A simple modification to aircraft armament

[el cid again]

Here is data on Japanese aircraft weapons - which fortunately includes things like German and British guns:

7.7mm Type 89 MG Effective Range 600 meters Effect = 2 Accuracy = 27
7.7 mmType 89 Model 2 (= Vickers) Effective Range 600 meters Effect = 2 A = 32
7.7 mm Type 92 MG (= Lewis) Effective Range 600 meters Effect = 2 Accuracy = 19
7.7 mm Type 97 MG Effective Range 600 meters Effect = 2 Accuracy = 26
7.92 mm Type 98 MG (= German MG 15) Effective Range 600 meters E = 2 A = 33
7.92 Type 1 MG Effective Range (= German MG 15) Effective Range 600 meters
Effect = 2 Accuracy = 33
12.7 mm Type 1 MG (Ho-103) Effective Range 750 meters Effect = 3 Accuracy = 29
13 mm Type 2 MG Effective Range 900 meters Effect = 3 Accuracy = 26
13.2 mm Type 3 MG Effective Range 900 meters
20 mm Type 97 Cannon (Ho-1 and Ho-3) Effective Range 900 meters E = 4 A = 17
20 mm Type 99 Cannon Effective Range 800 meters Effect = 4 Accuracy = 21
20 mm Type 99 Cannon Model 1 Effective Range = 800 meters Effect = 4 A = 32
20 mm Mauser MG 151 Cannon Effective Range 850 meters Effect = 4 Accuracy = 34
20mm Type 1 Cannon (Ho-5) Effective Range 900 meters Effect = 5 Accuracy = 26
30 mm Ho-105 Cannon Effective Range 900 meters Effect = 5 Accuracy = 16
30 mm Type 5 Cannon Effective Range 900 meters Effect = 5 Accuracy = 15
37mm Type 98 Cannon Effective Range 1,000 meters Effect = 6 Accuracy = 4
37 mm Ho-203 Cannon Effective Range 900 meters Effect = 6 Accuracy = 32
40 mm Ho-301 Cannon Effective Range 150 meters Effect = 6 Accuracy =
57 mm Ho-401 Cannon Effective Range 1600 meters Effect = 8 Accuracy = 24

[el cid again]

Now it is clear that, with a single exception NOT in the game at this time, ALL aircraft weapons have effective ranges in the range of 1 in game terms (i.e. 1000 yards). I interpret 1 to mean "somewhere between 1 and 1499" - because at 1500 I would round up to 2000 yards. And the statistical average of those ranges is 750 yards - which is reasonable.

So I propose to do a simple modification in which all aircraft weapons are set to a range = 1. Then the difference between them is accuracy and effect. The chances of getting into firing range are much reduced (since the minimum range of a .30 right now is 3, and some weapons reach 5).
This should improve the air combat model.

The increase in ranges may have two different origins. First, it may be that maximum prooving ground range of the weapon was used, not the range for which the weapon was sighted or effective. Second, we had a big problem in UV, and air combat was deliberatly made more effective - regretfully by doing artificial things like removing ammunition limits. There also might have been a deliberate increase in weapon range at that time for the same reason. While we cannot fix the ammunition limit problem, we can fix the range problem - and it should go a long way to fixing the air combat results being excessive. Particularly if we also adopt speeds in knots - which tests show reduce effectiveness slightly. It is nice when correcting towards accuracy also addresses technical issues. It might be very nice if the air combat model turns out to be well done. I know it isn't popular to say so, but in my personal circle of game professionals, the UV air combat model is very highly regarded. Too bad it was "fixed" because of player demands in ways that are unfortunate. We need to remember this when we ask for fixes - we need to be sure there is a problem worth fixing!

[Sardaukar]

Tried with reduced range....had no effect. If you go down on topics enough you'll find my test data. Tried only fighter plane vs. fighter plane, though.