4-12 wish list (Merged)

[Whacker]

Originally Posted by martinistripes

An idea for a future patch which may be very simple to implement. When selecting aircraft, for QMB or multiplayer, can we have small country flags by the aircraft so we know which country they come from and also maybe a small fighter or bomber icon depending on it's roll?

I know some will say I should know my aircraft better, blah de blah de blah... but I'm sure many of us don't have the time or inclination to memorise the (now) exhaustive list of options.

I play LAN with a friend. And typically our conversion goes like this:

Me: Ok, lets have russian vs german, 1943 aircraft only
friend: Ok
Me: Ok, I'll go in the Yak-3, choose an axis aircraft
friend: Which aircraft are axis? Is this axis?
Me: Don't know
friend: Is this one axis
Me: Not sure

You get the picture.

I know we could exit the server and go into the museum to check, but my idea of small flag & aircraft role icons next to the aircraft designation codes would be extremely helpful and a better way to do things.

Ignore the snobby responses. Your point is a good one, but...

It is true that most of the existing IL-2 player base are more "sim" minded gamers. As such, most of the players are going to recognize the aircraft and which side used them, in what roles, and have relatively high familiarity with their characteristics, quirks, and backgrounds.

The main problem with implementing your idea is that some aircraft were used by multiple countries in multiple roles, some of them even by opposing sides. For example, the Spits were primarily British, but they had a large number of ex-pat European refugees flying for them, including the Czecks, Polish. Many Americans also flew them in the earliest parts of the war. Likewise, several American built aircraft were used at various points by the British, including the P-38. Regarding roles, some aircraft had rigidly defined roles, others varied. Clearly a B-17 or Lancaster isn't going to be a heavy fighter. The Bf-110 worked in several roles, including heavy fighter, night fighter, and light bomber.

So, assigning icons that indicate national use and/or role can sometimes be a bit precarious. It's not a bad idea, just that implementing it would probably take much more time than it'd be worth, if you'll pardon the expression.

You stated that you and your friend(s) are casual gamers, which there is nothing wrong at all with that. Perhaps you might find it interesting to take a little bit of time and do some basic research and reading up on the histories of the planes you like flying. History can be extremely interesting and revealing, and put some of the aircraft into a better context so you and your friends can understand them better.

Just some food for thought...