Down Pilot from 9/23

[The Shootist]

Anyone who played that scenario, with us on Saturday (9/23), I'd like to hear compliments and criticism, please. It is our goal to get better and better and providing quality scenarios for your, and our, entertainment. The best way to do this is by getting the opinions of our players, so we can better understand how the intricasies of the game worked out.

[haslinger]

I liked the down pilot concept. The only thing I would have like to have known going into it, was if the pilot was shot down and injured, or if he bailed out just moments before, and was only scratched up. Cause if he were injured, damn he moved fast and why didn't he move to the US forces. Otherwise, thought it was good. The only problems were from communication and not scenario.

[bigwheat]

//agree with Has

Communication is always tricky, as I'm sure you guys that are married know, and that Has is about to find out. Given the intel that was communicated, I thought it was communicated down the chain of command well.

The small unit tactics were awesome, and I thank TFAT for letting me roll with them, and giving away all of their secrets (insert evil laugh). Joking aside, that was the first time I've been that well organized at the squad level, and it was fantastic.

Command HQ did an excellent job of making sure there was plenty of firefight, as we got pinned in between Heartbreak Ridge and the People's Dam on the Red Ball Expressway (love the names, BTW). It was intense fighting, and we were down to 3 guys alive on our squad at one point.

We got pinned in by the indigenous forces, as it turns out, though, and that probably shouldn't have happened, since the contractors were supposed to have the better intel.

Reasons for this include that we got bogged down radioing to HQ for information on the pilot, and for unclear intel on location of nerve gas canisters.

The nerve gas canisters were quite difficult to locate, and we found one by chance as Ian was moving through the woods near the end of the game as we were headed to the evac point.

What follows below is optional, and just some of my ramblings:
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I thought it might be nice if they had some kind of blinking light or other signal/transponder device attached to them to simulate tracking. Or, this could simulate be nuclear devices giving off radioactivity and we assume that all parties involved have CBN detection equipment. This could even be played out as lat/long/GPS coordinates so that they could be found easier.
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All in all, it was a great scenario, and the most fun I've had playing Airsoft thus far, with a close second being the CQB combat with ReconOne at the Chattanooga/Chickamauga base.

Thanks for putting it together, I hope we can do it again soon.

Wheat

[mongoman]

haslinger said:

I liked the down pilot concept. The only thing I would have like to have known going into it, was if the pilot was shot down and injured, or if he bailed out just moments before, and was only scratched up. Cause if he were injured, damn he moved fast and why didn't he move to the US forces. Otherwise, thought it was good. The only problems were from communication and not scenario.

Yes, Has, I agree, and understand, He was SUPPOSED to be injured. I had told him to role play, but not to wander too far from the crash site. Basically, it was supposed to be a race the pilot. It should have been a firefight with RO over the BLack Box, and TFAT was SUPPOSED to get to the pilot first, or see the pilot pop smoke when RO got close. That would have made it so that you knew exactly where he was, and RO knew about where he was. Stab decided to escape and evade. As Command, I had no idea he had exited the crash area. So, when the pilot went on escape and evasion, it really turned the scenario upside down. To add to the problem, the pilot's radio went dead. So, after 30 minutes in, Command could no longer speak to the pilot.

So here are my lesson learned:

Better Com gear for command, or a radio operator to help.

Better instructions to the pilot, and basically make it where he can't move but so far, or move at all until "revived" by forces closing in.

Go ahead and write the scenario where all mission parameters are given at brief, and basically cut out the need for super accurate coms, letting the teams move to the pilot, then giving them extraction coordinates in the field.

I feel it went fairly well for the first one we have tried, and look forward to tweaking it in the future.

Thanks for coming everyone, and as long as we had fun, then I guess we can improve on the problems.

M

[bullfrog]

A quick note to say thanks to Mongo, Mihel, and Tom for a great effort to up the ante for our airsoft wars. I felt like the scenario played well considering the change of plans due to lack of numbers. As far as poor communications are concerned that sort of thing happens in real war and the soldiers soldier on. It forced us to make on-the-fly decisions and do the best we could. I also thoroughly enjoyed getting more into the woods than before.

Another thanks goes out to Saint for leading the squad I was on. You did a great job.

Now if only my tired old body will just quit complaining about over exertion.

[The Shootist]

We could always use the dummy torso we have out there for the pilot.

Like we talked about, though, stabby did good as the pilot; it just wasn't what C&C was expecting, so it caused mid-scenario changes we weren't suspecting.

As far as the naerve gas canisters; as far as I know it took some major searching to find the rest of them as the communication between where they should be put and where they were put was garbled.

My personal feeling were, the only way it could have been better was if we had more people. All the other stuff- the commo break down and the inaccurate, and read that as old and unusable, intel- was exactly how it happens in the military in TRAINING. So, I'd imagine, it's even worse in an actual combat situation. The fact that it happened to us, is something we all should have taken for granted. Query: Am I wrong in assuming everyone comes to games prepared for the fact that things will not go as planned?

