09-16-2016, 12:38 PM
(FHQ) Western Peace
(Command)
Blergh.
The juicy after action banter aside, I did enjoy the mission. It had a nice plotline, link-up and escort defector, and for once 'steal aircraft' made sense.
One issue was that mission took a very long time. Yes it did. Much more bigger concern is whether this was fun for majority, or even minority. It is a very good question, and I come to it later. However before we come to it, here's AAR from driver's seat:
Mission was 'behind enemy lines' type without support. Briefing mentioned a regiment size force in Tanoa. No, I don't expect 2000 men hunting my team alone but it was pretty obvious that mission spirit is very much to remain undetected, as long as possible. When you go noisy, odds stack against you rapidly. This was first time we attempted mission. I had no idea what we really are up against. Meeting point was next to a major city so it made sense to assume it is well occupied.
Biggest issue from the mission was that start took a long time. First false start with KIAs on drop. Then parachute, supply depot. After this two other teams took some time to adjust their radios. Yes, Manuel was waiting, but more issues will arise if we can't communicate. If we go on without working radio setup, it will be a 2 hour clusterfuck. I chose to wait.
Next issue was getting to informant, aka Manuel at cemetery. None of us were silenced, and I chose to use the jungle. My recon team leader (Varanon) spotted hostiles, and recommended safer route via railroad. Variable suggested other route. I checked my map. Plan railroad made more sense despite the wait. We could have gone loud, and perhaps saved 10-15 mins. I chose not to.
At cemetery we linked with informant aka Manuel, aka Golden Goose. Next surprise was that SR radios did not work. We had different faction radios. Fortunately Manuel had Groupinfo and was paying attention. We learned that there are several locations for vehicles. I chose closest, fuel station.
We located fuel station and several vehicles. 2 military offroads, and one civilian Jeep, one heavy truck. I chose to commandeer offroads and go..well..offroad. It was 2,5km transit, and we had light vehicles. Going offroad made sense, especially considering we were carrying precious cargo (again, Manuel)
Fuel station was lightly guarded, and we overpowered guards relatively easily. We got vehicles, and started moving. 'Road' on a map was a jungle trail, but after bit of hiccups we made through the jungle. I made small adjustments to route. I didn't want to go through another jungle. We had couple of encounters enroute. We pushed through. Our mission was to get informant out alive. We were not on a search-and-destroy. Not this time.
We disembarked and set up in jungle close to airfield. We had to eliminate Tigris AAA, and steal VTOL. I consulted my TLs and we chose to go with pre-planned set up. Varanon sets up on Tigris and A+B sets up to storm airfield.
I assumed airfield would be well guarded. After a bit of observation, we noticed we were up against:
- 1 Tigris
- 1 Marid APC
- 1 Ifrit HMG
- Metric ton of infantry.
We had to kill the vehicles with:
- 1 RPG + rockets.
- Explosives.
Any of those vehicles were capable of shooting us down. We had to take them out.
We set explosives trap to route of APC, and Varanon got sights on Tigris. After Tigris, Varanon's team was to relocate to us, and use the RPG against Ifrit. Unfortunate downside was that we had another longish wait until the APC drove back.
I considered rushing in and somehow deal with APC later until I got a report that it is moving as desired. More waiting.
Variables explosive specialist had made good job and APC went up in flames. Varanon's AT gunner (Phantom) saved the night by destroying Tigris. B set up to assault airfield, Varanon relocated to us and dealt with Ifrit as planned. Bravo followed Alpha. My team with Golden Goose (still Manuel) stayed behind.
We traded shots with infantry on the airfield and in assault Varanon's team was KIA. Remaining teams located VTOL, sporadic resistance. My team moved to VTOL, secured it. Manuel took controls. Earlier sneaky Freeman had placed charge next to found enemy jet, which we blew up as a farewell present to enemy. At least that jet wouldn't chase us.
Both teams boarded the thing and we took off. Either due splash damage from VTOL guns or pilot error, we crashed upon take off. It had been a long ride, I had gotten 2/3 of people to that VTOL, and the result was just depressing. Happens. That's Arma.
That's about the AAR. However more critical issue raised after was that was it fun?
I don't know, but this is a serious concern. We play this for fun, and if people lose fun in coop nights, people vote with their feet.
Yes. Manuel had a long wait. We could have taken faster route, now I know what the opposition was. Issues with radios aside, we could have likely cut 15-20 mins in the start. I can fully understand if Manuel was bored.
However about mission after it, that's another story. Could we have completed mission in some other way? Probably. That's Arma. Had it been more fun? Possibly. It also might have been a long spectate for someone. This time I made these decisions and outcome was this.
I regret my bark at Variable in post mission chat. It came across more snappy I intended. It was a handful for the leader and it had been pretty bad day outside gaming context (not that it is excuse). Despite my remark I do encourage people to express their concerns, and if you didn't have fun, please say it in future as well. We play this for fun after all.
I try to take my comrades fun to account as much as I can. If it wasn't fun this time, I see what I can do about it in the future. Fortunately we have pool of leaders and we have different styles. I like that. I am happy as a clam as TL or just rank and file when we complete this mission, regardless how the leader that time pulls it off.
Besides this greatly benefits from a re-run. Now we know what opposition is like and what we cal pull off. We can likely complete this much faster and with more action.
