The rules (both WD and 3rd Ed) state that OC is applied "after" the a/c's move is completed.
On the 109's last FP, which is also a VFP, it impacts the water at 0.0, ignoring the OC of +0.2.
Q: Can the OC be applied to the last VFP so that the 109 ends up at altitude 0.2 ??
Bf 109-09
7145 SSE, 1.3, 8.5, RB STD (-1, 2HTR)
MIL (-) / HTx2 Pull -> Lvl (5H/3V)
(MC: -0.4, VC: -0.9, OC: +0.2) = -1.1
5H (HTR3-7/5, 30R, -0.4)
2V (HTR1-2/5, TIFR, 30R, -0.6)
V (HTR3/5, -0.3 +0.2)
OC Applied AFTER the a/c is finished moving (See Rule Excerpt below)
This clarification came up during Mitch Schwartz's Panzer Oil scenario when a Beaufort performed the same "skipping stone" maneuver.
MC = -0.4 +1.3 = 0.9
3VFPs = -0.9 +0.9 = 0.0 => SPLASH !! (See WD and 3rd Ed Rule Excerpt below [they are identical])
(OC: +0.2)
(0c+1da+11d) - (1c+8tr+[4-4]t+5os) = 12 - 14 = -2
6648 SSW, 0.2, 8.5+, RB Lvl, -2, 3HTR
A/c Destroyed !!
(Text Rules, Page 16)
6.1 A/C TRANSITIONS & MOVEMENT
Basic A/C Flight Procedure:
1. ... 5.
6. Execute the A/C's move as follows:
• Apply any Mandatory Altitude Change (Rule 6.1.3).
• Move the A/C by expending its FPs while complying with any restrictions indicated by the FATT codes.
• Once the A/C is finished moving, take an Optional Altitude Change if desired (Rule 6.1.3).
The 109 cannot be saved by OC.
The moment the 109 expends it's VFP to reach alt. zero it crashes.
OC is applied after movement is complete.
------
Unlike MC which can be played with the first FPs, OC cannot.
------
Design reasons - Don't want players finagling crash avoidance with OC as OC is not a result of FP expenditure.
The MC rule exists to facilitate and adjudicate shot altitude for shots during movement.
OC rule exists to let players finesse their final altitude after moving. In general, this is most used for additional energy gain or loss or to finesse vertical field-of-fire requirements or weapon drop heights, prior to combat.
OC is not considered by the designer to be another flight tool.
If you can't avoid the ground after MC and FPs, you crash. At least by the rules.
-------
JD
(https://groups.io/g/FW-Ref-Central/message/2773) 25/06/2015
History of the design...
In the original OTR and ASP rules, there was no MC or OC. Depending on the flight type, VFPs provided different levels of altitude change. For instance, remember that the old rules had no "shallow" flight. Steep flight VFPs changed altitude by 2 increments each and vertical flight changed alt. by 3 increments each. Once per turn you were allowed to have one steep VFP change alt. by 1 or 3 instead of always 2, and once per turn you were allowed to have one vertical VFP lose just 2 instead of the mandatory 3. This one VFP option was to give players some flexibility in their final ending altitude.
In Whistling Death, the whole vertical flight system was over-hauled. VFPs became a consistent 300 feet each regardless of when or how they were used, MC was added to provide part of the Pythagorean correction to distance and OC was added to provide players the same flexibility to adjust final altitude...that existed with the variable VFP of the earlier rules sets.
You still have to fly to avoid hitting the ground within your HFP and VFP exenditures. OC is not part of your flight. It is a rules courtesy to give players some adjustment flexibility in their final altitude as existed in the clunky OTR and ASP rules.
Cheers,
JD
(https://groups.io/g/FW-Ref-Central/message/2782) 27/06/2015