B-11 Strikeforce Appreciation & Discussion Thread

[JustusLM]

So, there's a lot of discussion on this plane and I think this is the right place for me to give my two cents:

Firstly, I genuinely like the B-11. It's not underpowered, it just requires more skill than jets like the Lazer or Hydra, but if you know how to use it, you can survive virtually any attack from the ground or air, as you can outmaneuver other jets and stay out of the line of fire of ground targets, as well as tank some damage, and you can fight back without getting in serious danger by divebombing with barrage missiles or doing bombing runs. Evading missiles is relatively easy, although the countermeasures are still handy, and the holming missiles can be useful to create pressure, the limited capacity, while unnecessary, usually isn't a problem.

 

However, as much as I like this and think it is decently balanced, built for extended close range combat rather than quick runs as you would do in a faster jets, the MG is disappointing because it is pretty much only useful for air-to-air usage, while on the real A-10 it's the most effective air-to-ground weapon.

As such, I think the cannon needs a "buff", although it should also have a downside to keep the balance.

I have two proposals for this, as well as an extra that applies in both cases:

 

1. Double the rate of fire but decrease damage to vehicles by half, damage to persons stays the same. The DPS will be the same, but the gaps between impacts won't be as large. In a dogfight, this will only be a somewhat small improvement, but in air-to-ground engagement, this will allow you to actually hit targets. A lower damage hit is better than a high damage miss.

 

2. Make it as powerful as the Hydra or Lazer, but introduce an overheating mechanic that goes from zero to overheated in 2 seconds, with a total cooldown length of somewhere between 5 and 10 seconds, I was thinking 8 seconds for a full cycle length of 10 seconds. This means that the damage it deals is closer to the real thing and the air-to-ground usefulness is restored for the cannon, but you need to time it perfectly and can only shoot in short bursts. To get good at this, you will need to learn to use very short bursts of fire effectively, meaning it can be very deadly, but the skill barrier is higher.

 

Alternatively, it could be a mixture of the two: Double the rate of fire, yet the damage per shot stays thew same, but it does get the overheating mechanic. This further increases the skill (or runs) needed to be effective, as a Hydra/Lazer-like cannon doesn't need anywhere near 2 seconds to destroy a target.

 

Extra: If the gun was tilted downward a bit, like on the real A-10, it would make the B-11 a very unique plane for air-to-ground combat as you don't have to fly directly at the target but can just zip over it. This doesn't make it much more powerful, but is more in line with the mentality of a plane made for longer engagements, as it becomes less dangerous in terms of crashing. The angle should be small enough to not be an issue in a dogfight.

Combined with the overheating, this would allow for very good air-to-ground effectiveness, but the timing and aim need to be very good to truly be effective. As it is, the B-11 is already a plane that sucks if you don't practice with it but can be very useful if you take the time to train with it. I very much like it for that. A change like this could increase this difference as well as its usefulness once you do have the skill.

 

Furthermore, I think the speed below 900 ft should be increased, however not by much (maybe close to 140 mph). To make sure this remains balanced, the turning rates should remain the same as they are now, but decrease above the current top speed below 900 ft (~125 mph). So, while the slightly higher speed will be better for travel and would be useful for a tilted cannon very low altitude approach, as it makes you harder to hit, it would not throw the dogfighting balance off, in fact, you would now need more precise speed control to unleash its current potential, so this could be another improvement that also raises the skill barrier.

 

In my opinion, these improvements would increase the satisfaction of using the B-11, maintain the balance, either by lowering the damage of the cannon or requiring more skill to use it effectively, and redeem the currently rather depressing cannon.

Edited May 20, 2020 by JustusLM

[Fish_head]

In an Ideal world, each plane/helicopter brings a different set of advantages and disadvantages to the field. Buzzard was underpowered but small and agile. Savage has awesome weapons but is fragile and flys like a barge. Hunter was op but needs 2 players to work best, akula has stealth etc. 
 

The Strikeforce should have had a directional explosive cannon, letting the pilot level out the plain and then attack target without having to aim the plain straight at the target. This is very op so the disadvantages should be lack of armour/countermeasures etc

 

It’s all irellevent tho, cos as one department of rockstar was working on realistic planes and helicopters. Another was designing flying cars and motorbikes that spawn at your feet

[JustusLM]

21 hours ago, Fish_head said:

The Strikeforce should have had a directional explosive cannon, letting the pilot level out the plain and then attack target without having to aim the plain straight at the target. This is very op so the disadvantages should be lack of armour/countermeasures etc

In my opinion, this would be a nice thing to have on a plane, but not the B-11. Part of the reason why the Strikeforce is in the game is to satisfy all the A-10 fans, and this would go further away from that. The A-10 works by pointing the plane at (or slightly above) the target, and is heavily armored. It also has chaffs and flares.

