Air Fleet Spotting and Impact of Enemy Air Fleets

[Edwin P.]

Here's a simple idea to consider:

Enemy airfleets can't spot units next to a friendly airfleet if the friendly air unit can intercept.

This simulates the presence of friendly air patrols that prevent recon by enemy air units.

Or add a new command (to Auto/ Intercept/ Escort/ Ground) called Patrol. Air Units on Patrol prevent enemy air units from spotting units (Land, HQ or Naval) within two tiles of the Air Unit on Patrol. Of course, air units on patrol cannot attack or escort and have their spotting range and strike range for interceptions reduced to 2 tiles as their area of operations is reduced.

A unit can only patrol while their strength is 5 or more. This reflects the fact that a decimated air unit can't mount an effective patrol of the surrounding skies. If a patroling air unit is attacked and its strength is reduced to 4 or less it can no longer protect units from spotting by enemy air units.

A spotted air unit on patrol would slowly rotate (an animated unit), to indicate that they are on patrol and enemy air can't determine what is, if anything, within two tiles of their location. I proposed an animated unit as this is a visual indicator and better than adding a P or some other indicator to the patroling air unit.

I think that this one change would really enhance the already much improved FOW for SC2.

You want to lure the enemy into a trap, mass a few armies and let an airfleet keep them safe from spotting.

You want to bluff an enemy into not attacking. Move an airfleet into their spotting range and let it patrol the skies. Are they hiding something or not?

[ July 08, 2004, 03:28 PM: Message edited by: Edwin P. ]

[Roosevelt45(the 2nd)]

I like the idea.

We should be able to equip air fleets and other units for all sorts of tasks like the 'hunt' and 'run silent mode' for subs.

[With Clusters]

That's a very interesting idea. If implimented though, there should be the ability to "overwhelm" the patrol if the attacker has a certain level of air superiority (in numbers or tech).