Swordster

I don't mind, for alterations, I'm unsure if its hard for zeus to command ai civilians into player helo for both operations or just use blufor and during my writing this initial I had fog had 40% for Operation Passage which realized was too thick for some of lower villages. So if zeus/command wants to use other helos, use more armed blackfish in Archangel, or have the CSAT Commander challenge us to RAP Battle I'm cool with it.

Got a couple that I though would offer more air assets involved out of our current offers. Operation Passage MISSION OBJECTIVE: A rebellion in response has erupted due to government controversy of not prosecuting those responsible for killing civilians, Straya is tasked to Extract VIPs to our embassy in Balavu, understand that you’ll be going to different villages and towns you may be tasked to pick up the VIPs on rooftops or securing a LZ to escort them to a helo. MAP/LOCATION PREFERENCE: Tanoa, SW islands Weather/Time PREFERENCE: Overcast, Fog:10%/Dawn(06:30) SQUAD SETUP: Air Cavalry Infantry Fireteams: Max 5 Players per Fireteam so as fit a Hummingbird, Air Crew: 1xCAS Crew, 1xGhosthawk crew, Hummingbird pilots (3 Max) Available Helos: Transport: Hummingbirds, 1xGhosthawk armed CAS: Pawnee CAS\FSG STATUS: Pawnees are permitted on call to assist, though the government pleads you not hit unarmed combatants. WEAPONS\UNIFORM: NATO uniform appropriate to role, weapons of choice for the infantry team. NOTES: If players that are known to kill civilians, have them replace the AI VIPs Communications: Ground Forces/Briefing: Platoon 1 Pilots to Team/SquadActual/Command: Platoon 2 Pilots to turn off Platoon 1 after Briefing to Focus on Aircraft Channel and Platoon 2. Hidden Events and Objectives: If permitted to share with Zeus operator for details. ALLY EXPECTATIONS: The Local Governments Forces are prioritizing on stabilizing the region with the Gendarmerie tasked with policing and security for the VIPs, the Military has placed an AA positions in response to CSAT efforts. Independent EXPECTATIONS: Reports indicate the rebels are lightly armed (1 out 10 carries an RPG) with vehicles being technicals and occasional suicide vehicles. OPFOR EXPECTATIONS: CSAT Ground Activity is strangely stationary and is very unlikely to interfere with our operation, though in the past airdrops of weapons and Bombings by CSAT have aided the rebels, though now are flying low with enemy Orcas to transport(Not Paradrops) and strike ally facilities to reduce losses by the governments AA. Operation Archangel MISSION OBJECTIVE: The Rebellion Continues to worsen the stability of the government after Operation Passage and with CSAT resuming its efforts, the Australian Embassy is projected to be overrun soon, Straya is tasked to provide the security and the Helos to extract VIPS, Staff and Civilians as much as can be done before it is taken over. MAP/LOCATION PREFERENCE: Tanoa, SW Islands, Main AO: Balavu Weather/Time PREFERENCE: Thunderstorm, Fog:0%/Afternoon(16:00) SQUAD SETUP: 1x Air Cavalry Infantry Fireteam (Max 5 Players per Fireteam) to act as QRF by command to disturb OPFORs attack Infantry Team: Transported by Helo to AO 2x Heli Crew: Duties Transport, Extracting non-combatants and teams withdraw in the end, Reinforcing and Supplying 1x CAS Crew: 3 players Strongly Recommend the ground teams have an assigned FACs (Forward Air Control) Available Helos: Ghosthawk and Mohawks, Reserve Hummingbirds CAS\FSG STATUS: 1x Armed Blackfish is allowed to aid the defense otherwise the CAS crew can only use Armed Ghosthawks as an alternative/reserve. WEAPONS\UNIFORM: NATO uniform appropriate to role, weapons of choice for the infantry team. NOTES: Communication: Ground Forces/Briefing: Platoon 1 Pilots to Team/SquadActual/Command: Platoon 2 Pilots to turn off Platoon 1 after Briefing to Focus on Aircraft Channel and Platoon 2. Hidden Events and Objectives: If permitted to share with Zeus operator for details. Independent EXPECTATIONS: Reports indicate a large rebels force from the surrounding towns from W and S likely making a march to the Embassy along with vehicles being technical and suicide vehicles, with a few seized Military Vehicles up to APCs. OPFOR EXPECTATIONS: The Closet CAST Force is a Mechanized Platoon that if called would reach the AO in 30 Minutes with SPAAGs in reserve being transported to the beachhead.

For those that encounter the bug (3 Times So Far)I found last time I got it, the best solution is try carrying again and dropping, should fix it.

