OPTION: 1
The simple solution is to not allow the 'joining' of a bomber by more than one gunner below a certain altitude.
I would suggest 12.5 -> 15 thousand as the 'floor' for multiple manned bombers.
That way, multiple gunners could be incorporated in high altitude strategic precision bombing...just like it WAS...
And below that 'certain' altitude the gunners are automatically sent to tower....with the exception of the primary auxiliary gunner...that joined the mission on takeoff and climb out.
Modeled like this, you would not get the short hop death star missions as were so common in AW....where we would up a Mitch fully gunned and tear the guts out a furball...
Further, the altitude join limitation would force the fighters to team up in groups of 2-4 or more if their base was being bombed from altitude...for they would know that just like the real 17's there would probably be a set of eager hands aloft twitching .50 cal triggers.
As it is now, a single pilot fending off an attack from 3 or more bogeys is a hair raising adventure, and one not often survived.
Further, if a gun is shot out and your in it...you should be dead. If you pilot lands gear up and your in the belly, you should be dead or incapacitated like a pilot wound...left with the decision to either bail out over enemy territory or weather the flight and take your chances of bleeding out.
The bombardiers position should be man-able by the primary auxiliary gunner.
When a bomber group is manned by more than one gunner, the auto-gun functionality can be limited or or eliminated depending on the number of gunners that have joined/returned to tower
OPTION 2:
Allow up to 3 gunners as an option that can man the 3 planes of the formation. Under this scenario the pilot cannot gun and is responsible for flying/navigating/bombing.
The gunners cannot jump from plane to plane, only from gun to gun. The auto gun functionality is not formation wide, and only specific to each plane and its gunner.
If a gun is shot out with a gunner in it, that plane has lost all functionality to gun, or it could return to a limited or unlimited auto-gun functionality.
ALTERNATES:
Do not allow multiple manned formations from forward bases. Limit this functionality to only one base...the high altitude base near HQ.
Include these options in the Perk structure to curtail/limit abuse.
Disable gun functionality for multiple gunner formations below a certain altitude.
CONCLUSION:
There are creative and technical solutions [beyond the present solution] to eliminate the plague/fun of death stars and the unrealistic problem they create in a game that endeavors to simulate to an extent WW2 air combat.
The original models of AW and WB that allowed deathstars were slanted to much in favor of the gunners/bombers.
The present model is slanted to far in favor of the fighter/interceptor.
I am sure the team at HTC, with an open discussion and think tank on this forum, can create a more median compromise that more closely models the role of the manned bomber in WW2 air combat.
With all the talent at HTC and on this board...are we really done with this ongoing request/issue ?
ONE LAST THING:
If a mission is created using strat bombers, the designation of a "lead' formation or flight should be allowed. The lead plane in the lead flight should have a navigators position.
The 'lead' navigator can update the way point map in flight, and assign engineer parameters on the fly to each flight/formation. He would be able to update or change primary/secondary targets and assign targets to each formation in the flight.
The navigators job could include dispersing a group on approach to target for optimal bomb tracks for sub target sets, rendezvous points and updated egress paths.
The 'lead' navigator in essence would be group commander...in control of all the flights/formations
Flight planning detail such as this should also be limited to the high alt field near HQ, where one has to overfly 4-7 sectors before encountering the enemy.
And finally...being able to assign more than one instance of a strat bomber in mission planning would be icing on the cake.
This would in effect create a true group style formation where 'units' or 'squads' of bombers, comprised of up to 6 flights each could accompany one another.
Different loadouts could be assigned to the individual instances. One squad could load for hard targets, the other soft.
Thats a wish list thing....just dreaming...
http://www.303rdbg.com/sop-formation.html
