old_pop2000
06-03-2010, 03:33 PM
Well, I got my Eagle Day game from NWS, the other day. Prompt as usual. Can't say enough about their service. Great.
Briefly, this is an update to the two Talonsoft games of the '90's. Things look the same although the aircraft planforms look similar but more detailed. Some menu's moved around, but that's okay. The old games (I still have them) don't even run setup on Win 7. With my Defending the Reich game, I now have a full set of strategic air force campaign games for Europe.
The first campaign I am running is the one day campaign. This is more of an intro, it has been a long time so this is what I am concentrating on. You win by just accumulating points. The AI seems to be improved, but only a long week or long campaign will tell that.
On a one day campaign, you have to go after something of value. Kenley and Biggin Hill are good targets to head towards. But there are preliminaries missions before setting up the primary missions.
First, you have to run some photographic reconnaissance missions. You can place your mouse pointer over a target and the program will tell you the age of the photos. It's hard to kill a target with 50 day old photos, plus after a mission, you need to get up to date photos of the mission results. So, the first missions should be reconnaissance missions. I ran about two or three at 0600 hrs to 0630. Running these missions early gives the staff time to assess the data and prepare missions. Usually you use one plane or a couple of planes with no escorts. Running them at low altitude works better. Camera's in those days were not all that good and you need to get detail. These missions can be used by a human opponent or the AI as a way of determining your main objective so make a couple of deception runs on targets to deceive your opponent. I am not going to go into detail on mission planning, you are already bored to tears.
My main mission was over 200 bombers sent to Kenley, with as many close and high escorts as a I could assemble. I also sent in a fighter sweep a couple of hours before, but I am not certain it was very effective. Always remember to define a secondary mission objective because weather in England is chancy at best. Give your bombers an alternative target, nearby to hit.
Needless to say, the main mission did stir up a hornet's nest. The end result was good, services at Kenley were damaged, losses on both side were even at 6 aircraft. I won with 35 points to 9 for the British.
Problems to solve:
1. I need to be more careful in planning missions. I should have checked the weather more careully. A bank of clouds over London at 0600 will almost certainly be moving SE and be over SE England by 1100 when the first bomber raids go after the advanced fighter fields like Lympne or Manston. I like to hit those advanced fields early, then send the main bomber force after that.
2. It is always a choice either close escort or high escort. History tells us that fighters need to be above the bombers to have altitude advantage, but if the fighters come in head on, they get the first crack before you can jump them. I use both, when fighters are available. Three squadrons on CE and three 2000 feet above on HE. I can usually keep bomber losses lower. But as the game progresses, you begin to get short of fighters.
I will find more problems to solve in my planning and execution of main campaigns, but for now, attention to detail is important. You have to think three dimensionally. Basically X,Y and Z. You should pay attention to intercept altitudes that occur to plan the next missions accordingly.
Advice:
I don't like to recommend games, however, if you want to try your hand at operational control and planning of strategic bombing campaigns, this is the game to get. It is detailed and can be daunting but no worries. You can let you staff start planning and then take control later. It is not perfect, it is a game. It is not a simple game, there are many factors that must be taken into account, when planning missions and executing a strategy. This game will give force you to think about those factors.
If any of you need help with terminology, strategy etc. I will assist. I've spent the better part of forty years around aircraft and I have had the older game since it was first published. I am more than willing to help you understand so you can enjoy the game. Enjoyment is important. It is a game. If you wish to try bombing Germany or defending against the British strategic bombing, try Defending the Reich. You control Bomber Command in its bombing campaign. You can replace bombers with new types etc. Also, if you are really brave, try War Over Vietnam. This is a great campaign if you wish to try conducting the raids over NV. You actually control individual aircaft groups and planes at an operational level. Another cool game.
Remember to use NWS to buy the games, excellent prices, service and smiling faces.
Briefly, this is an update to the two Talonsoft games of the '90's. Things look the same although the aircraft planforms look similar but more detailed. Some menu's moved around, but that's okay. The old games (I still have them) don't even run setup on Win 7. With my Defending the Reich game, I now have a full set of strategic air force campaign games for Europe.
The first campaign I am running is the one day campaign. This is more of an intro, it has been a long time so this is what I am concentrating on. You win by just accumulating points. The AI seems to be improved, but only a long week or long campaign will tell that.
On a one day campaign, you have to go after something of value. Kenley and Biggin Hill are good targets to head towards. But there are preliminaries missions before setting up the primary missions.
First, you have to run some photographic reconnaissance missions. You can place your mouse pointer over a target and the program will tell you the age of the photos. It's hard to kill a target with 50 day old photos, plus after a mission, you need to get up to date photos of the mission results. So, the first missions should be reconnaissance missions. I ran about two or three at 0600 hrs to 0630. Running these missions early gives the staff time to assess the data and prepare missions. Usually you use one plane or a couple of planes with no escorts. Running them at low altitude works better. Camera's in those days were not all that good and you need to get detail. These missions can be used by a human opponent or the AI as a way of determining your main objective so make a couple of deception runs on targets to deceive your opponent. I am not going to go into detail on mission planning, you are already bored to tears.
My main mission was over 200 bombers sent to Kenley, with as many close and high escorts as a I could assemble. I also sent in a fighter sweep a couple of hours before, but I am not certain it was very effective. Always remember to define a secondary mission objective because weather in England is chancy at best. Give your bombers an alternative target, nearby to hit.
Needless to say, the main mission did stir up a hornet's nest. The end result was good, services at Kenley were damaged, losses on both side were even at 6 aircraft. I won with 35 points to 9 for the British.
Problems to solve:
1. I need to be more careful in planning missions. I should have checked the weather more careully. A bank of clouds over London at 0600 will almost certainly be moving SE and be over SE England by 1100 when the first bomber raids go after the advanced fighter fields like Lympne or Manston. I like to hit those advanced fields early, then send the main bomber force after that.
2. It is always a choice either close escort or high escort. History tells us that fighters need to be above the bombers to have altitude advantage, but if the fighters come in head on, they get the first crack before you can jump them. I use both, when fighters are available. Three squadrons on CE and three 2000 feet above on HE. I can usually keep bomber losses lower. But as the game progresses, you begin to get short of fighters.
I will find more problems to solve in my planning and execution of main campaigns, but for now, attention to detail is important. You have to think three dimensionally. Basically X,Y and Z. You should pay attention to intercept altitudes that occur to plan the next missions accordingly.
Advice:
I don't like to recommend games, however, if you want to try your hand at operational control and planning of strategic bombing campaigns, this is the game to get. It is detailed and can be daunting but no worries. You can let you staff start planning and then take control later. It is not perfect, it is a game. It is not a simple game, there are many factors that must be taken into account, when planning missions and executing a strategy. This game will give force you to think about those factors.
If any of you need help with terminology, strategy etc. I will assist. I've spent the better part of forty years around aircraft and I have had the older game since it was first published. I am more than willing to help you understand so you can enjoy the game. Enjoyment is important. It is a game. If you wish to try bombing Germany or defending against the British strategic bombing, try Defending the Reich. You control Bomber Command in its bombing campaign. You can replace bombers with new types etc. Also, if you are really brave, try War Over Vietnam. This is a great campaign if you wish to try conducting the raids over NV. You actually control individual aircaft groups and planes at an operational level. Another cool game.
Remember to use NWS to buy the games, excellent prices, service and smiling faces.