Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: Butcher on November 05, 2011, 09:45:21 AM
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I was thinking of a way to add new strat targets to the game, one idea was adding xAP's and xAK's to the game. These are (attack Personnel and transports) which would be convoys to oversea bases via a convoy. Maybe something small like 4 transports and a pair of destroyers for escorts, possibly even destroyer escorts.
I would say the convoys original out of Ports - and head towards island bases, to resupply them. xAP's would resupply troops while xAK's would resupply fuel, field guns etc. The Reason for 4 total, is if one xAP gets sunk then only half of the Barracks will come up in 45 minutes, same for xAK's if one is sunk then half a field will respawn, ,if all 4 are sunk then clearly the base will be down longer until the next convoy.
This is the idea in general, however for resting matters, you simply have them "convoy" towards a field for now to test how they are approached, for scoring purposes these ships would be half the perks of a Carrier sunk, and give Beaufighters and JU-88s some fun targets to look forward to.
Just an idea while having my coffee.
Example of an AP - USS President Adams
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/USS_President_Adams100301905.jpg)
Example of an xAK - SS Julie Luckenbach
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/SS_Julia_Luckenbach.jpg)
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OK... to start off before anyone says wrong room, this isn't a 'wish list' posting, but an area to discuss a possible enhancement we may wish would happen... so Nyah!
I've put this forth in a previous post, but I think it may deserve it's own thread since I see the same thread popping up again and again in regards to CV's.
My thoughts would be to have support fleets for CV's, much like the trucks that run to bases to resupply these. These would be needed to maintain operations and also work towards rebuilding a damaged fleet. Basically, the support fleet leaves the port of call and makes a B-Line for it's fleet (following water of course). The cons of this become immediately apparent... The farther away from port you get, the longer resupply will take, and the greater chance for interception (DUH?!?!).
This adds two great aspects to the game... You now have the ability to utilize attack craft for one of their main purposes, attacking soft targets, especially trains and convoys, and also would correct the issue of hiding carriers.
Carriers would have a 'bleed' set on their resources based on an over time equation. Over time would be used because if were based on planes or anything realistic people would be really really mad... But basically, this bleed on effectiveness (Droptanks are disabled... Ordinance is disabled) would make the use of a carrier under assault a much harder task. In addition, the CV would always require supplies, so convoys would always need to be sent. If the carrier is hidden, supply convoys could be tracked. If the base is under enemy control, the convoys cease, and the carrier becomes nearly useless (25% fuel no ord fighters only?).
This would also add the use of scout planes, particularly PBY's which I'd love to see in game to the overall aspect of gameplay while not removing anything from anybody. I see this is a 'win win'. I'd love to hear any suggestions or thoughts in regards to /this/ topic...
(http://www.dornier-wal.com/02254_PBY5_Y-45_ROSE_BAY.jpg)
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+1
I always thought tramp steamers were great looking ships. Liking the idea of the variety it would add. Really miss train-busting.
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YES! I live for anti-shipping :O
.... and a Korean Wat arena (also 410, but that's being added) :noid
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+1
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+1 to anything that floats with (at most) light flak :aok
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Oh yeah...+1. :aok 1st thing I would do is try to get a few people together and launch some D3A's against one. But if not, the 25H it is! :x
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+As much as I can give.
I want floating things that I can use torps on without getting nailed by 5'' before I can even get lined up. Also, the B-25H for it's real purpose.
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+1
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Also, would give a stronger argument to put the Beaufighter and the Mosquito Mk. 18 (Hell, we don't even need to strengthen the argument for the Beaufighter, we've done enough in a different thread lol.
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Well, the Beau will get added even if ship convoy's don't. That much is certain, but having ship convoy's would guarantee it's addition much sooner than what is probably current. :aok
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hmmm submarine food :aok
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+As much as I can give.
I want floating things that I can use torps on without getting nailed by 5'' before I can even get lined up. Also, the B-25H for it's real purpose.
QFT
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+As much as I can give.
I want floating things that I can use torps on without getting nailed by 5'' before I can even get lined up. Also, the B-25H for it's real purpose.
This would require people to take the map seriously as far as the strategy of it goes, and here's my logic behind this -
If you don't defend the convoy's with CAP - then a lone B-25H or (beaufighter) will come in and sink it leaving your base unprotected in the event buffs come over to shut it down (without resupply the base won't rebuild quickly) leaving it more defenseless.
However like our Carrier Task Force, in 15 minutes the Convoy will re-travel to its base objective, if the primary convoy was shut down and the base, this convoy still can resupply it, if you want it resupplied quicker you'd need to have C-47s.
Now I have to figure out a way, to keep the convoys from being static. What I mean is, I don't want convoys just going from A to B, problem is people will be waiting and it will be a mess.
