quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Dixon

All,

So about how many pilots should one have in TRACOM?

Thanks

Mike

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike Dixon

All,

So about how many pilots should one have in TRACOM?

Thanks

Mike

That's the $64,000 question. The developers are intentionally quiet about that subject. They want us to figure it out ourselves. [:D] Early on, Michaelm (I believe it was him but I may be mistaken) said that it was good to allocate them in groups of 10. All I can say is that I've had 10 IJN pilots and 5 IJA pilots in TRACOM and it hasn't done a bit of good. *Shrug*

quote:

ORIGINAL: ckammp

Hopefully Helpful Hints - Pilots


I. Types of Pilot Pools

 A) Replacement Pool - low-experience pilots who are recent graduates of the off-map training program.
 B) Reserve Pool - experienced pilots, assigned into 3 sectons: Group Reserve, General Reserve, TRACOM.
   1) Group Reserve - This includes the following pilots:
     a) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but who have a delayed arrival date.
     b) Pilots assigned to an inactive unit. (the unit has not yet arrived)
     c) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but WIA.
     d) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but inactive due to too many pilots in the unit.
     e) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but inactive due to too few planes in the unit.
      f) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but inactive in order to be transferred. 
    2) General Reserve - This includes the following pilots:
     a) Pilots not assigned to any unit.
     b) Pilots whose unit was permanently disbanded/withdrawn.
     c) Pilots whose unit was destroyed while they were inactive due to WIA.
     d) Pilots transferred from Group Reserve.
     e) Pilots in General Reserve are grouped by type. (Bomber, Fighter, Patrol)
      f) Pilot type is determined by either the editor or unit type.
    3) TRACOM - This includes the following pilots:
      a) High experience (80+) pilots assigned by the player.
      b) Pilots in TRACOM help to speed up the off-map training program. 
C) Trainee Pool - pilots training in the off-map training program. Available only if the other Pools are empty.


II. Transferring Pilots

A) From unit to Group Reserve
   1) From the air unit's information screen, click "Pilots".
   2) Left-click the name of the pilot, then click "Yes".
   3) The pilot will remain in the unit list, but greyed-out. The pilot will now also be listed in "Group Reserve".
B) From unit to General Reserve
   1) From the air unit's information screen, click "Pilots".
   2) Left-click the name of the pilot, then click "Yes".
   3) Left-click the name of the pilot again, then click "Yes".
   4) The pilot is no longer in the unit list. The pilot will now be listed in "General Reserve".
C) From General Reserve to TRACOM
   1) Eligible pilots' names appear in yellow in the General reserve list.
   2) Click the name of the pilot, then click "Yes".
D) Limitations of Transfers
   1) Pilots assigned to units due to withdraw
     a) Pilots in these units can transfer to Group Reserve with no restrictions.
     b) Pilots in these units can transfer to General Reserve if the following condition is met:
         - The # of pilots in the unit exceeds the maximum # of planes +1.
         - e.g. if a unit can have 13 planes, there must be at least 15 pilots.
     c) Pilots in excess of maximum planes +1 can transfer to General Reserve.
     e) Pilots in these units eligible to transfer are randomly determined.


III. Assigning Pilots to Units

A) From the Replacement Pool
   1) From the air unit's information screen, click "Get New Pilot".
     a) Each click will assign 1 pilot, up to the maximum allowed.
   2) From the air unit's information screen, click "Get # Pilots".
     a) This will give the unit it's maximum allowed pilots at once.
   3) The pilot(s) will now be listed on the air unit's "Pilots" list.
 B) From the Reserve Pool
   1) From the air unit's information screen, click "Request Veteran".
   2) Click the name of the desired pilot, then click "Yes".
   3) If transfer delay is less then 6 days, the pilot will be listed on the air unit's "Pilots" list.
C) Transfer Delay
   1) There is a random, up to 15 days, delay for pilots transferring from the Reserve Pools.
   2) Pilots with a delay of 6 days or less will show up immediately in the assigned unit's "Pilot" list.
   3) Pilots with a delay of 7-15 days will be listed under Group Reserve until the delay is 6 days.
   4) Pilots with a delay of 7-15 days will not be listed in their units "Pilot" list until the delay is 6 days.  
                 

