But HTC isn't going to do something that is basically an exploit to get more power. There were a few bugs in IL2 some time back where folks were over boosting their engines with custom engine settings, and it totally messed up the "accurate" performance of the craft.
In principle, I agree with this.
HTC isn't going to introduce something that's either 1) a handicap to half the players or 2) a secret fight-winning benefit for the other half.
However, the suggestion for "CEM" and similar concepts is neither 1) nor 2).
The entire feel of AH I get is that the planes are EQUAL no matter who's in 'em. It's how you use 'em that determines the kill. Certain planes are better, sure, but when a P51 goes up against a P51 you know for sure that they both have the same max power.
The point is, internal management techincally qualifies as
"how you use 'em". When you think about it, there's no reason why this
"how one uses it" should only be limited by your stick and throttle.
Having 1 109K be faster than another 109K at the exact same conditions, because the player over boosted the engine, throws the entire idea of "standard" performance out the window, IMO.
This is a conceptual error, since when one K-4 faster than the other, (ie. as in overboosting) its not at the exact same condition.
The problem with IL-2 was that a certain flight set/equiment allowed the player to manually over-rev the engine over the normal flight conditions and keep it just under the failing point - which in reality the complications of internal management would make it practically impossible under combat conditions. In reality, these functions were considered for only special situations, such as taking off very short airstrips. This problem comes from the fact that 1C:Maddox believes in the "technical realism" perspective, rather than the "situational realism" persepctive as HTC does.
However, that does not mean the said functions of the game cannot be rendered differently, to prevent exploits = which I have utter faith in if HTC would ever consider it.
IF any complex engine handling is included, it must not give any benefit over the old system, so that a fight is still a fair fight. However, if it gives no benefit, and takes more time to do, almost nobody will use it.
About half true.
It is true that if a CEM is introduced that it won't make the planes "better" in anyway. However, what one can expect is a certain minor factor involved in general management which different level of experience might influence as to the outcome of combat.
For example, in HTC's rendition of the La-7, it would have to manually switch the supercharger to 2nd gear at 15k and over. This is just one key(when toggled), or two keys, if rendered "UP/DOWN" like the flaps. However, in the heat of battle it is entirely possible that a lesser pilot might forget to switch the superchargers, or engage them too late - which would lead to a decrease in performance until the supercharger is set correctly.
Imagine that an La-7 is trying to get away from an enemy plane close behind by a shallow climb around 14k - a better experienced pilot would not forget when to engage the 2nd gear to keep the speed/climb performance at optimum levels. A lesser pilot may not recognize the optimum point, and he might engage the SC too early or too late - in which case he'd be caught by the chasing plane due to a temporary decline in speed/climb.
Now, is this too difficult? Say, how much more difficult is it, when compared to using X notches of flap during combat? People learn optimum levels of flap usage with experience, and often the knowledge of just when exactly to use flaps by how much can influence the outcome of the battle. This kind of knowledge is in the sanctum of veterans. How many people complain that "this is too difficult for a n00b to learn"? I don't think I've ever seen someone mention, "this flap usage thingy is just to damned difficult for most n00bs. It is excessive realism."
As a matter of fact, veterans actually love this kind of difficuly and learning curve.
So, would anyone be willing to say "I have to push one key to change SC of the La-7 at 15k alt" is something so difficult as to be considered excessive and annoying amount of tedious realism? Why should this be considered any more difficult and excessive than the more obscure, arcane knowledge of "using flaps right"?
This, is what the CEM can offer to AH.
A minor, generic, simplified rendition of general engine management that somewhat influences how optimum your plane flies. It doesn't make the planes perform better. What it does, is it may allow the planes to perform a bit differently according to knowledge and experience - as an experienced pilot will manage it better and his plane will fly more optimum, whereas an unexperienced piot MIGHT mismanage it, and suffer some amount of penalties from it. Sometimes, under rare/extreme circumstances, this might damage their plane with mismanagement.
Ofcourse, AH players have this wierd tendency to think n00bs are impossibly stupid, and will have so much trouble with "management" that they cannot possibly learn it, will always mismanage their plane and damage it, and then just give up. However, I've seen the same kind of impossibly stupid people in IL-2 too. They learn and adapt.
...
It is nothing different from how people already fly their plane in AH2 - a good pilot moves his plane smoothly, E-efficiently. A bad pilot pushes his plane roughly, and might bleed a lot of E here and there. The only difference is this management is internal, using push of buttons, whereas what we are currently doing is external, using the stick.
The only other alternative is HTC changing engine management across-the-board, no options, "this is how it is now" -- and I don't see that happening anytime in our lifetimes.
I thought the very same thing about great many things.
HTC said that they didn't consider a historic cockpit useful, and they preferred the generic cockpit for a number of reasons. Every suggestion went upon deaf ears, and I thought we'd never see historic cockpits. But then poof! With the Ki-84, HTC surprised us with their drastic change of positions, with a very clever, visual compromise.
So I'm keeping my hopes up. They may seem quiet, but HTC is constantly monitoring, and thinking stuff through.
