What about planes?

[Steeltrap]

On 11/16/2019 at 3:34 AM, Ink said:

Admirals,

Planes are a complex feature and will only be considered after base campaign is delivered to users and plays well

That's certainly clear, thanks for the specific update.

[Illya von Einzbern]

i can agree with the reasoning

[Muttdog1945]

If float planes were added that could also bring several new ships classes that could be built from BBVs to Sea plane tenders. For example a catapult float plane that belongs to a specific ship could be launched to aid accuracy, accurate range finding and spotting/ quicker ship identification. If a ship loses all of its spotter planes it out unless you have a seaplane tender which could overtime rearm said ship's planes depending on its own supply. You could also use the seaplane tender as a makeshift light/escort carrier for launching recon planes. This would be especially useful in poor weather conditions. All aspects of said planes should also have the ability to customize/design your planes and have a corresponding tech tree of sorts to increase or unlock certain bonuses to speed up aiming, identifying, top speed and so on.

For campaigns you could build long range patrol planes like the Catalina float plane or the Japanese H6K flying boats. Though these craft are armed with defensive and sometimes offensive weapons such as machine guns and cannons. They could also carry a limited amount of bombs, torpedoes, or both. If they wanted to they could make them just spotter planes with no armament. You could also use land based torpedo bombers to harass and raid supply convoys similar to how submarines will work in campaigns.

BUT, they should also give players some options on aircraft restrictions. Option 1 no restrictions, option 2 only recon/spotter planes or option 3 no aircraft whatsoever.

Granted thats only IF the devs implemented aircraft in the first place.

Edited November 22, 2019 by Muttdog1945

[Pterry]

6 hours ago, Muttdog1945 said:

If float planes were added that could also bring several new ships classes that could be built from BBVs to Sea plane tenders. For example a catapult float plane that belongs to a specific ship could be launched to aid accuracy, accurate range finding and spotting/ quicker ship identification. If a ship loses all of its spotter planes it out unless you have a seaplane tender which could overtime rearm said ship's planes depending on its own supply. You could also use the seaplane tender as a makeshift light/escort carrier for launching recon planes. This would be especially useful in poor weather conditions. All aspects of said planes should also have the ability to customize/design your planes and have a corresponding tech tree of sorts to increase or unlock certain bonuses to speed up aiming, identifying, top speed and so on.

For campaigns you could build long range patrol planes like the Catalina float plane or the Japanese H6K flying boats. Though these craft are armed with defensive and sometimes offensive weapons such as machine guns and cannons. They could also carry a limited amount of bombs, torpedoes, or both. If they wanted to they could make them just spotter planes with no armament. You could also use land based torpedo bombers to harass and raid supply convoys similar to how submarines will work in campaigns.

BUT, they should also give players some options on aircraft restrictions. Option 1 no restrictions, option 2 only recon/spotter planes or option 3 no aircraft whatsoever.

Granted thats only IF the devs implemented aircraft in the first place.

Ok, this is epic. Excellent pictures by the way. Also don't forget about the german and Italian floatplanes, although they didn't have tenders irl

[Muttdog1945]

The top picture is a Kriegsmarine Bussard class catapult seaplane tender. Germany actually made a good amount of seaplane tenders, most of which seem be more like Japanese one in that they are converted cargo ships. Though the USN by far constructed the most seaplane tenders, about as many as Britain, Germany, and France combined. WE wont even mention the number of carriers of all types built by just he USN. But its logical the USN had the whole Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to worry about and the best way to locate enemy ships/fleets is using spotter planes. Most of these ships could even service the larger Martin PBM-5 or PBY-5 Catalina float planes

Pictures of the USS Pine Island Heavy seaplane tender

Edited November 22, 2019 by Muttdog1945

[LeBoiteux]

Viva WWI planes !

Edited November 22, 2019 by LeBoiteux

[Muttdog1945]

1 hour ago, LeBoiteux said:

Those WW2 stuff are so boring...

Viva WWI planes ! (more original/unusual)

While I don't agree completely I cant think of any games that have pulled off WW1 naval aircraft. For the most part naval aviation started to gain traction in the interwar period. WW1 period seaplanes were primarily used for reconnaissance. The float planes of the time were structurally weak and slow, limiting their ability to be anything more than spotter planes. Only a few countries converted ships into sea plane tenders during WW1, most were made by Germany, Britain and France, though the US, Russia and Italy also built/converted a small number of ships as well. But some seaplanes were developed that could carry bombs or torpedoes. Im unsure of their effectiveness in WW1.

Bottom picture is taken from the Italian seaplane tender Europa sometime from 1915 to 1920.

Edited November 22, 2019 by Muttdog1945

[LeBoiteux]

@Muttdog1945 I really like your forum Avatar. The best movie about planes. 🙂

[Muttdog1945]

Though I have to say it would be nice to build some of the early carriers, since the campaign is supposed to go from 1890 to 1930 there are still a few carriers that could be viable. I would love to build a Lexington class aircraft carrier or the USS Langley.

All i see are two heavy cruisers with 8x8in guns that just so happen to also carry planes. Also one smaller flat boi.

Edited November 22, 2019 by Muttdog1945

[Nereng]

I can see a scenario where you're doing commerce raiding and having the option to fit spotter plane(s) to your AC or BC. If you do you'll have a better chance of finding enemy transports or avoiding enemy capital ships, but it comes at the cost of other things you could have on your ship instead.

[Cptbarney]

Actually starting from WW1 planes to implement aviation mechanics would be a good thing to do, then the devs could work from that and produce far better mechanics later on. This also means they get to refine the mechanics while they have a small impact on gameplay in general and then allows them to expand into other things (escort, light, regular, heavy, super carriers etc.)

Quite a logical step process and also allows them to gauge community response via the basic implementation of seaplanes in general.

[Skeksis]

28 minutes ago, Cptbarney said:

Actually starting from WW1 planes to implement aviation mechanics would be a good thing to do, then the devs could work from that and produce far better mechanics later on. This also means they get to refine the mechanics while they have a small impact on gameplay in general and then allows them to expand into other things (escort, light, regular, heavy, super carriers etc.)

Quite a logical step process and also allows them to gauge community response via the basic implementation of seaplanes in general.

agree 100%, start with spotter planes, seems applicable to RTW style search and destroy battlefields. 

[Wowzery]

If one was to add planes, especially carrier planes then you would have to start adding designs for AA mounts.  Add in how to realistically do such battles in a way which is playable and is the current game engine even capable of handling it.