Improving the Bomber Model (suggestion)

[StracCop]

Another thought just came to mind...

Instead of having Formation Pilots type '.detach' in the text buffer to separate from the Bomb Group, have a hot key for detachment.  For example, hitting the num pad 'minus' key 2 times in quick succession would detach you from the group.

This would be important in the event that the Group Leader is battered so badly in his sole remaining aircraft that he loses control of it and perhaps starts to spiral down in flames.  Since he's not yet dead he would drag the tethered formations of the remaining planes down with him, making it all but impossible for the remaining formations to quickly regain control and continue to the target and successfully strike it as a formation.  After all, when a Group Leader in World War II was knocked out of action, other planes of the squadron didn't follow him down.  Therefore, a means to allow for a quick disconnect needs to be made available in such an event.

Using this feature, when the Group Leader informs the pilots that he is going down or the Formation Pilots see his demise, they could quickly detach and retain control of their aircraft and continue on the bomb run.  

Equally important, if the Group Leader were to hit the num pad 'minus' key 2 times in quick succession he would detach all planes that had been attached to him.  This would be the proper course of action for the Group Leader to take if he had to break formation due to damage or was unable to continue accurately to the target, not unlike what happened during the war when lead bombers had to limp back home short of target acquisition due to enemy damage, mechanical breakdown, etc.

Anyway, Group Leaders, in addition to Formation Pilots need this ability in the event that VOX goes down and his condition can't be relayed to the other pilots.  The Group Leader, knowing he is mortally damaged or unable to effectively command the group, could detach the formations from him and then bail from his aircraft ... or change course and travel alone.

Anything else I'm missing?
Why am I still up thinking about this idea? >>

- Dave
"StracCop"
113th 'Lucky Strikes' Attack Squadron

[MOSQ]

What do you think about an attach to group leader command that works like the current check six command ? You point your bombers at the plane formation you want to attach to and hit a hot key, and you're attached.  If they can make check 6 work, it seems like this would work too.

As a career buff driver from AW4Win days, I think your buff formation idea is excellent !

[Alpo]

Originally posted by SKurj
Just curious...

Has anyone actually noticed the spread of craters with a formation matching the actual spread of the drones themselves?



SKurj

I've seen bomb spread.  It definitely seems to be tied to the location of the drones at the drop.  

I was making a second pass on a base, turned a little too hard causing the stall horn to blow (those drone dweebs just can't fly on the edge )  Anyway, drone three falls off and fails to catch up before drop.  Plane one and two were accurate but plane three was way short as I expected.

--------

I would like to see something like StracCop's idea as well.  It would really be nice if the "tethered" pilots could actually see what the Group Lead was doing in the calibration process.  What better way to train?!

From a fighter perspective, I'm going to shoot that lead buff in the face

[gofaster]

Originally posted by Kuben
First off I love the basic concept but you are proposing that there is really only one player piloting the other 8 or 11 buffs and when he turns everybody turns, when he opens doors everybody does so, etc.
Would buff drivers enjoy doing nothing but gunning if the lead bomber that you attach to does everything for you?

I'd gladly turn over my plane command and go gunner in that thing like there was no tomorrow!  I'd even wear my lucky rubber band!

[StracCop]

Thanks for all the comments guys!
I'm really pleased that this idea has met with your endorsement.

I would especially like to hear a thought or two from HiTech or someone else at HTC about the feasability of integrating this idea and what kind of development time it would take.

- Dave

[Turbot]

Originally posted by StracCop
I would especially like to hear a thought or two from HiTech or someone else at HTC about the feasability of integrating this idea and what kind of development time it would take.

- Dave

I have noticed they seldom, if ever, chime in in these sorts of threads.

[runny]

Originally posted by StracCop
Thanks for all the comments guys!
I'm really pleased that this idea has met with your endorsement.

I would especially like to hear a thought or two from HiTech or someone else at HTC about the feasability of integrating this idea and what kind of development time it would take.

- Dave

I'm pretty much a fighter pilot, but I like your idea.  Well-done.

[AcId]

You can rest assured though that these walls do have ears, and they are listening

This does seem like a promising idea. At first I seriously wondered if real MA usage of such a feature would warrant spending the resources to code a prototype/beta for inhouse development. I then asked myself if this was something I would use or be willing to participate in, promptly I said to myself 'ofcourse' but would I be willing to be a group leader, ultimately responsible for the impacts of others ordinance, well....if they "attached" it was their call and they can "detach" at any time.

And btw on the subject of a spiraling damaged leader dragging everyone down......HT coded that drones not follow such an aircraft because it was an issue when this model was first released.

[StracCop]

And btw on the subject of a spiraling damaged leader dragging everyone down......HT coded that drones not follow such an aircraft because it was an issue when this model was first released.

Thanks AcId,

Thats good to know.
When I was churning this idea around in my head before posting I was hoping that the amount of new coding work could be minimized through the reuse of existing code (with some modification).  

Your information suggests that at least one segment of code may exist that may be adaptable to the idea.  My hope is that the majority of the necessary code could be borrowed from programming work already done and incorporated into the game.  That would sure speed up development time and spare Dale the stress of writing something new from scratch.

Thanks for the information..

- Dave
"StracCop"
113th 'Lucky Strikes' Attack Squadron

[leeburt]

I appreciate the thought that's gone into your concept and would much support such a change.

Navy49

[WarChild]

This Idea is great.

It seems teh logical extension of what HTC has already implemtented.

A bomber raid was devasatating due to the sheer # of bombs droped.  A 3 buff formation does not recreat that.  The bomb drift of the boms has mostly length drift, very little left right.  however our targets (especially factories) have ALOT of left right targets.  currently bombing anything but a single object is impossible.  however if we could get 12 , 24 , 36 bombers all qued up at the same time, set our delays to .8 or 1.0 and have true carpet bombing going on, we'll then the destruction could be marvelous!

I put my vote in to haveing this idea implemented. I greatly looked forward to the new bombing formation hoping it would bring massive waves of bombers and change the strat of the game from JABO attack waves to organized bombing and intercept missions.  that has failed to materialize and now we have even fewer bombers in the air.  I do not want to go back to single bombers with laser guided ordenance.

I hope this Idea gets some official attention.  Its a very good one.

[SKurj]

And just a little addition +)

It also adds realism!!  huh?

Well in reality didn't all the buffs in the formation (that was much larger than just 3 buffs) drop on the lead.

So the rest of the 'no talent dweeb fluffs" can just man the guns +)  (sarcasm!!)

The majority of buffs in ww2 didn't have to bother much with the norden, they just followed the leader +)



SKurj

[Easyscor]

Seems like all the pieces are here.

Scott E even thought about scoring.

This gets my hardy support!

[StracCop]

Well in reality didn't all the buffs in the formation (that was much larger than just 3 buffs) drop on the lead.

Exactly SKurj.

Striving for a more realistic experience..for both the bomber crews and the fighter opposition..is exactly what I envision this change would achieve.

I think this idea could bring us a step closer to recreating the effect and experience of being in or opposing a strategic bombing mission in World War II.

Incidentally, with the 'preview' of the Me-163 at the convention and hopes that it will soon enter the planeset, wouldn't it be appropriate to give the Me-163 a target that is akin to those it would have opposed during World War II - namely, large bomber formations?  Seems like this idea would be a perfect complement to the introduction of the Me-163.

Hmmm, now, about adding contrails to bomber groups over 20k...

- Dave

[DarkHawk]

StracCop

Great idea, suggestion is to make the number of planes to 18 to form a bomber box.


DarkHawk