wetty11 wrote:


I completely agree. This is an old chestnut which seems to pop up from time-to-time. There seem to be to pretty polarizing views on this and related issues, so sometimes feel debating this is a bit pointless. It's been awhile since I've responded about such, and we've new members who've joined in the interrum, so here's my two cents on the topic.

I've recently read through nearly a dozen memoirs and collections of letters of pilots on both sides of the air war in WW1. While initially, there was sense of chivalry in the air, that eventually gave way to a more cold and calculated approach. Some of the most successful pilots were actually the least chivalrous in their tactics and treatment of disabled foes. Some of the more infamous ones happily machine-gunning grounded crews or those who hit the silk.

In tactics, ideally, you wanted to jump your oppenent and shoot him up before he even realized you were there, either by dropping out clouds, out of the sun or sneaking up via a blind spot - nothing honorable in this at all.

Virtually everyone agreed if things began to look grim, it was time to cut your loses and live to fight another day, whether that meant hiding in clouds, climbing or diving away, faking a fatal spin or landing your machine ASAP.

Those uncommon pilots who continued engagements at unfavorables were exceptions, noted as recklessly brave and sometimes reprimanded by their superiors. Those who persistantly did so, usually earned a wooden cross.

In terms of Blue Max, flying around trying to run your fuel out so you can leave honorably is pretty stupid from a point of realism. OTOH, you can fly around endlessly without fuel or engine and continue to earn a few points, as long as no enemy planes get near enough to threaten you. There are no clouds or altitude rules, so some typical avenues of escape or evasion don't exist. If you fly off a non-friendly side you lose half your points, which pretty much means you're rather unlikely to win the scenario. For those who like stat's that hurts your average score. In league games you're counted as lost, so the opposing team isn't penalized in it's victory ratio. You do however avoid the league penalty for getting shotdown and you deprive your opponent of some personal points as well. Those are how the rules play, like it or not.

In short this a game not a perfect simulation. If you're playing within the limitations of the rules, "Alls fair in Love and War".

Your mileage may vary,

markrendl