Observer/Gunner accuracy

Hi all, I have a little query which hopefully you guys with your much greater experience of WOFF than me, will be able to iron out.

I've noted that the fire from the Observer/Gunner seems to be unerringly accurate? He seems to fire a round at you and hit you. This also applies to your own AI Gunner when flying two seaters.

I note there's an option to change the setting from 'normal' (which it is now) to 'more' or 'less' accurate. Does doing this though, make it seriously unrealistic? I note that there is a MOD on the MODs page specifically to reduce the accuracy on previous versions of WOFF. Was this then incorporated into WOFF UE? Hence the option now to change it in the workshop screen?

What's the overall opinion on this? Is the setting as is, deemed too accurate, hence the previous MOD or is changing this setting deemed unrealistic?

Cheers

Simes

This has been gone over a few times over time. Basically if relative to the gunner you are "still" in the air (for example you are flying straight at them with no weaving, or no diving, flying straight at them from behind etc) you will appear almost stationary! Not hard to hit at all.
However if you climbv high above and ahead and come down slashing across - or on some from ahead etc you will have more chance of not being hit. Make sure relative to them you are not "stationary".

It will also vary on the gunner's skill. If you meet better squads in your area they will be more accurate.

You can reduce the skill to your taste / skills. We always had that option in there.

Thanks Polovski, yes flying skill has a lot to do with it of course. But they do seem to hit you whenever they fire. They don't waste ammo that's for sure....it's like every Observer went to the Rene Fonke school of gunnery skills.

My particular tactic is the creep up below and behind....which is good for most 2 seaters but not all, Caudrons and Moranes are not easy to get near. Moranes especially as they are not big aircraft, there's not much to get below and behind of.

Cheers

Si

Taking on 2-seaters, for me, is one of the most absorbing and challenging activities in WOFF. As you already noted Simes, you need to develop different tactics depending on the EA craft type. Furthermore, your tactics will differ based on your own crafts characteristics and performance. All this takes time to learn. Don't be discouraged. The depth of this sim is it's beauty. Try setting up various one on one QC matchups and experiment to develop your own personal tactic for each matchup.

Happy flying!

Behind and beneath, best bet.

I set both forward firing and rear firing guns to 'less accurate' and have played that way for years. It was suggested a long time back by Creaghorn as being more realistic. I like it as it makes fights more drawn out, with more 'draws' than kills, which I think was more the actual case.

I also set my obs/gun to "less accurate" because I think ti gives me more realistic results. I still can, and do, get shot up a lot by the obs/gun, but less head shots and fuel-line hits overall.

Personally, I prefer to increase the "noise" setting a bit, since the gunner does not have a very stable gun platform. Not only that, but the gunner doesn't know or have any control over when the plane may abruptly change course, thus throwing off his aim. I have a feeling that gunners in CFS3 are able to instantaneously adjust their aim according to aircraft movement, something we humans are a little slower doing.

If you play WOFF with the attitude that you really really don't want to die, treat it like you have 1 life. That changes all that you do and you will get a lot more draws.

Rear gunner shooting at you then turn and dive, don't think you will outwit his bullets. In WW1 most times in real life if you didn't surprise enemy 2 seater and ended up with bullets wizzing at you, you'd break off and try later from another position or go elsewhere.

Agreed 100%.

.. and on the other side of the coin. when flying in a 2-seater, stay close together to effectively double your firepower and improve your odds!

Thanks guys, some really good info and advice flying around....which I fully expected. Interesting to see people tinkering with the accuracy of all aircraft to 'draw out' the battle more.....might give it a try.

Ultimately though, as has been said, if you don't want to to get hit, don't hang around the same place (and doing the same thing) for too long.

heh, it depends on your plane. I don't typically get killed with a head shot or sent down in flames. but I've found that Aviatik observers are really good at shooting the upper wing off my Caudron G.IV if I'm not careful.

Try Morane Parasol

They really are nasty little two seaters to try and get near
They're good at defending themselves and very good as pairs or threes
Cecil Lewis might not have liked them but they are not easy to bring down