Suggestion to reduce gaming via the AH bombing model.
The following is an attempt to achieve
1. The elimination of use of formation bombers in a dive bombing role
2. To penalise/reduce the use of attack bombers in a suicidal manner to pork enemy fields.
3. To reward/promote the use of attack bombers that RTB successfully.
4. To separate attack and fighter perk systems to reward fighters for fighter activity and attackers for attack activity separately.
AC selection changes on the Clipboard.
Presently aircraft can be subselected from lists being labelled All, Fighters, Attackers, Bombers, Vehicles and Boats.
This proposal would propose deleting the “All” category and configuring the lists generated under the remaining buttons as follows.
This proposal would also propose deleting the separate button that allowed the ac to be changed from fighter/attack/bomber after selection.
Fighter.
Under the Fighter category no bombs or rockets are available.
Attack
Under the Attack category bombs, rockets and torpedoes are available as per present choice sets.
Under the Attack category no formations would be available.
Under the Attack category F6 bomb sights would be disabled.
C47 would be an Attack plane.
Bomber
Under the Bomber category only bombers with F6 bombsights would be available.
Under the Bomber category bombs may only be released when using the F6 bombsight.
Under the Bomber category formations would be available as a matter of choice.
Under the Bomber category torpedoes would not be available.
Vehicle & Boat categories
Would remain unchanged for the purposes of this proposal
Perk system changes.
Perk points would be available and usable for every category.
Fighter perks
This would be configured much as HTC wish to do so now. Both in respect to potential cost and reward.
Attack perks.
This would allow HTC to differentiate between the value of an AC used in an attack role to its value in a fighter role.
A simple extension of the existing perk system would be to perk those Attack AC capable of massive strike potential or typically “massively” abused in suicide type attack roles. Hence it could be found that as a Fighter the P51 is free of perk cost but incurs a perk cost if not returned safely when chosen/used in an Attack role.
**A more complex extension of the existing perk system would be to perk the actual bomb load out. This could be by a 1) cost per bomb over a certain weight, 2) cost for total bomb weight or 3) cost when a bomb type over a certain weight is used.
Unfortunately perking bombs in any of the above three alternatives produces anomalies not easily solved. Option 3 is the most anomaly free option but (like the other options) would for example still perk a Stuka in most of its load outs.
Bomber perks
This would be configured much as HTC wish to do so now.
Anomalies present and future.
C47. In my opinion would be best configured as an Attack ac. It releases its payload from the cockpit. It does not have formation enabled. When dropping troops whilst it may be considered a transport it is in an “attack” mode.
Torpedoes. The above basically disables the use of formation delivery of torpedoes. (Ki67 and Ju88). This is a by product of the requirement to limit cockpit release of ordinance to single (non formation) AC classified as Attack AC. This may have a game play effect in the MA but this proposal would argue that the delivery of torpedoes by large bombers flying in formations is not a re creation of any WWII delivery tactic.
Attack Perking. Having long favoured the perking of ordinance I now believe that the ability to perk AC differently under each category would suffice given that HTC can use the perk point process appropriately. Given that the goal is to reduce the tendency for suicide raids of fast jabos then I am sure the actual values and ac concerned can be left to HTC’s best judgement.
Under the above many AC currently would lose their bomber status in favour of a sole attack status. (Vals, Il2m3’s)
Under the above some AC presently considered as only bombers may have a new attack role as a none formation AC (B26, Ar234, Boston)
Rockets. There are some air to air rockets featured in AH. If they were allowed in the fighter load out this proposal assumes this would not become unbalancing.
Bomber Perking. Perks presently earned in this category can only be used to place a deposit on the Ar 234. Future perked bombers would encourage more perk orientated missions. Eg Tallboy/Grand slam capable Lancasters could be added as a 2nd Lanc option obviously perked. MkXVII Mosquitoes similarly may carry a perk value.
Mistel's. Should these ever be available then they would be a perked attack option.
Gliders. Should these ever be available then they would be an attack option.
Ultra low level carpet bombing formations. The choice of a Bombing category could be used to flag and increase the bomb arming time required when selecting from this category. By appropriate choice of arming time low level formation carpet bombing can be made ineffective. (ie bomber = long arming period, attack = short arming period).
Salvo and delay setting/setup. Would remain the same regardless of category chosen.
The mission editor. The category would have to be chosen here prior to AC choice. The small pop up window prior to launch in a mission would be redundant.
Whilst the above seems a lengthy explanation in practice it is very simply to use.
The player chooses a category then an an air craft then a load out and then a runway.
