New Scenario - Civil War: Baptism by Fire, 2023

[DismalPseudoscience]

Civil war has broken out in the United States. This scenario follows a similar theme to my earlier and as-yet unfinished "Rubicon", but explores it in a smaller scale - and closer to home.

Heavy losses on both sides have forced them to raise new units, and transformed the survivors into hardened veterans. Your squadron of raw recruits was meant to participate in a training exercise, but sudden enemy gains have put them on the front lines.

Outnumbered, out-equipped, and out-experienced, can your rookies survive and win?

[Coiler12]

Got crushed with a -2000 Disaster. I do like the setup, so rather than change the proficiency/equipment, you should just readjust the scoring so that an enemy loss counts for more than a friendly one.

SIDE: 302 FS
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LOSSES:
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1x EA-18G Growler
3x F-22A Raptor


EXPENDITURES:
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1x AGM-88E AARGM
26x AIM-120D AMRAAM P3I.4
12x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
1x AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Blk II
570x GBU-53/B SDB-II



SIDE: 999 FS
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LOSSES:
-------------------------------
1x Radar (JLENS Aerostat [VHF-Band])
24x F-35A Lightning II
8x A/C Hardened Aircraft Shelter (4x Large Aircraft)


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
17x AIM-120D AMRAAM P3I.4
12x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]

[AlexGGGG]

I fared better somewhat (score -1600), probably because I adjusted WRA to fire all AMRAAMs against any target
Because I figured I'm not getting any second shots anyway, so I have nothing to lose by firing all the missiles, and it increases my chance to hit something.


Also my second part of aircraft, 12x, never survives to take off:)

SIDE: 302 FS
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
6x F-22A Raptor
2x EA-18G Growler


EXPENDITURES:
------------------
21x AIM-120D AMRAAM P3I.4
2x AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Blk II
34x Generic Chaff Salvo [5x Cartridges]
192x GBU-53/B SDB-II



SIDE: 999 FS
===========================================================

LOSSES:
-------------------------------
24x F-35A Lightning II
8x A/C Hardened Aircraft Shelter (4x Large Aircraft)

[DismalPseudoscience]

I hope you enjoyed the play-through - it seems to have turned out even harder than I had intended (although it was meant to be a challenge). My own testing benefits from knowing exactly what the enemy plans to throw out, but I am confident that the scenario is winnable under the current scoring system.

From the losses and expenditures you posted, it looks like neither of you guys managed to intercept the Strike Eagles. I think it is possible that you might have over-committed against the initial Growler patrol and Raptor CAP. You definitely can't win the scenario in a fair fight against the Raptors - it's necessary to kill the Eagles both to farm points as well as to protect your base, and you have barely enough aircraft and missiles to sort-of do that.

Thank you for testing, and I'll think about how the scenario can be made a little more fair.

[AlexGGGG]

I got somewhat better by circling around and setting up an ambush from behind (and also whaking their aerostat with guns).

I had to engage Growlers because otherwise I lose my aerostat/radar and I don't have an advance warning on Eagle flight. Since Growlers are escorted, none of the intercept force comes back. Then, by the time I have warning of Eagles, my second wave of fighters is not ready yet, and I am left with, like, six or so aircraft. Eagles are escorted, and with six aircraft I cannot get through escorts (or maybe it is a patrol somewhere close to my airfield, the effect is still the same). Then Eagles make mess of the runway and my a/c on the ground, and I can't even take off what's left.

[Luidzi]

My first playthrough ended in complete disaster. After few more tries I realized I don't have to actually fight for air superiority (a losing proposition with F-35's piloted by redshirts), I can completely ignore Raptor CAP, I just need to take down all Growlers with as low amount of aircrafts as possible (I've managed once with 2 planes and zero losses), then save everything else against Eagles, and reinvent completely new tactics (I had zero knowledge of fighting against massed groups of stealth fighters, so basically everything learned was useful).

A nice little scenario. Almost impossible on first playthrough, though easier and doable after repeated tries.