(Command)
Blergh.
The juicy after action banter aside, I did enjoy the mission. It had a nice plotline, link-up and escort defector, and for once 'steal aircraft' made sense.
One issue was that mission took a very long time. Yes it did. Much more bigger concern is whether this was fun for majority, or even minority. It is a very good question, and I come to it later. However before we come to it, here's AAR from driver's seat:
Mission was 'behind enemy lines' type without support. Briefing mentioned a regiment size force in Tanoa. No, I don't expect 2000 men hunting my team alone but it was pretty obvious that mission spirit is very much to remain undetected, as long as possible. When you go noisy, odds stack against you rapidly. This was first time we attempted mission. I had no idea what we really are up against. Meeting point was next to a major city so it made sense to assume it is well occupied.
Biggest issue from the mission was that start took a long time. First false start with KIAs on drop. Then parachute, supply depot. After this two other teams took some time to adjust their radios. Yes, Manuel was waiting, but more issues will arise if we can't communicate. If we go on without working radio setup, it will be a 2 hour clusterfuck. I chose to wait.
Next issue was getting to informant, aka Manuel at cemetery. None of us were silenced, and I chose to use the jungle. My recon team leader (Varanon) spotted hostiles, and recommended safer route via railroad. Variable suggested other route. I checked my map. Plan railroad made more sense despite the wait. We could have gone loud, and perhaps saved 10-15 mins. I chose not to.
At cemetery we linked with informant aka Manuel, aka Golden Goose. Next surprise was that SR radios did not work. We had different faction radios. Fortunately Manuel had Groupinfo and was paying attention. We learned that there are several locations for vehicles. I chose closest, fuel station.
We located fuel station and several vehicles. 2 military offroads, and one civilian Jeep, one heavy truck. I chose to commandeer offroads and go..well..offroad. It was 2,5km transit, and we had light vehicles. Going offroad made sense, especially considering we were carrying precious cargo (again, Manuel)
Fuel station was lightly guarded, and we overpowered guards relatively easily. We got vehicles, and started moving. 'Road' on a map was a jungle trail, but after bit of hiccups we made through the jungle. I made small adjustments to route. I didn't want to go through another jungle. We had couple of encounters enroute. We pushed through. Our mission was to get informant out alive. We were not on a search-and-destroy. Not this time.
We disembarked and set up in jungle close to airfield. We had to eliminate Tigris AAA, and steal VTOL. I consulted my TLs and we chose to go with pre-planned set up. Varanon sets up on Tigris and A+B sets up to storm airfield.
I assumed airfield would be well guarded. After a bit of observation, we noticed we were up against:
- 1 Tigris
- 1 Marid APC
- 1 Ifrit HMG
- Metric ton of infantry.
We had to kill the vehicles with:
- 1 RPG + rockets.
- Explosives.
Any of those vehicles were capable of shooting us down. We had to take them out.
We set explosives trap to route of APC, and Varanon got sights on Tigris. After Tigris, Varanon's team was to relocate to us, and use the RPG against Ifrit. Unfortunate downside was that we had another longish wait until the APC drove back.
I considered rushing in and somehow deal with APC later until I got a report that it is moving as desired. More waiting.
Variables explosive specialist had made good job and APC went up in flames. Varanon's AT gunner (Phantom) saved the night by destroying Tigris. B set up to assault airfield, Varanon relocated to us and dealt with Ifrit as planned. Bravo followed Alpha. My team with Golden Goose (still Manuel) stayed behind.
We traded shots with infantry on the airfield and in assault Varanon's team was KIA. Remaining teams located VTOL, sporadic resistance. My team moved to VTOL, secured it. Manuel took controls. Earlier sneaky Freeman had placed charge next to found enemy jet, which we blew up as a farewell present to enemy. At least that jet wouldn't chase us.
Both teams boarded the thing and we took off. Either due splash damage from VTOL guns or pilot error, we crashed upon take off. It had been a long ride, I had gotten 2/3 of people to that VTOL, and the result was just depressing. Happens. That's Arma.
That's about the AAR. However more critical issue raised after was that was it fun?
I don't know, but this is a serious concern. We play this for fun, and if people lose fun in coop nights, people vote with their feet.
Yes. Manuel had a long wait. We could have taken faster route, now I know what the opposition was. Issues with radios aside, we could have likely cut 15-20 mins in the start. I can fully understand if Manuel was bored.
However about mission after it, that's another story. Could we have completed mission in some other way? Probably. That's Arma. Had it been more fun? Possibly. It also might have been a long spectate for someone. This time I made these decisions and outcome was this.
I regret my bark at Variable in post mission chat. It came across more snappy I intended. It was a handful for the leader and it had been pretty bad day outside gaming context (not that it is excuse). Despite my remark I do encourage people to express their concerns, and if you didn't have fun, please say it in future as well. We play this for fun after all.
I try to take my comrades fun to account as much as I can. If it wasn't fun this time, I see what I can do about it in the future. Fortunately we have pool of leaders and we have different styles. I like that. I am happy as a clam as TL or just rank and file when we complete this mission, regardless how the leader that time pulls it off.
Besides this greatly benefits from a re-run. Now we know what opposition is like and what we cal pull off. We can likely complete this much faster and with more action.