I did say after the debrief I would write an after action report over 1000s words (1683 According to Word)

ANGEL Actual/Commander Report Actions (Recollections of the Events) Briefing: Took time for players to get into the PLT1 Channel to Set-up, a couple that where present did miss it, but guardian helped them be assigned. Set-up: 3 New Recruits at different times arrived after briefing that taxed me causing me to repeat my briefing multiple times, gave up on fireteams that I started to set up prior and focused on buddy system feeling under the clock to get going. Loitering: Apache our Pilot had a graphics card problem and crashed at our first Loiter, confusion occurred going in and out choppers caused frustrations in the ranks of which helo to go, when after Apache Returned and another Helo was given to the bigger squad headed to loiter while adding another pilot and Soldier Andy, the former I kicked kindly since we had one, where Drakes Friendly Fire incident occurred. Size of Group prior to drop 11-12. AO-Moving to Objective: After Landing 3-4 players split from us and went over the hills running holstered, ignored instructions to stay on road asked for staggered column, only half managed to stay on the road, contact was made told them to focus on the road, this compromised intent of plan to clear the buildings along the road (Failed to relay that approach, forgot), relented and ordered the rest to join up, mass casualties occurred bar one, was taken town by ifrift that turneds its turret to me as I lined up launcher on it, revived by medic from demons group, those that respawned at base no attempt to communicate instead went on vehicles and drove, status unknown didn’t care, focused continued with half strength group to church. AO-Church: When secured there were initial instructions to move the pilots and blow up the helo if it couldn’t be flown but then where told to hold position instead and have demon go through the town, ANGEL contacts we dealt with EI West and North, 2 paradrops and spotted BTR-K, visually confirmed at the west of the castle? Reported it to Hades, Squad took it out. However we were down to 3 with no medic, not helped with 3 of them out in open outside the church and graves stonewall and me yelling at a AR charging the enemy by themselves, the rest alive instructed us to fall back into church, asked Hades twice if the pilots could be moved into the church since I couldn’t command them and there just standing up in the open, hoping they could be teleported inside by zeus, but I don’t think my intention was understood, the pilots would stand for last time, their fate one killed by ei the other during a cross fire with the reinforcements from Demon. AO-Extraction: Upon Requests to extract. Squad Proceeded north of the church to extraction dropped smoke only for the pilot to land at the church just as we called it in as instructed by Hades then dashed back only for the Hurons engine to quit and jumped out in times missiles from the West of church took it out, then we where instructed to head west to our AO, sure why not, there were casualties one papa(forget his full name) in the rear of our withdrawal that no one was handling, so I asked if the medic could come back and help me with the casualties with no reply, I still rushed back up spotted MANN combat lifesaver from a different squad told him to help them up as I covered, however after one was revived they both withdrew, as I yelled them to comeback in direct I then later got shotdown, later another team came up and revived the casualties and I took rear guard with papa as we withdrew I informed Hades of comprised team friendly fire of blackfish, in my mind concerned of another friendly fire and/or downed helo, Persona now a pilot in the blackfish arrived then withdrew. Performance Assessment Hades Performance: Decent, nothing critical communication good Phantoms Performance: Non-existing, to our efforts contributed little to ANGEL provided little or any intelligence of hostiles, unknown if they or just overall commander spotted the crashed helo? Angels Performance: Our conduct was embarrassing, little to no comms, little contact reports to work with, none where checking flanks or covering, Commendations to Andy for being the only soldier that stayed alive when all of us were down in the initial, tough even when directly instructed half followed others went on the offence, even when told to hold, got no chance to breath or take stock, also failed to speak with demon on alternative evac on organizing withdraw too a rush of soldiers, this delayed our withdraw, thanks to those that stayed with me and followed. Demons Performance: There contributions to Angel is to be commended to help in our times of need, though surprised no armour and had more numbers then even our group full strength. Zeus Performance: