CS Game Scale - Manual Style

[Herr Straße Laufer]

Perhaps you could explain this to me?

This is all the manual says about Air Planes in CS. Until the inclusion of "on map" air CS always was a land combat game where Air Planes, and for that matter ships, were "abstracts".
As Erik pointed out your math is flawed. Also your premise is flawed, due to the abstract nature of planes offered by the original designers?
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Page 21

Select Air Attack to initiate an Air Attack on the currently Hot-Spotted hex. A targeting marker is placed to denote the impending air strike, but the attack is always delayed at least one turn, sometimes several. Once plotted, an Air Attack cannot be cancelled.

Page 29 - *discusses the tool bar image and map hot spot*

Page 59

5.16 Air Attacks
At the start of each turn, you will be informed of how many Air Attacks you have remaining for use during the entire scenario (which also includes the current turn). If you use all of your listed Air Attacks in one turn, you will not have any to use in following turns. Due to the importance and strength of Air Attacks, it is usually wise to be conservative in their usage. Not every scenario will have Air Attacks available.
To call for an Air Attack, select (“Hot Spot“) the location you wish to attack by left clicking on it once. Then simply press the Air Attack button on the Tool Bar. A crosshairs icon will be placed in the selected location (the same icon used to denote an “on call” Indirect Fire attack).
Only one Air Attack may be plotted per location. If you want more than one Air Attack to hit in the same area, simply plot the additional one in a nearby location.
IMPORTANT: Once plotted, an Air Attack cannot be cancelled or re-plotted, so be sure to have the proper location selected when you plot the attack.
Each Air Attack has been individually modeled with unique “hard” and “soft” Attack Values, as well as an individual Defense Value. The number of Strength Points that a given Air Attack represents varies depending upon the plane type.
A plotted Air Attack has a 65% chance of arrival on each turn (and each turn thereafter until it arrives). An arriving Air Attack will not always attack the target you pick; it will “search” for a proper target within about a five hex radius of its plotted hex. The more targets that there are within that radius the less likely it is that the Air Attack will hit the plotted location. There is even a slight chance that an Air Attack may make a mistake and attack a “friendly” unit! Therefore, it is advisable not to request an Air Attack in an area that has a lot of friendly units.
If a side has more than one type of Air Attack assigned to it, the Air Attack that arrives is randomly determined from the “pool” of Air Attacks for that side (as determined by the scenario designer). The types and number of Air Attack(s) still available to a side in a scenario (if any) can be viewed by selecting “Available Air Support” from the Status pop-down menu. This information is not shown for the opposing side if a Fog of War option is on.

Page 121

13.18 Picking Out Air Attacks
Air Attacks are set by selecting Airplanes... from the “Scenario” pop-down menu. The Dialog that appears lists all Air Attacks available, grouped according to nationality. Most nationalities have several Air Attack types to choose from. To add an Air Attack, select the desired type then press the Add button to add one Air Attack of that type for that nationality.

Page 137

Air Attacks are handy for tank-busting, especially the heavier tanks that may be difficult for your ground units to damage or destroy. Don’t be in a rush to use your Air Attacks early as the mere threat of them can keep your opponent worried for a longer period of time. Watch for stationary tanks in clear hexes if possible, as Air Attacks against units in good defensive terrain aren’t as effective. Don’t be afraid to use them against larger-caliber AT guns and artillery, especially when they are out of your artillery’s range. Also, be wary of enemy AA as they can damage an Air Attack. When you are subject to enemy Air Attacks, remember that movement is the best defense. Not being where you’re expected to be (in case an opponent is presumptive in placing Air Attacks) may save you losses.

Page 160 (FAQ Section)

Why don’t air attacks always arrive next turn or attack the intended target?
A. Tactical air support doesn’t always arrive immediately. Planes may not have been in the vicinity to respond to the request, or they might be delayed (even temporarily). They might also have been bounced by an enemy air patrol. So having air support arrive later, or even not at all, reflects a more fluid battlefield situation. Even if air support does arrive, it might not attack the intended target.

Page 171 (New Units)

21.2 Reconnaissance and Bombers (On Map Aircraft)
Design considerations for On-Map aircraft:
These units can fly anywhere on the map, but cannot over fly opposing forces or capture Victory Point Locations.
These units are not intended to be used in assaults or assisting in assaults.
Both function as any other unit in the game, requiring a fresh turn to see what is in their Line of Sight.
On-Map Bombers have the ability of flying to a target and targeting a hex or two. On-Map Bombers will lose their ability to attack again once their bomb load is expended.
Scenario design considerations for On-Map Aircraft:
The Reconnaissance Aircraft and Bombers can be powerful units on the map, and is best suited for scenarios that cover a large map area.
Typically, each Panzer Division had one Storch assigned to it for liaison and reconnaissance duties.
With the improved light Anti-Aircraft, they are vulnerable to AA fire, and can shoot down bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. It is highly recommend including some of these if you intend on including On-Map Aircraft as part of your design, otherwise the aircraft will be able to roam at will.
See the East Front ** BOOTCAMP #6 to see these air units in action
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As abstracts planes and ships are not "in scale" so, try to find an example of a land unit not being in scale. And, to aid in consistency, find an original unit that was from the original designers and not one added later?



RR