--- Originally posted by sfscriv on 12 MAY 2011 in the EA UK Forum ---

Fires
Have the Squad Leader and Sniper with the ability to call in Fire Support/Indirect Fire and Commander controls/approves. This would reduce indirect fire frequency and increase teamwork. Fire Support could also include aviation Close Air Support (CAS) with a request approved by the commander and a temporary CAS communication channels opens up for the squad leader/sniper to talk directly with the jet/helio supporting the attack.

Intelligence
Every "Spot" should be earned. There should Not be a scan feature, 3x commander zoom, or the commander ability to click on the map to spot. The spotting should be done by soldiers in the field, snipers, and a separate UAV operator.

- UAV
o.. Not controlled by the commander (separate operator)
o.. Not armed
o.. Not able to change altitude
o.. Spot like an individual with the same duration as the sniper
o.. Able to change the flight path
o.. Airborne until shot down
o.. Fixed wing aircraft (looks like a plane)

Logistics
I think the magic jeep parachuted onto the battlefield should be removed. Perhaps there should be the ability to control vehicle spawns and even sling load vehicles. I think players should be able to spawn into the vehicle at the beginning of the match. Example a squad could all spawn into the same APC. Supply crates could be delivered by truck or helicopter.


--- Originally posted by sfscriv on 26 AUG 2010 in the EA UK Forum; updated 14 APR 2013 (other forum)---

My thoughts described using U.S. equipment. Other forces would have something similar.

Fast Roping, sling loading, and heavy parachute drops available

Little Bird – Pilot and 4-soldiers (fast rope capable)
Blackhawk - Pilot, 2 door gunners
... carries a full 9-man squad (fast rope capable)
... Supply Crate [sling loaded underneath]
Chinook – Pilot
... a fireteam (4 personnel) & HMMWV [sling loaded underneath]
... Or, two 9-man squads (fast rope capable)
F-16 – Pilot {fighter}
F-15E – Pilot and gunner {bomber}
C-17 – Pilot
... M-1 Main Battle Tank and 3-man crew [internal transport] Heavy parachute drop
... Or, three 9-man squads (parachute delivery)


--- Originally posted by sfscriv on 13 SEP 2010 in the EA UK Forum---

First, BF3 should have aircraft (transport, attack, helicopters, and jets). Having said that, aircraft are too powerful in BF2. There needs to be extra equipment to counter the devastating effect of air power...

Game play for the majority of the players on a server would be very different, if there were not any attack helicopter and jets. Think about the BF2 map “Road to Jalalabad.” It makes a HUGE difference if there is not a good aircraft attack crew on the other team. When one attack aircraft crew is very good, it can make the game unplayable. This brings up the topic of server options. With BF2 there is Infantry Only (IO) and BC2 there is Hardcore, BF2 needed an option to remove the attack aircraft.

BF3 should have aircraft, but there should be greater counter measures and a server option to remove them.


--- Originally posted by sfscriv on 15 SEP 2010 in the EA UK Forum---

...Why would someone want to add a C-17 aircraft equivalent or similar fixed-wing transport aircraft into the BF3 battle space?

First and foremost, the FUN factor. Second, this type of in-game asset would encourage an expansion of previous Battlefield series maps to larger maps enabling ground and aerial maneuver. Adding depth and width to the battle space would provide the DISTANCE needed to organize forces, communicate with other team mates, and encourage teamwork. Forces could move to and occupy battle positions and outflank an adversary. The constrictive maps found in Bad Company 2 could be opened up to expand the strategy and tactical aspects of game play.

Wouldn’t it be great to organize, execute, and reap the benefits of a combined airborne and air assault operation behind enemy lines. Not just 3 guys in a jeep, 3 Spec Ops parachuting from a helio, or a single tank that snuck through the friendly forward line, but an organized fighting force with firepower and survivability. Imagine this size enemy force infiltrating behind your forward lines.





--- Originally posted by sfscriv on 25 SEP 2010 in the EA UK Forum---

...shooting down the enemies aircraft is an important task, but the primary task is to try and infiltrate your bomber to the enemy’s rear area to bomb his runway. Each team would have only one bomber with the ability to crater the enemy runway. In this recommended version of BF3, all aircraft would be required to land to regain health and reload ordinance. With the runway cratered, now the whole friendly team is in danger of not being able to replenish health or running out of ammo.

Every player on the team has the ability to operate the one heavy piece of equipment used to repair the runway. The runway repair vehicle is housed in a hardened bomb-proof shelter and is driven from the shelter to the damaged area to conduct repairs. So, shot down jet pilot, another player, or the commander could spawn-in or move to the repair vehicle shelter to conduct the needed repairs. The repair vehicle would only be used if their runway was damaged and would be operated by one of the existing players on the team.



As previously stated, Aircraft dominated BF2. They were over powered. Just like artillery and other high casualty causing weapon systems. They just needed to be seen less during a match.

A lot of pilots and flight simulator flyers like to practice their take-offs and landings. What I would be a nice addition to the Battlefield series would be the requirement to repair and rearm on the ground for jets. The aircraft would have to land and quickly taxi to a re-arming pad which would be in a covered position to protect it from enemy bombing runs.


--- Originally posted by sfscriv on 14 APR 2013 ---

I think there are features that can be put in place to reduce the body count caused by aircraft:
Jets
- Have to land and pause over sheltered maintenance pads to recover health and rearm
- Enemy can drop bomb on the air strip to disrupt landings and take-offs
- Dropped bombs have to hit the tank to destroy it if the tank is at 100% health

Helicopters
- Have to land and pause on a heliopad to recover health and rearm
- Enemy can damage the heliopad to disrupt recovery of health and rearming
- Transport mini-guns don't damage tanks and APCs
- TV missile have to hit the tank to get 80% damage on a tank

Aircraft in general
- Stationary Anti-aircraft emplacements are positioned by players rather than being located at fixed locations
- Mobile and Stationary anti-aircraft can direct fire the missile by pressing the left mouse button and activate the seeking/warning tone for the pilot by pressing the right mouse button. The pilot has less time to react to a tone and deploy his flares. If the missile strikes the aircraft, it is a one hit kill.
.