Aircraft Ratings

[tex]

Hi everyone,
Thanks to Kirk´s great new artwork for the aircraft in WPO, I actually had a look at the aircraft for the first time. I wanted to see all the new art, so I fired up Editor X, and what I saw was a shocking surprise. The ratings are crap. This has nothing to do with Kirk´s work at all, they are the same in the stock scenarios as well. I am mostly concerned about maneuverability and durability, two rather key factors towards aircraft performance.
Let´s take a look at a few examples:
Sopwith Pup- Man. 28, Dur. 15
Sopwith Camel- Man. 26 Dur. 17
Sopwith Snipe- Man. 27 Dur. 19
Airco DH-4- Man.26 Dur. 17

Ummm, okay, the twin-seater bomber DH 4 has the same ratings as the Sopwith Camel? WTF [:-]
Not to mention the Pup, from 1916, being a superior machine to the Camel and Snipe. The Snipe´s ability to absorb damage is well known, so a durability rating of 19 seems a bit low.

So before you start a new game of WPO, you might want to edit these ratings, especially if you are playing one of the new air-intensive scenarios.


Edit: spelling, always spelling.

[Hellfirejet]

Tex once you start to create your own scenario's and you start to look at whats in the stock scenario database,thats when your eyes really get opened up, there are a great many Cock ups in the database,you have just picked up on one.

Hows about the Japanese SNLF units coming into 1922-26 stock scenario, when they only became active units 1928-1945 ? Naval Infantry unit go figure,the designers take a number of short cuts.For the CASTLES OF STEEL scenario I'm taking a look at all the aircraft settings from the stock scenarios,and will try to correcting them for patch 5![:)]

[Hellfirejet]

Another stock database error I came across was for the Vought VE-7SF fighter,in the database it can carry a bomb load,yet these aircraft never ever carried bombs in reality,they were used for reconnaissance missions,or as fighters only,never as fighter bombers? It was only when I was trying to fix the air / air combat over Guam that I noticed there database error.

[Hellfirejet]

Tex how about trying to fix all the aircraft maneuverability and durability etc with me,we can contact each other via email regarding this.

[tex]

I think the designers did indeed take some short cuts, and then offered the premise that there was no Washington Treaty as an excuse. In some cases, it is a fine idea. I think in ship design and building especially, base development, and naval and military deployment this is a valid argument. But I would prefer to keep non naval things, like unit formation, historical. And certainly there is no logic at all behind the completely wrong aircraft ratings.

I wonder if maybe we could all agree on the new ratings so there would be no surprises in pbem games. I know the aircraft of WWI quite well, but those of the 20s I am not so familiar with. So whatever anyone could contribute would be great!

Edit: Hi Kirk, you wrote too fast for me to keep up! I was responding to your first reply. I agree, we should all be on the same page as far as any rating changes.

[Hellfirejet]

I'm more ship orientated because of uncle Graham's interest rubbing of on me,but I to would like to see a better more realistic standard set of Aircraft settings that are used for the game.

[tex]

As far as being ship oriented, I am in the same boat, so to speak, as you. I would like to do some research on the 1920s aircraft and then form an opinion. Know any good websites?

And if anyone else would like to join in, please feel free to throw your hat in the ring!

[Hellfirejet]

I have an excellent art access web site here http://www.wwiaviation.com/ this web site is brilliant for info on aircaraft as well,so I also use it for data gathering.

I will do a search for site with more performance figures for aircraft of the era,I normally just use wikipedia!

[Hellfirejet]

Typical example from a page taken from the above web site.

http://www.wwiaviation.com/british1916.html#sop-tri


NB!! = According to the 1922-26 stock scenario the Sopwith Pup has an endurance of 155 miles only,but taken that it was capable of doing at least 112mph with an endurance of 3hrs it should have an endurance figure in the region of at least 300 miles.

[tex]

Yes, this is a great site for specs, but what I am looking for is a critique on performance. For example, I know a Fokker DR.I could turn circles around a Spad XIII, but what about a P-1 Hawk versus a DR.I? I just don´t have any knowledge at all in this era, aside from the fact the planes look really cool! [:)]

[tex]

ORIGINAL: kirk23
NB!! = According to the 1922-26 stock scenario the Sopwith Pup has an endurance of 155 miles only,but taken that it was capable of doing at least 112mph with an endurance of 3hrs it should have an endurance figure in the region of at least 300 miles.

I wonder if that is 155 miles outbound only. I think we have opened quite a can of worms. It may be time to actually look at the manual [X(]

[Hellfirejet]

Well if the game needs fixing we will have to do it ourselves because Matrix or the Designer are no longer interested![;)]

[tex]

Yes, they were only interested when your Uncle Graham started making too many changes by trying to create an Admirals Edition. I still think it was rather uncool of them to get in the way, especially when you consider that approximately 20 people actually play this game. Seems to me this is more abandon ware than anything else, and if it were not for the likes of you, this game would just fade away.

[Hellfirejet]

Well I'm trying to keep it alive and kicking,I prefer it to Admirals Edition anyway,much more basic and down to earth feel to it.

I'm going to take a look see if I can maybe add a few more aircraft types into the game what do you think,would you like to see more added?

[tex]

Hi Kirk,

Sorry for the late response, but I have been working on the aircraft ratings. I will send you what I come up with, but so far I am only calculating horrible things, some of which involve square roots [X(]

As for more aircraft, I would like to see the Fokker D-VII added. Graham had that in Dreadnoughts at War and it was great. There are also some planes that need to come out, for example the Sopwith Pup floatplane, which, as far as I can tell, never existed!

[Hellfirejet]

Hi Tex I have also been working on aircraft settings plus some more aircraft art,I will see what I can do about adding the Fokker D VII,I will email you my latest work later tonight.

[Hellfirejet]

Hi Tex Fokker D.VII landing at an airfield near you very soon,I have resized and cleaned up uncle Graham's ( HELLFIREJET ) art for the plane.[:)]

[tex]

Looks great Kirk! As usual [:'(]

[Hellfirejet]

Tex you have mail enjoy[:'(]

[Hellfirejet]

Ok Tex here is another new plane for the game Pfalz D.III[8D]