I am going to be placing addenda material here for the upcoming Hell-Divers! event. Look back here for updates coming soon. For now, I just have one issue.
Some of the blue players brought it to my attention that taking off in the B5N2 was real problematic if not impossible in a standard set-up. The only solution they found was turning around and actually moving back further to the end of the carrier to take off. This is not really a decent solution because of the time and complexity involved in doing this.
Now, I know for a fact that as difficult as it is, you can take off in the B5 as long as you take 50% FUEL max and rev everything up. I have posted a track ("B5N2takeoff") on our board to show just such a takeoff from the IJN training mission. It CAN be done, but it takes practice and a little finesse. Also, I thought that by having other plane types spawn ahead of the B5's, it would push them back far enough on the carriers to give them the same space they would have after "backing up".
I would ask blue to study the track and practice a bit more and try the ordered spawn idea to see if it helps. Perhaps you guys can get together and test it out.
Having said all that, if by this weekend the majority of blue feel still feel that the B5 takeoff is just too difficult (and it is BY FAR the most difficult takeoff of the entire mission, I hear ya) then I have a couple of possible workarounds that, while not ideal, might help. I would prefer to not have to use them, but please understand that if blue really feels this will be a major hinderance, I understand and I will make the changes gladly. I want the B5 to be usable for the campaign for both fun and play-balance.
Let me know by friday or saturday what the verdict is and we'll go forward from there. Thanks, Gents!