[mongoman]

I KNEW it would not go just as planned. If it had, it would have been the first time in history that anything with folks shooting at each other went as it was planned. Humans do what they will, insert their own personal knowledge into any situation, thus altering my perception of what was "supposed" to happen. I am pleased it went as well as it did. I feel I should have been more adamant on what I wanted the pilot to do, so I will know better next time. I told Stab to role play, and he did, and he evaded, as a real pilot would do. He made his way to the extraction point, as a real pilot would do. I should have told him, "your legs are broken from hitting the console on ejection, you can walk a few feet from where you landed". Also, I have found parchutes fairly cheap, so a chute in a tree would really mark where the pilot went down, and help the teams find him. Hindsight, we just have to learn from it.

M

[mac]

This is to everyone, it was mine and my sons 1st time ever to play and we had a blast. EVERYONE was wonderful. I would personally like to thank all of you. I can't wait to do it again. Does anyone want to buy some paintball equipment?
Thanks again, (Shit I'm broke)
mac

[mongoman]

TIme for EBAY!! Sell that paintball shit, it is of the Devil anyway

Glad you guys had fun

M

[Mihel]

You can blame the placement (or mis-placement) of the cannisters on me. Mongo told me to place them in a line at a ninety degree angle from the crash sight. This would have worked fine if Mongo had taken into account my complete lack of directional skills. Hell, I almost got lost in the woods putting them out. I agree with Wheat that, in the future, if the cannisters are used again, there should be some kind of strobe or beacon attached and my directionally challenged ass should not be the one placing them. Sorry for the confusion. All in all I think it went OK for our first try and as long as we learn from our mistakes, it was all worth it. I know that I've learned to just go with the fall and not try to catch myself, fat men are just not that agile (well, this one isn't anyway). I hope everyone had a good time and I thank each and every one that attended. I can't wait for the next game.

Thanks again to everyone,
Mihel

[haslinger]

Note to planners....We (and by we I mean Ian) found one. So YAY!!! But totally agree with the wheat.

[prometheus]

A good time was had by all, and props to mongo and crew for putting together a great game day for their 1st (big one that is). I hope that Recon One's performance didn't hurt everyone's opinion of us too bad. I usually think quite allot of myself but I must say that without our command, we aren't worth a damn. yea, the 4 of us that did make it did allright, but I really wish we could have shown up with the crew. I was so embarrassed, that upon return I told Dogsoldier we shouldn't claim our team without showing up with it. the RO members that have played with TFAT spoke very highly of them before we left town, I just hate I didn't get to scrap with them more, Haslinger, it was a pleasure, and hope to meet again.

as for the scenario/game day, I am pleased with the way things went. everything was as advertised, and the people were great.(only attitude on the field was my own) the only complaints I have would be that the aerial image posted online was different than the one provided on site, and since some had printed, laminated, and then studied their own before hand, they were thrown off track. I didn't have any problem adjusting to the new one, but some did. also, boundaries were questionable, after witnessing players from another team use the chosen reservoir on the NW side of Red Ball expressway, I used it as well, then was told I couldn't go there.(still not sure why this area was closed) we never saw the pilot, or plane, once we were engaged we didn't get to move much more. it seemed as if we encountered both locals and TFAT at one spot, with them on either side. I may be wrong but that's what it felt like. so we had a good fire fight to have, which is always nice. the intel we received was far from accurate, it may have gotten jumbled coming down the ranks, but we were going the wrong way to find the pilot. this was the first time I have taken part in a game where the radios were utilized so much. must say that, I really enjoyed that aspect, but was a little disappointed when we lost communications with the pilot. the food was needed earlier but was very good once served, that was some damn good chili. I was stuffed to the gills. I hate it but we had to skedaddle to make it back to the 'nooga at a decent hour.

the field is coming right along, the newly cut trails are well placed and were a much needed addition. as always our host was very humble, and I can not wait to return. thanks to all who put there time and effort in to make this happen.

[haslinger]

WE hope to be invited up to your field at some point. Would love to play with/against you guys. We love to work with outside operators as we both learn from them and around them. Plus, it's nice to steal plays from the play book...in trade for our own.

[mongoman]

Hey Has,

The Intel I get from Dogsoldier is that you guys ARE invited to the game on the 14th. If I am out of line in saying this, I will apologize, but it is a scenario game running into night, and they are looking for PLAYAS such as yourself and your crew. Just confirm your numbers so the site owner can get the food in line, get up with me to make camping arrangements at Cloudland Canyon State Park, (nice place, beautiful, bathrooms, water and power in camp.) $6 field fee, same to eat. Op running from 1 pm until 9 pm EST. You guys gotta come, this field has a several structures including two story deals, and lots of trailed woodland.

Motivate your entourage, Your Majesty, and bring the procession of the Warden of the South to GA. BTW, the site is not in Chattanooga, but several miles south of it. Shouldn't be much difference in the drive here, as it is interstate all the way.

M

[prometheus]

yea you are WAY OUTA LINE, we would NEVER want those fools here.........naw, ofcouse they are more than welcome. in fact more welcome than mutants that I am nearly sick of shooting at.

see you all soon...I hope. this sat I will speak to the land owner about camping.