 

I could imagine this functionality on some medium sized turret based airplane, perhaps with two turrets, but with the difference to other turret planes being that the pilot can control one.

Or maybe there is one turret only and you can select in the vehicle menu who has gun control and who has countermeasure control, which also means that a single pilot can't use both, which helps with balance.

[whywontyoulisten]

On 5/20/2020 at 11:18 AM, Fish_head said:

The Strikeforce should have had a directional explosive cannon, letting the pilot level out the plain and then attack target without having to aim the plain straight at the target.

God, can you imagine? Tampa minigun control in a flying vehicle, you'd be straight into the ground. If you meant with autopilot you've got the Avenger; the Hydra in hover mode would do the same job. You don't need the gun to move when it's just as easy to use flight controls.

[Jager_meister175]

Needs a fire rate buff for the cannon! 

[Rockett800]

[BOOGIEMAN219]

You guys realize if the B11 had cannons like the Lazer it would be the most ultimately griefing jet? I can tank a few explosions and still grief people in it's current state but if you give me powerful explosives cannons you will regret it. 

[Pedinhuh]

1 hour ago, BOOGIEMAN219 said:

You guys realize if the B11 had cannons like the Lazer it would be the most ultimately griefing jet? I can tank a few explosions and still grief people in it's current state but if you give me powerful explosives cannons you will regret it. 

I always said that too, give this thing the Lazer cannons and we will be back in 2015 with every single tryhard and griefer in their jets.

 

And while a jet can be more predictable than a Mk2, it's far more bothersome if it's coming for you.

[Wastelander (Suzuki)]

On 10/15/2020 at 4:00 PM, BOOGIEMAN219 said:

You guys realize if the B11 had cannons like the Lazer it would be the most ultimately griefing jet? I can tank a few explosions and still grief people in it's current state but if you give me powerful explosives cannons you will regret it. 

The B11 does not use the Lazer/Hydra bullets, the Area of Effect is more in line with the Rogue. You could buff it to be fire like an actual GAU-8 and it not be OP, or if you really want to be sure it's not OP. Give it GAU-8 rate of fire with the spread pattern of an actual GAU-8, people have literally done this with mods and it was still more balanced than the Lazer and Hydra will ever be while still being effective enough to be used (why the hell two NATO Fighter Jets are armed with 20mm HE rounds, when those are limited to only being used in case of Invasion because they had a habit of exploding randomly...is beyond me but y'know, R* logic).

[éX-Driver]

On 10/15/2020 at 5:08 PM, Pedinhuh said:

I always said that too, give this thing the Lazer cannons and we will be back in 2015 with every single tryhard and griefer in their jets.

 

And while a jet can be more predictable than a Mk2, it's far more bothersome if it's coming for you.

That’s why the B11 should have its performance nerfed to hell and back. It should have roughly the flight performance of a Shamal. Big, heavy, slow, lumbering. It’s not an air-superiority fighter, so why does it bloody perform like one? It be more like when people trolled the streets in Rhinos. A pain in the arse if you got caught out, but easy enough to avoid and counter so as to not lock down a lobby. Nowhere near as bad as the pre-homing missile Laser days.

[BOOGIEMAN219]

On 10/18/2020 at 4:08 AM, Wastelander (Suzuki) said:

The B11 does not use the Lazer/Hydra bullets, the Area of Effect is more in line with the Rogue. You could buff it to be fire like an actual GAU-8 and it not be OP, or if you really want to be sure it's not OP. Give it GAU-8 rate of fire with the spread pattern of an actual GAU-8, people have literally done this with mods and it was still more balanced than the Lazer and Hydra will ever be while still being effective enough to be used (why the hell two NATO Fighter Jets are armed with 20mm HE rounds, when those are limited to only being used in case of Invasion because they had a habit of exploding randomly...is beyond me but y'know, R* logic).

I used to grief people in a Rogue, give me a B11 with Lazer cannons and I promise you will regret your decision. 

