I always get separated and irritated by getting separated from the group

[Flushed]

Any way to correct this? As soon as I get separated from a group of friendlies I always have 20 bad guys shooting at me also. Even heading toward base shot up and out of ammo. Very irritating.

[Ghosth]

First, is squad highlight on? Are you seeing us as gold/orange or green icons?
If green then you need to turn squad highlight back on. Control S I think.

Second, part of it is focus, part is SA. It is very very easy to make that first turn, lock onto a bandit and follow him. But if you do that, you'll end up separated and alone more often than not.

Any time your coming up & over in a loop or merge, do a quick scan as you come over. That will tell you if there is anyone else inside icon range, where the group is, etc.

I noticed in the squad duels flushed a couple of times you did not seem to see a bogey crossing your front quarter. Generally a good indication of target fixation.

Partly depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you goal is to just kill one bad guy, then move on to the next target fixation won't hurt you so much. But if you are trying to keep team members alive, then you constantly need to be updating and changing who your target is.

In a setup like sundays squad duel to me kills are not important. Ohh they make you feel good, but if you kill one guy and die you really have not accomplished anything for the group.

Partly it comes back to Widewing and his many vs one clinics.
Stay flexible, don't fixate,  kill or shoot at the one you can do so quickest with the least E lost to get there. Lower the odds in your favor. Then reevaluate your targets and move on to the next. If someone slices in front of you offering a better solution or chance, then switch.

If a bogey is taking you left, but you see a squadmate to the right with an enemy on him you may want to break right instead of left. Kill him or make him break and then its 2 on 1, giving you the advantage. Even if that advantage only lasts for seconds.  Where if you continue chasing the first bogey its a pair of 1 on 1's, you kill yours, but the bogey kills your squadmate. So you've gained no advantage.

Multiplication of force, cover your buddy's, don't get greedy, its about winning not kills. Stay loose and flexible, check 6 or call bogeys. And above all communication, if your squad mate can help you cut the distance and line up by turning left vs right, tell him.

In the spit duel daddog and I saved each others bacon time and time again, with simple calls, turning into each other so we each have a shot at the bogey chasing the other guy, etc. The 2 of us pretty well tied up 2 or 3 bogeys each for quite a long period of time. Giving the rest of you guys a chance to clean up.

Even something as simple as a thatch weave can be very effective in a 2 vs many situation.

[daddog]

Can't add much to what Ghosth said, but I will say that getting separated or even being with the friendlies but in poor position is like being a young wildebeest in Africa away from the heard and the lions are on the hunt. They WILL come after you.

It takes time, but when you go through a large formation you can pick out the guys that are 'just not quite as with it' as maybe they should be. They are often toward the rear to the center. Not usually in the front, and sometimes in the outer edges. Generally in a merge with a group I can quickly spot an easy kill or two. Other squads have guys like me that also look for the 'one or two guys' out of position that are not acting or reacting like they should. You don't want to be the one they are after. One of the best ways to do that is to go after them, but don't put yourself in a position to let someone saddle up on you. This is easier said than done Flushed. It take time. I know it can be frustrating.

Winging with someone really helps. In the Pearl Harbor event last night I knew Kansas was watching my back. That really helps. In the squad duel last Sunday night when Ghosth and I were fighting against 3 we really covered each other there and it made the difference. Not to take anything from Ghosth and I, thankfully those three did not really have their act together, but it shows that a little bit of wingman tactics, and communicating can over come superior numbers. (forgot to save my film from that squad duel, grrrrr! )

My suggestions:
1. Make a real effort to stay with the pack. I generally let you guys know when I am turning one way or another.
2. Be aggressive with your wingman. Look for those young wildebeest's.
3. If you don't see an enemy then look for the largest group of friendly's and head toward them.

[Flushed]

Yes I have the highlights on but in a furball i always seem to get low slow and covered up with the bad guys never fails and when i do make it out there is always one more camped over the base waiting just for me that I don't see and he shoots me trying to land on the runway. Well, in the snap shot he was there but my engine quit and I crashed just short of the runway before he could shoot me.