Escort/Cap % Settings

[NAVMAN]

I'm most likely missing something here, but it appears that when
you select "escort" for a squadron mission, you are locked into
having all of the squadron fly "escort", or some percentage also
flying "cap". There does not appear a way to have a percentage
fly "escort" and the rest of the squadron stand down. Is that correct? If not, can someone explain how, for example, to have say, 50% fly "escort" and the balance stand down. Thx.

[LargeSlowTarget]

For some strange reason the Matrix has decided not to implement 'Escort only/stand down' or 'CAP only/stand down' missions. It has been requested several times, but apparently to no avail. The only way to rest your pilots is to stand down the entire squadron, or to fly escort/CAP mission but leave your bombers grounded or on search missions - the % of fighters assigned to escort duty will then be 'unemployed' and hence will rest. No real solution, obviously.

[NAVMAN]

LST,
Thx. I wonder why escort missions are considered different by Matrix in that a "rest" option was not included as with other mission types.

[pasternakski]

LST, you're right on it, as usual. The only thing that comes to mind with regard to the "Escort with some - stand down the rest" conundrum is to use two squadrons, one assigned to escort with zero percent CAP, the other on training at zero percent. When the escort squadron gets tired, switch 'em.

I don't know if that helps, but I sure would like to see the whole system of air unit assignment re-thought before WITP sees the light of day, with some consideration given to eliminating the altitude assignments in favor of more "theater commander-like" directives.

[CapAndGown]

I'm just guessing here, but I would venture the the CAP/Escort thing was designed with carrier battles in mind: part of the squadron would escort while part would provide CAP. This paradigm was then extended to all situations.

Personally, I would like to see a "CAP only" mission so that if the planes were not flying CAP then they would rest. The "Escort only" mission might be nice, but depending on time and effort, I would much rather see the "CAP only" mission implemented as being higher priority.

[frizt]

Originally posted by cap_and_gown
The "Escort only" mission might be nice, but depending on time and effort, I would much rather see the "CAP only" mission implemented as being higher priority.

You can select squadron on Escort with 0% CAP, that will make the whole squadron flight escort.
CAP only is not possible so far. Would be a nice feature in the next patch.

[The Gnome]

I'd love to see a slider bar situation where you can set:

W% Rest
X% Escort
Y% CAP
Z% Sweep
--------------
Total% = 100%

I think incrementing in 5 or maybe 10% percent steps so you don't end up with something silly like 2% on rest would be a good idea.

[The Gnome]

Grr double, post. Sorry about that.