What's the current state of the dive? Are they still slow after they land payload?
Some thoughts:
Raven when not diving seems to work perfectly as intended, Ravens when diving seem to be clumsy in both execution and theme.
They're not a bomber. A bomb that doesn't explode is not a bomb. I don't know the details on the weaponry, but considering it doesn't home or explode, it doesn't seem like there's very much going on that's high tech.
If it's not a bomber, I think there's fertile ground to scrub up a new explanation behind the mechanic. Its current status is 'precision bomber'. It may not be a bomber, but it is hella precise. I think the slow diving should be emphasised as an explanation for its precision on moving targets if it isn't already. It's literally getting into melee range to 'bomb' them.
While we're at it, we can stop pretending it's not a melee plane when diving.
Weapon: mo'fuckin' deathspear
A sharpened steel rod appropriate for both high altitude precision strikes on immobile targets, and injection delivery from pointblank.
Injection delivery: Raven slows descent to maintain a lock on mobile target. On reaching target, deathspear is launched at pointblank with explosive force, which both guarantees maximises damage dealt, and launches raven back into the air away from danger, allowing it to return to rearm.
- The weapon is consistent across both use cases.
- The slow dive is explained.
- The exit is more controlled leaving less to luck.
- The theme is more elegant.
- The mechanic is clearer, as we can do away with accuracy altogether. People will know what they need to do to prevent getting ravened.
- No longer comes down to ping, you get to hit them if you manage to reach them.
- Melee planes are badass.
- Weapon could be related to impaler's, representing the expected recycling of technology on the battlefield. This would represent a different delivery system for an already existent weapon type.
/storm