Obstacle Clearance/ LOS - Test Results

[Mraah]

All,

I did some testing to find out what works for path finding when creating your terrain map.
Also, I did some LOS checks with the terrain map through a wall model.

The easist way to do this is to remember the number 3.

Terrain Map - Minimum Clearance
The impassable terrain color (red) must be at least 3 pixels apart if you want units to travel between buildings.

Model Requirements - Walls or other obstructions (not buildings)
This is very odd, but I did alot of tests and I'm sure of it and it guarentee's your wall will block LOS.

First, the model must sit on at least 3 pixels width of the terrain map color (impassable, wall, obstacle color).
Next, the model needs to be at least 2-3 meters wide, and 3 meters tall
And, the model must have at least 3 seperate "planes" for the LOS to pass thru before it calls it blocked.

See my screen shot below ...

Hope this helps.

Rob

EDIT NOTE (1/18/09) .... Walls provide hull down if set to 1 meter height and tagged as "hasheight".

[Mraah]

Also, I didn't mention this ...

You might wonder, why does it block LOS through a building when it appears to only pass through 2 polygon planes. Well, I think it's something to do with the LOS and how "thick" something is before it blocks sight.

A building is usually at least 6 x 6 meters in size, using a terrain map of at least 6x6 pixels square. So, perhaps the totaly distance the LOS has to pass through combined with how many planes it passes may have something to do with it .. I dunno.

Anyway, it's not the end of the world for walls ...

We can use smoke-and-mirror's to make the wall appear thinner by using transparent alpha textures on the back sides of the model. As far as the game knows it's still there and blocks LOS and since the tanks and infantry are about 3x3 they can still sit adjacent to it and we'll be non-the-wiser.

Rob

[rickier65]

Thanks for test - reqd opening sounds reasonable - 3 pixels - 3 meters ~10 ft. Not sure I understood your remarks about walls, except that they dont' seem to provide hull down status for vehicles behind them.


Thanks,
Rick

I've been working on a map with the map-maker (for hedgehog of Piepsk SL scenario), but I got through the creation, the texturing (everything but the buildings). and decided to check it out in scene edit - wasn't very happy with result. So I decided to let it simmer and then maybe start it over.

It didn't look anywhere near as good as what I've seen of yours or any of the others here. I don't have much artisitc talent I'm afraid.

Thanks
Rick