cram into our hour online; the better some of us like it.  I'm that way; I know some others are, too.

 

And you can do that at the Zoo.  

 

Good site, brother.  Keep up the good work.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2020 by Todt_Von_Oben

[ST_Catchov]

Hey nice writeup and sentiments @Todt_Von_Oben !   Yeah it can get pretty frantic in Zoo Wings! It's a lot of fun and that's what it's all about. A bit of fast food to scratch that itch. It was good to hang out with you and @Dravan.

 

I did see your text before you exited so it did work.   

 

Hope to see you guys again sometime. Zoo Wings is open to all so the more the merrier. That is the intention. 

 

And no, I never saw that bastard coming lol.

 

S!

[Zooropa_Fly]

Great to see you back TVO.

 

[Todt_Von_Oben]

Thanks guys; it was fun.  You all fly real well.  

 

One more question.  (I could check next time but forewarned is better, right?)  

 

Are the mixture controls operational, too?  (I expect they probably are.)

 

I was in a hurry to get airborne last time and only solved my radiator problem.  I got some altitude and it seemed to climb okay but I didn't change the mixture.

 

I've been flying the BrisFit offline, too.  Always loved that beast.  Might try that next time I'm at the Zoo.

 

Prosit!

Edited August 3, 2020 by Todt_Von_Oben

[ST_Catchov]

3 hours ago, Todt_Von_Oben said:

Are the mixture controls operational, too?  (I expect they probably are.)

 

Yes. The German inline powered crates are auto mix though.

 

 

[Zooropa_Fly]

Basically the same settings as nff. 

S! 

[ST_Nooney]

Catchov never sees anything coming to busy staring at his crotch.

[ST_Catchov]

I almost shat myself with laughter over that one.  Classis Noonism. Lol man!

[US13_Ford]

All catchy says is "impressive"

[Zooropa_Fly]

If he ever gets VR, he'll miss not having a zoom function.

[ST_Catchov]

There is a reason why the Camel has a large cockpit.

[Todt_Von_Oben]

11 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

There is a reason why the Camel has a large cockpit.

 

Well, it wasn't to make room for the parachute.  Heh!  

[Zooropa_Fly]

12 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

There is a reason why the Camel has a large cockpit.

 

..with a large fuel tank right behind it.

 

[ST_Catchov]

Yes, quality British engineering Zoo. Helps counterbalance the huge balls of Camel pilots. 

 

Yep, those Brit boffins are no slouches. Why did the Brits get out of the TV manufacturing business you ask? Well, they couldn't figure out how to make 'em leak oil. So let's engineer a huge ferris wheel that does.

[US13_Ford]

 

Here is my entry for August 2020 on Perrone map DR1

Edited August 7, 2020 by ST_Zilch56

[ST_Catchov]

Well done Zilchy. I don't know how you guys do it. I'm lucky to get into the early 20's.  Do you think studying the @ST_Nooney masterclass Dr1 videos will help?

[Zooropa_Fly]

No. 

[US13_Ford]

LOL Zoo Man

 

[Todt_Von_Oben]

On 8/5/2020 at 1:07 AM, Zooropa_Fly said:

 

..with a large fuel tank right behind it.

 

 

Speaking of fuel tanks: does anyone know if the top wing center-section fuel tank on the SPAD 13 is still a target in 4.008?  

 

When FC first came out, my first kill was a SPAD and I flamed his roof tank.  That was surprising because I never saw that happen in ROF.  

 

But I haven't been able to flame one in a long time; and I've been targeting that area, too.

 

Anyone been able to flame a SPAD wing tank lately?

 

 

 

 

ADDIT:  Today's tests (DVIIF versus SPAD XIII) show that the top wing tank IS still a target; put a bullet hole in it and it will trail its own stream of green fuel mist separate from the fuselage tankage.

 

However, I have yet to ignite one in recent tests where I am selectively targeting that particular spot on the plane.

 

Checking FR's so far: it looks like, even when the fuselage tank catches fire, the punctured and streaming wing tank doesn't ignite in the fire or in the explosion upon impact. 

