Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Pooface on May 15, 2005, 03:27:12 PM
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now, i want everyone to reply to this and show thats its been acknowledged.
i was thinking that, in the same way we program salvos, we could have a programmable auto pilot.
if u have a dot command for setting bearing and alt, u could do really great formations. if u had commands like .bearing 275, and .altidude 12500 for example.
if u did this, and pressed an unused button like y or something, it would be the fourth programmable autopilot. i guess it would kind of be like the auto in il2, and maybe we could have it so we set waypoints just like in missions.
i dont believe it would be too hard to model, and it would lead to really great lookin formation flying, and encourage missions.
please leave feedback, i want to know everyone elses opinions:aok
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Formation flying is a skill, not a feature. Formation flying must be achieved through PRACTICE, not by a push of a button.
Ofcourse we do have auto-trim settings which loosely corresponds to 'autopiloting'. Auto level trim(X), auto speed trim(alt+X), and lock pitch trim (shift+X). However, this is to reduce thr workload of pilots as a game play concession.
Admittably, the same logic CAN be used for formation flying too. However, if somebody wishes to fly at formation, in a sense he is already giving up the comfort of flying at whatever condition he likes.
Unlike the real world, AH doesn't really have a need for formation flying, since icons are a dead give-away for spotting planes out from afar. Formation flying in the real world was mandatory in order to maximize the efficiency of each of the pilots scanning the skies for enemy aircraft. Thus, formation flying in AH is more of a show-off and a testament to the skill level of each of the pilots in the wing. Instead of flying whatever way he likes, they will purposely give up the comfort of individual flying and form up a wing.
Besides, as long as the squadron is organized, the flight leader can always give out a heading, set throttle setting, and notify his wingmen of auto trim settings.. the leader will say something like "0-9-0 degrees bearing, 45" manifold". Then the wingmen gain up on him, and then set their planes to the same settings. And then, upon the leader's command they all engage alt+X and they will be able to fly/climb in formation easily. Any slight discrepancies in flight can be altered, and then reset.
I don't think there's any need for a 'formation flying' button. Since you can already do it easily enough - use the basic system, and mix some skill into it. That's good enough for gameplay.
Take away the skill level factor and just making it a single button feature is gonna take the fun away also.
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Well said :aok
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Totally agree with Kweassa.
Almost posted yesterday but kweassa said it so much better than I would have.
Besides, your system would be ok for setting heading and alt, but does not adress speed differences, time differences, etc.
What you'd end up with is a string of bombers, not a formation.
Last, if you want to see some awesome buff formations check out Squad ops.
I've been lucky enough to both fly & escort large formations of B17s. Over 50 pilots in one niice group, each with its own drones in formation. Now that is a challenge both to lead and to fly.
Gives you a great feeling when you hear people commenting on how cool it looks.
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well i suppose ure right, i just thought itd be quite cool
anyways, thanks for fb, good to hear what other people think
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I disagree that we need or could use a standard form of autopilot in AH.
Also, while I agree with Kweassa that fighter formations primary purpose was for SA I do disagree that it has no use in AH.
2 pilots flying proper tactical formation along with proper wingman tactics would be very difficult to defeat 2v2 or even 3-4v2. Utilizing these tactics you both pilots do not have to be "The Red Baron" to be successful against even better skilled pilots.
Good formation flying can have a purpose in AH.
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Originally posted by Ghosth
Last, if you want to see some awesome buff formations check out Squad ops.
I've been lucky enough to both fly & escort large formations of B17s. Over 50 pilots in one niice group, each with its own drones in formation. Now that is a challenge both to lead and to fly.
Gives you a great feeling when you hear people commenting on how cool it looks.
And it does look awesome. Both from in the formation and outside the formation.
Don't know how it looks from the enemy base standpoint though. Been lucky enough not to have been at the target.:D
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The real problem lies in the fact that most of the navigation dials are damn near impossible to see.
What I would like is a button that just auto zooms in on different navigation dials some just so I can see them.
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yes, this was my main problem with fromation flying, i cant see the compass properly. in next update, could htc PLEASE put a little code in, like ctrl+shift+c? which shows your bearing in small numbers in like, the bottom left corner. doing that, we wouldnt need a new autopilot:)
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How about if they just set up the E6B so in addition to airspeed it would also give heading, altitude and rate of climb? I mean, the clipboard already gives us more inflight information in real time than we would have IRL. Why not give us a little more flight data that would really help us.
What do you think about this? No new key strokes or views, just redesign of the E6B section of the clipboard.
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You shouldnt need precise heading numbers or altitude/speed numbers to fly in formation, it's done visually. The biggest thing making formation flying difficult in AH is that we spend most of our time at or near full throttle, leaving less room for error.
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what we mean is not small fighter formations, but bombers. can you honestly say u want to go on a big bomber mission, and have to watch the leader the WHOLE time. if everyone was at the same settings, u could all go afk:D
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Innominate,
email me
roy.b.mason@us.army.mil
Long time no see and tracking you down on the internet from Iraq was a chore and a half.
Everyone else,
Sorry to interupt your discussion. Former player, current soldier serving in Iraq. Just wanted to talk to an old friend.
Have a nice day.