quote:

ORIGINAL: Icedawg

quote:

ORIGINAL: ckammp

Hopefully Helpful Hints - Pilots


I. Types of Pilot Pools

 A) Replacement Pool - low-experience pilots who are recent graduates of the off-map training program.
 B) Reserve Pool - experienced pilots, assigned into 3 sectons: Group Reserve, General Reserve, TRACOM.
   1) Group Reserve - This includes the following pilots:
     a) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but who have a delayed arrival date.
     b) Pilots assigned to an inactive unit. (the unit has not yet arrived)
     c) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but WIA.
     d) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but inactive due to too many pilots in the unit.
     e) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but inactive due to too few planes in the unit.
      f) Pilots assigned to an active unit, but inactive in order to be transferred. 
    2) General Reserve - This includes the following pilots:
     a) Pilots not assigned to any unit.
     b) Pilots whose unit was permanently disbanded/withdrawn.
     c) Pilots whose unit was destroyed while they were inactive due to WIA.
     d) Pilots transferred from Group Reserve.
     e) Pilots in General Reserve are grouped by type. (Bomber, Fighter, Patrol)
      f) Pilot type is determined by either the editor or unit type.
    3) TRACOM - This includes the following pilots:
      a) High experience (80+) pilots assigned by the player.
      b) Pilots in TRACOM help to speed up the off-map training program. 
C) Trainee Pool - pilots training in the off-map training program. Available only if the other Pools are empty.


II. Transferring Pilots

A) From unit to Group Reserve
   1) From the air unit's information screen, click "Pilots".
   2) Left-click the name of the pilot, then click "Yes".
   3) The pilot will remain in the unit list, but greyed-out. The pilot will now also be listed in "Group Reserve".
B) From unit to General Reserve
   1) From the air unit's information screen, click "Pilots".
   2) Left-click the name of the pilot, then click "Yes".
   3) Left-click the name of the pilot again, then click "Yes".
   4) The pilot is no longer in the unit list. The pilot will now be listed in "General Reserve".
C) From General Reserve to TRACOM
   1) Eligible pilots' names appear in yellow in the General reserve list.
   2) Click the name of the pilot, then click "Yes".
D) Limitations of Transfers
   1) Pilots assigned to units due to withdraw
     a) Pilots in these units can transfer to Group Reserve with no restrictions.
     b) Pilots in these units can transfer to General Reserve if the following condition is met:
         - The # of pilots in the unit exceeds the maximum # of planes +1.
         - e.g. if a unit can have 13 planes, there must be at least 15 pilots.
     c) Pilots in excess of maximum planes +1 can transfer to General Reserve.
     e) Pilots in these units eligible to transfer are randomly determined.


III. Assigning Pilots to Units

A) From the Replacement Pool
   1) From the air unit's information screen, click "Get New Pilot".
     a) Each click will assign 1 pilot, up to the maximum allowed.
   2) From the air unit's information screen, click "Get # Pilots".
     a) This will give the unit it's maximum allowed pilots at once.
   3) The pilot(s) will now be listed on the air unit's "Pilots" list.
 B) From the Reserve Pool
   1) From the air unit's information screen, click "Request Veteran".
   2) Click the name of the desired pilot, then click "Yes".
   3) If transfer delay is less then 6 days, the pilot will be listed on the air unit's "Pilots" list.
C) Transfer Delay
   1) There is a random, up to 15 days, delay for pilots transferring from the Reserve Pools.
   2) Pilots with a delay of 6 days or less will show up immediately in the assigned unit's "Pilot" list.
   3) Pilots with a delay of 7-15 days will be listed under Group Reserve until the delay is 6 days.
   4) Pilots with a delay of 7-15 days will not be listed in their units "Pilot" list until the delay is 6 days.  
                 

