Been thinking about the weather

[Valar]

I was just reading about the Falklands and at some point during the conflict, Harriers couldn't take off due to bad weather. We can't really model this in Command at this time. I know its probably already on the dev's wishlist, but I thought I'd put it out there again. During a 2-5 days scenario, weather can potentially change quite a lot which in turn have a big influence on operations, especially in historic scenarios

[thewood1]

Did you look at this thread?

tm.asp?m=3437496

[Valar]

I did and I voted appropriately

[mikmykWS]

Yeah it's on the list and definitely something we want to approach. Air combat is already very much effected by weather.

In the meantime you can use use the editor to control AI ops and self control to keep yourself from launching in crummy weather.

Thanks!

Mike

[Tailhook]

How do clouds affect vision? Ever since one bad experience I have assumed that any sort of cloud layer is impenetrable from above/below. (The incident in question involved a strike of F-117s in the Allied Force mission. If memory serves, there was light or intermittent cloud cover and not a single jet could spot through it for LGBs). I would like to be mistaken in this regards as it has really changed how I use aircraft, especially in ways that I normally wouldn't.

[mikmykWS]

ORIGINAL: Tailhook

How do clouds affect vision? Ever since one bad experience I have assumed that any sort of cloud layer is impenetrable from above/below. (The incident in question involved a strike of F-117s in the Allied Force mission. If memory serves, there was light or intermittent cloud cover and not a single jet could spot through it for LGBs). I would like to be mistaken in this regards as it has really changed how I use aircraft, especially in ways that I normally wouldn't.

The one big issue that needs to be resolves is the AI needs to adjust altitude when these conditions exist. Human players shouldn't have this issue as they can check the weather and conditions and make an adjustment.

If your issue is you think laser designators should be able to penetrate light clouds I think we disagree. Best path to getting that changed is finding some documented real life cases where that was done and presenting them.

Thanks!

Mike

[Tailhook]

ORIGINAL: mikmyk

ORIGINAL: Tailhook

How do clouds affect vision? Ever since one bad experience I have assumed that any sort of cloud layer is impenetrable from above/below. (The incident in question involved a strike of F-117s in the Allied Force mission. If memory serves, there was light or intermittent cloud cover and not a single jet could spot through it for LGBs). I would like to be mistaken in this regards as it has really changed how I use aircraft, especially in ways that I normally wouldn't.

The one big issue that needs to be resolves is the AI needs to adjust altitude when these conditions exist. Human players shouldn't have this issue as they can check the weather and conditions and make an adjustment.

If your issue is you think laser designators should be able to penetrate light clouds I think we disagree. Best path to getting that changed is finding some documented real life cases where that was done and presenting them.

Thanks!

Mike

My issue wasn't the lack of penetration by the lasers through clouds, but the fact that there didn't seem to be a break in them. I'm looking at the scenario now and it's "Moderate Cloud Cover" I get that that probably means a decent sense of obstruction, but I remember playing in the editor with the scenario. With the weather at anything other than "Clear Skies" not a single jet (of 18 if I recall) was able to see their target, despite being in a 10 mile 360 degree orbit around an airfield. At the lowest settings I don't think their should be the kind of cloud cover to totally obscure the ground.

[mikmykWS]

Much of the game/sim is about mission planning and addresses things like why GPS guided weapons are a better choice when the weather isn't so great.

I'll ask the guys if we should perhaps look at a percent chance that a cloudy sky might have a break when your plane happens to fly over it. If we do this there should still be a very good chance you can't use laser guidance.

Thanks!

Mike

[ExNusquam]

I'll ask the guys if we should perhaps look at a percent chance that a cloudy sky might have a break when your plane happens to fly over it. If we do this there should still be a very good chance you can't use laser guidance.

At the very least, when the cloud cover is "moderate" or "light", it should be possible to visually identify targets on the ground. Laser obscuration should probably still happen unless you want to model large, random breaks in the clouds.

[Tailhook]

I'm pretty sure for that mission I had Laser Guided Bombs only, so my only alternative was to fly F-117s at 2000 feet. Not ideal.

A good chance of Laser Obscuration is fine, it's just the lightest weather settings shouldn't totally obscure the ground.

[mikmykWS]

ORIGINAL: ExNusquam

I'll ask the guys if we should perhaps look at a percent chance that a cloudy sky might have a break when your plane happens to fly over it. If we do this there should still be a very good chance you can't use laser guidance.

At the very least, when the cloud cover is "moderate" or "light", it should be possible to visually identify targets on the ground. Laser obscuration should probably still happen unless you want to model large, random breaks in the clouds.

Thanks. You get it.

Mike

[Primarchx]

ORIGINAL: mikmyk

Much of the game/sim is about mission planning and addresses things like why GPS guided weapons are a better choice when the weather isn't so great.

I'll ask the guys if we should perhaps look at a percent chance that a cloudy sky might have a break when your plane happens to fly over it. If we do this there should still be a very good chance you can't use laser guidance.

Thanks!

Mike

I agree completely on the planning and weaponeering aspect. My main inquiry is whether the are operable differences in cloud coverage in the game at this point and if so how are they differentiated. For now I plan that all clouds = can't see through them and go from there.

[mikmykWS]

I replied in the other string