Reaver/Mosquito size differences

[Malorn]

The reaver has significantly more surface area from the top than a mosquito. Considering usual attack patterns have something above and behind an enemy aircraft, I think this could be problematic if they don't have the same hitbox.

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg614/scaled.php?tn=0&server=614&filename=vfqof.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

larger surface area => larger target => easier to hit with bullets => TR advantage

Thoughts/flames?

[Zulthus]

It's fine. The Reaver is already going to have the strongest payload so it is fair that it could "possibly" be shot down faster because of a barely bigger hitbox.

[Raymac]

I think they are close enough. Plus Reaver will have more armor, Mossie will be faster. They are both fighters, but having different attributes will make it a better balance than it would be if they were the exact same plane with the only difference being size.

[HELLFISH88]

You make a valid point but I don't think it's really that big of a Deal. If everything was equal to such a degree competition would be boring. Look at Nascar. To uniform if you aks Hellfish.

The Reaver will make up for it's large frame with it's Armor. This is just part of the game.

[Trolltaxi]

NC turnaround video says that those huge boxes on the reaver are the fuel tanks for the afterburner.

That may mean 2 things. First, it will have a rather long or powerful afterburner, so it will easily dodge the first attack.

Second: it will make a huuuuge explosion when hit! :)

[FIREk]

We'll see ho wit works in beta - I'm not sure if it was said about the Reaver, but keep in mind that NC vehicles are supposed to have beefier armor than TR ones.

[Bruttal]

Am guessing the VS fighter is gonna look Tiny compared to these two.

[CutterJohn]

I know people argued belligerently and vociferously about minutia in PS1, but this is a new low.

[SKYeXile]

im sure it will be like PS1, reaver gets skeeter in sights for 2 seconds, its dead.

[Canaris]

Thoughts - Every NC pilot I've met declared themselves as God of the skies, now's the time to prove it bi0tch! :D

also love the way they've gone with the Harrier style planes, thank you SOE

[Mirror]

We really need to see the Scythe, that way we can compare the 3 of them.

[FastAndFree]

Reaver is larger in the middle but the Mosquito is longer and has a thicker tail. In the end it probably doesn't make much of a difference, but I guess it will be a good future excuse for NC pilots :P

(In before the Scythe is even larger and I start to whine about how unfair that is)

[Raymac]

I know people argued belligerently and vociferously about minutia in PS1, but this is a new low.

I don't see this thread as an argument at all. Just a very civil discussion about a new detail.

[Redshift]

i imagine the profile is taken into account as one of the empire differences, NC prob have more armour

[Mirror]

i imagine the profile is taken into account as one of the empire differences, NC prob have more armour

Would it not have less armour as it will probably hit harder like the rest of the NC weapons?

[Raymac]

Would it not have less armour as it will probably hit harder like the rest of the NC weapons?

I think the devs mentioned in the recent twitter Q&A that it will have more armor and hit harder, but be slower.

[BorisBlade]

the armor cant be too much different, cause honestly, esp with customization, the speed differences wont make that much difference in a real fight. Its not gonna be as dramatic as mossie vs reaver maneuvering from ps1. Kind of like in how the the ps1 prowler may be slower than a mag, but in real combat it doesnt matter 99% of the time.

Having said that, customization could let the slowest custom reaver versus the fastest customized skeeter, be around ps1's reaver vs skeeter. Then it could be interesting. The flight speed doesnt really matter much. Afterburner length for hit and run, and faster manuevering for dogfights, could make a difference tho.

[Redshift]

Would it not have less armour as it will probably hit harder like the rest of the NC weapons?

Yea sorry i had it the wrong way round, point still works though i'm sure it's taken into account with the rest of the balancing

[Geist]

Certainly does suck for the NC. Not only are you guys going to be the least maneuverable(supposedly), but your going to be a bigger target too? Doesn't help to have a bigger payload if your just going to be shot down by the faster, more maneuverable enemy(which is the key to air battles, can't put much armor on aircraft anyway). I'm going to have fun as a TR Pilot. :p

[Raymac]

Certainly does suck for the NC. Not only are you guys going to be the least maneuverable(supposedly), but your going to be a bigger target too? Doesn't help to have a bigger payload if your just going to be shot down by the faster, more maneuverable enemy(which is the key to air battles, can't put much armor on aircraft anyway). I'm going to have fun as a TR Pilot. :p

This totally reminds me of Top Gun. "The enemy Migs are smaller, faster, and more manueverable." Well, if this is my chance to live out that fantasy a bit, bring it on. I'm going to enjoy splashing your buddies, and making you bug out and run home to momma you TR fascist. :)

[Redshift]

This totally reminds me of Top Gun. "The enemy Migs are smaller, faster, and more manueverable." Well, if this is my chance to live out that fantasy a bit, bring it on. I'm going to enjoy splashing your buddies, and making you bug out and run home to momma you TR fascist. :)

You will have to take a shower with val kilmer though...

[CutterJohn]

You will have to take a shower with val kilmer though...

1980s val kilmer or 2010 val kilmer?

[Xyntech]

1980s val kilmer or 2010 val kilmer?

Depends how big the shower is.

[MGP]

I still think Reaver is superior to Mosquito. Size and speed doesn't matter that much. You just line up on target, release your payload, hit afterburners and *whooosh!* you're gone.

[FastAndFree]

I still think Reaver is superior to Mosquito. Size and speed doesn't matter that much. You just line up on target, release your payload, hit afterburners and *whooosh!* you're gone.

