Modifications to existing perk planes
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Me262: 100 points
Spitfire14: 20 points
Tempest5: 30 points
F4U-4: 20 points
Ta152H-1: 10 points
F4U-1C: 8 points
Me163B: 70 points
Ar234: 50 points
Synopsis on modified perk values:
The argument for the Ta152 and the Spit14 is already well known, as the MA environment heavily relies on massive and chaotic engagements referred to as 'furballs'. Spit14s are much too vulnerable to afford the expensive 60 point perk price as they aren't particularly fast at low altitudes, and its amazing climb performance is limited by the short WEP periods. Ta152 lacks so much in conventional 'maneuverability' and acceleration to ever be used under certain altitudes.
The same argument as Spit14s and Ta152s can be made for the F4U-4.
The over abundance of Me163Bs near HQ fields, which bomber pilots complain about, are well noted and reasonable. The price should be increased.
The perks on the F4U-1C and the Ar234, is in my opinion adequate. It has regulated the C-hog scourge very well, and the fact that the Ar234 is a jet bomber, is enough for its 50 point cost.
The costs for the Me262 and the Tempest 5 has been suggested to be cut down to about 50%, based on the grounds that even a low perk price is adequate for regulating hoardes of planes(as been proven in the case of the C-hog - 8 points, neutralized the scourge phenomenon in its entirety!)
It takes average pilots a long time to earn 100 points - in an hour, I earn about 5~6 fighter perk points when I'm doing good. Maybe 8~10 if lucky. It takes almost a week for me to earn 100 points. For average pilots, even 30~40 perk points are pretty much a heavy burden.
As the vast number of people are always 'average', if the objective of perk prices is to regulate hoardes of super performance planes breaking arena balance, even 30points for the Tempest, and 100 points for the 262, is enough.
As it is now, only a few people who can manage to earn massive perks in a day will ever get to fly the 262 or the Tempest - people who can afford and shrug off maybe one, two losses of those expensive planes - and even they fly it only when it is particularly safe for them.
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Newly perked planes
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LA-7: 5 points
TYPHOON: 3 points
YAK9-U: 3 points
P-51D: 4 points
190D-9: 4 points
F4U-1D: 3 points
109G-10: 4 points
P-38L: 3 points
N1K2-J: 3 points
P-47D-30: 3 points
Synopsis on new perk values:
This idea was presented during the discussion on the La-7, in a thread named "Community vote on the La-7".
Perking the 10 suggested late war planes would shift the MA into a mid/late 1943 environment.
The F4U-1, P-51B, La-5FN, and the P-47D11 will be the four fastest fighters at low alts at military power, and F4U-1, P-51B, LA-5, Fw190A-8 would be the four fastest on WEP.
There's a much bigger chance to see people using various fighters, which before, have been ignored by a lot of average pilots for the reason that they weren't fast or maneuverable enough against 1944~'45 planes.
The survivability of the P-47s(which was a significant fighter in reality and yet, have massive disadvantages under current MA conditions) will be vastly enhanced. Since some of the 'super ground attackers' with 2k payload + rockets, have been suggested to be perked, it would earn a major role as a fast ground attacking fighter-bomber.
The N1K2 fans will probably just move on to Spit9s. We'll be seeing a lot less N1K2s, but more Spitfires. However, the Spitfire does not have 4 cannons - The main reason of contempt for the N1K2 lies in the fact that it is a superbly maneuvering fighter(equal to Spit9) with average speed performance, equipped with 900 rounds of 20mm ammo with four cannons.
The P-51D fans would shift to the P-51B.. which has a little less ammo load, and weaker jabo capabilities. We'll definately see less whinings about 'cowardly runstangs' who come in at 20k to do a single bomb drop and run straight home after. The P-51B is a magnificent fighter, but it is definately more limited than the P-51D.
The F4U-1 corsair will also start to shine out, but it will of course, be limited in jabo capabilities as with the case of the P-51B, compared to the C-hog and the D-hog.