Thanks for the nice summary/guide. It is quite helpful.

I have a bit of a problem though. I was playing around with moving pilots around and noticed something that seemed odd. I moved some pilots from a group of Claudes into the the General Reserve. I then went to another Claude unit and clicked "request veteran". Only one of the four or five pilots I moved was listed as a potential choice (and he had lower experience than some of the other guys I transferred). Why aren't the others listed as well?

Also, shouldn't these guys be available by tranferring from the Reserve Pool as well (without having to use "request veteran")?

Is there some sort of delay from going into the Reserve and becoming available to be taken from the Reserve? If so, are some pilots delayed while others are not?

quote:

ORIGINAL: jeffs

Where can I move a pilot in group reserve to?

quote:

ORIGINAL: ckammp

Because of this delay, if you want a pilot to go to a specific unit, it is better to transfer the desired pilot straight to the desired unit, rather than transfer the pilot to General Reserve, then to the desired unit.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Icedawg

quote:

ORIGINAL: ckammp

Because of this delay, if you want a pilot to go to a specific unit, it is better to transfer the desired pilot straight to the desired unit, rather than transfer the pilot to General Reserve, then to the desired unit.

Thanks for the clarification. I should have read the bit about delays a bit more carefully. I've got a bit of a question though. How do you transfer pilots straight to the desired unit? I thought you had to go through the Reserve Pool.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jeffs

Hi..I did try number 4 of this
Pilots in Group Reserve can be transferred to 4 places:


4) Transferred to General Reserve. (left-click their greyed-out name on their unit's Pilots Screen)

I was only give the choice of making the pilot active.....What was I doing wrong?
I guess how do I get the active pilot into group reserve?

Thanks...This is a giant pain....

quote:

ORIGINAL: jeffs

Hi..I did try number 4 of this
Pilots in Group Reserve can be transferred to 4 places:


4) Transferred to General Reserve. (left-click their greyed-out name on their unit's Pilots Screen)

I was only give the choice of making the pilot active.....What was I doing wrong?
I guess how do I get the active pilot into group reserve?

Thanks...This is a giant pain....

quote:

ORIGINAL: olperfessor

I cannot figure out (1) why, when transferring pilots from the general reserves to a unit, they sometimes do not then appear in that unit's pilot listing (some do appear, with a delay specified, others don't); (2) why the air unit screen's pilot total list is sometimes less than the actual number of pilots listed, since delayed pilots seem to be ale to be accounted for by parentheses in some air units); (3) the effect, if any, of transferring a pilot from a unit that has not yet arrived. No big deal, just curious about whether I am missing something.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jeffs

Thanks ckammp

I will try on my next turn...

I have a whole bunch of fairly good pilots left in the PI (they did rather well against what was thrown at them...Including zeroes)...
I want the survivors back home and no idea how to get them there.....

I think they will like the P-38!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Okay...are there really players that want and enjoy this kind of micromanagement?

quote:

ORIGINAL: witpqs

You get to manage pilots but not aircraft crews, and ships' captains but not ships crews. They are consistent.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Okay...are there really players that want and enjoy this kind of micromanagement?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steve Sv

To summarize my very limited understanding of pilot training and the approach I am planning to use as Japan ...

1) Transfer several experience pilots to Tracom early in the war. These pilots will enhance the skills of pilots graduating from the 12-month training program. An additional benefit to this transfer may be that the experienced pilots will be available to transfer back to the combat units later in the war when Japan is in desperate need of high-qulity pilots.
No. TRACOM does nothing to enhance the experience of pilots in the 12-month training program other than allowing them to graduate sooner with the same experience level.

2) When the first class of pilot graduates arrive, I will assign them to training groups based in Japan. These groups will fly training missions until the pilots have reached a level of experience I deem sufficient at which time I will transfer them to the reserve pool to eventually be assigned to combat units. New graduates from the basic-training program will then be assigned to the training groups.
Yes as long as you consider that the pilots in the "trained" pool at the first turn are "graduates" who have already arrived.

