- Yes
- No
Addition of groups of 1 to 4 additional aircraft to naval arcade mode… Players will be able to spawn a flight of 2 to 5 total aircraft. This suggestion could be implemented in several ways.
Background
You may notice, in naval battles, aircraft are rather weak. That is, against the massive walls of AA fire which sweep forth from innumerable ships against lone aircraft. This makes aircraft unplayable (with the exception of low-tier battles). Spawning a plane is a waste of time; every ship projects a kilometres-wide bubble of inevitable death.
However, aircraft in real life were and still are the most powerful forces in a strike group. This is both due to their long range and sheer power in numbers. Strike packages could number in the tens to hundreds of aircraft. Such large concentrations of aircraft saturated the air defense capability of enemy ships, allowing the aircraft to complete their mission.
To parallel real life, and to provide an interesting experience, players should be able to spawn multiple aircraft at once.
There are numerous pathways possible for the implementation of multiple aircraft mechanics.
1. Semi-Automatic Flight
This idea calls for 1 lead aircraft, which is fully controlled by the player. Additional AI aircraft will attempt to follow the player aircraft in both maneuver and attack. The player can also select an enemy ship for the AI aircraft to attack. In this way, the player can retain control of the aircraft, while having the opportunity to perform a simultaneous attack. If the player aircraft is destroyed, control will be transferred to a surviving AI aircraft.
Spoiler
I find this method to be the most realistic implementation.
2. Formation Control
This idea allows the player to control multiple aircraft simultaneously, similar to WoWs. All aircraft will perform automated maneuvers in order to stay in a formation. The player will not be able to control individual aircraft, but control a formation as a whole.
Spoiler
This was the idea for the larger suggestion (although I have never played WoWs, I saw a game clip).
3. Sequential Control
In this idea, the player will be able to control 1 aircraft at once. Additional AI aircraft will loiter at high altitude or otherwise out of danger; they will not be controlled by the player. If the player aircraft is destroyed, control will be transferred to one of these AI aircraft. The main detail is that the additional aircraft will be in a good position to begin attacks.
(This is already the case with some single-player missions. Therefore, it would be the easiest to implement, but not as interesting as the other ideas.)
More information
This suggestion is intended to replace the current randomized naval aircraft spawns system (the one where players can select a “Bomber” or a “Fighter” and the game gives an aircraft). It’s not intended to replace the ability of players to bring their own aircraft of preferred.
Spawning a flight of aircraft should have an SP cost slightly higher than the current cost of single aircraft spawns (Lowering current aircraft SP requirement in Naval should be done). Seeing how ineffective planes are currently in naval mode, this is logical to give it a chance. Exact SP costs can be debated.
Spoiler
The specific aircraft spawned will be decided by the game, but split into multiple categories, such as bomber, attacker, and fighter. This allows for further balancing to be done.
The possible implementation of this suggestion would bring fresh dynamics to the current state of naval.