The way TOD is going, it's going to be a big bomber scenario. MA also has a lot of missions and squad events where lots of bombers all head to the same target.
SEAs use bombers a lot as well.
For massive bombing missions the one major problem is this: They all have to calibrate and drop on their own. They can't just fly in formation and drop on the lead's command because:
1) the town is too small, they might miss entirely
2) small net lag means they are never where they think they are, could show 70 yards on one end and 250 yards on the other end. (distance/formation spacing, that is).
So here's a suggestion.
Allow a formation of bombers to be the lead. You can attach 2 other full formations (2 other "pilots" -- whether they have 1, 2, or 3 planes in their group) to the lead. They would be attached just like drones are. In fact, use the drone code. Only when the drone would normally go "POOF" for distance issues and whatnot, when that happens the pilot that "snapped off" simply regains control of his formation.
This would allow multi-leveled box formations (each layer taking max of 3 pilots -- from 3 to 9 planes). This would work like this.
Take off.. Form up. Close distance. Inside 1k you can form on a bomber pilot with ".formation
".
PlayerID then must ".acceptformation " Then the drone movements take over and the player that joined can move full attention to manning guns. If the lead is taken out, he shifts to plane #2. If #2 is taken out he shifts to #3. If he's totally dead, the "link" snaps and the formation wingmen revert to level autopilot. They then must designate a new wing leader and rejoin him/her.
On the target, formation leader must calibrate, line up the attack, and drop bombs. All bombers in the formation will drop on command, BUT, they will drop as they are placed (the 3 formations would be in chevron positions, left and right and behind) so that if the lead drops dead on the other 2 formations drop to the left and right and too soon. This would mean larger salvos and carpet bombing would be the order of the day. Imagine 3 bomber leaders, partially staggered, it would be awesome!
The result: More gunners spread out, but without being too gamey (it simplifies formation flying and dropping as one). You COULD do this without this command, as-is, but this makes the bomb drop more coordinated, and basically gives defense in numbers (which is what real bombers had).
I think it's do-able. Just slap some drone "following the leader" code on it, add a few dot commands and viola!
Also means taking out the leader just before drop is a good way to prevent drop. Planes would have to re-form and recalibrate, which means another pass on target, but you'd have to kill all 3 of the bomber leader's formation to "break the link" to the wingmen.
