4.13 development update discussion and feedback

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by majorfailure

Rookie AI is below that level in many aspects - their aiming and shooting is beyond useless.

While we might be arguing about different aspects of the game and different interpretations of what counts as "rookie" AI, I think that you're incorrect about shooting accuracy.

If you doubt me, queue up a 4 v. 4 QMB mission between any type of fighter and with rookie AI on both sides. Put your plane on "autopilot" and watch the action.

You will notice that "rookie" pilots consistently close with their targets, try to maneuver onto their opponent's tail, hold fire until proper firing ranges, correctly compute simple deflection shots, and fire in 2-3 second bursts. All those traits are consistent with a very well-trained, highly aggressive pilot.

This means that a 4 vs. 4 rookie encounter usually results in complete destruction of one side, with at least one "rookie" pilot achieving multiple kills.

While that makes for a satisfying game experience, realistically that level of aggression and shooting skill is VERY rare, and is consistent with what one would expect from an Ace (or future ace) pilot. Historically, most pilots (i.e., anyone other than Veteran or Ace pilots) were absolutely terrible at ranging and deflection shooting, especially when shooting at distant targets or at high deflection angles.

Originally Posted by majorfailure

And maneuvering is at best okay.

Here I agree. The current AI is pretty good about making rookie AI maneuvering a bit clumsy, prone to losing energy, and a bit vulnerable to stalls and spins. I think it's about right for a well-trained "rookie" pilot, but perhaps too generous for a "cannon fodder" pilot.

Originally Posted by majorfailure

What I think could and should be corrcted is their awareness

I also agree here. "Situational Awareness" is the hardest factor to master, and has been proposed as the "Ace Factor" which separates ace pilots from the others. AI in IL2 is still far too good in allowing pilots to track and respond to multiple threats, especially for aircraft they can't see.

One of the common things that combat pilots recall about their first mission is their almost total lack of SA. They are entirely focused on following their leader or staying in formation, and fail to see other aircraft, even at close range. In combat, they also describe aircraft as popping up and vanishing from sight, which implies total lack of tracking ability.

The stress of combat also commonly causes tunnel vision. For this reason, many rookie pilots fail to realize that they're under attack until their plane is hit.

Finally, rookies, especially "cannon fodder" pilots below the level that rookie currently models should panic under stress. For example, when suddenly attacked, they might break so hard that they send their plane into a stall. Or, if their plane is damaged, they might bail out rather than trying to nurse the plane home.

For those reasons, I think that rookies, even well-trained rookies, should have the following traits:

1) No spotting ability beyond what they can see through their windscreen at 500 meters or less.

2) Limited peripheral vision. It should take them a few seconds to notice even close targets outside the 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock level area. It should also take them a few seconds to realize that they're being shot at.

3) Very limited spotting ability for targets beyond 500 meters.

4) Very poor aircraft recognition in combat. Unless they can clearly see national markings (i.e., from the side, above or below at about 100 meters or less) rookies should regularly mistake friend for foe and vice-versa.

5) No Situational Awareness - if a rookie pilot can't see it, they can't respond to it. While they can still maneuver to try to keep a target in their sight, they automatically lose track of any target they can't see.

6) Chance of panicking when damaged or under close attack. Panicking while damaged typically means bailing out. Panicking while under attack might mean a hard turn that results in a stall or excessive energy loss, or a straight-line dive that sets the rookie up for an easy shot and makes them lose position. For badly disadvantaged rookies over friendly territory, they might just bail out! (This was a not uncommon tactic for German pilots during 44-45)

7) Even worse gunnery skills. A high chance of opening fire at extreme ranges. Very poor deflection shooting, even for relatively low deflection shots. Tendency to fire long bursts that waste ammo.

Average or Veteran pilots should have better ability to spot and identify incoming threats, very good ability to identify friendly or enemy aircraft, and far less tendency to panic, but very limited SA. That is, they should have very little ability to guess where even a single hidden but previously "acquired" enemy is relative to their own plane as it maneuvers, and very limited ability to guess at a maneuvering plane's energy state or likely next move. Average pilots should be able to follow one hidden target, veterans 2-3. Aces should have the ability to track 4 or more different targets.