Pilot Training
Some people might say that asking the player of a game that covers almost every detail of the Pacific war - from the largest campaign down to individual mines in the sea - to involve himself in what virtually amounts to the manual training of every single pilot who finds himself in-theater is possibly asking too much. They may have a point.
WiTP players are divided into two groups: those who enjoy the micro-management of pilot training and those of us who hate it with a passion. It involves enough mouse clicking to give you RSI, is only a little bit faster than glacially slow, and is unfortunately of paramount importance to anyone who wants to be able to win.
All Squadrons start with a number of pilots of differing degrees of skill or, to be accurate, skills. They also each have an experience rating.
Green pilots can be drawing out of the pool and into squadrons but their skills and experience will be rather low, hence the need for training. It's not my intention here to talk in detail about the best current theories on pilot training; anyone looking for a detailed breakdown on various training stratagems should mosey on over to Matrix and have a look through one of the many threads that has been written on the subject. One thing I will point out is that you should always fill out those training squadron with as many pilots as possible, and it's also worth noting that they train as well with one aircraft as they would with 20 so you can turn replacements off for those squads and have airframe replacements go somewhere they are actually needed.
So, what have I done with my guys?
Most of my bomber squadrons who are not currently involved in combat are training in one of three area: General training, Low level naval bombing and ground attack. I could also train them in port or airfield attack, for the time being, these three are the better choices.
Patrol aircraft squadrons are training on ASW patrol or naval search. At some point I'll swap them over to train them on the other. I may even train a few on naval attack as well just in case an opportunity presents itself.
Fighters are all set to train on escort as I think this gives a better selection of all round skills than Sweep.
Float plane pilots are being trained in fighter sweep. It sounds strange but they are really the only place I can train up fresh carrier pilots so I have to use them some what unrealistically.
When a pilot in a 'training squadron' reaches 50+ experience, he will be removed and placed in the pilot pools from which other squadrons draw their personnel. Below is an example of a sqaudron whose pilots are reaching the transfer point:
Green numbers mean that the pilot has trained in that skill in the last day, orange that he has trained in it over the last month.
As it is somewhat difficult to improve pilot experience beyond 50, or a skill beyond 70 without actual combat experience, this is a natural point to 'cull' training pilots. In another few days I will begin the laborious process of going through my training squadrons and sending all pilots I think are good enough into the pilot pool.
The squadron pictured above is one of the better ones training wise, and as you can see from the text at the upper left hand side, it is attached to IV Us Fighter Command which is permanently restricted, meaning that this squadron isn't going over seas which makes it perfect for training. I use all restricted command squadrons for training, that includes temporary restricted units until they eventually ship out.
I am no expert on pilot training, and I find it pretty difficult to keep abreast of it as I play the game. In previous campaigns my approach has been rather hit and miss but this time I am determined to do it better.