Originally posted by Krusty
Flayed, Fighters historically ran at higher power for longer periods of times. Historically, bombers did NOT. So what do we get?
Historically: Fighters had a closure rate to bombers of over 300mph. Bombers fired at most a couple of guns at short range into the fighters.
Aces High: Fighters have a closure rate of 50mph to bombers, which can fire laser-accurate guns from 3 planes and up to 4-5 gun positions from EVERY plane all at the same spot in space and time, able to kill the plane in a single burst at over 1.5k ranges.
Yeah, see, to me I don't think the problem is the fighters. The problem is the bombers.
Note: "longer".....fighters still did not run with throttle up against the gates the whole time any more than the bombers did. They do in game.
Historically, bombers would normally fly in combat wings of at least 60 bombers, with escorting fighters at least part of the way. Not 3 bombers by themsleves.
Historically, lone fighters did not tackle bombers all by themselves.
Get rid of the drone catch up speed, and it will take care of most of the throttle concerns. Lead planes will have to roll back just to keep from losing drones in turns. I'd gladly give up drone catch up speed to increase from a flight to a squadron formation by spending perkies.
If you close with a flight of buffs with only a 50 mph advantage, you deserve to get kilt. Buff interception requires a little patience and set up to conduct well. Come from 6-oclock, you get zapped. Take a plane worthy of intercepting buffs. Get alt advantage, then build up speed, then come in on the buffs were they will at best be able to bring 1 or 2 sets of turrents to bear.
If the buffs are level, and you are climbing to chase from low six, yes, your closure rate will sux. This also represents most of the fighters I tag when driving a buff. I wait until D900, then fire a good burst. Sprites every time.
Laser-guns is bogus issue; see above mention about 60-plane wings. The turrents from all three planes converge at about 800 from the lead plane, IIRC. From dead 6-o'clock position, I'm sure it seems like a laser aimed gun. You can be running into up to 11 guns. You only see a few tracers, but they are laying down a lot of fire. A good gunner can rake you're path, especially if you chose your approach poorly, knowing how all three planes fire. A good gunner can line up on a stable, non-manuvering fighter plane, and get hits up to 1.5K with a little Kentucky windage. A bad gunner sprays and prays, and can still get lucky at times.
You've got a single gunner trying to aim and fire the whole flight's turrents. The majority of which are not firing at the gunner's aim point, except at range 800.
Any Search of your name, Krusty, and the word bomber will show you've always had an issue with the bombers, use of drones, turrents, in-game bomb calibration, bomber toughness, dive bombing buffs, and even the overuse and improper use of the term "buff" in the game. If we hand single bombers with every gun manable in-game, I'm sure we'd have a thread against the use of Death Stars.
I've suggested ways to reduce the dive bombing buffs in another thread re> buff perkies. Elliminate drone catch up burst speed would be acceptable to many as a means to slow the buffs down a little.
It seems some won't be happy until bombers are limited to no drones, with the old calibration reinstated, guns accurate out to maybe D100, bombs that don't arm unless they've fallen at least 5K first, bombs won't release unless flying dead-level, airframes so weak that if you airspawn one in the TA the wings come off almost immediately, and with engines that begin to overheat shortly after takeoff if left at full throttle. That, *might* be acceptable for some.
Maybe
