Anti Air Defense systems
Posted: Wed May 31, 2017 8:26 pm
One of things i've been thinking about lately was how to make these work more realistically within the game. One of main problem with these is the fact these systems have a bit strange progression, where you practically end up using heaviest possible systems due to highest AA damage, then use these systems against any air threat you might find..
Yet in reality, every system had its purpose. light caliber AA guns had high rate of fire (German 20mm Quad had for example 1800 rpm!), but short range, which made them great at hitting fast moving planes trying to attack ground targets, but were not that useful against high altitude attacks. Then there were medium guns of 37-40mm caliber with decent range up to 5-6km. These systems had its range benefit, while larger caliber allowed them to damage targets at greater distances, but at the other side they would not be as effective at shorter ranges due to lower rate of fire (typically 150-250rpm).
Then come large caliber anti-aircraft guns, with extended range, and fragmentation projectiles, which were used to deny certain "space" and not for actual direct fire against attacking planes..
So, i think one way how to make it better would be making small caliber fast firing guns (.50cal up to 20mm) having high damage but short range (1hex). 37-40mm guns would have slightly less damage but range 2, while heavy anti-air guns would have range 3-4hexes, but even less damage. This would allow player to lay a proper anti-air defenses, with Quads protecting particular units, and heavy AA weakening anything within their range.
It would make all AAA units useful for something else.
Together with this, plane ground defense values would have to be adjusted, where high altitude planes would have higher ground defense than low altitude planes that were more vulnerable to AAA fire. Of course, all higher altitude planes should have their ground attack reduced..
Yet in reality, every system had its purpose. light caliber AA guns had high rate of fire (German 20mm Quad had for example 1800 rpm!), but short range, which made them great at hitting fast moving planes trying to attack ground targets, but were not that useful against high altitude attacks. Then there were medium guns of 37-40mm caliber with decent range up to 5-6km. These systems had its range benefit, while larger caliber allowed them to damage targets at greater distances, but at the other side they would not be as effective at shorter ranges due to lower rate of fire (typically 150-250rpm).
Then come large caliber anti-aircraft guns, with extended range, and fragmentation projectiles, which were used to deny certain "space" and not for actual direct fire against attacking planes..
So, i think one way how to make it better would be making small caliber fast firing guns (.50cal up to 20mm) having high damage but short range (1hex). 37-40mm guns would have slightly less damage but range 2, while heavy anti-air guns would have range 3-4hexes, but even less damage. This would allow player to lay a proper anti-air defenses, with Quads protecting particular units, and heavy AA weakening anything within their range.
It would make all AAA units useful for something else.
Together with this, plane ground defense values would have to be adjusted, where high altitude planes would have higher ground defense than low altitude planes that were more vulnerable to AAA fire. Of course, all higher altitude planes should have their ground attack reduced..