After reading the post about gunners who won't bail out of a helicopter upon the pilots request it got me thinking about how the air dynamics aspect of gameplay is really unbalanced in BF2. It's obvious that there is a great deal of players out their who want to pilot with their friends. This is understandable. I often play with my friends online and it's rather annoying when I'm the pilot and I can't get one of my friends as a gunner because the spot is already filled by some random player. However, I understand that it's a public server and everyone should have a fair opportunity so I usually don't try to fight the situation unless the gunner is being a complete and total tard.
I think the problem with this situation is related to supply and demand and the way the air dynamics have changed between Desert Combat and BF2. There is currently a greater demand to use helicopters and jets then the supply that is available on each map. On average, there are about 3-5 players waiting for a jet or a helicopter at each air base. However simply adding more helicopters and jets to each map without changing other aspects of gameplay would drastically unbalance the game with a bias toward air assets. I think though that if the air functioned more like it did in Desert Combat and if handheld straight firing stingers were still availabe for infrantry that adding more air units per map wouldn't unbalance gameplay.
BTW, how many people here have played Desert Combat (Mod for Battlefield 1942)?
I think the air was more balanced in DC than in BF2. Even though the attack helicopters were sometimes more deadly with their missiles and guns they were also easier to take down with the anti-air guns and the straight firing stingers. As an infrantry officer on the ground with a handheld stinger I felt that I had about the same odds as I did when I was a pilot in a Jet or Helicopter. Also helicopters required more skill to fly in Desert Combat so not everyone was fighting over them all the time. Personally, I think having a skill level somewhere between Desert Combat and BF2 would be ideal. Anyone else feel this way?
I'm not expecting Dice or EA to change BF2 at this point, but they should at least be aware if there is a large number of players who are dissatisfied with the way they implemented air assets in the game.
I think the problem with this situation is related to supply and demand and the way the air dynamics have changed between Desert Combat and BF2. There is currently a greater demand to use helicopters and jets then the supply that is available on each map. On average, there are about 3-5 players waiting for a jet or a helicopter at each air base. However simply adding more helicopters and jets to each map without changing other aspects of gameplay would drastically unbalance the game with a bias toward air assets. I think though that if the air functioned more like it did in Desert Combat and if handheld straight firing stingers were still availabe for infrantry that adding more air units per map wouldn't unbalance gameplay.
BTW, how many people here have played Desert Combat (Mod for Battlefield 1942)?
I think the air was more balanced in DC than in BF2. Even though the attack helicopters were sometimes more deadly with their missiles and guns they were also easier to take down with the anti-air guns and the straight firing stingers. As an infrantry officer on the ground with a handheld stinger I felt that I had about the same odds as I did when I was a pilot in a Jet or Helicopter. Also helicopters required more skill to fly in Desert Combat so not everyone was fighting over them all the time. Personally, I think having a skill level somewhere between Desert Combat and BF2 would be ideal. Anyone else feel this way?
I'm not expecting Dice or EA to change BF2 at this point, but they should at least be aware if there is a large number of players who are dissatisfied with the way they implemented air assets in the game.
Last edited by AnD-MasterMatt (2005-11-17 09:59:30)