For a single attack run, sure. But I am also concerned about getting there not just getting out. You yourself admit that afterburners are important - that is speed. Better base speed likely means better afterburner speed too

And even if all you want to do is strafe ground targets, sooner or later you will have enemy intereceptors (or opportunistic tankbusters) on you

[Draep]

The mosquito certainly looks a lot longer, won't that make it a bigger target for anti-aircraft? You guys worry too much.

[Fab]

To run ground attacks, I think TR will have the advantage :
Mossy can cover liberators (correct me if I'm wrong but the liberator looks like a bigger reaver)
What can cover Reavers?

[Lonehunter]

Since survivability is supposed to be one of NC's strong points I see no problem with a larger bullet catcher. They can take it...


stupid pirates

[XPquant]

Can't we just wait till the beta to talk smack/complain?

The idea of slower, heavier armored aircraft being better then faster more maneuverable aircraft in dogfights is just plain silly. In air to air combat light wins for the most part, but relying on out maneuvering your opponent requires a higher degree of skill/experience. Agility in the air is important.

The only thing we can safely assume until we get our hands on the game is, it's paper rock scissors load-outs requiring you to utterly embrace (well if you want to win) each assets particular strengths which is all mitigated by context of the battle. I am confident that the uniqueness of the empires is going to be worth the inevitable balancing pains.

I'm not just saying that because the mossy is going to own the skies.

[FastAndFree]

I'm not just saying that because the mossy is going to own the skies.

Nowhere was it said that the Mossy is more agile than the Reaver. Faster yes. That does not necessarily mean a better turn rate.

And then we didn't even bring the Scythe into the picture

[Fab]

the Scythe MUST be the best dog-fighter.

[FastAndFree]

the Scythe MUST be the best dog-fighter.

I do expect the Scythe to be the most agile, yes.
I also do not expect any of the speed/armor/agility advantages to win any fights.
That depends on the skill of the pilot

[Xyntech]

I expect that the Scythe will probably be the most maneuverable and thus the best dogfighter, although as FastAndFree said, it probably won't be enough to guarantee victory.

That won't make it best in every air to air situation though. 1 on 1, the Scythe will probably tend to have a bit of an edge, but in small hit and run parties, the Mosquito may be superior with it's ability to quickly hit and run. The Reaver will probably work best in well organized large groups, much like the Wildcat of WWII.

The Wildcat wasn't the faster or most maneuverable, but it had the armor to survive some serious damage and it could dish out a ton of damage as well. Pacific theater pilots would fly in large formations that would sweep in an annihilate the more maneuverable Japanese Zeroes.

Edit: I accidentally posted Tomcat instead of Wildcat. My bad. Not what I had meant to post. Fixed.

[Baneblade]

The idea of slower, heavier armored aircraft being better then faster more maneuverable aircraft in dogfights is just plain silly.

The F-14 Tomcat would like a word.

[NewSith]

BF3 comes to mind. A good heli pilot have 50% chance to take out a good jet pilot. It all depends on skill, not the characteristics.

[Traak]

Anybody else notice that afterburners might have a limited fuel supply? Separate "afterburner tanks" implies only a certain length of time per sortie in afterburn-mode. Why else do you need tanks for them?

[FastAndFree]

Anybody else notice that afterburners might have a limited fuel supply? Separate "afterburner tanks" implies only a certain length of time per sortie in afterburn-mode. Why else do you need tanks for them?

To make spectacular explosions when they are hit

[Talek Krell]

To make spectacular explosions when they are hitThe wonders of a detailed damage model!

[Traak]

To make spectacular explosions when they are hit

Napalm raining down from the sky?

[TheRagingGerbil]

Napalm raining down from the sky?

Step 1: Fly fuel loaded plane over group of enemies.

Step 2: Bail from plane and shoot with RPG on the way down.

Step 3: Rain burning death on enemies.

Step 4: Profit.

[FastAndFree]

Step 1: Fly fuel loaded plane over group of enemies.

Step 2: Bail from plane and shoot with RPG on the way down.

Step 3: Rain burning death on enemies.

Step 4: Profit.

That's why we can't have nice things :/

[SKYeXile]

https://yfrog.com/nvh8mwcj:tw1

https://twitter.com/#!/mhigby/media/slideshow?url=http%3A%2F%2Fyfrog.com%2Fnvh8mwcj

[Xyntech]

I'm gonna love it when some Reaver or Mosquito gets on my tail and I just slam into reverse and get behind them. :evil:

Technology = Might indeed.

[xSlideShow]

I'm gonna love it when some Reaver or Mosquito gets on my tail and I just slam into reverse and get behind them. :evil:

Technology = Might indeed.

My thoughts exactly. Better keep your distance from the Scythe otherwise you risk getting wtfpwned.

[FastAndFree]

Now I am concerned that it will feel cheap to fly the Scyte

[SKYeXile]

Now I am concerned that it will feel cheap to fly the Scyte

man its gonna be like the skillfire, nothing cheap about it.

[Bravix]

Now I am concerned that it will feel cheap to fly the Scyte

I don't think you understand. TECHNOLOGY = MIGHT!

It's not our fault they're stuck in the stone age...

[cellinaire]

I don't think you understand. TECHNOLOGY = MIGHT!

It's not our fault they're stuck in the stone age...


You are spot on!!

[SKYeXile]

I don't think you understand. TECHNOLOGY = MIGHT!

It's not our fault they're stuck in the stone age...

Ahhem, we have since adopted an new policy, if you recall.

TECHNOLOGY IS FABULOUS!

[FastAndFree]

Ahhem, we have since adopted an new policy, if you recall.

TECHNOLOGY IS FABULOUS!

I will be so sad if we can't have that written on the side of all our vehicles

This just in, the slogan of the 1st Scythe Interceptor Squadron has been confirmed as being:

Dash like a Rainbow,
Sting like a Beamer!