Author Topic: Wow, great faq, plane permanence? (Read 837 times)

ergRTC · « **on:** January 30, 2003, 09:43:58 AM »

Are we going to get 'personal' planes? Will plane personality be included? Is engine abuse going to be modeled, so if you beat your plane repeatedly mission after mission it will degrade its performance?

I would love to see this. Can you give us a couple hints on any advanced engine management (like getting rid of overheat protection?) that you may be modeling for ah2.

My suggestion would be 'roll the dice' for each new plane a pilot adopts, and that plane will be assigned to that pilot till he dies, gets promoted, gets demoted to a p39 squad, or bangs it up so bad it cant fly anymore. Something like a good old RPG character abilities.

example:
p40 normal top speed 360 (or whatever)
You are assigned to the squad for your first flight. You select your plane, and the server randomly determines your planes 'personality'. So lets say your average 360 mph plane = a 10
Your dice roll gives you a 15, so your plane does 365 (max of course would be 20, so a 10 mph adv). Some other poor sucker might get a 5).

edit you would never 'know' what these values are.
Then you would have other 'traits'
like
cooling +- how long you can run wep or fly with a blown radiator
Oil +- pretty much same effect, also resistance to damage from an oil hit.
I cant think of many others, but you get the idea.

Now this plane would be with you till you died or busted it up. or promoted. YOu might have your self a real winner or something of a beater.

just my suggestion. Would really add to the immersion.

Thanks

LLv34_Camouflage · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2003, 07:10:41 PM »

"Damn, I got a 5. Well, what the heck, lets go on a mission."

"Ok, time to RTB. Base in sight. On final. Aaaaaand touchdown."

"Oops, looks like I forgot my landing gear up. Pity, I have to get a new plane now."

Camo

hazed- · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2003, 07:17:40 PM »

If it could be done i think it would work well.

BUT remember new ensigns and younge green pilots did not get personal aircraft!

Only the higher ranks got their personal aircraft and it should be the same in any game that seeks to simulate it.I can see people abusing it though just as LLv34 suggests.Its a shame there are so many people online who seem to derive enjoyment from picking holes in games and exploiting them.They basically spoil the enjoyment for those who want to play the game as it was intended to be.

Gman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2003, 07:26:01 PM »

I want a Cigar holder in my 109.

LLv34_Camouflage · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2003, 07:30:07 PM »

I like the idea. If you abuse this, you will loose mission points. Its going to take a long time to win the points back. What was it, 10 points for a succesful mission, -150 for a death? I wonder what a ditch would be, -50?

But how can you be fair to all players with a system like this? Maybe give each plane a set number of "performance points", which will be distributed among the different categories: climb, speed, turn, HP, etc? In any case, the performance difference should be no more than a few percent. Even 5% is a lot, when talking about top speed. At 300mph, 5% is 15mph. Thats approximately the sea level top speed difference between a 109 F-4 and G-2...

Camo

Batz · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2003, 07:31:30 PM »

I dont mind plane performance variations. But no more the +\- 5% of optimum.

The best way to do this is model a more complex eng management.

Then planes can heat a little faster, eng can run rough etc.

But for this to be workable we need the ability to regulate heat with rad flaps etc. We also need rpms to be a bit more accurrate.

This will also get us away from flying at full throttle and continous wep. Cruise settings, TO power. military power will all have meaning.

If 1 109 takes off and does 375 and the next guy that takes off does 350, well thats kinda stupid imho.

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2003, 11:20:36 PM »

I do like the idea of a personal aircraft... it would force players to be even more mindful of the stress they cause.

But the "roll the dice" issue Im not too fond of.

ergRTC · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2003, 09:55:10 AM »

Thats why you would need to make it only slight differences, just enough so that you may 'think' your plane is different from the next guys. That will make you either trust your baby more or less, believe it is the uber craft it is not and the like. Also, remember that differences like the top speed will not be all that noticable.

I think +- 10 would be fine, with a weighted distribution towards less than that. For speed that is.

I dont think having a trade off system is the way to go though, so if you end up with a fast plane it necessarily has to suck in some other regard. I think each trait should be independent.

ergRTC · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2003, 09:57:25 AM »

Oh yes, also remember this information would be hidden for the player. You would have to 'feel' this out in flight over time.

Pyro · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2003, 10:08:58 AM »

Yes, this is something that we're looking to do, but not so much on a random basis. As you progress in rank, the better planes and ground crews will become available to you. So your airframe might be a little slicker, your engine run a little stronger, your guns less prone to jams, those kind of things. Additionally, your pilot can progress as well with better g-tolerance. The differences will be subtle, but every little thing can help.

ergRTC · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2003, 10:52:02 AM »

Wonderful pyro, sounds like you guys are really trying to push the envelope with this one. I am very happy you are looking into these fine details.

erg

Magoo · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2003, 11:34:04 AM »

SCHWING!!!

Magoo

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2003, 01:17:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Oedipus
I'm starting to hyperventilate abit...

This sounds more like what I've always wanted in a WWII aircombat flight sim.

Oed

I agree - HTC is really gonna drop a bomb with this game... cant wait.

I feel kinda like I did when we discovered that tracers wouldnt simply be orange pixels anymore.

BenDover · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2003, 03:27:22 PM »

Hey pyro, are we going to be able to give our planes a good wax and polish job?

Mr. ED · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2003, 01:36:51 AM »

Hey dont forget water in the fuel

cough-sputter-cough

Mr.ED
327th ACG