Mverick

I will try to make my point without look like a complain. As I already see mentioned by a lot of people, a lot of features that were said to be on the early assess are still pending and now moved down on the priority list. This is a bit a bit disappointing as an example, I can clear remember Wags mentioning when the F/A-18 announced, year ago, one of its main features was the AG radar, and that without it, it didn't even made sense to release the airplane, and now after all this time here we are. Now when asked to give an opinion to help ED to rebuild once more the road map, is difficult to separate the consumer point of view from the empathy to ED, as an engineer that also has time lines to deliver job done, and knows that for more better plans we do, there is always that bastard detail that can break all plans down. So my very, very small contribution will be to try to merge both consumer and engineer point of view. First, all agree for sure, that level of detail on systems and simulation in our days as reached a point that its complexity is not comparable to the games in the 90's and early 2000's, what 20 or more years ago took few people and couple thousand code lines to accomplish, become a task that need experts of several engineering areas and hundred of thousand lines of code, if not more, are need to achieve levels of simulation and immersion we see today on DCS. On top of that DCS uses code with several years old, and as one the practical rules in engineering, something that is not broken should not be fix, the problem is that by touching on something that worked for years to try to make it better or adapt it to new systems or features, it will affect other things that were perfectly fine and did not need any improvement, as we all already experienced on multiple occasions. Being this said, in my very personal opinion ED at this stage should break the development into two groups, aircraft systems and weapons/subsystems development. We already have an airplane with multiple systems and ordinance types, the will of ED to try to satisfy everyone and try to reach of the maximum possible costumers, made them not only on this module but on all others, to try to develop multiple things simultaneously, something that to the business point of view made sense, but creating sometimes more problems than solutions. So my simple proposal, now that we already have an airplane, why not to let finish the airplane systems and features first, all the systems and all the features planned for the machine it self, let's have fully functional F/A-18 with all systems and features 100% working prior to move to the final weapons and external subsystems. Then what ever needs to be added as external subsystems and weapons can be created always with the premisse that a fully working airplane exists and none or minor changes will to be made to the core part, the airplane. Trying to satisfy everyone will always put ED on the path to delays and last minute issues, because in the end the modules will not be a project, but a fragile collection of patches stitch together that a the minimal modification will risk to make collapse everything. I can almost bet we will see the same happening on the Viper and other to come modules, if ED does not change their methodology of planning. Once more I fully understand that a company must make money to survive and to make money, they must provide products to sell and to sell they must try reach the maximum costumers, I can accept that if properly justified and explained, I can buy a module in early stage to help the company, but I cant, as consumer, accept that a module will be an eternal WIP, sorry, but no. This is my personal opinion, i know I will get critics saying that if I want an 100% fully flyable airplane to go to FSX, X-Plane or P3P, and programming is not not an exact science that will always fallow an exact and precise time line as planned... but even so if a company like ED ask for an opinion pretty sure is not only because Wags wake up on the wrong side of the bed! So here it is my small contribution! :)

I already saw that, but noticed the files are a bit old. I suppose the version that was online would be more up to date. But out of curiosity, is there any special reason why the page is down?

Hi I tried to access DCS BIOS link http://dcsbios.a10c.de but does not work!!! Is there a new link or problem with the page? Thanks

