suggestion is to make the number of planes to 18 to form a bomber box.
DarkHawk,
Good thought.
I had considered that so we could have maximum historical accuracy. The 12-bomber formation I came up with is actually adapted from the B-17 Group Combat Box Formation used during World War II. In the end though I decided not to suggest it for 2 principle reasons and a technical concern:
First, while it would be more historically accurate, it would run the risk of becoming an overpowering and irresistable force in the game. Believe me, fighters will have their hands full. They will need to form joint missions, maintain caps (or have access to Me-163's) and coordinate attacks if they have a chance of downing an entire group - a group that may have its own 'little friends' with them. I think the challenge will be great enough with 12 planes where, incidentally, there can be two gunners in each set of 3 for a maximum of 8 manned guns firing at them (if the Group Leader is also in a gun during the attack). I think that having to attack 18 will be all but impossible for fighters....and hey, I want a crack at attacking a Bomber Group ... an living to tell the tale..myself.
Still, with that said, nothing would stop more than one Bomber Group from forming (after some planning and coordination, I would suppose) and creating a coordinated mass attack. Remember, during World War II, bomber groups would launch from multiple bases in England and meet at a rally point before their final run into the target. Creating an opportunity for similar missions in AH would further enhance the historical complexity and coordination required to form such missions.
The second reason is that I think Group Leaders will have enough trouble trying to fly their own formation and three additional ones that are tethered to his formation. Anything but the smallest course-correcting manuevers will require the Group Leader to think far ahead - they will have to plan their course and any mid-course turns needed to arrive at the target - just like they had to do during the war. Trying to do that with 5 tethered formations and his own might prove too daunting a task.
A final reason is that the technical demands of such a grouping might prove more than the game can handle. I have no idea what effect a 4-formation Bomber Group would have on frame rates when escorts and opposing fighters are all thrown together. Heck, I don't even know if its possible to form the Bomber Group in the first place...but I hope its possible.
I started this thread to promote a community discussion of the idea to discuss its merits and to uncover any flaws in the concept. Along the way, your thoughtful discussion has allowed me to fine-tune my original idea and to better disclose some of its nuances for your consideration.
Through this exercise, I hope that we have created a knowledgebase of sorts to help HiTech and HTC decide if its warranted, desired and technically possible.
Thanks for contributing your ideas and feedback to the thread...if this idea happens, I would love for it to be a by-product of such a discussion. Wouldn't that be nice..?
- Dave
