Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!agate!sandstorm.Berkeley.EDU!felixh
From: felixh@sandstorm.Berkeley.EDU (Felix Hack)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Re: Harpoon...Does anyone know how to play this game?
Keywords: Harpoon tactics
Message-ID: <1990Nov9.074915.16909@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: 9 Nov 90 07:49:15 GMT
References: <1990Nov8.144713.2547@cbnewsl.att.com> <1990Nov8.205614.3122@agate.berkeley.edu>
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Reply-To: felixh@sandstorm.Berkeley.EDU (Felix Hack)
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  I mentioned in a previous post that flying aircraft in patrols within
formations was a bad idea.  Here are my reasons:
   It's better to keep the ASW choppers in reserve for a contact
     obtained by other means, I've never had them actually make
     a contact first.
   Fixed wing aircraft of all types should not be flown within formations
because you can't tell where they are, and can't tell them what to do.
They have to be in their own groups to do that.  You don't know where
they are because as part of the formation the only thing displayed
on the group map is its center.  An AEW aircraft flying 200 miles away
will not show up.  Enemy fighters might be closing on it, and you couldn't
tell that it was threatened.  Also bad is that you wouldn't
get a correct idea of your detection radius because the range circle
(corresponding to your best radar, say an AWACS) is again drawn about
the formation's center, not the real position of the aircraft.
  This implies you should not use the auto-formation option to have the
'staff' fly aircraft over formations for you.  If you've ever used this
you may have noticed 'phantom' aircraft flying around in the unit display
that you couldn't spot in the group window.  This also applies to land
bases; you could fly aircraft within a formation around them, but don't
do it.  Launch separate groups of aircraft and fly them around, or just
tell them to loiter over the base.  You'll know what you have available
and where it is, and can immediately do things with them like ordering
them on an intercept or strike.