Instead the Convoys will actually have to travel Convoy lanes, which are setup by the Arena Map, Instead of a direct Port to Base Approach (A to B)
It will have 3 optioned routes to take (when the group spawns its randomized).
Basically its quite simple - you cannot have control of convoys, but the lanes are already setup as Predefined route objectives, same as setting a carrier's course.
I would even argue, it would be wiser to keep a carrier group that spawns from a far base to protect convoy lanes, while carriers that are close to the front's be used to take bases, this allow's some radar and protection.
However I am still not keen on the idea of having the Convoys show up on the clipboard, last thing we need are certain squads switching sides to sink the convoys.
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:aok
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Another thought on the ship convoy's; What if the convoy reaches it's destination and sits there while river barges go from the convoy to the coastal base? Linger time wouldn't be too long, just long enough for the river barges (more than one I may add. Maybe 4 barges?) to reach the beach?
A question though; Will the convoy take evasive action if bombers are overhead and/or torpedoes in the water? I would hope so.
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A question though; Will the convoy take evasive action if bombers are overhead and/or torpedoes in the water? I would hope so.
If I'm mistaken, I think that in real life the convoys would run in a pre-planned zig-zag route to confuse enemy snoopers, subs, etc.
This could be coded into the game I'm sure.
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They did (completely forgot about that :o). However, when torpedoes were spotted, I believe they would've taken necessary action.
If coded in, would the zig zag be random or at fix variables? I would hope random, say :30 - 1:30, the convoy would turn. I'm not honestly sure how long a convoy would sail before turning, but I know it was never at set times and for very long.
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+1
I like it sounds cool, stuff like this was a big part of the war and even in the battles today they still are.
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Built into a map a bit like a railway is built in now.
It would be neat if ports then became (also) depots and part of the strategic model.
Convoys would travel in both directions between such ports
Given the advent of AI it would be neat if other convoys also tried to reach the ports carrier group for refueling / re arming etc .
This then could be taken so much further.............. presently carriers are pretty easy to kill (and then they magically appear somehwere else on the map). They could be modelled such that they were virtually indestructable but have all the air field "components" attritable. (Vehicle hangers, troops, ac hangers, ships guns etc) basically once damage has occurred beyond a certain point (ie most of the stuff destroyed) AI takes over and takes the fleet home or to the nearest supply convoy where it is repaired and returned to player based control.
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...
However I am still not keen on the idea of having the Convoys show up on the clipboard, last thing we need are certain squads switching sides to sink the convoys.
:aok A good use for recce planes is to temporarily highlight CVs and these convoys on the map. We can use Catalinas and Condors for that. Also, search and destroy missions in support of landing actions ... :aok
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:aok A good use for recce planes is to temporarily highlight CVs and these convoys on the map. We can use Catalinas and Condors for that. Also, search and destroy missions in support of landing actions ... :aok
This is exactly my idea why the Fw-200 Condor and the PBY would be a great edition to the game, although both could carry bombs/Depth charges, I would love to see them in a natural Torpedo loadout and hunt convoys/CV's.
Its also possible to have simple Surface Task forces, A Large cruiser and destroyer escort, or two cruisers and destroyers.
Now for these Surface Taskforces, their function would be offshore bombardment, I am pretty sure we can set these up to be "manned" as in
you can move these TF's around the map as needed, without a carrier however you would need to provide CAP for it.
I would not consider adding a battleship as the damage done would be to extensive and unfair to the balance, however a pair of cruisers offer 6x 8inch batteries to fire, which is considerable bombardment.
The reason I am thinking of a separate bombardment group is simply - if the CV goes down in a CV taskforce, it respawns in 15 minutes, however in a pair of cruiser task force you would be required to sink both cruisers, which adds a level of difficultly to the plan of action.
The best idea I have so far is having 2-4 destroyers escort the convoy, which allow people on 5 inch guns able to defend the convoy if needed, also
most transport ships did have a fore/aft 3-5inch gun, so it makes sense those would be allowed to use.
Only difference is you cannot control the convoy, but you can man the guns for defense.
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+1
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The best idea I have so far is having 2-4 destroyers escort the convoy, which allow people on 5 inch guns able to defend the convoy if needed, also
most transport ships did have a fore/aft 3-5inch gun, so it makes sense those would be allowed to use.
Only difference is you cannot control the convoy, but you can man the guns for defense.
You wouldn't be able to see the convoy on the map to go to and jump in a gun which means you would have to put a convoy icon on the map. This counter's your earlier idea of no convoy icon's.
Destroyer Escorts were commonly used for convoy defense, if I recall correctly, so it would be neat to see how they model those in.
Evarts class
Buckley class
Cannon class
Edsall class
Rudderow class
Mind you, I got it off of wiki but, would these be the ones to look at to model for convoy defense? I hope someone comes along with RN Frigate classes...
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+1
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River Class would be the RN escort destroyers :)