Questions abound:

Is the outlined approach reasonable? Are there step(s) that should be added? Will it help the graduate pilots in the advanced training program to learn more quickly if I include experienced pilots in the training group? What kind of air groups should I use as training groups? For instance, if I wish to train bomber pilots can I do so with obsolete planes and will these pilots still be qualified to fly the more advanced bombers they will fly once they are transferred to combat units? I am considering transferring 10 army and 10 navy pilots to Tracom. Is this a reasonable number?
yes. Assign a leader with a high leadership (?? anyway the first leader attribute on the list) since that is the only attirbure that matters for training. In classic WitP you could gain a skill by osmosis when a low skill pilot was in the same unit with a high skill pilot; I find that that is still true in AE so I assign a single pilot with a skill level above my training target to remain in the training group and serve as an example for the others.

The manual indicates that some air groups are defined (as the manual puts it) as training groups that can only be used for training - no combat missions possible for these groups. I have the impression that this information is obsolete and that there are no such groups in the game and it is not possible to create them. Is this impression correct?

I am not sure at all how carrier training works. I am guessing that I can use one or both of the carriers that start the game in Japan for training carrier pilots. I have noticed that all or almost all of the carrier-capable aircraft that start the game at a land base are not designated as carrier trained. If I transfer one or more of these groups to a "designated training carrier" and assign the group to training missions will the group eventually be upgraded from carrier capable to carrier trained? If not will at least the pilots become carrier trained? Is there a way to tell which pilots in the reserve pools are carrier trained? If using one of Japanese carriers to train carrier pilots is the way to go should I take it out to sail around a bit as the pilots are trained or is it sufficient to have the training done in Tokyo Harbor, for instance.
Carrier pilots can be trained quite nicely at shore establishments since there is not "carrier trained" flag for the pilot, only for the a/c. Just train them as usual and then assign pilots from the reserve pool to carrier air groups.

Thank you very much for any and all answers that more experienced players can provide.

quote:

To summarize my very limited understanding of pilot training and the approach I am planning to use as Japan ...

1) Transfer several experience pilots to Tracom early in the war. These pilots will enhance the skills of pilots graduating from the 12-month training program. An additional benefit to this transfer may be that the experienced pilots will be available to transfer back to the combat units later in the war when Japan is in desperate need of high-qulity pilots.

Steve Sv

quote:

2) When the first class of pilot graduates arrive, I will assign them to training groups based in Japan. These groups will fly training missions until the pilots have reached a level of experience I deem sufficient at which time I will transfer them to the reserve pool to eventually be assigned to combat units. New graduates from the basic-training program will then be assigned to the training groups.

quote:

Is the outlined approach reasonable? Are there step(s) that should be added? Will it help the graduate pilots in the advanced training program to learn more quickly if I include experienced pilots in the training group? What kind of air groups should I use as training groups? For instance, if I wish to train bomber pilots can I do so with obsolete planes and will these pilots still be qualified to fly the more advanced bombers they will fly once they are transferred to combat units? I am considering transferring 10 army and 10 navy pilots to Tracom. Is this a reasonable number?

quote:

I am not sure at all how carrier training works. I am guessing that I can use one or both of the carriers that start the game in Japan for training carrier pilots. I have noticed that all or almost all of the carrier-capable aircraft that start the game at a land base are not designated as carrier trained. If I transfer one or more of these groups to a "designated training carrier" and assign the group to training missions will the group eventually be upgraded from carrier capable to carrier trained? If not will at least the pilots become carrier trained? Is there a way to tell which pilots in the reserve pools are carrier trained? If using one of Japanese carriers to train carrier pilots is the way to go should I take it out to sail around a bit as the pilots are trained or is it sufficient to have the training done in Tokyo Harbor, for instance.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miller
One thing I dont understand is the practice of placing high exp pilots into training command. I have thousands of replacement pilots waiting to be assigned, so why do I need to accelerate more???