Does online play have some different AA or something?

[HicRic]

I've heard endless bad things about antiaircraft weapons in BF2. As someone who is internetless on his gaming computer for a while, I've never played BF2 online. I have however played plently of single player.

I have not had any trouble downing AI air using Stingers/IGLAs. And indeed, the AI is pretty good at blowing me out of the air (although you could always just argue I suck. )

But blowing enemy choppers away is a walk in the park with Stingers/IGLA, and jets are only a little harder. Just lock on, wait for them to toss out the flares, and then move the sight up above them and wait for relock. Two missiles and it's dead. Doesn't take long.

Are human pilots online just incredible, breathtaking pilots? Does the missile lockon-guidance suffer over the net because of lag or something? Or is there another issue I haven't considered due to my only playing against bots?

[Qwigleet]

It is difficult to down jets with the stationary stingers unless you get lucky or get a dumb pilot that flies slow and straight. It is tough because jets are so fast that by the time you lock on they are already flying away from you. Choppers are tough because they have lots of flares. It is the same problem in air to air dogfights, the missles almost never hit if the target is turning sharply.

The mobile AA in the game is especially effective but it takes a skilled operator for maximum effect. Most people hop into the mobile AA and run around like its a tank (which it definately is not) and they end up a pile of smoking scrap metal in a few seconds. My favorite activity at the moment is to get on the China/Mec team on a map that has choppers but no jets and use the mobile AA to rack up the points.

[HicRic]

I can see the jets being a problem-due to the high speed of the jets and low range of the AA. But I don't ever see choppers being much of a problem..

Nobody else got anything to say? I'm interested to hear what you think.

[MeatPie]

AI != human

They behave a lot differently. A good human pilot is a ***** to take down as they fly fast and easily outmanouvre missiles. Against good pilots even the trick of flying behind them with bomb mode so they don't get locks and then unleashing with missiles won't work as they can here when you are attempting to lock and then twist away in a flash.

Helicopters aren't that hard to take down provided they don't see you. Most will drop flares when the missile lock and is in flight noise is heard. So shoot 1 missile, wait for flares and shoot the other usually always guarantees a hit.

I don't remember how many times I've had the top score from sitting in the Tunguska or Linebacker on Zatar. And like a poster mentions above...I hate it when people attempt to lead an assault with it

[ODB]

I had a thought last night whilst being buzzed by multiple jets and attack choppers, should the AT infantry be able to exchange their AT missiles for AA missiles (eg stingers and the like).

Now I'm not saying that every AT Trooper shoud spawn in armed with both AT and AA missiles (that would be stupid but be allowed to exchange their AT missiles when resupplied or initially choose to start with AA missiles.

Obivously there are real life comparasons, Stingers etc are often shoulder mounted and numerous armies have similar AA shoulder mounter Missiles systems. But would it be effective in the game. The AA missiles would be useless against ground targets but could give much needed harassment value to frontline troops against aircraft.

Would this be unbalancing the game, would it be too biased against aircraft? Thoughts?

[ttopi]

Would this be unbalancing the game, would it be too biased against aircraft? Thoughts?

I think it would be too biased. There are already maps where AA is especially strong, Oman beach, Daqing Oilfields and Zatar wetlands for example. There are already many jets, AA vehicles and stationary AA posts. You have to be very skilled to survive all these, not to mention the hardest part, getting to fly because your teammates block/kill you first. Adding portable missiles would break the balance for good.

[smegger]

can i ask why you dont play online?dont you get bored of singleplayer?
lol AI in helos and jets is a joke, ofcourse you can take them down.
"human" pilots actually have a brain therefor attemt to dodge the oncoming missiles, o and also flares which are used frequently.

[imported_dumbo]

"There are already maps where AA is especially strong, Oman beach"

You mean the Oman beach where the US can chain-bomb half the coastal flags every 30-60 seconds??? Good AA vs choppers? Yes... Planes? no.

Problems with AA:
- it's often placed inside a base, if an aircraft attacks low over the walls, you don't have time to lockon before you die. (on gulf of Oman, you can't even see the aircraft before you're dead...).
- pilots know exactly where the AA is, and every AA can be killed before it can kill an aircraft.
- missiles "miss" without flares. You can out-turn, use terrain or flares against the only counter to aircraft... I wish I could do that to grenade launchers/tanks that can kill me in 1 hit. A very high estimate is 1 airplane shot down by AA *per game*...
- it takes 2 missiles to shoot down an aircraft, so both have to hit [it seems that reloading takes around 5 hours].
- if you leave an AA emplacement with only 1 missile in it, it will stay that way [great...]
- missiles 'hit', but still miss. It's not clear why this happens, at the very least collision detection between missiles & the MEC chopper is screwed... (in real-life this wouldn't even be a problem - AA missiles aren't designed to HIT aircraft - they just close enough).
- you can dive bomb an AA installation. Even with a perfectly working missile and no ground obstructions, the airplane still has the advantage.
- you have no radar, and it's nearly impossible to spot aircraft. Even if all the above was fixed, you still rarely know that an aircraft is in the area until the bombs hit your head.
- you're sniper-bait. As a sniper, I consider AA installations free points - your stationary, your head doesn't move much, and it's elevated just above the AA.

"Adding portable missiles would break the balance for good."
Balance = pilots almost always getting the highest kill : death ratio, and the top placings in-game??

[HicRic]

Re: Does online play have some different AA or something?

"As someone who is internetless on his gaming computer for a while, I've never played BF2 online."

I agree that jets are hard to shoot down-and with human pilots even more so. But I just can't see choppers getting anywhere near AA without biting the dust.

I don't know why you suggest firing one missile at a chopper-just lock on, and they'll get the buzzing noise and chuck their flares, then pause and hit them with both missiles. GG chopper, no RE. :laugh:

The best AA for a jet is another jet. Namely, the jet's cannon-switch to bombs so they don't hear the lock, then rip them apart with the cannon. It downs jets in moments.

Good points from people here, though-I imagine taking down jets online is especially harder.

[BirdKiller]

Re: Does online play have some different AA or something?

Don't know about you guys but I get shot down from static AA sites than enemy fighters and mobile AA vehicles.

[Retribution.]

Re: Does online play have some different AA or something?

i have to say that the AA is abit of a joke when your in a mig, i can spend the whole round on the dragon valley map in me mig with out fear of anything really (except the floor)

yesterday on a 64 player server my game crashed top desktop but just before it did i noticed that my score was something like 60-3-30-0

0 deaths, no one can do anything against the mig if your quick enough, as for the AA fixed positions just select bomb mode fly around abit till you see someone sitting in one and dive for the kill, i've found that if your going to be AA then dont get in the anti air turret untill the last second or the plane WILL see you

AA deffinitly needs work, having used it as well i've seen some strange things, like anti aircraft missiles actually going through AH-Z's
or totally missing the target thats right in front of you (no flares mind) only to shoot of to the left at your own team mate

odd stuff that AA heres hoping they patch it.