Some New Cloud Testing

[Puma44]

Ummm.... ok Zener.

Moving along.  Clouds look nice Bustr. Do we have the ability to have simple overcast layers?

All talk and no apparent action.

Also moving along.  Ditto with Fork’s question. A thick overcast at a couple thousand feet AGL would introduce a new level of challenge to the air con/gv conflict.

[bustr]

I tested that option, it's in the menu, dropped my FPS in the bucket. The weather files for the MA terrains I had to test specifically for FPS issues so game play would not be impacted.


Anyone of you can open the cloud editor, point at a terrain in your ah3terr folder, the CBM map will be pulled up, and build a weather file to test offline on that terrain. Just remember to keep a 40 mile separation from the other cloud blocks if you are trying to get Hitech to accept it as a weather file for the terrain you are testing it on.

Save the file into the chconfig\<terrname> folder as the name of that terrain, so you see a file terrname.awa there. As soon as you open that terrain for offline play, your cloud file will launch itself for you to test. Then either remember where you put your cloud blocks or get CM eye mode setup to go look at them.

I found on 10x10 terrains a 1 hour life span at 56 mph works about best for cloud blocks to eventually cover much of the terrain. Depending on the terrain configuration, traveling at a diagonal or up down or left right will give the best coverage. If you do not set all cloud blocks to the same speed and life span, you will violate the 40 mile separation. If you want to get really arcane and geeky, you can setup many over lapping cloud blocks covering the whole terrain and set their start\stop and life span times so they avoid each other while keeping a 40 mile separation at different intervals around the 7 day life span of the arena. Think of it as a 7 day changing weather pattern. It's a bite to get the timing right, I tested that with the previous version of the cloud editor.

I even had your socked in layer running across the runway of a 4k airfield forcing me to use instruments to navigate. While it was very realistic, the average player wouldn't up from that field or go near it for the PITA it would be for game play. Half the time I'd be on final and the cloud layer would white out my last 500ft and kill me, the other half of the time I flew in circles above the field missing seeing it through the clouds. I think Hitech put the minimum\maximum for the cloud types in the editor menu for a reason even though it's OK to have cloud layers cut through the tops of mountain ranges. I asked about things like that when he ask me to make some weather files for the MA terrains. But, it never hurts to ask him your self to clarify.

Weather files are one thing I can change in minutes if he asks me to. Just test what you want offline before asking him to kill his customers game play experience by dropping their FPS in the bucket for a cloud layer. 

[Mister Fork]

Thanks for the info Bustr. Was more or less thinking of a 7000' or a 15,000' cloud layer so that exact issue when landing would never happen for a pilot.. It's about changing up the gameplay in an arena - and having a day where we have lower cloud layers would do just that and add true weather realism to Aces High.

[bustr]

Test for FPS by flying in those clouds you talk about level, slowly, for 10 seconds dead center if you decide to try this.

I eliminated using all but two of the cumulus offerings in the menu for that reason. And getting your cloud block centered on a single field for this wonder fullness, what about the rest of the terrain and the required 40mile separation of cloud blocks? You will have players in these forums screeching at Hitech if you push all the blocks together to make a full weather front across the terrain. Weather in the MA is an eye candy illusion using clouds that look like their real world counterparts set at the same alts depending on terrain in a grid with 40miles of separation between eyecandy blocks.

Even if I can make one file run a swap out of different cloud block configurations over 7 days. It will be the clouds in the menu provided by Hitech that I have tested with 40 mile separations on blocks. The editor will allow you to build clouds, you will have to test them against FPS drops that will impact paying customers in the MA. But, I think that feature is more for the AvA and special arena terrain builders. Still, if you come up with a goody and it passes the FPS impact issue, send it to Hitech.

Before doing any of this, see if Hitech will accept socking in fields in the MA with weather files like you want.


I did some testing for you gents with the 500ft 50milex50mile sock in layer from the cloud editor. Pay attention to the frame rates and, do you intend to punish players with this thing by making them crash every time they fly into it? Just like engine management that Hitech doesn't want to saddle players with, anyone want to learn instrument flying do you think....

Layer is set for 7000, top at 12,000. Notice by just being near the bottom and top I'm taking an FPS hit which was part of the criterion for what clouds I used for the MA terrain weather files I built. The default view in your cockpit being the most complex will take the greatest FPS hit

[Mister Fork]

Right on.  Puma and I were thinking maybe a 500 ft thickness to get complete coverage?

[bustr]

You can try to build a 500ft thick cloud layer, most cloud blocks are between 2000-3000 to give them body. But, you will have to build it yourself. Other than that, you can use layers since they are cosmetic and Hitech wants them at 25-45k because of that. Those high alt cirrus sheets. So after you build one cloud to represent your "sock-in", you still have to populate a 3 dimensional cloud block for the MA. Check the second tab in the cloud editor tieled "Cloud", so far we are talking about the results for the "Weather" tab where the finished clouds and blocks become a weather system.

The first three screen shots below 5 cirrus Heavy layers, not cloud blocks, one at every 100ft from 7000-7500, looks hoaky inside, but cosmetically like a "sock in" on the the outside. You could even do 10, one every 50ft like the last screen shot. Good luck convincing Hitech to allow this, those layers cover the entire arena. You guys need to learn how to make weather files and start testing this yourselves offline and learn why clouds are simply cosmetic. Otherwise we've reached the point you have given up on splitting hairs and moved onto splitting hair molecules over the subject.


A Heavy layer 7000-7500ft, 5 layers from 7000 to 7500 every 100ft.








Center of same 7000-7500 with a layer every 50ft. All 2D and no depth of 3D illusion.

[Slate]

But isn't that the way clouds are in real life?  i.e., don't they tend to form at a particular altitude due to atmospheric variables?   And they tend to dissipate at roughly the same height (e.g. climbing out through the cloud deck)?

  I think he may be thinking of Cumulus or Cumulonimbus clouds. I think the AH clouds are more like Altocumulus.

[bustr]

On of the cirrocumulus offerings should be labeled altocumulus, but, I tested that one, and those clouds will eat your FPS if you use them to play peekaboo while fighting. They look fantastic across the landscape.

Any one of you can open the cloud editor, pick a terrain and open it's map. Place one cloud block over a field you will up offline to test the cloud from. Set the alt like 3k or so above that field so you don't have to fly very far. Then see what happens to your FPS inside of that cloud block's clouds. Save the weather file to the chconfig folder for that terrain naming it the same name as the terrain. Then when you up offline the cloud block will be generated. And you can set the wind speed to "0" so it just sits there for you.

My cloud choices had nothing to do with player sensibilities or preferences. They had everything to do with being able to have realistic looking clouds while impacting the fewest players possible playing experience with tanked FPS. Once you start creating game content that will be experienced in the Melee arena, FPS impacts have to be one of your top priorities. And Hitech will let you know about it once he looks at your content before allowing it in the Melee arena.