Recon

[PJ_Godzilla]

We're presented with a map.

One of the reasons recon aircraft have approximately zero use in game is because the info they would typically supply is there for free. Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap?

Now imagine that chess piece nations start with info regarding their own maps only. Cast your mind back to old games like strategic conquest. Recon overflights required to illuminate enemy territory...

I don't care if it's a recon variant of a P-38 or a dedicated FW flying eye, we'd add a layer if, for example, in The MA, an actual recon overflight were needed to define the enemy map.

For those who want air combat, little would change. For the win the war crowd, it'd provide an incremental tax. I think GV locations could be flagged at the point in time during which the overflight passed in icon range. This would make GV movement necessary in order to avoid the inevitable bomb tards to follow.

Consider a modification to FSO: early Sea entry and launch for recon pilots and early entry for pilots who want a crack at manning bases, maintaining patrols, and hunting the elusive recon ships. Good results in the recon phase would mean well-informed strikes and bombing missions. Bad recon would likely doom follow-ons.

[Vudu15]

  thats pretty cool.

[MWL]

Yes, could be cool. . . of course you do know there are a limited number of maps and print screen is an option . . .

It would (most likely) take very little time to figure out what map we are playing today by looking at the printed versions.

For this to be effective (and again, cool idea) each map presented would have to be unique regarding location of fields, strats and HQs.  Not sure the terrain editor could support such an arrangement.

[Chalenge]

The best way this might be added to the game would be to require radar installation as the map begins, through supply. Even that might be problematic.

[bustr]

Or with no radar and actual map image, most would GV until someone else did the heavy lifting.

As it's own arena game like steal the flag and steal the sheep will be in AH3, sure, you and 6 others. Most not as dedicated to strategy type gaming or bored with the current MA rinse and repeat, just want to logon, see everything, and get on with their fun. You never know, Hitech may have functions in mind similar to this for AvA and custom arenas in AH3. AH2, you would just chase away people by taking away their illusion of quick fun. If it takes longer than 30min to bring back up an HQ, many don't bother now and log for the night like last night when the nit HQ was down for 1hr 14min.

I don't see 80 players wanting to reach into a basket in the dark just to feel up a hungry rat.

[Zimme83]

Can work on a tactical level, remove .dt commands for enemy object and u have to do a recon sortie to the target in order to see whats down and whats not. But as long noone do the fight it should not be added anything that requiers any non combat action.

[Latrobe]

Can work on a tactical level, remove .dt commands for enemy object and u have to do a recon sortie to the target in order to see whats down and whats not. But as long noone do the fight it should not be added anything that requiers any non combat action.

I like that. You can right click an enemy base an click a "Base Status" option and it'll tell you the status of the base from the last recon run and how long ago that recon run was. Recon planes can fly the enemy base, snap a picture with their camera, and if they make it back home and land safely then the Base Status of that base is updated.

[BuckShot]

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,356246.msg4720972.html#msg4720972

Here's a recon plane wish I made a while back. At the time I did not know that some fields are not aligned as they are on the clipboard maps.