Realistic Mode

[Excal]

How hard would it be to add a setting to the environment that would permit the host to control icons?

I would like to host a game in multiplayer where players have to rely on more realistic unaided visual contacts; that is, spot, id, and judge the distance of enemy aircraft without the help of icons.  

Right now, you can only do that if everyone is willing to turn off their icons, but no one is willing to do that, because they can't be sure that opponents have turned their's off.  If the host could turn them all off with one setting in the environment, it would work.

Also, while I'm at it, a way to force teams to be even is needed in multiplayer really bad.

Thanks.

[Soulyss]

I don't recall offhand if you can turn them off completely, but you can set the icon distance to at the very least short (about d3.0) as a server side variable, the AvA arena is often set up this way.

[Excal]

I know, but why not give host power to turn them off com[letely?  Wouldn't be a big programming challenge.  Now, giving host the ability to enforce even sides might be more challenging, but it's really, really needed.

[VooWho]

I like this idea.

[tedrbr]

I'm assuming this means a server with very short icon ranges, for all sides?, and limited plane sets for each side in order to help with target identification?

An F4U fighter pilot over the South Pacific was not expecting to see 190's or 109's so example.

And really, the resolution of the plane graphics on the screen are not anywhere as sensitive as the eyesight of the average trainer fighter pilot.  Things like icons make up for the shortcomings of the technology in use.

[OOZ662]

The main reason is size limitations. What you see on the screen is to scale. If you hit the z key and hold the bracket until it's zoomed as far in as it will go, that's a 1:1 ratio of what you'd see in real life. I dunno about you, but flying around like that's a little hard for me.

Also, the farther away the plane, the less updates you get on it. The speck you see in the distance might only be updating location every two or three seconds, while the one right in front of you is updating easily more than once a second. Gauging speed, heading, and distance on a dot that is warping due to it being too far away for the server to care would be very, very difficult. Also, after a certain range, the only thing you see is a small black dot. That would make IDing farther out than that literally impossible.

[Karnak]

You want to fly fighters while simulating pilots that are legally blind and would be denied drivers licenses due to poor vision?

Ok, I guess.

[Excal]

But we are only talking about an option.  Besides, in H2H, there are so few players, that it would make the game more interesting, as people might fly formation for instance and keep together, or better track of one another, so that they can make the IDs from other info.

What it would hurt to at least have the option?

On the even sides issue, one way to really help is to give the host a setting that would limit the number of players that can join the bishops, thus forcing players just entering to go Knights after, say, the number of bishops reaches 4 players, or whatever number the host sets.  For FFA, the max Bishops setting could be set to 8 players.

Thanks,

Excal

[OOZ662]

The game code in H2H is the same as the main servers. My last post applies to any part of AH. You could get the option with the same result.

If you ask to have them revamp the code based on number of players...pay for it and it might happen.

[Meatwad]

Hit ALT+I, that turns icons off

[Excal]

The game code in H2H is the same as the main servers. My last post applies to any part of AH. You could get the option with the same result.

Well, it's called a wish list...and why have a free multiplayer version at all?  There must be some advantage.  This game is addicting and I'd venture that the first indulgence that hooks players is flying for free.  If a suggestion increases the fun of participation in the first exposure, the game just becomes that more addictive.

Hit ALT+I, that turns icons off

That's a player option, but it's useless, because u can not be sure everybody has them turned off.  What I'm asking for is a host override.

What about the 4 player country limit?

Excal

[Puck]

Originally posted by Excal
How hard would it be to add a setting to the environment that would permit the host to control icons?

I would like to host a game in multiplayer where players have to rely on more realistic unaided visual contacts; that is, spot, id, and judge the distance of enemy aircraft without the help of icons.  

Thanks.

You are flying the Spitfire, death is 1.3k away with 250 MPH of closure.  Which aircraft is it?

Bear in mind the enemy may very well be flying the same aircraft as you, so you cannot use aircraft identification to distinguish between friend and foe.  This assumes you can identify an aircraft consisting of five pixels, of course.

[Excal]

If your country is flying 109s and 190s (that is, ur playing a realistic game), there's no doubt you're gonna fire on that image.  We're not talking FFA here.

[Xjazz]

Back then we were beta testing the Kanttori's FinRus maps in h2h. The icon less  sessions were blast.

Realistic in terms of the visibility etc? No but  fun.

BTW the CM guys have been asking more icon options for SEA host several times.

[Krusty]

Originally posted by Karnak
You want to fly fighters while simulating pilots that are legally blind and would be denied drivers licenses due to poor vision?

Ok, I guess.

QFT. ("Quoted For Truth")

I live in Denver. We get F-16s now and then from Co Spgs (Air Force Academy) and they fly past probably 10,000 feet or more (they must have rules and regs about minimum alt over residential areas!), and you can spot them quite easily when they do.

However, cons only 1000 yards away in that screenshot are an amorphous BLOB.

Unless you have a 50-million pixel resolution on a screen only 20" wide, you're SOL if you want to visually ID jack and/or squat. That's a fact.

Playing with icons OFF I did a 109G-2 vs P-51B mission. You'd THINK it would be easy. We were in formation, right? Well 4 v 4 it was a total mess with icons off. Lost wingmen and emeny into the mess. I got in to attack an "enemy" and didn't see it was a 109 (a wingman) until 300 yards. Then I got in on an "enemy" and had to get under 300 yards to see the invasion stripes on his wings. If I hadn't seen those, I'd never have known.

Resolution just doesn't EXIST to remove icons. Oh, and don't say "IL2 does it!" because without icons in IL2 it's the same BS. The pixels just obfuscate the entirety of the image you would normally see.

You want no icons, take real flying lessons.

To ge the SAME result (using your peepers) in a game, you need something to compensate for the stupid technological hurdles we all face. That means icons.

EDIT: That's not to say it can't be "fun" once in a while to play around with icon settings. I just bristle when folks ask for it, citing "realism".