Terrible Fighter Jet Balance - the Jet-v-Wildcat/TC balance is particularly bad

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@Ironhead841 wrote:

@Metal_Daryl97 

Look at it from a potential threat perspective then.

JETS.

A decent jet pilots' threats are what? Wildcats and potentially the off-chance that the other team has a decent pilot on it (heli or jet) 

The FXM-33 is simply ineffective against jets I would argue, so those threats listed above are pretty much it.

WILDCATS.

Wildcats threats are, jets, helicopters, MAVs, tanks, jeeps (with 50mm cannons), SOFLAMs, not to mention the fact that literally every enemy infantryman has the potential to be carrying M5 rockets, mines or C5.

I think the Wildcat is in a good place balance-wise at the moment, if a jet is focused on hit and run attacks on enemy aircraft then a camping Wildcat in its home base shouldn't be a problem. With the size of these maps it would have difficulty covering half of most maps so that leaves a jet un-contested for the other half.

And if it leaves its base it will have so many other threats to worry about chances are it isn't going to focus on a notoriously difficult to down jet buzzing around anyway.

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Yep, whenever I dedicate a round to using the Wildcat I rarely bother targeting the jet.

There's no point, you'll never take a full health jet down unless the pilot is bad.

And once the pilot works out they are playing against someone in the Wildcat who always keeps their smoke saved for their AGMs they usually don't bother trying to take you out.

My priority is choppers and harassing or destroying them if they come to my teams side of the map.

If you're in a jet and you're dying to Wildcats on a regular basis you probably have poor real time map awareness of your main threat on the ground.

@Ironhead841

If you want to look at it from a potential threat perspective - in addition to the number of threats, you also have to consider how dangerous each threat is.

So first, let's consider all the potential threats, as well as their effectiveness 

Effectiveness of vehicles against Jets vs Wildcats:

• Wildcats are extremely effective vs jets < 600 m, where close-medium range attacks can deal massive damage while jets are not effective against wildcats (also, jet-v-jet way easier than jet-v-wildcat encounter) 

• Transport Choppers: extremely effective vs jets at close-medium range, in part because of their better maneuverability, multiple angles of attack, ridiculously fast repair rate with dual repair tools, insanely high hp...) - reminder that there are often two of these present at same time. Silly DICE probably not aware that condor can actually chase jets and inflict continuous damage, without giving jet chance to regen. On the other hand, Transport choppers are far less effective against wildcats, unless there are two people continuously repairing (the ~8-mm cannons, which are more common than other weapon choices, doesn't even damage heavy armour) 

• Attack choppers can be very effective against jets, but only if the pilot is really good. On the other hand, they are only slightly more effective than jets against wildcats unless they've got good cover or camping at flight ceiling 

• Tanks are mostly ineffective vs jets unless jet is flying at a low altitude; tanks are very effective vs wildcats at close-medium range 

• LATV4 jeeps are pretty much useless against either but definitely fare better against jets (not equipped with AGM) 

• I'd say MAVs are only slightly more effective against wildcats compared to jets (only useful for close range encounters) 

• Infantry are much better vs wildcats but they can still be somewhat effective against jets flying slowly at a low altitude, especially if they are using TV missiles/m5. While stingers will usually not be able to destroy jets, they will definitely force the jet to retreat and also waste its flares, which makes the jet vulnerable to other lockon weapons.

The "threat perspective" point was an exaggeration - while it is true that wildcats face slightly greater threat than jets, the difference in threat level is not sufficient to warrant the current wildcat-v-jet balance 

Also, jet piloting without doubt requires more skills - this should be rewarded!