Correctly Operating Wet Compasses

[Glider]

Although all of the vertical card compasses and DG's appear to work correctly, the horizontal card or "wet" compasses all turn backwards.  I know that this is not terribly important to most AH players, but it drives me nuts!  I don't suggest that HTC try to model turning errors, accelleration errors, variation and all the other esoteric technical aspects of compass operation.  However, after many thousands of hours looking at compasses, if I glance at a compass and see:



Then I know I can look back out of the cockpit and just turn about 15 degrees to the left to be going North again.  In AH, I end up going NorthWest.

Since this system works so hard at realism every place else, why are the whisky compasses all backwards?

Pat

P.S.  Yeah, first post.  Go ahead.

[theNewB]

hah good thought out 1st post, right on id like to know too.

[hitech]

Glider: Sorry but that is an intentional inaccuracy that we do.

HiTech

[Saxman]

I'd be happy to see the ribbon compasses match up correctly with the dial. I know in the F4Us at least there's maybe a 5 degree offset between the dial and ribbon. Doesn't seem like much, but when you've got a bunch of squaddies trying to fly in formation and you set the heading and read from the dial but three others go by the ribbon it leads to issues.

[moot]

Saxman   It's not just the camera POV angle relative to those instruments on the cockpit? 

[hitech]

I'd be happy to see the ribbon compasses match up correctly with the dial. I know in the F4Us at least there's maybe a 5 degree offset between the dial and ribbon. Doesn't seem like much, but when you've got a bunch of squaddies trying to fly in formation and you set the heading and read from the dial but three others go by the ribbon it leads to issues.

If there is , we would be happy to fix that.

HiTech

[Masherbrum]

If there is , we would be happy to fix that.

HiTech

These are the types of things that separate this game from the others.   

[CountD90]

These are the types of things that separate this game from the others.   

agreed

[Swatch]

Wow... this explains everything.  I've always been confused by the AH compass, I don't even use it anymore.  And now I know why it always felt backwards.... because it is!

[EskimoJoe]

Coming with no flight experience, I had no clue it was backwards! Interesting bit of information.

[Glider]

HiTech,

Thanks for the reply.  Your willingness to respond to the concerns of the user group is one of the most attractive aspects of the AH system.

However, one of the other great parts of the system is the supposed devotion to accuracy.  You imply in your post that the improperly operating wet compass is a deliberate error in the game system.  Although I respect the fact that this is your sandbox and you make the rules, this really does make me wonder what other modifications to the laws of physics I might encounter in your world.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond,

Pat

[hitech]

Glider: We do not ever play with flight dynamics. The fighting piece and flying piece we do our best to be as accurate as possible. But things like gauges we will lean more towards playablity then accurate minutia. The compass is just simpler to use for non pilots in this form.

[Anaxogoras]

Really?  I'm not a pilot and I find the backward compass confusing as heck.

[EskimoJoe]

Really?  I'm not a pilot and I find the backward compass confusing as heck.

I always found it rather easy to turn right and have the compass turn to the right as well. For instance, looking at the picture in the first post, I would have banked my aircraft to the right to reach a 0 heading. I can see what your thoughts were when you put the compass in, HiTech. It worked (made it more user friendly, that is) 

[FiLtH]

   When I get lost, I look at the map.