Search planes?

[MarkShot]

Is the search plane control oriented towards compass points (true bearing) or oriented towards the TG's course (relative bearing)?

Except for a shortage of planes why would you now want to search a full 360 degrees for the enemy?

Thanks.

[JD Walter]

Hi Mark,

Good question. I always presumed it was relative to your TF's direction, but now that I think about it, it doesn't say anywhere in the rules.

Hmmm... Maybe that's why I'm always getting sunk![:'(]

[Unhappy]

Just a suggestion - if you turn on the "Show Friendly Searchplanes" option you will be able to see where your planes are searching - I think that might tip you off about where they are flying. The button is the top center one of the group of six buttons near the lower right of the screen.

[JD Walter]

Hi again Markshot,

Robjess clarifies on SSG's Run 5 website. In his Coral Sea AAR posted 12/14/06, he states:

I have 58 planes ready (with 8 currently on OPs) and my search headings are indicated as South, South East and South West headings from my task force. I can change these search headings by simply toggling each heading on and off. I know there is no enemy to the north of me, and Im comfortable that there is none to my due East or West so I am not ordering any search planes from this task force out on those headings. That may be a different story for some of my other task forces though.

So it's relative to your TF, as I first thought.

[MarkShot]

FYI - In the original game, the search orders are true bearings and not relative. (In my opinion, it is probably easier to keep track of things like that.)

[JD Walter]

Interesting. Been awhile since I played the original CAW...

I like the change. It's easier for me to click on relative bearings, because that way I can always make sure my forward arc is covered (no matter which way I'm heading). Or my rear arc if I'm "advancing in a different direction" [:D]

Maybe SSG could implement a selectable toggle here, depending on which way one prefers.

[pcelt]

Surely in the way it is set up , actual compass directions have no relevance---the search  planes simply follow the same direction on the map  as the segments of the rose, which you select, point to.

[Prince of Eckmühl]

These absolutely ought to be true bearings, otherwise, you'll have to change them every time you change a TG course. That sounds like staff work to me. Having made those comments, it really appears as though those green, gnat-like thingies droning about the screen are not always playing by the rules, WHATEVER the real-deal might be.

PoE (aka ivanmoe)

[jhdeerslayer]

I find myself frequently changing search direction depending on the enemy and my position. Keeping the most for bomb missions.

[JD Walter]

Hi PoE,

Pcelt's observation seems to indicate the search vectors are absolute, not relative, in contravention to what Robjess says in his Run 5 AAR.

I've never really thought about it. I rarely change course once I've decided my strategy and figured out where I want my TF's. Usually I just sail until I spot something, then adjust course & search vectors accordingly.

Perhaps the designers could weigh in and clarify which it is. I could see it being useful to know.

[Gregor_SSG]

ORIGINAL: Def Zep

Hi PoE,

Pcelt's observation seems to indicate the search vectors are absolute, not relative, in contravention to what Robjess says in his Run 5 AAR.

I've never really thought about it. I rarely change course once I've decided my strategy and figured out where I want my TF's. Usually I just sail until I spot something, then adjust course & search vectors accordingly.

Perhaps the designers could weigh in and clarify which it is. I could see it being useful to know.

They are absolute. Your bearing has no bearing on the matter.

Gregor

[JD Walter]

Thanks for clarifying, Gregor. If there will be a FAQ, maybe you could add this to it.