-- About 10 months ago I started a number of tech tree projects (7 countries) to better understand how the game might take shape over the longterm.
-- What follows is my best guess at a "roadmap" for future development as the game becomes more intricate with potential types of aircraft (beyond fighters and attack aircraft).
Disclaimer
-- I am not a developer, just an enthusiastic player. Everything that follows is speculation, though I do my best to employ a logical process.
-- This is a way to synthesize information revealed through question/answer sessions (Gamecon, etc.) with what I have come to understand by researching many tech trees.
Goal
-- the first goal is to understand where the game is now in relationship to where it might be going.
-- the second goal is to establish a context for understanding developer decisions as the game progresses in the absence of an official roadmap.
How it works
-- Each stage below is defined by the game-changing mechanics that might be needed to implement a broader array of aircraft (night fighters, etc.).
-- Italy -- see extensive work by Demon93IT -- Italian tree currently leads the polls on EU forum and NA forum (roughly 2:1 over France in both cases).
-- USSR -- Sukhoi, more (Tupolev? Petlyakov?)
remaining minor countries:
-- Finland -- Valtion Lentokonenetehdas (VL), Fokker, Polikarpov, Morane-Saulnier, more
-- necessary for inclusion of fighter-bombers, dive bombers, lesser attack aircraft ("the furniture")
-- possible bombsight module (hint here under 'Bombardier'?)
--- the strongest case for a bombsight module resides with Sweden and might be one way to distinguish their level-bombing advantage (see Saab toss-bombsight)
-- feedback loop to Stage 1
dynamic ground targets
-- might be necessary to make reconnaissance aircraft viable; see also radar mechanics below
-- if floatplanes are to be included as a playable class, then it would be necessary to give them a tactical advantage over water (read: terrain collision mechanics) against aircraft that are otherwise more maneuverable or more heavily armed.
--- it would allow floatplanes to "touch-and-go" for rapid deceleration, while other aircraft would simply crash.
--- this might also implicate fixed landing gear aircraft (biplanes, other early aircraft, Miles M.20) to grant tactical advantage over land vs. higher tier opponents (barnstorming).
--- use of floatplanes by the Japanese eclipses all other major powers so the strongest case for floatplanes can be made by them (seehere).
GeorgePatton, on 27 September 2014 - 10:22 PM, said:
Interested in hearing why you don't have Clan Wars on this list. Don't you think that would be one of the things they'd try to get out early on?
I can't speak to that because it does not stem logically from aircraft developments revealed through tech tree exploration.
If it is as popular in reality as it is on the forums, then yes, I think it would be part of a plan for greater population; but I cannot tell you exactly where/how that fits into the above.
The same can be said for the addition of new maps, scenarios, and other refinements that are not mentioned.
If you are asking me to guess anyway (despite having zero information) then I would consider it to be part of Stage 5: Market Expansion -- build the house, then invite the party.
losttwo, on 27 September 2014 - 10:30 PM, said:
good to go, I enjoy your posts
and yeah I can follow that line of thinking
o7
Edited by J311yfish, 27 September 2014 - 10:34 PM.
...tell the truth, the "retrospective" video isn't that impressive. Bit of a buff to the effects and a bloom layer. ...Woohoo..? They also should have showed off more of the newer maps, instead of cruising Bay the whole time.
Consolidated/Vultee/Convair -- secondary attack line for export market -- Consolidated A-11, Vultee V-11, Vultee V-12, Vultee Vengeance, and experimental models if continued.
Bell -- P-39, P-63, etc. Robert Woods designs began at Lockheed, then Consolidated A-11, then to Bell which was an offshoot of Consolidated, so perhaps the Bell line might branch from there.
many premium opportunities
U.S.S.R.
The Soviet tech tree appears to be far along. What's missing?
Sukhoi
Tupolev
Petlyakov
premium opportunities
Germany
The German tech tree appears to be far along. What's missing?
The British tech tree is approximately 30-50% complete. What's missing?
Hawker
Gloster / Westland
Fairey
De Havilland jets
England abroad -- Australia, India, etc.
many premium opportunities
China
The Chinese tech tree has many premium opportunities. Unless there is clear indication from developers, the aircraft known to have been used there may reside instead with their native countries. Otherwise there is the potential for duplication of aircraft and supposed "cannibalization" of native progression, primarily American and Soviet.
The Swedish tech tree has not been implemented. Relied upon British and American development early-on.
Finland
The Finnish tech tree has not been implemented. Heroic history. Breaks the rules.
Brazil
The Brazilian tech tree has not been implemented. Like China above, this might be regarded as United States by proxy. It might be that aircraft here show up as premiums or paint schemes for their native countries.
Summary
The potential growth for the game remains enormous. The aircraft currently in game represent a fraction of what could be implemented, even before the consideration of floatplanes, bombers, etc.
Don't forget the Polish tree! As long as you don't mind a couple locally manufactured Russian clones at top tiers.
It has been a long while since I have looked at Polish aircraft in detail, but I remember several complications:
1) native aircraft development termination at around Tier III-IV.
2) scattered Polish pilots flying foreign aircraft in mid tiers
3) Soviet aircraft in later tiers
4) challenge of accurate tier placement due to Hispano-Suiza engines.
There may be a way to make meaningful progression out of #1-3 but it will involve, like China and Finland, a reliance on "operational" progression rather than "developmental" progression.
#4 would be aided by waiting for French tree to go live.
It would be fun to investigate further but given real-life commitments I cannot afford to poor my guts into that kind of project. Hopefully a fan of Polish aircraft will step up to the plate and deliver a grand slam. Nudge nudge, wink wink.
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