Questionable, overestimated the teams capability I’ve consider, if team better players involved it could’ve worked, placements of units and strengths where strange(Refer to question) Summary OP Primary Mission: Unknown ANGEL didn’t find or extract HVT at crash site (General Atwood), mission transferred to Demon, status unknown. Secondary Mission (Protect Pilots): Failed Secondary Mission (Destroy Crash Helo): Failed, too many friendlies about to tell the squad to blow it up. What I need to do next op: Priority 1: Get a 2IC (Second in Command) Credit Persona for suggestion Priority 2: Have the fireteams set up, don’t be worried about time compromising Set-up Priority 3: Get a SMEAC list prepped designed for Zeus operations so I don’t forget my approach, including a list of do nots, to get them outside the casual I&A mindset on operations. Priority 4: Try to test out players before brief, if I can even if it’s just the basic spacing then diamond and staggered column formations, finished with Leapfrogging. Feedback: Provided from the After action If server has a restart briefing is to occur an hour after to allow setup. Squads are to close their groups after the briefing. Have a Dedicated Pilot and Back-up in the loop setup by Overall Command for Ops to be on station for Transport of Personal and Assets. Have PLT1 Channel used as placing mission markers and contacts or Allow contact reports on side and to communicate with pilots rather then putting pilots in one of the squads for Overall Command to ask a squad commander to send a helo. Question: Could we instead of calling him Overall Commander, just call it commander, and the other squads something else such as ANGEL Actual/Lead it seem weird in writing and talking? Was the Commander and Zeus intentions and Expected strength of forces Shared? I’m still confused with what was said about zeus after OP about being only the enemy commander separate from our Commander to me it sounds like in D&D saying that a DM and Players should be living in their own worlds rather than one world, what I’m getting at is this: Did an accident or intentional placement of the forces that contradicts and breaks the immersion for the sake of challenge? And/Or If Commander and Zeus aren’t providing intentions and Expected strength of forces there making assumptions made on both ends to the forum briefing of the how the operation was to be handled resulting on conflicts with each other (living in their own worlds). [Am I thinking too deep on this point?] Example Commander Briefing Summary: Phantom Position your position is too keep an eye for infantry coming from the NE road to the town while Demon will repel vehicles and armour from the South. Actual Op # 1 Before Secure Church 1xIfrift then after church 1x BTR from the North? Why was an APC deployed north instead of the south? Where did the vehicles come from, did they come from the castle road east? Then how did Phantoms, and Persona(UAV) miss them [Thought Bubble when reading this again came to mind: There is no way His Excellency, The UN Deputy Undersecretary Persona non Grata, missed it, something else must be wrong] and not warn us prior and during the operation? Actual OP # 2: Squad told me mines where in the AO saw mine markers, did you place some in the town, and why? Actual OP # 3: Infantry ‘some’ with suppressors coming from the North and West of the Town, not East, was there any hint by UAV of an enemy camp in the forest or are they grown from the ground? Actual OP # 4: What happened to Nato Forces? “NATO, with the assistance of Task Force Straya, will be deployed to the area in order to secure the extraction of the Major-General stranded on the ground.” Actual OP # 5: Paratroopers!!!??? Thanks for the compliment, that account is accurate, I would say I wasn’t entertained, nothing from any of the Squads Managed to do what they where intended to do, Phatoms being wiped at the get go didn’t hear they managed to do what they wanted to spot they became infantry, Demon couldn’t get a pilot for vehicle drop, lost vehicles at the gas station and reinforces us as infantry squad in the end. And us I assumed light resistance of infantry in the town and at least a squad west, we clear all the buildings, one find the crash site we set up a defense perimeter, move the HVT and pilot in the center of AO ‘ANGEL HQ’ depending on size I set fireteams in 2-4 buildings and the EI come from N and S roads only any that go through Phantoms and Demons line but it didn’t happen some on my shoulder and some situation that even if we able to move the pilots which we couldn’t and I did tell the group multiple times the team wouldn’t have stayed put I think it’s something I should have expected from when we defended the church, let’s hope we have better success next time. Anyway, thanks for the OP, see you next time.

