Strategies?
I've only been building dogfight type missions for 4.12.1. More experienced builders will no doubt have much better tips; but I'll toss forth what little I know and see if it helps you:
Strategy 1 - Using AI with static airfields:
Player built static airfields seem to function a little differently in regards to how AI spawn as compared to the airfields which are built into the maps.
- For example, I can place a home base icon over a map's airfield, then place static aircraft, and finally place taxi to takeoff waypoints. In online mode the AI will spawn at the static aircraft, start engines and taxi to takeoff normally. In contrast, on a player built airbase the AI will function as described above but only while playing the mission inside the FMB. Once the mission is loaded into a server (in this case my own PC) these same AI will not spawn in at static aircraft but rather spawn in a line at the takeoff point of the home base perhaps even colliding with other static objects and exploding.
AI will land at a static airfield, but they wont taxi off the runway to a parking spot. I think this is because there are no static spots to taxi to (the one you can see in options for map built airfields). Therefore, the AI tend to just roll to a stop and sit there blocking the runway. After experimenting with this problem, I again decided it is best to just have AI land at map generated airfields.
If anyone knows a solution to this, I'd be very happy. In the meantime I suggest using only the airfields which come with a map for AI that you wish to have taxi and land.
Strategy 2 - Selecting a location for your static airfields
- When selecting a location to build your airfield runway, I suggest making it close to the shore. The reason for this is random tree generation. Depending on your graphic settings, and those of players on your server, trees (which you can move through without harm) will randomly generate on the runway, on the taxiways, and pretty much anywhere they can.
- Find the flatlands. When selecting a location to build, place a large square static runway and see how the land sits inside the box. If you place a static runway on a high spot, you may discover that players spawn into static aircraft a few feet off the ground and then proceed to crash into the ground.
- You can make a static runway that supports both land aircraft and sea planes, but again you have to make very sure of the land height. In this case, land based aircraft may spawn in on a static spot ok, but the seaplanes will spawn in a few feet up in the air and crash. You may have to place most of the static runway in the water and only have enough for the runway on land.
Strategy 3 - Countries, aircraft, and limits:
- Once you have built your static airfield (including placing the static runway from stationary ship objects), you need to place a home base icon over the field. Next adjust the radius of the home base to a reasonable radius. Next select the side (red or blue) and the countries you wish to be assigned to this home base. Next select the types of aircraft available. If you desire you can limit the number of aircraft available on a static airfield and what weapons a plane can carry.
Next adjust the air start tab so that all options are zero (0). If you desire radar to work at the airfield, you enter the 3 limiting parameters (maximum detection distance, upper and lower detection height). Make sure to place a radar object within the radius of your airfield or you will not enable the feature. Don't forget to place a siren and select the correct color.
- Limited numbers of aircraft. Say that you want only five Hurricane II's available at a static airfield, and that damaged/destroyed aircraft will impact this number. You should then place only 5 static (DF tagged) Hurricane II's on your airfield. By the way, I think it is possible to actually ferry aircraft to a field and replenish lost numbers. Probably not something worth doing in a small DF map, but in a large SEOW type campaign it is very valuable to replace lost aircraft at frontline bases.
Not sure what else to add. Experiment and test. Rinse and repeat.
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