How to deal with aggressive AI?

[Chopin]

On my solo career I've progressed into Kuban flying the Fw 190 A-5. Only until now did I notice that some AI seem to be just "waiting around the corner" to get me. They don't give up unless a fighter distracted them. They chase me all the way to landing even if they were alone and I've sped up to 500+km/h. Fighting them after dropping a bomb is very difficult because I've just lost a lot of energy and I'm deep in enemy territory and my AI wingmen are...not helpful. The AI is very sneaky even when I constantly checked my six and then the shots are too accurate and very deadly. It feels way scarier than a PvP ambush.

 

When such aggressive AI starts lining up to my six, what's the best thing to do? Slow down for a flat scissor? What if they have 2-3 together chasing me?

 

I die way more on PvP servers but these aggressive AI really scare me and now I'm not going to touch my Kuban career for a while...

Edited March 27, 2024 by ACG_Teddy

[Bloke75Bloke75]

If the AI are ruining the sim experience for you , i'd firstly recommend checking out your career difficulty settings and adjust them accordingly  ( you'll definitely find an enjoyable  " sweet spot "  ? ).  

                                                    As regards myself ,  aircraft load out screen ( i mainly fly fighters )  is my first port of call and adjusting fuel levels is a must  ( never more than 240 liters unless flying an extremely long mission ) , lower fuel = lower weight = better aircraft performance  ( better chance of escape  !! ? ) .

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Once airborne ,  i tend to stay in some kind of a formation with the AI ,  but i will tend to make my vision / situational awareness a priority over strict formation flight  ( will also bring up small mini map in bottom corner from time to time to help identify enemy formations / direction of flight etc ) .  Upon sighting the enemy ,  ( and hoping that my AI comrades have also ?) i will always try to build up speed  ( momentary max throttle ,  very slight dive to help with acceleration) .  If enemy are attacking  ,  i will cut through their formation , usually head on while firing  ( have to be careful with this tactic against German aircraft with their deadly cannons ) ,   keeping my energy / speed up ,  once out other side of enemy formation  i will turn back in on their formation while climbing and not loosing too much energy speed ,  then select lone enemy target or enemy engaging friendly AI  (  constantly checking my  " 6 "  and managing the energy / speed of my aircraft  ie  avoid getting slow ) .  I rinse and repeat this action as often as possible . 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Now ,  ( this is the important part ,  its called using your judgement / intuition ) ,  if the enemy outnumbers myself and friendly AI + have height advantage etc etc ,  i will not think twice about saving my skin and  " getting out of dodge "  !!   I may make one pass through the enemy formation while firing ,  but the turn at the end will be a turn and dive to build up speed for a journey toward friendly lines  ( yep , chicken  !!  ? ,  but i believe in living to fight another day  !!  ? ) .   On the very odd occasion i may try and pick off an enemy aircraft on my escape route , but usually i'm getting to hell out of there  !!  ☠️

                                                                                                                          If   ( and it happens on occasion ) that a number of the enemy ignore my AI comrades and target me ,  my speed / energy usually gives me a great head start .  I will keep my aircraft in a very shallow dive to keep speed / energy levels up ,  till i hit the deck  ( ie approx 250 ft ) .  If the enemy have gained on me and are within firing range on me , i'll make a high energy / high speed turn into them  ( splitting up / scattering my pursuers ) , then return to my escape path which gives me some breathing space .  If i'm being pursued by 2 to 3 enemy , i may try and pick one off  ( if i've still got ammo !! ?) , otherwise its all about keeping up energy / speed levels and maneuvering to escape / evade . 

                                                                                                                                                            Once i've reached friendly lines , i may drag my enemy pursuers ( 1 to 2 in number )  into a dogfight over some friendly  AA batteries ,  otherwise ,  i will usually just hit the Escape button ,  click on Finish Mission,   and  slowly give my monitor / screen  " the middle finger /  the bird " ,  and sit there with a large grin on my face   !!    ?  ?? 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

[Hook_Echo]

This is kind of cheesy, but they don't really like to shoot you if you are on the deck. I mean ON the deck. Stay below tree top height as much as you can and they just hang out behind you.

