Attacking fighters always outnumbered???

[Joe Perez]

There is something I may fail to understand. I just purchased the game and went online to try a campaign against the AI, Battle of Britain. I figured I'd choose the Axis, and when allocating resources I got a message that I could not place more than 2 elements in each target zone. That meant that if I put a bomber in a target area I could also place only 1 fighter. Needless to say at the end of placement I found in EVERY area 2 British fighter elements, and I was outnumbered 2 to 1 in EVERY fighter combat. It didn't take long for my 1 element to be wiped by 2 opposing elements, and then the bombers went next. Was there something I missed in the placement phase or are these rediculous matchups intended? Of course it occured that I could place NO bombers in a target zone, but then you automatically give up the points for that zone.

[Moon]

You're not missing anything. There can indeed be up to 2 intercepting elements but only one escorting element (unless you send no bombers, but then you'll automatically lose... although sometimes that IS a valid tactic to decimate the other guy's roster...)

The reason this is done is because the intercepting pilots rarely have an easy job shooting down bombers. Especially medium or heavy bombers at high altitudes can be very difficult to shot down, even without your interference.

Also, you have to learn to adjust your tactics as the escort. You are no longer hunting enemy fighters but have to learn to try to keep the attacking elements away from the bombers. Once you do, you will notice that the balance 2v1 is just about right for dogfights.

Some day in the future, when the game would allow more than 2v2, other constellations will be possible of course...

Martin

[bartbert]

The other thing to keep in mind in the campaign game is fatigue. If you play through a few turns, you will see that the British player cannot put 2 fighters in every area on every turn. If he does, his pilots will be so fatigued that they will fall out of the sky with slightest pressure.

The same is true as the Germans. You cannot bomb every area on every turn. Pick your targets carefully to maximize your points and minimize his. Sometimes you send in just enough bombers to damage the target to deny the British the points for that area.