Very Confused About Pilot Pools

[Icedawg]

What exactly do the pools and "request verteran" function do?

I know TRACOM is the pool you send 80+ exp pilots to in order to speed training of quality replacement pilots.

What does sending a pilot to the reserve pool do? I assume it makes him available for reassignment to another squadron, right? Now I have two questions about this. Is there a delay associated with this? If so, how long? Also, if I send a fighter pilot to the reserve pool, what is to keep him from being reassigned to a bomber, recon, patrol or other non-fighter squadron? (I obvioulsy want my pilots assigned to squadrons based on their skills.)

Also, what is the point of making a pilot "inactive for 180 days" as one of the pop-up windows says?

Finally, what is and how does the "request veteran" button work? Every time I click on it, I get the same pilot choice regardless of squadron type. What's the point of assigning a veteran fighter pilot to a bomber squadron? And why is there only one pilot available every time?

[Icedawg]

Now I'm even more confused. I just discovered that there is a manual mode and an automatic mode. I just fiddled around with these buttons on the air unit info screen and became completely and utterly confused.

Is there a written summary of how these pools and pilot replacement buttons work?

I just checked the manual, and there was nothing of use there.

HELP? [:(]

[Rob Brennan UK]

Righty ho .. try the manual - pilot addendum -- released in one of the patches .

should be in the manuals folder where you installed AE.

I would upload it but i dont know how in these forums . sorry.

It doesnt cover all your questions and i can't be 100% accurate in my reply but i have been using the move pilots to general pools recently from some training sqds (wirraways) they appeared the next turn iirc. you can set repacements to pilots of a certain exp and the AI will usually pull in the pilots with the most appropriate skill when you request them. Tracking all named pilots ive mucked about with would ne a nightmare but overall i find it quite intuitive once i tried it for a few days.

It is quite complicated and daunting at 1st , so dont worry overmuch about it untill your confident of the overall game then delve into the more arcane aspects (pilots being one of them).

request veterans only works if you have pilots over exp 80 ? in the reserve pools. so in a small scenario you wont have many/any to mess about with. could be why your only seeing one.

Just percevere and read the addendum manual. if i can answer any more questions i'll certainly try for you. I am no expert however.

good Luck

[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 7 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 7 days or less will show up immediately in the assigned unit's "Pilot" list.
   3) Pilots with a delay of 8-15 days will be listed under Group Reserve until the delay is 7 days.
   4) Pilots with a delay of 8-15 days will not be listed in their units "Pilot" list until the delay is 7 days.  
                 

[lazydawg]

I've found the pilot management routines to be kind of hit-or-miss. One strange thing I keep seeing is a constant stream of inexperienced pilots being dumped into TRACOM. For example, here is my current listing of US Army pilots in TRACOM; what's up with this ?

[Nomad]

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 two conditions are met:
         - The unit has it's maximum number of planes
         - The unit has it's maximum number of pilots
     c) If these conditions are met, 3-4 pilots in Fighter units can transfer to General Reserve
     d) If these conditions are met, 1-2 pilots in Bomber groups 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 7 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 7 days or less will show up immediately in the assigned unit's "Pilot" list.
   3) Pilots with a delay of 8-15 days will be listed under Group Reserve until the delay is 7 days.
   4) Pilots with a delay of 8-15 days will not be listed in their units "Pilot" list until the delay is 7 days.  
                 

the unit does not have to have the maximum number of aircraft. It must have more pilots than the maximum number of aircraft. The excess can be sent to general reserve.

[ckammp]

ORIGINAL: Nomad

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 two conditions are met:
         - The unit has it's maximum number of planes
         - The unit has it's maximum number of pilots
     c) If these conditions are met, 3-4 pilots in Fighter units can transfer to General Reserve
     d) If these conditions are met, 1-2 pilots in Bomber groups 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 7 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 7 days or less will show up immediately in the assigned unit's "Pilot" list.
   3) Pilots with a delay of 8-15 days will be listed under Group Reserve until the delay is 7 days.
   4) Pilots with a delay of 8-15 days will not be listed in their units "Pilot" list until the delay is 7 days.  
                 

the unit does not have to have the maximum number of aircraft. It must have more pilots than the maximum number of aircraft. The excess can be sent to general reserve.

Thank you for pointing that out. I did some more tests, and found the correct formula: The unit must have more pilots than the maximum number of aircraft +1. Any pilots in excess of this can be sent to General Reserve, but the eligible pilots are determined randomly.

[Barb]

One picture is worth thousand words...

[Canoerebel]

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

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

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

Yes: me. And I suspect many many more [:)]

The pilot management thing is a great improvement in my opinion. On thing is certain: I do like it [8D]

[Canoerebel]

[X(]

[sven6345789]

sorry but i like it too.

[TulliusDetritus]

Canoerebel, and I missed the part of the game with the training groups (I was travelling, but I could follow the events via the interweb). I would like to see them training squadrons but with NO bonus at all... Now what am I doing? I am using the in game squadrons (80%?) as training squadrons. Then when the pilots hit 55 experience (specific skill) or so I send them to the General Reserve... and I have a bunch of ready pilots [8D]

Well, that's what the real squadrons did during the war, I guess: training then combat. But I would like to have these training squadrons, I repeat, with NO bonus.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

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

I thrive on it!

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

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

I love it.

[BeastieDog]

The pilot training system in AE is much improved from WitP method of breaking up units and disbanding them into other units. I designate "training" units. Move experienced pilots from them out into General Reserve to be transferred into combat units. Move new pilots into the "training" units. Set to train. Rinse and repeat. Not much micromanagement after the first turn setup. Just check your training units every 10 turns or so. Pull pilots out of the General Reserve as needed.

I'm not sure TRACOM is worth the trouble.

[Mike Solli]

I'm trying the TRACOM thing but haven't had any luck so far. Admittedly, I'm reluctant to pull too many eligible pilots out of the line units in mid-Jan 42 though.

[CaptBeefheart]

Do any of you guys know what the 180-day vacation does, other than make you feel good about giving a digital pilot a rest? Also, I know this isn't a bug forum, but I've had my share of G. Boyington ending up flying USAAF B-25s (I know, he starts as an AVG fighter pilot, but is there any way to make him a Marine?), guys with high air combat ratings and low NavB assigned to SBD squadrons and other strange things happening.

Cheers,
CC

[RoryAndersonCDT]

I like the micromanagement with the exception of the 180 day holiday. I don't understand why its even offered as an option. 

[xj900uk]

To give your hard-worked & stressed pilots some much-needed R&R.  This was one of the main reasons why the IJN suffered so badly,  that it didn't understand the need to give it's hard-pressed pilots some time off...