Harpoon does the only thing you really can do within a game, just pick an "average" value to represent this regardless of facing.

 

Let's try not to get too pessimistic. We have the data to determine target aspect (emitter and target altitudes, headings, range) so we can determine the target aspect from as seen from each emitter.

 

Nor are we forever restricted to a single average value, in my previous post you hopefully got the idea that we can modify the database structure (we just prefer not to without good reason since it is a pain) to hold multiple reflectivity values for a particular sensor band.

 

Well, of course it can be done, especially in a computer game. It just a lot of work for almost no gain in the end in terms of gameplay for the player. You could always calculate aspect ratios between targets, and use precise 3D models to determine the exact aspect ratio between targets... but that's a rediculous amount of work for something that rarely matters at the scale Harpoon is represented.

 

Your post above would be a good comprimise, if this really is important for some reason I am missing, where you would assign 4 different values for top, bottom, front/back, and side. But even that probably isn't worth the effort. Just speaking entirely from a game design perspective, I'd put this way low on the list of things to do to the game. It really has almost no relevance at this scale and yet would be a very complex thing to add to the game.

 

Since there are a few old SFB players here... It's the same thing as "3D SFB". It can be done... but why? It would add almost nothing to the game in the end, but would have an impact on almost every existing rule in the game. It's a more extreme example of "a ton of work for little gain". So I would only consider worrying about aspect ratios in Harpoon if there was a very simple way of achieving it within the code, because you don't get much "gameplay for the programming buck" by doing this.

 

Personally, I'd rather see that time spent on a graphic layout of a carrier deck when you push the "ready air" button, or something like that which would be a far more noticable enhancement.

Personally, I'd rather see that time spent on a graphic layout of a carrier deck when you push the "ready air" button, or something like that which would be a far more noticable enhancement.

 

Well, this becomes a case of not everyone wants the same thing. I wouldn't give a plugged nickel for the above, but making the radar/visual model better by adding the 4 aspects at different values would be welcomed by me. Is it vital? No. Do I think it would add more to the sim than some graphic of the carrier deck? Yes.

 

Maybe this should end up in wishlist, but if I could have my choice of two additions to HCE, they would be:

 

1) the ability to jam/target particular emitters, and have it actually mean something; i.e. be able to jam the Top Dome, or target it specifically with a HARM, and have it mean that it shortens Grumble range for-real.

 

2) The ability to know, w/o having to use the PE, whether an a/c has NOE, and/or if a missile system is sea-skimmer capable. And I would like to be able to see this with the old DBs, too.

 

I'm sure your list is different.

 

I also have no interest in HCE multiplayer. I have plenty of multiplayer games. However, a lot of people seem to want it, so I'm fine with that.

 

to TonyE: don't take these as demands on my part. I'm happy to take whatever improvements you and Brad and whoever have time to make. I understand the situation you're in.

Where I think enhancing the detail of sensor models really shines is in the WWI - Korea, if not Vietnam situations before Radar was king. Now with radar stealth it has some merit again if you can visually detect a contrail at 50nm (hence the long detection ranges when planes are at High or VHigh).

 

When we replaced the radar model back in 2005 or whenever that hugely changed the game and if we can do the same for the other sensor models, including Visual, I think we'd be taking huge leaps forward in game capability, especially for multiplayer. Grab your Ultimate edition and play an old version with F-22 then try the current version in EC2003/WestPac with F-22, huge difference and that's with only one RCS number (but variable in many steps instead of about 4 steps of the previous model).