ratherbegliding
04 Jan 07, 02:56
Dear Pat et al.
This is just my own personal observation and is no way meant to be a criticism of AATF - I'm thoroughly enjoying it. More something to bear in mind for the next project!
I recently finished the Vietnam campaign. Throughout the game I find the process of issuing waypoints to ground units and helicopters to control movement as fairly intuitive and a logical method to issue orders to these units.
However, when playing the Vietnam scenario I was busy plotting waypoints for the A-1E's to ensure they would make multiple passes over enemy concentrations when the thought occurred to me that this process was killing the immersion factor for me and drawing my attention away from the battle.
In real life, as you know, a commander would relay his target's details to an FAC (either on the ground or in the air nearby) who would then issue a 'nine line brief' to the incoming attack pilots.
My suggestion is as follows: CAS missions should be planned in a similar way to artillery fire missions. The critical bits of information would be:
1. The target's location (would be marked in the same way as a fire support mission - with a cross)
2. The type of ordnance to be used (a drop down list of what the aircraft/flight have remaining, with one option being 'any' or 'all')
3. Single or multiple passes required
4. The direction to approach the target (perhaps this could be done by clicking a 'waypoint circle' type icon)
5. As CAS missions became available a pop up box would warn a player of their arrival. The actual aircraft would orbit around the friendly entry point on the map until selected.
6. Finally, CAS would only be available for a limited time. There would be a timer counting down on the unit info screen to mimic time on station remaining (the time on station could also be communicated to the player in the pop up box shown on the CAS mission's arrival).
Just a thought . . . .
Regards,
RBG
This is just my own personal observation and is no way meant to be a criticism of AATF - I'm thoroughly enjoying it. More something to bear in mind for the next project!
I recently finished the Vietnam campaign. Throughout the game I find the process of issuing waypoints to ground units and helicopters to control movement as fairly intuitive and a logical method to issue orders to these units.
However, when playing the Vietnam scenario I was busy plotting waypoints for the A-1E's to ensure they would make multiple passes over enemy concentrations when the thought occurred to me that this process was killing the immersion factor for me and drawing my attention away from the battle.
In real life, as you know, a commander would relay his target's details to an FAC (either on the ground or in the air nearby) who would then issue a 'nine line brief' to the incoming attack pilots.
My suggestion is as follows: CAS missions should be planned in a similar way to artillery fire missions. The critical bits of information would be:
1. The target's location (would be marked in the same way as a fire support mission - with a cross)
2. The type of ordnance to be used (a drop down list of what the aircraft/flight have remaining, with one option being 'any' or 'all')
3. Single or multiple passes required
4. The direction to approach the target (perhaps this could be done by clicking a 'waypoint circle' type icon)
5. As CAS missions became available a pop up box would warn a player of their arrival. The actual aircraft would orbit around the friendly entry point on the map until selected.
6. Finally, CAS would only be available for a limited time. There would be a timer counting down on the unit info screen to mimic time on station remaining (the time on station could also be communicated to the player in the pop up box shown on the CAS mission's arrival).
Just a thought . . . .
Regards,
RBG