Continuing my massive wishlist for AI behavior:
1) Alterations to Aircraft Protective Behavior.
In the FMB and/or as player commands, there could be more options for planes to only protect certain objectives, allowing for more realistic bomber escort, CAP and fighter squadron behavior.
A) Option to Assign Protective Mission by: Plane, Section, Flight, Squadron, Wing (2+ squadrons as defined in FMB).
B) Objective Protected:
Single Unit - Plane(s) defend a particular unit - plane, ship, etc.
Section - Plane(s) defend a 2 or 3 plane section.
Flight - Planes defend a 4 or 6 plane flight composed of two sections.
Squadron - Planes defend 3 or 4 flights.
Type of Unit - Planes defend one or more of Bombers, Fighters, Ground Vehicles, Artillery, Ships
Formation - Two or more units moving more or less in formation, regardless of type. Used to make CAP protect entire fleet, or fighter escort protect entire bomber wing.
Location - Particular map sector or a geometrical shape defined by the the mission builder in the FMB. Certain altitudes can be set (e.g., defend map sector C-13 between 1,000 and 3,000 meters). This could be an extension of the existing "Loiter here" command.
In the FMB, it could be possible to assign multiple objectives to be protected, prioritizing them, and/or shifting from one objective to another once a particular waypoint or trigger has been reached.
C) Type of Protection:
Very Close Cover/Wingman - Keep protected plane(s) in sight, more or less following their path, and weaving or circling closely around the protected objective if it is slower than you. Just attack enemies which are maneuvering to attack you or the objective you've been assigned to protect. Break off attack as necessary to follow assigned objective. Default distance to pursue an enemy is 500 meters, but this can be set to less in the FMB. Default behavior is to follow, then weaving to keep station with a slower target above protecting aircraft's stall speed, then a circling or "racetrack" course to keep station with a slower target moving below the protecting aircraft's stall speed.
Close Cover - Keep objective in sight, ignoring enemies which aren't attacking or maneuvering to attack you, planes in your formation, or planes you've been assigned to escort. Break off attacks against fleeing enemies beyond assigned close cover range and return to escorting position. Default "roving" range is 1000 meters, but can be altered in FMB.
Top Cover - The current AI option. Once sighted, chase and attack enemies as necessary. Only return to defended objective once enemies have been destroyed or are out of sight.
D) Degree of Self-Sacrifice
Highly Defensive: Defend objective only if multiple advantages are in your favor - numbers, plane quality, altitude, etc. Temporarily abort protective mission and flee or adopted defensive behavior if outnumbered, faced by superior planes, or otherwise severely disadvantaged.
Defensive: Defend objective only if some advantages are in your favor. Temporarily abort protective mission if severely disadvantaged.
Aggressive: Defend objective even in unfavorable conditions. Temporarily abort protective mission and protect yourself if attacked, but resume attack if possible after attackers are dealt with.
Suicidal: Defend objective regardless of odds. Ignore attacks on yourself if necessary to protect your objective.
E) Miscellaneous Modifiers:
* Defend units of same nationality only (default is defend all allied units within an assigned category)
* Defend damaged/undamaged units only (default is to defend all units within an assigned category)
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