25.01.2009, 11:40
Flew several co-op missions via a DCG generated Italy campaign using AI Mod v.16 last night. Had a ball! No anomalies reported, and the human players had their hands full dealing with the enemy AI aircraft. AI aircraft proved to be quite willing to disrupt a player's aim by effective defensive maneuvering. No take off or landing incidents involving AI reported, and AI seemed willing to follow instructions when they could ("attack bombers", "rejoin", "attack ground targets", etc.).
Other than the odd habit of turning landing lights on during a daylight mission, I didn't run across any issues. Oh wait ...
I find the use of landing lights during daylight missions by anyone (AI or human) to be almost rude behavior. The extreme brightness of landing lights on any aircraft can throw off the aim of any human players attacking those aircraft in the landing pattern. If it were possible I'd dis-allow landing light use in any mission I host other than those designed specifically as night-time missions. I have no problem if the landing lights are used at night-time when they would be useful (if not required). This is not from any historical point of view, but from a sim player's point of view.
If the landing lights were switched to nav lights, I'd have no issue. Nav lights being on during the final stages of landing or take-off is a common practice among human players online, and quite useful to avoid collisions at crowded airfields. Also, nav lights are not so vibrantly bright as to disrupt the aim of attacking aircraft (not that a lot of "intruder" type missions are flown, where sneaky attackers attempt to shoot down players setting up for landing, but it does happen).
If it is possible, I'd suggest limiting AI landing-light use to the hours between 2000-0400 (mission time). All other times have the AI use nav-lights only for the final landing approach, if lights of any kind are going to be used.
Other than the odd habit of turning landing lights on during a daylight mission, I didn't run across any issues. Oh wait ...
Bimmer Wrote:I still prefer the landing lights on, but if there is sufficient evidence that it was not common practice during the war, then I suppose I'll have to defer to the majority. I am very curious, however, as to whether it was by design that many pilots landed without the lights on, or if it was unofficial practice in combat squadrons, or just pilots being lazy and not following their checklists.
I find the use of landing lights during daylight missions by anyone (AI or human) to be almost rude behavior. The extreme brightness of landing lights on any aircraft can throw off the aim of any human players attacking those aircraft in the landing pattern. If it were possible I'd dis-allow landing light use in any mission I host other than those designed specifically as night-time missions. I have no problem if the landing lights are used at night-time when they would be useful (if not required). This is not from any historical point of view, but from a sim player's point of view.
If the landing lights were switched to nav lights, I'd have no issue. Nav lights being on during the final stages of landing or take-off is a common practice among human players online, and quite useful to avoid collisions at crowded airfields. Also, nav lights are not so vibrantly bright as to disrupt the aim of attacking aircraft (not that a lot of "intruder" type missions are flown, where sneaky attackers attempt to shoot down players setting up for landing, but it does happen).
If it is possible, I'd suggest limiting AI landing-light use to the hours between 2000-0400 (mission time). All other times have the AI use nav-lights only for the final landing approach, if lights of any kind are going to be used.