M@verick Lone Wolf Portugal Blue Side: A-10C

M@VERICK Lone Wolf A-10C Portugal

First of all, thanks you to 104th for providing the conditions for this event, I had a lot of fun... although this time we were totally smashed by the Aggressors! :) I have seen some observations of how the event developed, especially for the blue side participants, and I review myself in some of them! I also would like to leave my input and opinion that I would like to see it taken, just as that, an opinion, nothing more! This was my second Red Flag participation and I can clearly distinguish both events I participated. The first I participated, that took place in March, where the victory was achieved by Blue side, in my opinion for 2 reasons, organization and leadership…. yes Bushmami if you read this, I´m talking to you! :) The second one, last Saturday, resembled to the normal daily activities in the 104th server, were a bunch of guys just split into a few teams, draw a basic attack plan and just went to away hopping to burst all the Reds from the sky, or at least just scare them enough to make them fly away under the their SAM umbrella.... and boy we were all wrong, extremely wrong! Regarding GCI as far I could understand, after being shot down I went to Twitch 104th Tiger Channel and could enjoy the rigor of Red planning implementation supported by a beautifully usage of the GCI operator and its “over exceptional” advantages, that in my opinion beneficiated more the Aggressors than the Challengers . I never had the opportunity to see the GCI being used until last Saturday and had no idea of how it look like, I truly believed that at least the "fog of war" feature would be implemented, although I found strange our CGI being so sure when he give the calls, when was possible for us, the ground attackers to go in for our runs, I was wondering how could he be so sure no opponents would be around. Having a 100% scenario picture gives a huge advantage to an already well planned tactic, even better if a team based on such air space “radar coverage” have good defending/retreat tactics and methods planned and synchronized. That was definitely an extra for the Red side as depicting of us having in our favor a 2:1 force ratio, no matter whatever we throw at them they would always have "Gods Eye" on their advantage and could evaluate when was time to escape to safe area or ambush a blue airplane group, even if all 36 blue airships flew in a huge formation, I believe they would just retreat back to the their SAM coverage and would just try to take down any lost sheep from the group, being just conservative and not going wild against a much larger enemy group... I don’t think there would be a possible or feasible tactic possible to implement that could counter the scenario arrangement combined with such CGI coverage, especially if a lot of the blue pilots are inexperienced in communications, group coordination and situation awareness, adding a rudimentary plan and the recipe for disaster is there! I was even able to understand that during the Twitch broadcast that the A-10s, of course were neglectable, as we posed no threat to Red fighters! I suppose that only when I took down the only MBT, they possible consider the ground attackers an immediate threat to their main objectives, as I could understand from RWR warnings. As soon I took the first AGM shoot, I got locked several times and was shooting upon a few others, before the first shoot I noticed the contacts but no shots or radar locks were done at me, maybe was a coincidence… or not… and no they were not HOJ on me, as I had my Jammer off all time, as I was flying low as possible to try to sneak below their radar as I put my stakes assuming they for sure they were more interested to catch the blue fighters, pointing their radars up specialty with Mirages flying at high altitude in the area! But of course, if GCI could see it all… there goes the assumption… the mother of all ****ups! :) I found also fun the nickname they give to the obvious spot where the ground attackers would pop up "The gate", rather… original :)... and of course the policy of not going into the mountains chasing us, where their advantage could be reduced in our favor, and as it happen accidently. a red fighter cross the border and be disqualified! All these things I mentioned above are simple observations done after a few minutes of watching the Red Twitch broadcasting after I was shoot down, and are pure example of how they, the Red side, carefully comply with what they stipulated for a "game plan"! If Blue side ever want win again, a never less than similar level of planning should be implemented... of course the GCI should not be "Gods Eye" to allow the blue intentions to be camouflage a bit and give the Challengers some chance to dignify themselves as worthy opponents, otherwise in time, this will also act against the Red side as there will be no need to structure a good planning as they will feel the blue will be a bunch of uncoordinated ducks entering in line on a shooting range and Red fighters need to take place in line to take a shot! The level of the challenge will decrease, people from both side will become frustrated as the blues will feel like "cannon meat", and the red will feel humans opponents will be easier targets than fighting AI opponents... and this will eventually kill the event! I know, maybe I'm being over dramatic on the last sentences, but is just an opinion! Now, of course, those who did not got tiered reading until now, would say "well we have personal life, have not time to plan silly strategies”, “I just want to fly and shoot some targets around ", "This guy talks too much why doesn’t he make a game plane?",etc, etc... Well, unfortunately due to my professional life I can’t belong to a virtual squadron, I work 28/28 days rotations and I can’t compromise with a squadron agenda and commitments, when I´m at home not only family life, but also other hobbies and pass times consume all of my off time. Regarding general mission planning, I don’t feel yet confident enough to dominate all aspects or at least all the main air battle planning aspects, although I have considerable online flying hours on several servers, I consider myself extremely "noob" on these types of more organized events that I believe require a bit extra knowledge! What I can do, is when I´m able to participate on such events, is to try to help on building a "game plan" involving the ground attackers together with experienced fighter pilots that can design a main battle plan. I strongly believe is possible to give some fight to the Reds by making them leaving from their comfort zone and make them sweat a bit more! :) These were just some thoughts and opinions, should not be seeing as open simple tear down critics or complains , I enjoyed a lot participating on such kind of event and give my time as well spent, I just think is possible to improve it and make it even better and more enjoyable for all the community! See you all in the air after June… I´m off to work for the next 4 weeks… Good flights!

M@verick Lone Wolf Portugal A-10C

This was my first Red Flag... and just surviving it with 3 ground killings confirmed and escaping in the end from the enemy almost scratching with the Hog belly in the Nevada desert was great! Thanks to the 104th, for all the organization in this event, hope to see you all on the next time!

M@verick Lonewolf Portugal A-10C