Suggestions for AI Improvements in Future Updates

[Pursuivant]

Good summary of the discussion.

Originally Posted by ben_wh

4) Emergency Landing: potential for AI plane to automatically (or on command of the human player) divert to airfield marked as 'friendly' (e.g. same colour - red or blue - as the AI plane

4.1) "Smarter" AI behavior for mortally-wounded planes, such that planes that are on fire or which can't maintain altitude after jettisoning ordinance will immediately try to land, crash land or ditch - in friendly territory if possible. If it isn't possible to "land" the plane (i.e., flying over mountains or woods), crew should try to bail out at 500-1,000 meters above ground level. For maximum historical realism, planes that ditch should attempt to do so near friendly ships or land held by friendly forces.

Originally Posted by ben_wh

7) Better command/communication - ability to ask wingman to check your six, for example

7.1. Ability for player to call out the presence of enemy aircraft to AI without having to use the padlock enemy command. Also the ability for a player to warn specific AI planes about enemy aircraft coming at them from a particular vector (e.g., "Red 3, Check your 4 o'clock low).

Originally Posted by ben_wh

10) Doctrinal/national behavior by time frame - ideas: Vic formation for Commonwealth planes in 39-40; random (infrequent, occasional) kamikaze behavior for damaged Japanese planes in 44-45 - this one will needed to be teased out more as well; not sure whether AI behavior by nation is feasible / desired by players

"Weaver/Tail-end Charlie" vic or echelon formations for Western allies 1941-42.

"Combat line" formation for USAAF planes in 44-45, and "section" tactics for USN/USMC planes from 42-45.

Lack of formation for Soviet attack aircraft 1941-43 (they usually flew in irregular "gaggles").

Soviet fighters in 41-42 should occasionally use "taran" attacks (i.e., controlled collisions) if they're out of ammo.

Japanese planes in 1944-45 will very occasionally deliberately collide with heavy bombers.

Mortally wounded Japanese planes in 1944-45 WILL attempt kamikaze attacks against enemy ships.

Pilots of any nationality flying mortally wounded aircraft will occasionally make kamikaze attacks against enemy capital ships.

Originally Posted by ben_wh

11) Potential simple evasive maneuver (with land avoidance) routine for capital ships when under attack

Option for mission builders to make ships automatically travel in formation, keeping station with each other. Option for mission builders for ships (on their own or in formation) randomly zig-zag to simulate historical anti-submarine tactics. Carriers will always turn into the wind and travel in a straight line when retrieving planes and will always travel at top speed in a straight line and in line with the wind when launching planes.