How to get your AI wingman to WORK for you.

[Sgt_Baker]

Hullo folks,

 

Sorry if this is a repost. I'm a DCS-A10 pilot who's been away for a while in order to concentrate on the actual 3D world.

 

I discovered an interesting aspect of the suicidal AI wingman's "eagle eye" abilities today. A simple how-to follows:

 

1. Fly into a combat zone while maintaining good separation between yourself and whatever anti-A10 assets the enemy have.

 

2. Your AI wingman will start screaming multiple messages of "Mud Spike" over the radio. (or whatever targets are in the area)

 

3. Set your SOI to TAD.

 

4. Via in-game radio comms, send your wingman to attack the target-type of interest. (AAA, SAM, Armour, whatever).

 

5. As soon as you've issued the order, your wingman will start sending target positions via the datalink. Your wingman likes to check out and SPI-designate every option. Spend some time in the TAD marking his determinations using hook/mark knowledge.

 

6. Task your wingman with an "anchor" order while you obliterate the targets he's discovered for you.

 

 

That is all. :)

 

Baker

 

Edit: TSD -> TAD

Edited February 17, 2013 by Sgt_Baker

[Evil.Bonsai]

Hullo folks,

 

Sorry if this is a repost. I'm a DCS-A10 pilot who's been away for a while in order to concentrate on the actual 3D world.

 

I discovered an interesting aspect of the suicidal AI wingman's "eagle eye" abilities today. A simple how-to follows:

 

1. Fly into a combat zone while maintaining good separation between yourself and whatever anti-A10 assets the enemy have.

 

2. Your AI wingman will start screaming multiple messages of "Mud Spike" over the radio. (or whatever targets are in the area)

 

3. Set your SOI to TSD.

 

4. Via in-game radio comms, send your wingman to attack the target-type of interest. (AAA, SAM, Armour, whatever).

 

5. As soon as you've issued the order, your wingman will start sending target positions via the datalink. Your wingman likes to check out and SPI-designate every option. Spend some time in the TSD marking his determinations using hook/mark knowledge.

 

6. Task your wingman with an "anchor" order while you obliterate the targets he's discovered for you.

 

 

That is all. :)

 

Baker

 

This is relevant to my interests. Must try this asap.

[RodBorza]

Nice, interesting and relevant post.

[Yurgon]

Haha, nice. :)

 

I guess depending on how you want to fly the simulation, this could be called "cheating", but it really is a nice cheat. :music_whistling:

 

Just one thing: When you say "TSD", do you mean "TAD"?

[SharpeXB]

Good idea

[Sgt_Baker]

Haha, nice. :)

 

I guess depending on how you want to fly the simulation, this could be called "cheating", but it really is a nice cheat. :music_whistling:

 

Just one thing: When you say "TSD", do you mean "TAD"?

 

Oops, yes that's what I meant. Told ya it'd been a while. :)

[WildBillKelsoe]

This is relevant to my interests. Must try this asap.

 

 

Me too. Thanks Sarge!!! :thumbup:

[KLR Rico]

Just don't go doing it on MP unless arranged with the other player. :D

 

BTW, hooking other flight's SPI's is also very useful when you have allied flights calling tally SAM and things like that.

[Sgt_Baker]

Just don't go doing it on MP unless arranged with the other player. :D

 

BTW, hooking other flight's SPI's is also very useful when you have allied flights calling tally SAM and things like that.

 

Yes, I've heard stories of people "target stealing" in MP. Nothing worse than seeing your "buddy's" munition striking the target three seconds before yours does, eh?

[Sgt_Baker]

Haha, nice. :)

 

I guess depending on how you want to fly the simulation, this could be called "cheating", but it really is a nice cheat. :music_whistling:

 

Just one thing: When you say "TSD", do you mean "TAD"?

 

Indeed, it's perhaps not the most sportsmanly thing to do, but I like to fly with labels off etc. Was just pleased to discover a method for putting him to use in scenarios where the mission dictates that his AI-brain isn't on the expert setting.

 

Incidentally, when the wingman is set to "expert", I find you can task him with anything and he'll be so efficient as to make you look like a new-born foal.

[Yurgon]

Indeed, it's perhaps not the most sportsmanly thing to do, but I like to fly with labels off etc. Was just pleased to discover a method for putting him to use in scenarios where the mission dictates that his AI-brain isn't on the expert setting.

 

Yeah, I once found a bug where Ka-50 wingmen would keep sending all targets they spotted over the datalink if they were creatively sent on recce, called back, and sent to recce again. While flying in formation, they'd go on sending all targets until the end of the mission. Quite cool having these eagle-eyed guys do most of the work without them heading straight for the nearest Shilka. :)

 

Of course, I never actually exploited this... :music_whistling:

 

Incidentally, when the wingman is set to "expert", I find you can task him with anything and he'll be so efficient as to make you look like a new-born foal.

 

Really? I just get "unable" from these guys most of the time or, even better, they acknowledge their tasking, aim for the enemy and then rejoin formation. Or sometimes they fly in circles near their target and then, some 10 minutes later, go like "Two, rejoin".

 

I think wingman AI is one of the areas of DCS that will require a further few bits of polishing down the road. :)

[Spectre_USA]

My experiences are much like Yurgon's.

 

So darned many "unable's" it frustrates me.

 

On rare occasion, you find an odd combination that works, and they go at it

with precision and no mercy. I love it when that happens...

[Dejjvid]

How to make the best use of an AI wingman?

 

Ask him to rejoin and practice your 30mm skills on him...