Can we get the option for AA to NOT engage ground targets?

[Hawk8762]

Especially with 1000m range AA like bofors, it becomes frustrating having your AA gun reveal itself, trying to shoot at a tank. Then it becomes annoying micro to have to turn off/on weapons constantly trying to prevent this.

A simply toggle would be nice

 

[potski]

It will only fire at a tank etc. if it has line of sight. Just place it behind a hedge, buildings or woods, where it can't fire on any enemy ground units, and, more importantly, they can't fire on it, even if it reveals it's position firing at planes.

So you decide how to use these units, purely as AA cover sitting behind the lines, or as multi-use ground support and AA. Their range and calibre can make them good support units, as long as you protect them from tanks and don't let infantry get close to them. But with so little AA available, I don't usually take that risk, and position them similarly to my artillery in safe positions. Not only from enemy fire, but also where recon shouldn't be able to spot them, so that you don't get artillery fire or planes constantly dropping bombs on them.

 

[Hawk8762]

It will only fire at a tank etc. if it has line of sight. Just place it behind a hedge, buildings or woods, where it can't fire on any enemy ground units, and, more importantly, they can't fire on it, even if it reveals it's position firing at planes.

So you decide how to use these units, purely as AA cover sitting behind the lines, or as multi-use ground support and AA. Their range and calibre can make them good support units, as long as you protect them from tanks and don't let infantry get close to them. But with so little AA available, I don't usually take that risk, and position them similarly to my artillery in safe positions. Not only from enemy fire, but also where recon shouldn't be able to spot them, so that you don't get artillery fire or planes constantly dropping bombs on them.

The problem is that the hedge can block LOS on air targets for a significant duration, depending the angle
Plus, I prefer to have my shit hidden
Its a simple request for a toggle of "engage ground" yes/no

 

[axnone]

Why shouldn't AA engage ground targets? German Flak 88 always had a habit of doubling as an AT gun. Tri-polsten are pure infantry erasers.

As for revealing themselves, yes you could turn off the weapons. Enemy planes have warning sirens when they're spawned. The level of micro isn't that much.

 

[SzefKotlowni]

We can do micro so you need to do it too...

 

[Miskyavine]

Having an option for anti-aircraft to only shoot aircraft is a good idea or have differant settings for air and ground like fire at will on air and return fire option on ground. Would be pretty nice.

 

[Destraex]

You can turn off the weapon until you want to use it?
If you want these kind of options combat mission is probably a finer set of commands.

 

[potski]

Yes, you can turn off the weapon. And if the unit(s) have a hot key, then it's only two keys to toggle off/on. Experienced RD players are used to doing this for certain AA weapons anyway, because when they were on the weapon's were easily spotted by planes. Something to do (I think) with some AA using radar to target the planes, but the planes could detect that system was in use.

Back in WW2, no such complications, and therefore no need for such micro.

The problem is that the hedge can block LOS on air targets for a significant duration, depending the angle
Plus, I prefer to have my shit hidden
Its a simple request for a toggle of "engage ground" yes/no

Don't put them in a hedge, or even close to it. Yes, that might block LOS as planes approach. But they shouldn't be affected if they are in a field.

AA (and Artillery) don't need to be hidden, in the sense that their icon flashes on the map to show no enemy units have spotted them. As long as they are in a location where it is impossible for enemy units to see them. This is a time when you don't even need the LOS tool - enemy units cannot see through woods or hedges. Place them on the other side of woods, which are controlled completely by you and they can't be attacked by direct fire units.

But of course firing artillery shells can be observed and indicate the approximate place they are coming from. And the AA tracers will disclose where they are coming from when they open up on planes. So enemy artillery and bombers might still find you, even in relatively safe places behind the lines.

 

[local-festival]

By the way I really think that ground range of the AA should be limited a lot, like to 500-600 meters, for the balance purposes. Right now AA is much more a ground support unit that an experienced player brings alone to the push because it will decimate infantry and suppress armor alike.

 

[Destraex]

Please no slippery slope balance.... keep it as historical as possible and just balance by cost.

 

[potski]

Agreed. In RD nearly all of the AA only had one function. I guess players are just starting to realise how powerful these weapons are in ground support. They may need to be more expensive, or have less slots, or only deployable in Phase C. Not saying they should, but it's an option if any are OP.

But they were powerful IRL, and nerfing their range is not a good idea. German 88mm were so powerful against early war tanks, because of their range - they could penetrate most armour before they could get close enough to return fire. But that advantage was less important in Normandy with the bocage, than it was in North Africa.

 

[Grosnours]

By the way I really think that ground range of the AA should be limited a lot, like to 500-600 meters, for the balance purposes. Right now AA is much more a ground support unit that an experienced player brings alone to the push because it will decimate infantry and suppress armor alike.

This.

In RD the totally useless SPAAG were buffed a lot but they still had two different decoupled ranges : ground and air. Otherwise they would have gone from useful to way OP.
I also understand the idea that for authenticity's sake at least the 88 still has to be multi-function.

But I've had too many AT guns destroyed by the M15 GMC they tried to destroy to have any illusion about the current power AAA has. Not to mention the good old tripolsten.
So I'd suggest the following : for every AAA except the 88 (which is slow and fragile anyhow) ground range should never be more than 2/3 of the anti-air range.
AAA would still provide good ground support, but without being able to kill its predators outright.