 

With reduced agility I can understand but in it's current state it would be very op if you are a decent pilot. 

Edited October 19, 2020 by BOOGIEMAN219

[El Cavilldo]

My friends, now that this beauty it's on Black Friday discount (-70%!!!), do you think this plane is still relevant and a good investment for a recent player who would like to be a good pilot and wants to have a chance against flying griefers?
Asking for a friend

 

(I only own a Buzzard and a Cuban, by the way)

Edited November 27, 2020 by El Cavilldo

[Pedinhuh]

8 hours ago, El Cavilldo said:

My friends, now that this beauty it's on Black Friday discount (-70%!!!), do you think this plane is still relevant and a good investment for a recent player who would like to be a good pilot and wants to have a chance against flying griefers?
Asking for a friend

 

(I only own a Buzzard and a Cuban, by the way)

It's one of the best dog fighters in the game as long as you keep an altitude of 1000ft above the ground.

 

But the Lazer and the Pyro are the best options for that.

 

Hydra is more versatile but not a good dog fighter.

[BOOGIEMAN219]

On 11/26/2020 at 10:14 PM, El Cavilldo said:

My friends, now that this beauty it's on Black Friday discount (-70%!!!), do you think this plane is still relevant and a good investment for a recent player who would like to be a good pilot and wants to have a chance against flying griefers?
Asking for a friend

 

(I only own a Buzzard and a Cuban, by the way)

The B11 is a good fighter. The problem with free mode dogfighting is oppressors ruin the fun much of the time when flying a B11. I highly recommend the Lazer. Starling is also amazing but harder to learn. 

[SavageFroggles]

I would like to either join fleetcom b11 squadron or the helicopter pilot one

[Killerman29]

fans always doing better work than C*:

 

 

[gnomefromnome]

[éX-Driver]

Being on sale, decided to pick one up for a giggle. I’ve been using it to hunt bounties, and it’s been fun. Picking off small ground targets whilst under heavy enemy fire is exactly what the real thing was designed for, after all. Trying to dodge all the homing missiles and weaponised vehicles as I flow NOE through the city to a target has been exhilarating. 

[lnterloper]

[Z_E_B_R_A_3]

Funny enough, i discovered the A-10 Warthog with this plane... I was curious and digged some informations on the real plane.

And i have to say that i was quite damn impressed! It's indeed a very charismatic plane. Many people have argued about it.

 

I think the right thing to do would not be to change it but to simply give us an air support variant.

We have so many variations of the same cars, bikes and trucks... Why not planes?? Planes and helicopters designed for war have many different models used for different purposes...

So why not having a specially designed air support B-11 then ? I posted this in the Wishlist thread, and while pretty sure they will never bother... I wondered what would be your thoughts.

 

 

Manufacturer : ?

Model : B-12 Rampage

Price : 4 000 000 $

Engine sound : Same as the B-11 Strikeforce

 

Differences in performances and weaponry:

 

CONS:

1 This version feels heavier. While the B-11 feels like a LAZER that hit the gym, this one feels more like a smoother Hydra. On top of that, the top speed is slightly worse (But the plane remains good to avoid normal missiles).

2 No countermeasures.

3 No guided missiles, only barrage.

4 The minigun will overheat if firing for five seconds straight. A little cooldown will be needed to avoid constantly jamming the gun.

 

PROS:

1 This one has twice the number of bombs the normal B-11 Strikeforce has.

2 Off radar capacity like the Akula and Annihilator Stealth. The time to engage and disengage the off radar mode takes five seconds (not upgraded) and 2 and a half seconds (upgraded).

3 This minigun is a direct upgrade over the LAZER/Hydra canon.

It has now 0,5 times more fire rate than the LAZER/Hydra canon.

The blast radius is two times bigger than the LAZER/Hydra canon.

The B-11 firing range is 675 feet, this one is 1000 feet.

 

As for the aesthetic: I'd say keep pretty much the exact same model and liveries apart from B-12 replacing B-11.

 

The B-11 is nice enough as it is. Let's not loose time on the face. Let's care about the fire this beast should puff...

 

What do y'all think?

[DanDaFreakinMan]

[AUScowboy]

Sure, the canon should probably have a better spread and damage, but everything else about the B-11 is just about spot on. It's the most armored plane in the game, the canon sounds are unique and authentic, and the model and liveries are on point. 

[Wastelander (Suzuki)]

Los Santos 20XX