 

Still working on it.  Transmitting in the blind in case the Devs are watching...  

 

Prosit!  

 

 

Edited August 9, 2020 by Todt_Von_Oben
Here's a pic.

[ST_Catchov]

LOL Zilchy. 

 

@Todt_Von_Oben Can't help you with flaming Spads. The stupid game keeps saying I'm firing at a friendly. Can't figure it out. Might have to do a full reinstall. 

 

 

[Zooropa_Fly]

He only fessed up because I caught him red handed.

 

[US13_Ford]

Whaaaaaaa.....   who me?  ; )) 

[ST_Nooney]

6 hours ago, Zooropa_Fly said:

He only fessed up because I caught him red handed.

 

Your just as bad "I'll let you wind Noone up for a bit"  

[Todt_Von_Oben]

6 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

 

@Todt_Von_Oben Can't help you with flaming Spads. The stupid game keeps saying I'm firing at a friendly. Can't figure it out. Might have to do a full reinstall. 

 

 

Naaa.  Just turn off the notifications.  S! 

[Zooropa_Fly]

21 minutes ago, ST_Nooney said:

Your just as bad "I'll let you wind Noone up for a bit"  

 

I told the bastard not to publish that.

Just as well you didn't see mine and Catchy's conflab a little later lol.

[Todt_Von_Oben]

WHO'S WHO AT THE ZOO?

 

I flew again yesterday; the "from behind" and "flaming forest" sims.  Good fun; ran smoothly with almost no image stuttering at all.  Again, tried to send "S all" to general distribution but I can't see if it's being seen or not.  Anyway, if I don't S per fight or before I leave; I always mean to.  Consider it said.

 

At the end of the "forest" sortie I bailed out into the flames, just for the pics.  Went horizontally through a tree as the canopy was inflating; it streamered after passing through the foliage but I was low enough to survive the impact.  Looks funny as hell on FR.  

 

I was wondering about the icons on Zoo's sites; I think I understand what they represent but want to be sure.  

 

Are all the bots simply numbered by the type of plane and distance; or have some of them been given fictitious names like the "Barney" we used to have in ROF?

 

Basically, I am correct in thinking that, if I see an icon identified by some sort of name, that's a human pilot and not a bot, right?

 

Thanks.

 

S!

Edited August 11, 2020 by Todt_Von_Oben

[Zooropa_Fly]

Hi Todt,

 

I usually name the bots " ".

In which case the 'name' disappears when you're under about 900m. This is to cut back on the icons, since the game is severely handicapped in the icons dept.

 

There are a few maps where the bots have parody names of old RoF and FC pilots. (You should recognise most of them !).

So no need to S! them lol. (Don't worry you're not the first !).

You can see who the human pilots are by bringing up the scoreboard.

 

S!

[Todt_Von_Oben]

1 hour ago, Zooropa_Fly said:

Hi Todt,

 

I usually name the bots " ".

In which case the 'name' disappears when you're under about 900m. This is to cut back on the icons, since the game is severely handicapped in the icons dept.

 

There are a few maps where the bots have parody names of old RoF and FC pilots. (You should recognise most of them !).

So no need to S! them lol. (Don't worry you're not the first !).

You can see who the human pilots are by bringing up the scoreboard.

 

S!

 

 

That's what I needed to know.  Thank you!  

 

One other thing: When I'm shooting down a bot on your site; do I always get to see him defeated and going down; or does sometimes, before I finish him off,  (1) his icon disappears; and then (2) he disappears before my very eyes maybe five seconds after his icon; only to respawn and be back in the game again later?

 

Is that something a bot might do on your sites or is that limited to human pilots?

 

Oh, and do the respawning bots air start or take off from an aerodrome?  Both?

 

Just wondering..

 

Thanks again.

Edited August 11, 2020 by Todt_Von_Oben

[Zooropa_Fly]

The icon will disappear as soon as you've beaten the opponent - killed / engine dead / wings crumpled. You can stop shooting then.

