24.01.2009, 13:11
Hello,
First, thank you for all of the work. It is very neat and a potential revolution.
I totally agree with steeldelete. It would be really good to have some mechanism whereby there would be a certain probability of the AI retreating/escaping before running out of ammo or being shot down.
This could be tied to any of the following:
1) using up a certain amount of ammunition
2) becoming separated from allies (using the same tests as are used for calling for assistance)
3) being outnumbered and not having an altitude advantage.
This would be more realistic (if you read historical accounts most battles ended with most pilots breaking off, becoming separated or fleeing after losing their height/speed advantage after the first pass). This would also help create more realistic attrition rates (for some fronts at least).
Some ideas regarding gunners:
- The Rookie AI often fires almost continuously without adjusting the aim (so that shots are often 30-40 degrees off). It would be nice if their aim was slightly better. In general, it would be good if all of the gunner skill levels were a bit closer together. It might also be nice to slightly increase the frequency or length of bursts for average/veteran AI.
- Many aircraft such as the SB-2 and He-111H6 had heavier armament for the forward gunner. This was primarily for offensive purposes such as suppressing AAA during low altitude attacks (for train busting some He-111H6 were equipped with two mobile MG-FF firing forward - one in the gondola). On the whole it would be nice if the gunners were more likely to fire on ground targets (a feature of the original Il-2 that was later turned off).
- The Il-2, Il-10 and some variants of the Pe-2 have very small ammunition supplies for their top gunners. I would recommend splitting the gunner AI into two types - one for sturmoviks and another for other aircraft. This would allow changes to be made without causing sturmoviks to run out of ammo. This is also realistic - gunners on Li-2s and other aircraft with ShKAS often fired walls of bullets at enemy aircraft before they got within range in order to intimidate them, while Il-2 gunners specially trained to conserved ammo and aimed careful bursts.
I hope these ideas help, S!
First, thank you for all of the work. It is very neat and a potential revolution.
I totally agree with steeldelete. It would be really good to have some mechanism whereby there would be a certain probability of the AI retreating/escaping before running out of ammo or being shot down.
This could be tied to any of the following:
1) using up a certain amount of ammunition
2) becoming separated from allies (using the same tests as are used for calling for assistance)
3) being outnumbered and not having an altitude advantage.
This would be more realistic (if you read historical accounts most battles ended with most pilots breaking off, becoming separated or fleeing after losing their height/speed advantage after the first pass). This would also help create more realistic attrition rates (for some fronts at least).
Some ideas regarding gunners:
- The Rookie AI often fires almost continuously without adjusting the aim (so that shots are often 30-40 degrees off). It would be nice if their aim was slightly better. In general, it would be good if all of the gunner skill levels were a bit closer together. It might also be nice to slightly increase the frequency or length of bursts for average/veteran AI.
- Many aircraft such as the SB-2 and He-111H6 had heavier armament for the forward gunner. This was primarily for offensive purposes such as suppressing AAA during low altitude attacks (for train busting some He-111H6 were equipped with two mobile MG-FF firing forward - one in the gondola). On the whole it would be nice if the gunners were more likely to fire on ground targets (a feature of the original Il-2 that was later turned off).
- The Il-2, Il-10 and some variants of the Pe-2 have very small ammunition supplies for their top gunners. I would recommend splitting the gunner AI into two types - one for sturmoviks and another for other aircraft. This would allow changes to be made without causing sturmoviks to run out of ammo. This is also realistic - gunners on Li-2s and other aircraft with ShKAS often fired walls of bullets at enemy aircraft before they got within range in order to intimidate them, while Il-2 gunners specially trained to conserved ammo and aimed careful bursts.
I hope these ideas help, S!