4.11 - AI debugging

[Jumoschwanz]

I noticed that Ace AI fighters will keep chasing after and shooting enemy fighters when the enemy fighter is in flames and/or the engine is stopped. Just thought it was a waste of resources and ammo for them.

On the other hand, I have seen a number of times when Ace AI are themselves in disabled fighters or bombers, either on fire or with stopped engines or missing controls and they continue to fly the aircraft instead of bail.

Not a problem for me, and I am sure that in WWII some chose to stick with their aircraft rather than bail, but in the cases I am talking about the aircraft ends up crashing and killing the crew.

Maybe something is damaged or the AI are wounded and they can not bail out? Altitude does not seem to be a factor as sometimes they will bail so low they hit the ground too fast and die.

Sure, sometimes the AI will fly into the ground, but I am sure a lot of aircraft in WWII hit the ground or water while fighting at low altitude also, so it may actually be adding realism to have random aircraft hit the ground, random AI pilots not bailing, and AI fighters shooting at enemy aircraft that are already disabled, maybe even have them shoot at parachutes once in a while?

So depending on how you look at it things with the AI can either be faults or simply imitating humans with all their faults and erratic behavior.

As far as fighting ability goes, the Ace AI is still not as good as the better human pilots flying online, it is damn good but not like human Ace pilots.

I am not saying that I am an ace, but I can probably beat the Ace AI almost every time 1 vs.1 or two. Sometimes I can even take three or four of them out.

When I shoot their aircraft to pieces, I always feel better if they can bail and save their virtual lives. If I disable an enemy AI I often let it limp home and save the ammo for healthier targets. That too might be an interesting trait to put into the AI, some mercy every now and then.

Thanks for your time.... S!

Oh, and yes, I will dive to put a fire out on my aircraft, and if I can I will take a few more shots before the next fire starts no problem....