@WG: Suggested Spotting Aircraft (Scout Plane) Improvements

[DOCTOR_CITADEL]

Good morning!

 

So, in a discussion this morning with clan-mates over long range shooting, scout planes and their usage came up. Some of us love them, some of us hate them, but all of us agree that they have utility. I think I can speak as to why most of us that dislike them do: 

 

1) The change in view can disrupt your normal aiming routine and lead if you don't have sufficient practice.

 

2) If you are using the scout plane for long-range shots and then, out of necessity, must swap targets to a close or medium range enemy, it is not in your benefit to have the overhead view. I say this because firing AP requires much more precise shot placement than HE. The overhead view is not conducive to hyper-accurate AP shot placement as it is more difficult to track lateral movement.

 

3) Once activated, you are forced to use the overhead view for the entirety of its duration.

 

Both #1 and #2 are easily mitigated by practice and skillful play; I only included them for the sake of completeness and a thorough piece. I personally use the scout plane to great effect in cruisers such as the Murmansk, Zao, etc. while taking the fighter plane, more often than not, on battleships.

 

No, the real crux of the issue is #3, "Once activated, you are forced to use the overhead view for the entirety of its duration."

 

What if you could alternate your view during the time that your scout plane was active?

Example: You launch a scout plane to fire at a long range target while in a battleship, early game, just to score a few cheeky hits. Immediately after firing your salvo and while on reload, you see a broadside cruiser pop out at 13 kilometers just ASKING to be citadeled back to port. You frown at the scout plane duration timer just wishing that it would go away. You line up your shot with the overhead view and fire away, knowing full well that you could have placed a more accurate shot without its interference. If only you had standard view during that critical moment, you wouldn't have missed the slight turn away from you and whiffed all of your shots 1 meter from the cruisers delicious, juicy, moist, cits. 

 

In conclusion, I don't think anyone could say that the scout plane is not an EXCELLENT tool or a great addition to the game. What I am suggesting is merely an improvement upon said tool; the ability to simply tap the scout plane initiation button, while the plane is still active, to toggle between overhead and standard views. It shouldn't be much different than the "M" button for overhead map view to implement. Is this a NECESSARY change? Of course not, but for those of us that prefer a certain view for certain situations, it would be a wonderful addition to have the choice. It is very frustrating to want to use "standard view" when you are forced to use "overhead view" until the scout plane's duration runs out. 

 

Thanks for the read!

-Doc

 

EDIT: a word.

[OffShorePanda97]

I want to alternate view

[Lert]

firing AP requires much more precise shot placement than AP.

 

I get what you meant, but you might still want to fix that.

 

I for one prefer the higher vantage point. Because of basic trigonometry it makes accurate fire a lot easier, once you're used to it.

 

Still, I'm all for options available to the players, and as such approve of the idea.

[Captain_Dilbert]

I agree with option 3, plus I would like to launch the plane later in the battle to use it to scout DD's but I refrain from doing so because I don't like what it does to the targeting view for short/mid-range shots.  Also, why do fighter planes last for 6:00 minutes when spotting aircraft last ~1:40 minutes? 

[Backwards_Logic]

Been there, done that.  Many, many times have I wished the plane view would go away so I could delete a closer threat instead of lobbing shells entirely across the map.  This would be a useful change.

[DOCTOR_CITADEL]

 

I get what you meant, but you might still want to fix that.

 

I for one prefer the higher vantage point. Because of basic trigonometry it makes accurate fire a lot easier, once you're used to it.

 

Still, I'm all for options available to the players, and as such approve of the idea.

 

Thanks! I missed that on the proofread. I'm not sure if this idea will have enough traction to go any farther than this post, but it would be a welcome change.