Community Spotlight: Lunamaria

Pilots!

We wanted to know a bit more about Lunamaria, so we asked him some questions via email. Being an ace is not the only thing this guy’s good at; check out Lunamaria's model making! Here’s what he had to say on these topics and more.

Lunamari's Interview

How long have you been a gamer?

In one form or another, something like 26 years now. I had an old Atari 2600 when I was a little kid. I loved that thing but I cannot recall ever getting off the 1st level in any game. As far as consoles go, I've had a Nintendo, Sega Genesis, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, XBOX, and a PlayStation 3. I've had the original GameBoy, a GameBoy Color, and a PSP. My dad bought us our first computer when I was 10 or 11 which I basically only used to play Aces over Europe. I bought parts for and built my own computer when I was 14. I think including that 1st one I’m on my fourth home built machine now.

What are some of your hobbies/ activities?

I've got quite a few hobbies, unfortunately most are expensive. When I was a kid I used to build plastic models, and about a year and a half ago I started building them again. It was actually World of Tanks that made me want to model again. I build tanks and planes, but I have many more tanks than planes at the moment.

For tanks I currently have a Panther, Pz.III, Hetzer, KV-1, KV-2, M3 Lee, M4 Sherman and a Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track, as well as a Tiger and Tiger II waiting to be built. As planes go I have a Do.335, F4F-4 and an XP-77. I just started building a LaGG-3 today, and have a Bf.110C next in line.

I also enjoy performance driving. Though finances have kept me sidelined the last few years, I recently started getting my Miata back into shape for a track day next month. I still have a bit of work to do on it. I need to change the brakes and rotors, both front brake calipers, change out all four springs, replace the open differential with a limited slip unit, and replace the center torque arm.

I enjoy target shooting as well, though I find it more effective as stress relief than for anything else. I have a handful of rifles and a handgun. I think my favorite is my Kar98k, though I am also fond of my Arisaka Type 99, though rounds for it are expensive. I've only fired it a handful of times. I also have a motorcycle that though I do not ride as much as I might like, is still fun.

And I have a dog. Yay! I've always like dogs so getting one was one of the first things I did when I got my own place (it’s expensive on Long Island) He's one of those designer mutts, a Shi-poo named Wookie.

Where are you from?

I grew up on Long Island, but I've also spent a few years in Kansas, a year in Ohio, and a year in South Korea. I am currently contemplating moving with Texas being my first choice. I just want to find a job before I make a move that far.

Do you have any military/ aviation experience?

I was in the US Army for three and a half years. I was a Combat Engineer. I had wanted to build bridges, but I did not realize that there are different types of Combat Engineer in the Army. Back then, bridge engineers were classified as 12C, I signed up as a 12B, which meant I had the honor of charging into mine fields on foot with a rifle on my back, a grappling hook in my hand, and wire cutter on my belt. It wasn't all bad, I got to shoot machine guns, drive armored vehicles, and learn how to blow up roads, building and bridges.

Did they teach you how to use the grappling hook? That's like Superhero territory!

Grappling hook training was basically just a demonstration. What you would do is the APC (an M113A2 or M113A3 at that time foe mechanized engineers) would pull up just short of the minefield, hopefully with a M1 Abrams to hide behind. You would jump out the back door and run for just about 3 seconds. 3 seconds is about the time it takes for someone to aim and shoot at you so you don't want to be up longer than that. You want to hold the hook about 3 feet up its rope from the grapple, and right before you basically do a belly flop on the ground (this was MUCH less painful after we got knee and elbow pads) you would give the hook an underhanded whirl and launch it in front of you as you jumped. After the hook landed you would, while staying as flat as possible, pull it back in. The idea is, the grapple was supposed to snag any tripwires that may be in the path you are trying to clear and set the device off. After you got the hook back you would jump up sprint for 3 more seconds and repeat.

Honestly though, while we trained for this, the MICLIC was the much preferred method for clearing a path through a minefield.

How long have you been playing WoWP?

I was one of the first to get into the Global Alpha Test after it went live. I got in in January 2012.

What are some recent accomplishments you had ingame?

I was a member of the teams that won both the first and second tournament on the NA server, teams Potato and Sweet Potato respectively. I was in a La-9 for the second one, and while the La-9 and I do not really get along I was able to be a general nuisance, get a few kills, and use its incredible climbing with the rocket booster/engine module to keep some baddies busy. I did much better in the first tournament in my LaGG-3 and lead my team with over all kills (though only by 1 kill, I had very good team mates.)

What are your favorite planes?

I've gone through several favorite planes. Way back when in Alpha it was the P-39 then the P-12, after Beta came out it has changed from the F2G, to the P-36, and it is now the LaGG-3. I used to favor the LaGG's 37mm hands down, but the 23mm has been growing on me lately.

Also, as far as favorite planes go, I forgot about the F4F. I put the F4F in the sig I made down there because at the time I flew it so much people were surprised to see me in something else. It was my favorite before the P-36.

What about WoWP appeals to you?

I like how it keeps physics in mind but does not pay too much attention to them, and how it has arcade element, but is not full arcade. I do not enjoy super realism in any type of game, WoWP mix of sim and arcade suits me. I just want to jump on, blow some stuff up, and log off.

Do you have any advice for new players?

Do not leave battles after you die, stay and watch the live people. You can learn a lot from watching the other players. To this day I still watch till the battles ends 99% of the time.

Also, pay attention your plane and the other planes. Learn their strengths and weakness and work to apply what your planes is good at against what their plane is not. Stay flexible in your thinking, your strength over the enemy will not always be the same.

What’s your favorite map/ Why?

I don't really have one. I’m almost exclusively a dog fighter so the make up of the map isn't that important to me. As long as it’s large enough for my plane to have some running room I’m good.