Thanks, I've dealt with modded public ops as a Player and Zeus so I assuming some shenanigans are to occur, even with the best of plans foiled from experience. Though I'm curious about how many where in the last operation just as a hint for prepping the Squad Size. Side question shouldn't our 'Overall' Commander have a call sign or do we go by the player name Guardian?

I offer my assistance as Angel Commander to fill the vacancy, will there be any commander briefing prior to the operation?

Permit me to be devil’s advocate, in this discussion. First the issue of the described first strike wave tactic by UAV and CAS working together, are you suggesting that the rules change that the UAV operator can’t give firemission request to support assets (CAS, Artillery, etc) anymore? If you are concerned from an infantry perspective, I can provide counters that it can be problematic depending on the AO especially · With smaller players sizes in the games. · Inconveniences players with some places that AA Dominates, meaning a competent pilot would have to drop us in places we may have to walk farther or otherwise be shutdown to be flown to again, though I have no problem running 1-3kms to new AOs rather then get in a chopper, but explain that to other players that don’t have the patients. · Assets we can’t see, target accurately, destroy or fellow players not bothering to engage (Hilly Terrain, Forest, Moving Vehicles): Finding and being able to deal with vehicle that are hampering our efforts can also be problematic dealing with a Tank that rapidly takes out soldiers with its turret machine guns being underequipped same for AA we at times don’t have enough explosives to destroy it and being out of reach of moving boats. If CAS and UAV sees targets that will hamper our fun and request to engage as long as the other rules are followed and see where the ordnances are being dropped I will reply with permission granted, to such asset. Next giving okay from main base (AKA the comic), I’ll be honest Haven’t heard that before, sure I’ve had pilots give permission granted so I've keeped an eye on them, so okay I’ll check that in future but the exaggerated comic has a negative view on CAS that lumps a worst case scenario to say justifies the rule, I’d argue that even if the rule to remove the ‘CAS REQUESTING PERMISSION TO ENGAGE ENEMY VEHICLE’ and ‘YEAH GO FOR IT’ the same result would still occur of the incompetent CAS and the troll player as i'll explain below sorry no artist. First Picture: {CAS is flying upsidedown, wheel gear up/down(based on perspective), as it collides with a helo}. CAS IS SHOT DOWN, SIDE: CAS IS ON STATION Second Picture: {Same guy but at the AO and has a laser pointer on an ally vehicle, additionally the feed shows the prior conversation} CAS IS SHOT DOWN, KERRY: CAS IS ON STATION, SIDE: LAZING ENEMY VEHICLE CAS ENGAGE, CAS IS SHOT DOWN. Third Picture: {It stays the same except showing a destroyed friendly vehicle and multiple bodies of friendlies surrounding it} Fourth Picture: {Changes side channel from CAS to TROLL} example: SIDE [TROLL]: WAS THAT FRIENDLY? OooPS, SIDE [TROLL]: JUST RESPAWN, NEXT TARGET?, CAS IS SHOT DOWN. Another thing I thought about while writing this is if there where ways around this potential rule such as approaching it on Semantics. Such as if I can’t say CAS: Requesting to engage enemy Boat on the map SIDE [AO Soldier]: Sure take out the boats To CAS: Advising of enemy boats on the map CAS is prepared to engage them upon your request. SIDE [AO Soldier]: Sure take out the boats Would this circumvent the rule but be still the same problem? Perhaps it might be better to do a Firemission Checklist on engaging targets that a good even inexperienced player will eventually reach here’s a draft: Firemission Checklist: This Checklist applies to CAS and Firesupport (Check, Invade & Annex Jet/CAS/Artillery ROE for Classification) If you haven't or failed to do these listed actions you are to abort the mission/run of the target/s. 1.Have you either, Received a Request(A) or Given a Request(B)?: (A) Received a Request: Any ground force that is not a JET/CAS/Pilot/Artillery person from the proximity of the AO to Request you to engage (B) Given a Request: You have made a request for a set target/s to be destroyed and have been responded with an Acknowledgement from ground forces that is not a JET/CAS/Pilot/Artillery person from the proximity of the AO. 2. Is the Request/Acknowledgement Genuine? -Was the Request/Acknowledgement made through Side Channel? -Was it Directed at You? -Can you confirm if the originator of the Request/Acknowledgement location is either a UAV operator or is a soldier on the ground near the AO? -Does it Specify the Targets Type especially if there more than one? -Is the Position of the Target based on a marker, smoke grenade or laze and can it too be specified if there more than one? -Is the target not near any places you aren’t allowed to hit? -YOU CHECK FOR NO FRIENDLIES ON THAT POSITION? 3.Have you acknowledge your mission/run? -Have you replied in Side Channel? -Have you notified the TS of your mission/run? 4.When about to commence the mission/run? -Have you checked any updates on the target? -Is the target not near any places you aren’t allowed to hit? - YOU CHECK FOR NO FRIENDLIES ON THAT POSITION? 5.When doing your mission/run -You didn’t receive any request to abort? -YOU DIDN’T SEE ANY FRIENDLIES ON THAT POSITION? Anyways, sorry for the long message, have another good day. Just as an aside nitpick to the main discussion, I find players that are challenged and entertain be a better then 'fun' as a subjective never reaching tug of war of one’s idea of fun over another. Such cases in the AO of a When being in the tank at Malden on Friday the 11th and having 3 AOs the armour was on hill supported by helo dropping crates of different services for most part engaging at will with depending on the ground vocal request for support through group channel, no complaints I recall sent by ground for doing so, yes we can argue the map designs plays a role but the same thing can happen in other maps is a most certain scenario to occur, that even I wonder where are ROEs for armour at least bear minimum like don’t shoot the Tower and HQ for the same reasons?