Some MP feedback and thoughts for ED

[Harlikwin]

I realize the MP community isn't the majority of players, but there are probably good reasons for that in terms of performance and accessibility.

 

First I'm not gonna touch on the obvious netcode/desynch issues, you guys are well aware of those.

 

Two things that I think ED should consider making a priority for MP.

 

1. MP mission planning tool

Some sort of unified mission planning tool like we have in the static game. I know some A/C like the Viggen and JF-17 can use some kludgy markpoint hacks to add waypoints to the AC, but its tedious and it clutters up the map since everyone can see them or delete them. Also, in some A/C like the Viggen and Harrier you can also setup some parameters for the Aircraft on the kneeboard, again, it kinda works but again feels fairly "hacky". Could ED prioritize some sort of "unified" solution for this. From a user perspective it really does suck having to punch in stuff manually on one A/C and then have a different way of doing it on another. I know you guys have talked about data cards and such for the F18 and presumably the viper, but really for MP this would be really great to have for all A/C in some sort of unified interface so that 3rd party devs didn't have to do hacky things.

 

2. ECM stuff

So, I know that currently ECM in game is a primitive noise jammer and by the look of it may be improved in the distant future. And no one at ED likes to hear the term "balance" in the context of the game, which I get, and am fine with in the "finished" context of the game. However, currently it sets up rather weird balance issues in MP servers wherein some A/C do have their ECM enabled (a line of code from what I can tell) but themselves cannot be effected by other aircraft ECM because the "jamming effects" whatever they may be aren't coded yet. So a simple proposal for MP could be just disable the ECM gear for those planes that can't be jammed (F14 is in this category, as is the F18/16), while leaving it enabled for A/C that can be jammed (Mig21/JF17 probably others), maybe have it as server option or something for MP. Or just don't introduce it until both sides of it are done.