Nuclear Escalation - How to fix interceptors economy and AI-Anti Aircraft credit stealing?

Game Discussion Realistic Battle
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1
  • Yes, I fully support these changes
  • I only support AI aircraft and activity rewards
  • I only support the rework of AI-AA assistance distribution
  • No (I will explain my opinion in the comments)
0 voters

Hey everyone! I wanted to open a discussion regarding the current state of the “Nuclear Escalation” mode, specifically looking at Battle Ratings (BR) 9.0–9.7+.

Currently, there is a significant imbalance in earning Spawn Points (SP) and Silver Lions (SL) for pure interceptors and early jet fighters that lack air-to-surface guided weaponry (including the F-102A, F-101C, F-104A, Lightning F.6, J-7II, MiG-17PF, Mirage 5BA, J34, etc.). AI-controlled anti-aircraft systems (“ZSU-23-4”, “M163”) are so overtuned that ground strafing with nose guns is suicidal, leaving these aircraft with zero viable ways to make a profit.

I’ve put together a detailed concept to fix this mode, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on these three ideas:

1. Adding AI-Controlled Ground-Attack Aircraft (Bots)

  • The Idea: Similar to Air Realistic Battles (ARB), AI attackers or bombers should spawn in waves (e.g., first wave at 3 mins, then every 4 minutes) at an altitude of 1500 meters, outside the HAWK/Buk range.
  • The Goal: This creates reliable air targets for interceptors, allowing players to utilize early IR missiles and protect friendly ground forces.

2. Activity-Based “Useful Actions” Reward System

  • The Idea: Adapt the “Useful Actions” mechanics from Simulator Battles. If an aircraft stays inside an enemy ground-force grid square (the danger zone of AI-SPAAGs) at tree-top level (below 200 meters) for 60 seconds, they should receive a baseline reward (e.g., 50 SP and 2000 SL).
  • The Goal: This compensates for the high risk of flying near dense AI-AA when traditional ground strafing is impossible.

3. New Reward Distribution for AI-AA Denied Kills (Improved Assist)

  • The Idea: If a player has been engaging an enemy in a close dogfight (within a 3km radius for the last 30 seconds), but the enemy is ultimately finished off by a friendly AI-SAM/SPAAG, the player should not be left empty-handed.
  • The Goal: Award an “Assist” worth 50% of the standard kill reward (split equally if multiple friendly pilots were in the dogfight radius). Standard mechanics apply if direct damage was dealt prior to the AI-AA hit.

Pros:

  • Gives pure interceptors a clear, historical role at BR 9.0–9.7+.
  • Stabilizes the mode’s economy and cuts unfair losses for pilots.
  • Ends the frustration of AI “stealing” hard-earned maneuvering kills.

Cons:

  • Would require development time to test and integrate new AI triggers.

What do you think? Would these changes make Nuclear Escalation more enjoyable and economically viable for interceptor pilots? Let’s discuss in the comments!

1 Like
2

Lobotomize the AAA to where it can barely hit the broad side of a barn, and its ability to kill steal naturally goes away with it.

Gaijin cannot make truly good AI-controlled killing tools without making them overpowered, so the only alternative is to make the AI effectively in a vegetative state shooting for cinematic effect.

Also note - I voted “No” only because you bundled the Sim EC “Useful Actions” junk together with the good idea of spawning waves of aircraft. The “Useful Actions” thing is just a disguised nerf to all rewards Snail only came up with to try combatting botting in Sim EC.

3

The vegetative effect is not needed, AI planes are only needed to overload the air defense so that players have a window to destroy it

4

Yes, it very much is needed. When weapons explicitly designed to kill SAMs don’t even work due to the AI being omniscient and able to shoot even with the radar turned off, no, that AI needs to be borderline-comatose.

Idk how new of a player you are, but I’ve been around for over a decade. Snail’s AI has only two settings - “Terminator” and “Vegetative.” They don’t know how to make a genuine middle ground and never have. Bomber AI gunners were first Terminators before being neutered into near-vegetative mode where they remain today except on Air Assault modes. Naval AI gunners are Terminators and will even melt the buffed Bomber DMs like its nothing. Ground Assault Tank AI are also Terminators. The AI tanks on Air RB maps are Vegetative. Various instances in the past regarding AAA on specific maps were also one of these two options. Airfield AAA are Terminators, and were vegetative previously to that. Snail doesn’t know how to make AI that isn’t one of the two, and I have personally seen proof of that for over a decade. Lobotomize it and leave it to rot.