Originally posted by hubsonfire
So, to get back on topic, we still have formations because we're supposed to be carpet bombing, but instead we're still salvoing 1 and dropping hangars consistently from alt. Why?
The laser sighting can be fixed (see above), and we can make it easier to intercept a buff raid with increased warning (better radar coverage), but unless the fighter jocks start intercepting the raids, nothing will change. Frankly, if we want to encourage interception, I'd start awarding a fat perk bonus for every bomber killed since they are the real threat to your bases. Add 4x normal perks for 4 engine buffs and 2x for 2 engine buffs and see if that helps - if nothing else you reward the intrepid fighter jock willing to take on a buff box.
I still think formations are reasonable given that the buff drivers do not have the other 9 crew members aboard gunning for them. If all the buffs had independent AI gunners manning the guns, they might have a chance as a single ship. As it is now, even with the firepower concentration of a buff box, you can only target one fighter at a time - if fighters wing up and hit at the same time, somebody gets a clean shot.
As a buff driver myself, I wish we had real strat targets - something you want to go bomb (and the defense wants to protect) because it makes a difference to your country. Give me something besides bases that it makes sense to bomb, and I'll go bomb it. If hitting the zone oil refinery knocked out drop tanks and limited fuel to 75% in the zone, I'd damn well go over there and blast it. If there was a Spit factory (or an La factory
) which kept people from taking up new Las or Spits when it was down, I'd bomb it, and I suspect people would up in droves to keep me from bombing it.
We're supposed to be carpet bombing, but the problem is there is very little worthy of carpet bombing. If we want strategic bombers used as they should be used, give us something strategic besides bases to bomb.
EagleDNY
$.02