La-7 fans can comfortably ride the La-5FN, since it shares simular characteristics with the La-7, and is still among the fastest non-perked planes. However, the speed difference between other fighters will be less than the case of La-7: meaning, it'd require some more careful flying. You can't out accelerate everything else and just run straight away. The smaller margin of speed/acceleration differences makes the La-5FN a dedicated fighter, but nothing like what the La-7 is in current MA conditions.
Also, some planes which only a few people rode just for kicks, might come into real recognition: such as the Bf109G-2, Bf109G-6, Fw190A-5, Fw190A-8, C.205.. which will be vastly enhanced in survivability and versatility. More variety IMO, definately can be expected. I would not want to take out a Fw190A-5 or a Bf109G-2 when I would have to face vast numbers of P-51Ds or N1K2s or La-7s. My choice would be the Fw190D-9 or the Bf109G-10. However, if my opposition is Spit9s, P-51Bs, P-47D-11s and La-5FNs.. taking out the Fw190A-5, A-8 or the 109G-2 would be a cool choice.
The Bf109G-10, Fw190D-9, Yak-9U are high performance late war planes, and the reason for them being perked is almost self explanatory.
The Typhoon as a perk would be puzzling for many, but in the matters of balance(virtually a non-perked, little bit slower Tempest) it is definately a perk material with my new suggested agenda. Quad Hispanos, superbly fast, more than 2000lbs Jabo loadouts. Also, it is to my knowledge, a 1944 Typhoon we have, which has solved almost all of the problems known in 1942 Typhoons.
Another distinctly positive changes we can expect with the suggested new perks, is that some jabo planes which people have totally neglected before, have a chance to become a very appealing jabo choice, since the planes that were very fast+carried huge bomb loads, will be perked.
Planes like the Mosquito and the Bf110G-2, Fw190F-8 might be able to get more usage as the preferred jabo ride of choice. As with the new suggested perks, those planes carry the heaviest bomb loads. When the 10 late war planes are perked, the Mossie and the 110, F-8 can all be considered pretty fast planes when it's main competition is not La-7s or P-51Ds.
The 3~5 point perk price would also be adequate. It'd be a super cheap price for the 'experts' who have amassed massive perks, and it would not really bother them from riding their favored rides. It is not a very heavy burden for average/low-skilled pilots, either. Work a bit with other fighters, and they'll achieve 3~10 points easily in a single day. They'll get a chance to ride better planes soon - and if they are shot down, it's definatley not as depressing as losing 30~100 perks in a single sortie.
On the other hand, 3~5 points could be just enough 'sting' to stop overuse. We have seen what mere 8 points can do to the C-hog. Many of the 'small perk' planes.
Currently, the difference between 'perked' and 'unperked' is "almost non existent" and "only few overly abundant".
Effectively, the new perk values I suggest, can be said that it has three categories "highly perked", "lightly perked" and "unperked" - from this, I attempt to achieve the following:
1) rare super-planes remain rare
2) historically abundant, but high performance late war planes which sees almost exclusive use(P-51D, La-7, Fw190D-9 etc..), would be controlled in numbers.
3) majority of unperked planes which are early/mid war planes, which have been previously neglected(Bf109F-4, Fw190A-5, C.205, Yak-9T, La-5FN etc..), will be used a lot more.
If those 10 fighters are newly perked, the planes people will use will have a speed range of 310~336mph range at deck speeds, where many many previously neglected planes can be used.
With my suggested perk setup, I think we can see more variety, less whining, and satisfy the people who want to fly fast monster planes(perks relatively almost non-existant burden for the experts), people who want to fly planes they want without too much of a burden(low perks, low burden), and also the people who want some plane numbers regulated(3 perks is not too high, but still needs some work for the vast majority of average/low-skilled players who make up AH community - hoardes will be limited). Also, my suggestion will give some great expert jabo planes(Mossie, 110G-2, Fw190F-8, A-20 etc..) their role back in the MA - currently they have no place at all, since almost every USAAF/USN plane can carry loads of rockets+2000lbs payload.
The one single problem is the P-38L, which doesn't have an earlier variant. With hopes that AH2 will introduce an earlier variant of the P-38, the P-38L will have to be perked also.
ps) Also, the survivability of bombers will go up a lot more.
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Edit: The mistakes in the N1K2 cannons are corrected- Thx Karnak!
