TAW FAQ

[Kai Lae]

Since we now have a TAW squadron, I thought I'd write up a FAQ for it, because unlike wings of derpity (WOL) it has some rules you need to know and you have to actually think about your actions. I've played every campaign that they've run except the first one, so I know how all this stuff works. I'll go through some things that you need to know:

Q: What is TAW (Tactical Air War)?
A: TAW is a server that runs as a persistent online campaign. The campaign is broken into roughly 1 hour, 40 minute missions. After that time passes, the map is updated with what happened in the previous mission. Front lines move, cities are taken, etc. While I've never played Storm of War, I've been told that while it has definite differences it is similar in general conception.

Q: How do I get started?
A: First, in order to get involved, you must register. This is because players after registration are locked to a side, either German or Russian (some exceptions, covered later). To register, you go to the TAW website, which is at http://taw.stg2.de/index.php. When you do this, you select a side, and select if you prefer bombers, fighters or either. This selection controls what planes get added to your hangar first (covered shortly). That's all you need to get started.

Q: My hangar? What is that?
A: When you register, each pilot has a hangar of aircraft they have available for them to use. For example, this is mine: http://taw.stg2.de/pilot.php?name=No.615_Kai_Lae. Each time you enter the server, you can only take a plane you have in your hangar. If you take something, and you lose it, it's gone and not available any more. It is possible to be able to have several of one type of plane, whenever it says 1/2, 2/3 etc, that means that you can have a maximum of 2 in the first case or 3 in the second case. The hangar also shows what your current stats are, what the results of your missions have been, and any earned combat missions (explained next). It is important to only use a plane you have in your hangar. Trying to use one you don't have will cause you to be booted from the server. All missions are clickable to see anything that happened in the mission, such as who you just sandbagged, how many ground targets you got on that pass, etc. Status update in real time, however they are not logged until the flight you are on is completed (landed, crashed, bailed out, etc). Like in ACG, your pilot is tracked and gets promoted in success, earns decorations, etc. Death applies a heavy penalty to these.

Q: Combat missions? What are those?
A: Combat missions are how you add planes into your hangar that you don't already have. A combat mission is earned when you take off, manage to fly for at least 15 minutes without being killed, and land. You also earn one if you take off, kill something (ground or air target) and land - but the timer is lower, 5 minutes. Each time you do so, you earn one combat mission. When you get 3 of these in a row, a random plane is added to your hangar. If you chose fighters over bombers, it's a fighter until you have no free fighter slots. Bombers is bombers until no free bomber slots, then you start earning fighters. You get the idea. If you die (pilot death) or are captured before you get 3 combat missions, the counter resets to zero. So, avoid both.

Q: Ok, so I understand the registration and hangar bit. How do I help my side towards victory?
A. There are 3 absolute win conditions on TAW. First, is taking all their territory. Second, is shooting down all their aircraft. Third, is killing all their pilots. The progress towards each of these can be seen on the TAW home page, at http://taw.stg2.de/index.php. Once a side runs out of any of these, then the map is won by the other side, and it moves on to the next map. There are 8 maps total, so whomever wins 5 first wins overall. That's the basics.

Q: The basics? What about the advanced?
A: Best thing is to...well, read the F'ng manual, which is found here: http://taw.stg2.de/manual.php. But the best way to success? Don't be a lemming. Don't go alone unless you have no choice. Coordinate with teammates and have someone watching your six. Fight smart.

Q: Help! ACG is doing side X but I registered for side Y! What do I do?
A: You can either do one of 2 things. Create a new BoS game account, and register under that for the side you want to play, or contact the server operators and ask them to fix it, which can be done on the forum thread for TAW (located here: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/21 ... l-air-war/) or by just contacting them on their discord (https://discord.gg/9hth3XH).

Q: Discord? WTF is that?
A: It's a communication program, like teamspeak with integrated chat. I'd actually say it's primarily a chat client that can do voice comms. Apparently it is like the business communication program slack (idk, never used it). If you don't have it I highly recommend getting it, as it's becoming more and more common in the IL-2 community and overall. For a review of what it is you can read this: https://stormbirds.blog/2017/07/25/will ... community/. Discord's advantage is that it can be accessed on a tablet, cell phone, or desktop and it works the same. TAW server has a discord where they take questions and fix issues. I also recommend joining Sheriff's discord because when TAW is underway almost everyone there plays on it and it's a good place for related discussions; you can join that by following this link: https://discord.gg/U2fjnvE.

And jesus christ, no, it's not a link(s) to A. Being rickrolled B. Goatse or C. Tentacle Porn.

That about covers it. I'll just add in an observation from what I've seen in the past how campaigns go:

Germans: More numerous. Very uncoordinated, tend to be newer players. Said players don't read or fully understand the manual. Usually lose because of this.
Russians: Usually outnumbered. More experienced players who cooperate. Understands how to play the game and play effectively. Usually win.

[Jaydog]

Good write up and info Kai Lae!