One role for the biplane in competitve tbd

[Curious]

I've browsed some of the threads that talk about how the biplane (non-HC variants) lack a role in competitive 5v5 TBD. I generally agree that it does lack a role in this format. However, I wanted to point out that there is at least one scenario, largely unexploited in current competition from what I can tell, where the biplane is uniquely useful. I believe that high level TBD games hinge heavily on the ability of a team to 1) control the map and 2) push in blobs. For the time being, I will focus on the biplane's unexploited potential in this second area: blobs.

The biplane's weapons and HP aren't preferable over those of other planes, such as the bomber, when it comes to fighting inside a blob. On the other hand, it's weapons and maneuverability give it the ability to be effective against blobs. That is, the biplane can independently disrupt a cluster of planes pushing forwards in a bomb run. This is typically done by flanking, or at least threatening to flank the bomb runner. The sniping attempt can succeed either by immediately killing the runner when he doesn't try evasive maneuvers, or by stretching the formation out enough to make the push ineffective when the runner does try evasive maneuvers. In the event that the runner tries evasive maneuvers to avoid the flanking biplane, he will have fallen behind the pace of the rest of the blob, some of which is now slowing down or turning around to continue the escort while others may be committed to engaging with the planes at the front of the push.

Clearly this tactic is heavily dependent on the map, the opposing team's plane composition, and the skill and game sense of the biplane user. One example of a situation where this tactic can be exploited is against a composition that includes a time anchoring bomb runner on a map that has a fork in choke points/running paths at which the miranda can continually anchor. In this spot, a flank from a biplane on the runner whose team is ahead of him will force the runner to commit to one of the chokes lest he be sniped at his anchor point. Rather than letting the miranda anchor continually until it finds an optimal timing, the biplane can choose a timing that is optimal for his team to force the miranda to commit to a choke. This is probably one of the most effective counters to a push involving time anchor on many maps, and the maneuverability and speed of the biplane makes it a prime candidate to execute this tactic. However an EMP loopy may be even better in this spot.

On a few maps, the biplane can employ a similar style with good results from an offensive position. It can initiate a push by going in in front of his team and penetrating an area with defenders for the sake of distracting and possibly sniping key defenders like explodets. Unfortunately, this is very hard to execute and I can't think of many maps that give the biplane a good opportunity for it.

With all of this said, I doubt that these roles are truly decisive in most matches. =P

[Stormich]

The idea is good, but it's hard to pull of, going point blank into a blob of 4-5 planes is suicide vs any team that knows what they're doing. That's why you try to stop blobs step by step not just taking them head on.

[CCN]

I snipe bomb runners witha cid loopy and randa, don't see why it can't be equally if not more effective with a burst damage biplane in the right hands.

It definetly forces the action.

The burst damage I thought would be good for pushing planes out of certain areas where they are camping (i.e. to steal a powerup) rather then trying to camp the area for control >_>