aka_tom_w Posted June 13, 2002 Share Posted June 13, 2002 oldie but a goody: http://www.battlefront.com/discuss/Forum1/HTML/002266.html Topic: Do vehicles constitute loss hindrance? Knaust Member posted 12-28-1999 11:33 AM In Close Encounter 2 Shermans of mine were lined up with a StuG. The backward Sherm engaged the StuG...the advanced Sherm didnt have LOS, but the red line of the former one croseed the advanced Sherm. Anyway my question is: Given the right conditions, do vehicles constitute loss hindrance? IP: Logged Big Time Software Moderator posted 12-28-1999 12:50 PM No "live" unit will block LOS. This has been explained in detail a while back, but it basically comes down to limited CPU cycles. LOS is a total pig However, a "dead" vehicle does have the ability to block LOS. The difference is a "live" vehicle is a variable, a "dead" one is a constant (in terms of location, speed, direction, etc.) The LOS calculations for the former are too intensive, the latter the same as terrain. Steve IP: Logged Gunnerdream unregistered posted 12-29-1999 01:08 PM "Close Encounters"...hmmm...is that the scenario with the E.T.'s versus the A.I.? :0 Gunnerdream...floating down through the clouds... IP: Logged TOBRUK Member posted 12-29-1999 02:58 PM Wow, Steve, that's a big revelation. You mean my tactic of bringing up a squad behind an advancing tank doesn't really provide them any protection after all? Those poor guys. No wonder they're less than friendly to me. Tom IP: Logged Lindan Member posted 12-29-1999 07:31 PM TOBRUK: your tactic needs only a little changing - shoot your own tanks!! *lol* would you like to pbem, any side any scenario?? mail me! IP: Logged Captain Foobar unregistered posted 12-30-1999 01:15 AM This is a new revelation to me. So if you fire *through* one of your units to hit an enemy in LOS, what happens regarding friendly fire??? IP: Logged Moon Member posted 12-30-1999 08:28 AM As I understand it, when the firing weapon is an MG, chances are that you'll lose some of your own guys (grazing fire). Other small arms would cause no harm, since a rifleman would simply hold fire for as long as somebody is in his way. However, when it's night or foggy, chances are that your guys would mistake anybody running into the line of fire for the enemy and possibly TARGET your own side - with usually ugly results... IP: Logged Big Time Software Moderator posted 12-31-1999 01:43 AM Yes, this has actually been brought up a number of times in the past (try a Search for more). Unfortunately, LOS checks are already something like 25% of the total calculations being done for a turn. The game would litterally grind to a halt (and I mean it in a BIG way) if we had to account for every variable unit each time somebody went to fire, as the number of LOS checks would go up exponentially. It would probably also double the RAM requirements, if not higher. As Moon states, most of the time there is no problem with the reality CM has to deal with. The real bugger is MG fire. We found that we could squeak that in with modest impact on game speed. The other one is the somewhat rare case of shooting "through" a vehicle and hitting one behind it. In all the games I have played I think I have seen such a situation once or MAYBE twice, so it really isn't a big deal. As for troops hiding behind a tank? A team or beat up squad could get some protection from nearly direct head on fire, but a full squad or angled fire would not do much in terms of protection. Again, computers are FAR less powerful than people think they are. And Charles is the best programmer I have ever worked with, by FAR, so I know there is nothing more that can be done here. Probably not for another 2-3 years or so. Steve [ June 12, 2002, 09:01 PM: Message edited by: aka_tom_w ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aka_tom_w Posted June 13, 2002 Share Posted June 13, 2002 perhaps those lenghty re-posts were over kill? -tom w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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