Air Combat

[Rummy]

Wondering if Joel can provide some insight into air combat in WaW.

One of my big frustrations with A&A was its inability to accurately recreate air-to-air combat, and its failure to allow air units to provide cover to neighboring sea forces. The best example of this, of course, is the Battle of Britain, where in A&A Germany could not send its sizeable fighter force over to Britain to wipe out the RAF without engaging tanks and infantry as well. Likewise, Britain could not build up a transport fleet in the Channel until the German fighter force was destroyed, since transports are minemeat for fighters unless they're accompanied by battleships and aircraft carriers.

There are other areas where this could apply as well--in the Pacific obviously, and in the Mediterranean.

I would love to see WaW give aircraft the ability to engage other aircraft separate from ground forces, and allow aircraft the ability to provide a combat air patrol over naval or ground forces in a neighboring territory.

Thoughts?

[Joel Billings]

ORIGINAL: Rummy

Wondering if Joel can provide some insight into air combat in WaW.

One of my big frustrations with A&A was its inability to accurately recreate air-to-air combat, and its failure to allow air units to provide cover to neighboring sea forces. The best example of this, of course, is the Battle of Britain, where in A&A Germany could not send its sizeable fighter force over to Britain to wipe out the RAF without engaging tanks and infantry as well. Likewise, Britain could not build up a transport fleet in the Channel until the German fighter force was destroyed, since transports are minemeat for fighters unless they're accompanied by battleships and aircraft carriers.

There are other areas where this could apply as well--in the Pacific obviously, and in the Mediterranean.

I would love to see WaW give aircraft the ability to engage other aircraft separate from ground forces, and allow aircraft the ability to provide a combat air patrol over naval or ground forces in a neighboring territory.

Thoughts?

They can do both. Aircraft can bomb airfields (engaging only enemy air), bomb ports, bomb infrastructure, or do a general attack against ground units. You can also put planes on patrol over any territory they can reach (unless enemy air is already there, in which case you have to fight them). The game is much more flexible this way than A&A. You can put the Italian fleet in the Med and cover them with patrolling aircraft (if you want to use your airpower there), giving them a much better chance of long term survival. You can put Heavy bombers on patrol over transports, helping to protect them against subs. Lots more options in this game than A&A. We also let you research the range of each plane type up. In 1940 fighters have a range of 1, so the German fighters can't cover England. The Tac Air has to use it's own intrinsic fighters.