"Baby Its Cold Outside" Performed by Heinz and the Roman Candles

[HeavyCavalrySgt]

I have asked about this before, but I don't think I got a good answer and the situation has changed lately in that the AI is more willing to stay in a burning plane.

 

What is the bail out criteria?  Is there a random element to it?

 

I have seen at least 4 aircraft recently where the the AI crews didn't get out just because their airplane was burning like a road flare.  I assume that they looked outside and thought, "Hey, it looks a little chilly out there, but it is nice and warm in here.  I think I will stay and burn to death."

 

Two of the planes were 109s, and one of them kept trying to fight (I had made a sort of slashing attack on him, and he turned to follow me after I went by). I can respect that - a real pilot might stay if he isn't being burned yet and thinks he might be able to get a kill before he jumps.

 

The other two were 111s, and those guys waited until their airplane exploded before they called it quits.  Well, the guys that survived the explosions anyway.  Okay, the guy that survived.

 

Why does it matter?  If you shoot up a plane and light it on fire, it is pretty much doomed.  You can waste some ammo on it and try to knock it down or go on to more dangerous/worthwhile adversaries. Your wingmen, kill hungry as they are, will shoot at the burning aircraft -- and get the credit -- even ignoring EA that aren't doomed to do it.  I imagine that is an interesting debrief...

 

LT. Killstealer: "I came across a single EA, a 109.  He was in a straight glide, with a fire burning way out past his tail and a long trail of smoke. I gave him a long burst of cannon fire, with no effect.  I fired again, and saw multiple shells detonate on the left wing, fuselage and tail of the EA. The wing broke off and the EA spun into the ground shedding parts as it went.  There was a large fireball on impact, and I didn't see a parachute.  That's a kill, right?"

 

Debriefing Officer: "You are an idiot."

 

A related question - Is there a penalty for shooting friendlies?

[Sokol1]

Will be implemented.

 

Last update: - In campaign and in QMB a warning will be shown if you shoot friendlies (later we'll add XP penalty)

Edited October 9, 2014 by Sokol1

[Hr_Rossi]

You have right as funny as your story is. I got downed by EA i shot in flames after i concentreted on the next on. Accept it as i thougt the Hun fights for Walhalla

[HeavyCavalrySgt]

Will be implemented.

 

Last update: - In campaign and in QMB a warning will be shown if you shoot friendlies (later we'll add XP penalty)

 

So maybe the strategy is to damage your wingmen enroute to the mission area so they won't kill steal?

 

That would make the debriefs even more interesting!

 

Debriefing Officer: "You have a probable kill on an enemy aircraft, but unfortunately you also damaged 4 friendlies, two of which did not make it back to base. One pilot is missing.  The gun camera film makes it clear that you intentionally fired on your own flight. Sergeant, please escort Lt. Nameless Avatar to his shallow grave behind the hangar."

Edited October 9, 2014 by HeavyCavalrySgt

[BigDally]

If you shoot up a plane and light it on fire, it is pretty much doomed.  You can waste some ammo on it and try to knock it down or go on to more dangerous/worthwhile adversaries. Your wingmen, kill hungry as they are, will shoot at the burning aircraft -- and get the credit -- even ignoring EA that aren't doomed to do it.  I imagine that is an interesting debrief...

 

LT. Killstealer: "I came across a single EA, a 109.  He was in a straight glide, with a fire burning way out past his tail and a long trail of smoke. I gave him a long burst of cannon fire, with no effect.  I fired again, and saw multiple shells detonate on the left wing, fuselage and tail of the EA. The wing broke off and the EA spun into the ground shedding parts as it went.  There was a large fireball on impact, and I didn't see a parachute.  That's a kill, right?"

 

Debriefing Officer: "You are an idiot."

 

Yeah I've noticed this too.  So is the current rule effectively "whoever gets the last hit, gets credit for the kill"?

 

D

[HeavyCavalrySgt]

Yeah I've noticed this too.  So is the current rule effectively "whoever gets the last hit, gets credit for the kill"?

 

D

 

 

I think so.

[BigDally]

I think so.

 

That just seems wrong... 

[HeavyCavalrySgt]

I had a -111 burning after some cannon fire and stood back to watch.  My wingmates were busy with the escort, so they left the bomber alone for a change and I watched on the external view.

 

The bomber crew flew along quiet contently, obviously fixated on their mission.  The pilot did a remarkable job holding an altitude and a heading: he clearly had places to go.  The feat was even more impressive in that he was obviously being burned by the flames because he eventually slumped over his controls.  THAT is when the crew decided to get out.  I guess with fire raging in the plane and the pilot screaming over the intercom they were pretty sure everything was going to be okay.  Then, when he stopped both screaming and masterfully handling the airplane they decided to get out.

 

At least they didn't wait for it to explode, I guess.

Edited November 4, 2014 by HeavyCavalrySgt

[HeavyCavalrySgt]

Getting back into the game, I am seeing the same sorts of things still happening.

 

The debriefing officers do seem to be smarter and are not falling for Lt. Killstealer's shenanigans or giving him credit for shooting up doomed aircraft.

 

He still does it though.  My theory is that he really wants to be sure he kills the aircrews.  I watched him chase down a burning Stuka - the crew must have been humming "Baby, Its Cold Outside" to themselves - to knock the tail off with a few dozen inexpertly placed cannon rounds.

 

Killstealer has some anger issues clouding his judgement I think.  I don't know what issues someone might have to want to stay in a burning plane.  Perhaps prison guards are all like Lt. Killstealer.

 

Seriously, thank you devs for fixing the score counting issue.