I think that giving “more power to the player” could lessen some of the AI issues. As I see it, there should be the option to pause the game, or briefly hand your plane to autopilot, to take some decision that no AI can take.
Some examples.
In the landing pattern, Number 4 is damaged and should land first, but continues to go around leaving unnecessarily precedence to others until it crashes.
Player should be able to take over control tower and order Number 4 to be the first to land.
During an escort mission, an enemy fighter appears. All your squadron’s pilots chase it, leaving alone the escorted bombers.
Player should be able to order: “Number 5 and 6 go ahead with the chase, all other return to escort position”, or click on the selected planes to obtain the same result.
Player has damaged and enemy bomber, and is turning for the coup de grace. Three more squadron’s AI mates run to finish it, allowing other enemy planes to bomb the target undisturbed.
Player should be able to select a target to be ignored by AI pilots.
The list could go on, but the concept is clear, I think. You pay a little price in immersion, because you need to stop the action and momentarily assume the rank of god, but you avoid that immersion be killed by AI pilots unrealistic actions.
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