On killed, the game will automatically make the enemy disappear after something like 47 seconds, and that's usually sufficient for it to be crashed by then.

A plane might occasionally disappear mid-air in certain circumstances, but it doesn't happen that often and can't be helped.

Bots mostly spawn mid-air, but often the 2 seaters will take off from an AF. All planes take off in 'The Twilight Zone' map.

They are generally set to re-spawnless than a minute after being killed.

 

S!

[Todt_Von_Oben]

11 hours ago, Zooropa_Fly said:

The icon will disappear as soon as you've beaten the opponent - killed / engine dead / wings crumpled. You can stop shooting then.

On killed, the game will automatically make the enemy disappear after something like 47 seconds, and that's usually sufficient for it to be crashed by then.

A plane might occasionally disappear mid-air in certain circumstances, but it doesn't happen that often and can't be helped.

Bots mostly spawn mid-air, but often the 2 seaters will take off from an AF. All planes take off in 'The Twilight Zone' map.

They are generally set to re-spawnless than a minute after being killed.

 

S!

 

Very concise reply; now I understand.  Thanks Zoo.  

 

EDIT NINE HOURS LATER:  Worked today.  Flew the "In From Behind" server by myself earlier today.  I get how it works now.  The bot names are clever; makes it seem more like you're flying against people.  

 

Today, I got five bots before I ran out of ammo; then I deliberately rammed an SE5A with the intention of bailing out; made a clean exit (I think.  There was some debris in the air as I left the plane; don't know if I hit it or not.); had plenty of altitude; and saw the parachute begin to deploy but then the canopy disappeared and I was listed as killed.

 

So is that another addition we've got there: if we jump we die?  

 

If so, no problemo.  Just evens it out for the Entente fliers.  Might even be a good thing.

 

(And arguably more realistic; at least some of the time.  Chutes do fail.  I think it would be great if the Devs made the occasional parachute malfunction part of the sim.  Just so you never know; because in reality, you don't.  LOL!)

 

Anyway, the sites are always fun and thanks for creating them.  I wouldn't know where to start.

 

S! 

Edited August 12, 2020 by Todt_Von_Oben
"Additional inspiration and punctuation."

[Zooropa_Fly]

I think your chute must have been punctured by debris - unless Larner was flying for the Entente side ?

They normally work as expected.

 

Glad you're having fun anyway, and thanks for the kind words.

 

S!

[Todt_Von_Oben]

3 hours ago, Zooropa_Fly said:

I think your chute must have been punctured by debris - unless Larner was flying for the Entente side ?

They normally work as expected.

 

Glad you're having fun anyway, and thanks for the kind words.

 

S!

 

Thanks for clearing that up for me.  I only watched the FR once but the plane was broken; tumbling out of control; and it seemed to me like I might have caught a big chunk of broken wing in the chest as I was making my exit; that must have been it.  And again, pretty cool that the sim would recognize that, IMOHO.

 

S!

 

 

Edited August 12, 2020 by Todt_Von_Oben

[1PL-KJ-1Esk]

so is it about high score? or most aircraft shoot? and no death?

[ST_Catchov]

Welcome Esky. Don't worry about your score or deaths. That doesn't matter. It's purely how many aircraft kills you get (no balloons). Best to fly the full 50 minutes (approx) of each map. If you can get into the 30's you're doing very well.

[1PL-KJ-1Esk]

welll...

[ST_Catchov]

Better.

[1PL-KJ-1Esk]

well... getting there..i would made over 40 but got some humans making throuble

[Zooropa_Fly]

Boo Rubbish !

 

Douai Another Day, My Pretty Alby.

16 Bactrians, 12 Dromedarys, and a couple of lovely plump Bristols.

 

S!

 

 

[Dravan]

hey @Zooropa_Fly  is your server still up i haven't been able to find it on my list for.. almost a week...    I bought the Stalingrad  add on for the game after that i can't find your server, maybe i am looking in the wrong place or something?