Those are some issues to certainly be on the look out for in the future that you've raised.

On the business model: it's a problem from the standpoint that sooner or later people will attempt to hack/break into them or otherwise get them and distribute them via rapidshare or the like. I am in no way endorsing that kind of behavior, but I will say that there will be people chewing away at the profitability of the system through piracy. No system of distribution is pirate proof, but this particular system is especially vulnerable. Thus, as profitability erodes, the business is unable to carry costs as well and slowness may result (impacting the "must be online system" with possible slowness and issues).

As for more vs fewer planes-- the problem with the number 2 (one on each side) is that it effectively removes choice of aircraft almost entirely. I look at it this way: let's say I want to make an allied pilot. With the current system I effectively had NO choice whatsoever-- I have to pick the Spad. The same goes for the German side, just the D.VII instead. I suppose some people look at it as "I want a Spad career pilot", but there are many people who say "I want to do an allied campaign for X part of the war". When they decide one side or the other, there is actually no choice of aircraft or time period-- you just get the Spad (or D.VII). That's a real let down at the given price you pay. At least with handful of aircraft (even, say 6, with 3 on each side) you would choose "I want an allied career", but then you'd get to pick a plane on the side, rather than having it effectively "chosen for you".

Hello and welcome new member.

I don't even know how my review would turn out, how come you know it?

Make a search of my postings (if you find me so interesting as to make a reference to me) and you will find plenty of criticism of RoF. The bad English, the lack of documentation, no track recorder, etc, to mention a few points.

On the other hand, if you just choose to think of me as an incorrigible fanboi because you go by what some others say about me... well, carry on...

Well, as an FYI I found that the career mode works well enough on the short missions where you start in the air. I'd like them to sort out the friendly AI so I could run a full mission, but must say I am certainly enjoying myself in the furballs now that I've got a squad to fly with.

I've got one kill each in two consecutive missions now that I am starting in the air, and although we failed to protect the balloon in one we successfully defended a convoy in the other. The key to success is keeping near your squad mates to avoid getting picked off by multiple bogies when you stray out on your own.

I haven't gotten a 'clean' kill yet and only manage to harass my targets with enough deflection fire to eventually get lucky and find their engine failing from one of my strays. I'd like to break one up but I will take this attrition type victory now that I am not getting myself killed anymore. Too often before I would run the mission by myself only to have my own engine die on me after doing my best to outmaneuver multiple enemies that I could never outrun.

I thought the DVII could outclimb the SPAD but find the tactic doesn't work very well for me. Not only is there no Airspeed Indicator to accurately guage best rate of climb, but the SPADs always seem to outclimb me no matter what sound/pitch combination I experiment with. Sad to say but the DVII is a deathtrap when you find yourself looking to get out of a fight. The SPAD is probably the better choice for solo, hit and run tactics. The Fokker outmaneuvers the other planes but you simply must keep safety in numbers.

While using speed to extend away is a realistic tactic for all the other planes, I'd like to be able to climb away too if that is my plane's relative strength. Can anyone confirm the real life DVII climb rate in comparison to the SPAD? I always thought the DVII was considered the superior plane and thought that maneuverability AND climb rate were fantastic. Of course, I know ROF runs the Mercedes powerplant (160 hp) and at the end of the war I believe Fokker switched to a superior BMW engine (185 hp). Plane to plane comparisons are so often apples to oranges when different generations and engines are considered, so the SPAD may have a later generation profile in ROF which would explain the matter.

Perhaps the developers are more concerned with a level playing field....it would make sense considering that the older Neiuports and Albatroses are in the game and are a generation or two behind the DVII and the SPAD.

The toy store hasn't opened yet.

I thought the DVII could outclimb the SPAD...I always thought the DVII was considered the superior plane and thought that maneuverability AND climb rate were fantastic

Same here. I have seen charts (not official) that have the SPAD out-climbing the Fokker by quite a bit. That can't be right can it FR? Faster and climbs better

Ming

Every document I have seen shows the SPADXIII clearly the superior in both Speed and Climb rates.

However when it comes into close in turn fighting the DVII is the ruler of the roost (primely due to the much higher Clmax of the DVII wing). Perhaps there is confusion between Climb Angle and Climb rate. I think you will find the DVII Climb angle performance (all be it over a limited altitude block) would be superior to the SPAD.
Its Climb Angle where the frequent refrences you read about the DVII able to "hang on its prop" etc come from.

A great resource is "Fighter Aircraft if the 1914-18 War by Lamberton and Cheeseman". The performance tables at the back of this book are worth their weight in Gold.

Of course in any such discussion it wouldn't be complete without charts These come from a modern day analysis of WWI fighter performance ( http://home.comcast.net/~clipper-108/AIAAPaper2005-119.pdf ). Though using modern comparative analysis methods they do confirm the general available Historical thoughts on these fighters relative performance. The BMW powered DVII was a better climber than the Merc DVII particularly at the higher levels where it was (as I read) pretty much the equal of the SPADXII. It will be interesting to see how this is handled should we get the BMW DVII in ROF.




The Osprey publication SPADXII v Fokker DVII is also a good read and confirms the argument

For those with a pechant for more numbers and graphs try here:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-468/app-a.htm

And techo read here as well:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-468/ch2-2.htm

Uh-oh, IvanK pulled out the GRAPHS. Let the battle begin...

For some reason the Germans went for zoom and boom in WWII, maybe because they were burned by burn and turn in WWI.

Nice Ivank ta mate

DVII Climb angle performance (all be it over a limited altitude block)

Zoom climb do you mean?

Ming

Here's an interesting chart I think, and it comes from actual head to head tests performed by the Germans during the war. This comes from Windsock Datafile 107, Pfalz D.III, by Peter Grosz, and it compares the Pfalz D.III against contemporary Entente fighters (might mention availability of the Pfalz D.III for ROF is expected).

Pilot accounts and comparitive data tests, even within a specific variant, will and do vary, being based on captured aircraft at the time, reflecting specific conditions of quality, trim condition, or engine tune.

Using the Pfalz D.III as an example here, which was tested and selected for front-line fighter service, it mostly likely performed better than the historical accounts showed (better performance as evidenced by the chart below), and of course all flying and fighting depended on it being done "with a proficient pilot". Much of an aircraft's reputation and renown depended on the pilots who flew them, and the aggressiveness (or lack thereof) of the units that flew them.

I am still looking.. finally got a chance to install the sim last night... I have a few issues that I will hold off on discussing for now.. but as far as the pay for planes issue goes.. I have no problem paying for new aircraft.. but IMO the Albatross & the Neiuport should be flyable... the are in the sim... apparently there are scenarios for them.. I can see having to buy a Camel.. or a D1 .. they are in the sim with scenarios for them.

I am having a difficult time getting my controllers set up they way I would like.. and the documentation is sparse... but I will continue to slog through...