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Throughout early access Scramble pilots each had a unique control authority trait that determined their base limits for piloting airplanes. Control authority limits reduce the region of the Cross of Control available to pilots, and we render this in UI with black bars blocking off the edges of the cross of control. In the Squadron Leader game mode, where we prototyped many of the systems that are now the foundation of the Scramble campaign, we wanted to differentiate pilots along a spectrum of natural ability to pilot airplanes. Some pilots have an intuitive feel and coordination in the sky, and this intuition translates to a graceful command of their aircraft through the full envelope of aerodynamic maneuvering. So we implemented permanent pilot traits to represent everything from an uncoordinated pilot to a natural “stick and rudder” pilot.
This design didn’t connect with players as naturally as we had hoped. Players want a sense that their pilots are improving over time, and it didn’t feel good to have a highly experienced pilot with a permanently limited range of control.
Our Channel Defense campaign takes a new approach to pilot control authority. Pilots will have a base control level ranging from 1 to 5 that will increase with experience but be penalized when a pilot has a LOW Training status. Pilots with zero experience will begin at a control level of 2. Pilots will max out at a control level of 5. Pilots with LOW training will be penalized and drop down to a control level of 1. Control level is rendered on a meter outside of the pilot portrait and is colored green when a pilot is adequately trained and red when a pilot is penalized for LOW Training.
Control Level and Experience are rendered on the to the left of the pilot portrait. Training state is printed to the right of pilot name and stamina.
Pilot experience is a direct measure of the number of dogfights in which they have participated and it is shown as an integer next to the propeller graphic in the lower left of the pilot portrait. You will receive pilots with a mix of experience in your initial campaign roster, and it is your responsibility to ensure that throughout your campaign you are developing your inexperienced pilots in spite of their control authority deficiencies.
Control Authority improves with experience, but all pilots drop to level 1 with a low Training state.
Pilots need to fly to stay current in their aircraft, and each pilot’s Training state will decrease every day they spend grounded. Pilots flying Patrol Duty will maintain their Training state, and pilots participating in dogfights, whether encountering the enemy on Patrol or intercepting a Raid, will fully replenish their Training state to HIGH. Every pilot will drop down to a control level of 1 and suffer massive control limitations when their Training state drops to LOW. You may send a pilot to Training Duty to fully replenish his Training state, but that pilot will be unavailable for fighting the whole day he is assigned to Training Duty.
Pilots can be assigned Training Duty, but they will be unavailable for fighting for a full day.
Pilot control level determines the absolute limitations imposed on the control axes available to that pilot. Pilots with a control level of 5 enjoy the full range of turn and climb control, and pilots with a control level of 1 will see significant caps on the control axes available to them rendered as black bars over the Cross of Control. Lowered control authority will reduce the maximum roll, pitch, and yaw rates that a pilot can realize at any given moment, sometimes significantly limiting their maneuverability. There are some pilot traits that have the effect of ignoring control authority limitations, so even a pilot with LOW control authority may find turns in which they can maneuver
Rotate your pilots through Patrol and Raid Duty to ensure that they maintain Training and gain experience, and consider sending pilots to Training Duty before their Training states drop to LOW.
On November 30th, we'll be hosting a special livestream to give you an early look at the upcoming Campaign features, with brand-new gameplay footage!
More details coming soon. Join our Discord server to stay tuned and make sure you don't miss any updates.
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