One thing that tends to bug me is the way nearly all players it seems reload carriers or even airbases with fighters from another source. Call it a pet peeve of mine.
Okay class. First, let's take a look at the way most players do it... wrongly. This first image shows just how most of you do it.
- In the topmost airbase, the players has chosen to pick a single spot and furiously click away all the fighters.
- The next base down, the player has chosen to just click away in a single area not caring if each plane goes to the exact same spot or not.
- In both instances the player selected a point beside or before the carriers.
- In the third airbase, bottom one, the player has gotten so bold as to send the fighters almost past the carriers!
- Fighters are notorious for burning unnecessary fuel and will circle carriers not directly in front of them.
- Red Bull: Requesting Permission to land Delta Wing.
- Delta Wing: Permission granted Red Bull, come on home. Use direct heading...
- Red Bull: Negative D. Wing, I'm taking the scenic route. There's a large group of blue whales moving east out here. I'll circle around in a couple hundred miles and join up.
- Some players take an additional step to give the fighter it's final destination attempting to correct the non-direct fighter approach, which negates the whole click it and forget it idea.
- In some cases, I've seen the player try to reload carriers at the far edges of their airbases fighter range and watch as fighter after fighter turns to the carrier at the last second only to disappear off the map because it was just too far.
- I've also seen somebody (well known) pick a point just shy of halfway and watch as fighter after fighter make the turn back to base leaving an empty carrier... with the enemy approaching
- Should the enemy appear, the fighters which should by now be getting prepped for a new flight will instead turn around on it's last few gallons of fuel and attempt to engage.
- Red Bull: D. Wing come in, this is Red Bull. Enemy spotted, turning to engage!
- D. Wing: Negative Red Bull! Abort! Abort! You only have a few moments of flight time left, you're tanks an near empty! Redirect to heading...
- Red Bull: Negative D. Wing! I'm going out with glory in a big fiery ball of death and I'm taking them with me!
- Static...
Ok, let's look at the proper way to land fighters on the strip.
Instead of assuming it's faster and less time consuming to pick an arbitrary spot to launch fighters, why not give them direct orders? In this way, not only do you help prevent a waste of fuel and potentially a waste of fighters, but you also have a more clear idea of exactly how many you'll need to send out. This then gives you a better overall picture of your resources and where they're at.
See the difference in the pic below and the top one? The fighters will take the most direct route and fly the shortest amount of time/distance necessary. It's very easy to do.
Just left click near the carrier/base that you want to send the fighter/s, hold, sweep over and release on the intended carrier/base. Once you've done it, oh I don't know... two or three times? It's just a fast as selecting a random spot and much more efficient.
You get the added bonus of being able to move your carriers without worry. Why? Because the fighters will now follow the moving carrier while in flight and those not yet launched will head directly at the moving carrier/s too! See how the waypoint is now the carrier itself? A moving waypoint! WOW!
Now, please stop doing it the wrong way! Thank you. Class dismissed.
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