[Jaegermeister]

In the FW190, I would suggest you stay high. Let your wingmen distract the enemy aircraft and once they lock their attention on to someone besides you, you can drop down and pick them off. Take out the highest ones first and work down lower until they are gone. If you run out of ammo, you will still have the energy to make a run for it.

 

In the words of Gabby Gabreski, “Wingmen are there to absorb firepower”

[Lusekofte]

17 hours ago, ACG_Teddy said:

and my AI wingmen are...not helpful

If this had been improved the rest would be ok. It is your ai mates that ruin the fun

Thanks @Jaegermeister input on how to like sp missions are always welcomed. I see a huge difference in how I manage to enjoy them just depending on my own mood and expectations 

[Flying_Anchor]

17 часов назад, ACG_Teddy сказал:

When such aggressive AI starts lining up to my six, what's the best thing to do?

They won't shoot if you're extremely low. Literally on trees level.

[Elem]

15 hours ago, Hook_Echo said:

This is kind of cheesy, but they don't really like to shoot you if you are on the deck. I mean ON the deck. Stay below tree top height as much as you can and they just hang out behind you.

Just to add to this, side slip left and right. The AI doesn't seem to be able to cope with this.

[Rjel]

On 3/27/2024 at 5:05 PM, Hook_Echo said:

This is kind of cheesy, but they don't really like to shoot you if you are on the deck. I mean ON the deck. Stay below tree top height as much as you can and they just hang out behind you.

Sometimes I feel like I'm playing a different sim than some of you. I was low on fuel and out of ammo and headed for home, trying to hedge hop. I didn't know this sneaky b****** was trailing me until cannon rounds started popping around me. I tried dragging him into the trees but he wouldn't have it. He finally got me and I crash landed. 

 

Granted this was a track from last summer so something may have changed with the AI since then but this pup didn't really mind getting low.

 

 

[RedeyeStorm]

My experience as well. It definitely helps but you have to jink to spoil there shots. Enemy not engaging at tree top level has been patched out a long time ago. 

[blitze]

Yep - low and jinking keeps them from nailing your behind.

 

Find it good when encountering enemy aircraft - stay close and drag back to your flight and don't let them separate you.  Stay high and pick off lone high enemy first - then after dealing with one, take a break - gain air / then look at where the next opportunity is without going into a hornets nest.

 

If overwhelmed - break and run for friendly lines.

[Chopin]

On 3/31/2024 at 4:31 PM, blitze said:

Yep - low and jinking keeps them from nailing your behind.

How does one perform the jinking?

[Koziolek]

1 hour ago, ACG_Teddy said:

How does one perform the jinking?

By pressing the Jink button on your HOTAS ?

[Aapje]

5 hours ago, Koziolek said:

By pressing the Jink button on your HOTAS ?

 

It's the button that says: Eject.

[Bloke75Bloke75]

18 hours ago, ACG_Teddy said:

How does one perform the jinking?

 

 

[blitze]

16 hours ago, Aapje said:

 

It's the button that says: Eject.

At low alt - tree top height - that might not be the best course of action for ones pilot. ?

[tattywelshie]

On 4/4/2024 at 7:53 AM, ACG_Teddy said:

How does one perform the jinking?

By using yaw, roll and pitch inputs  

[Noisemaker]

Gotta hit em on the nose with a rolled up newspaper.

[Rjel]

16 hours ago, Noisemaker said:

Gotta hit em on the nose with a rolled up newspaper.

That’s only when they wet the cockpit floor.

[Lusekofte]

Well, how I deal with them is basically redundant. But I can tell you what happens. 
I get unfocused a lot, and in special on the trip home. 
So with current dm. I really have no clue. All turn black and I see remains in size of powder slowly going downwards