Just wondering if the AI was tweeked for air to air combat. Maybe i'm just getting rusty or it's the new FM but I have noticed an increased intelligence of the AI making evasive maneuvers after the new patch.
Me in my 109 7/z vs. two MkVb's - (average skill) - I have never seen the AI perform so many diving barrel rolls trying to shake me along with other hard maneuvers.
If changes were made to the AI - I like it very much.![]()
They definitely seem to be staying in the fight longer whereas minor damage would have them hitting the silk right away in 4.01. They also seem to be more aggressive, especially in the fighters with good turn performance. I was getting sloppy with the Focke Wulf against the AI, even going toe to toe when I knew I shouldn't have in the last patch but now the AI demands a lot more respect and I definitely need to stick to the energy tactics.
In single play Banzai in Zero, I met a formation of Wildcats. After a few minutes of fight, one Wildcat take the altitude advantage and started BnZ on me.
Then what the heck, that AI pilot BnZed just like veteran 190 pilot in WarClouds!! Boom, shoot and zoom away and regain energy and turn around and boom again 3 times. I even got minor scratch despite my knife evasive turn. That guy was definitely better than human opponent in BnZ. I could defeat him with the help of my wingmen who cut down his energy.![]()
Combat AI has advanced and advanced that it finally became a tough competitor, from 4.02.![]()
Just felt like some hot one on one bi-plane action, so I took on a Fiat in a Gladiator/J8A...slow, twisty, turny, loopy...I chased the Fiat so low trees were flashing past the upper wing, then he pulled his master stroke...ripped his own landing gear off against the ground as I followed him down and flipped over to slide to an undignified halt. The bounder then had the cheek to calmly fly off, looking not unlike a Russian I153 with raised gear.
Improved cunning for the AI or yet more Low Flyer ineptitude? You decide.