Aces High Bulletin Board

Special Events Forums => Friday Squad Operations => Topic started by: Gooss on February 25, 2009, 12:30:44 AM

Title: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Gooss on February 25, 2009, 12:30:44 AM
I apologize in advance for my whining. 

I do not like the short enemy icon range in FSO.  I would prefer the 6k MA range.  Going from zero enemy to 10 enemy, who are all within 3.5k, well, bites.  Whatever poor SA skills I have in the MA have no carryover. 

We see dots.  Investigate.  Get mugged.  Send <S> to survivors.  Go to MA to satisfy bloodlust. 

Flying with squaddies is fun.  Clearing 5 bandits off squaddie with 5 bandits on my six is not.

I apologize for my whining.

Thanks to all the people who make FSO possible.   :salute

HONK!
Gooss
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: texastc316 on February 25, 2009, 12:40:27 AM
excellant form :salute

I think the more things that are not like the MA the better. my .02. I personally like it more difficult. Not that I can handle it, Im just silly like that.
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: trotter on February 25, 2009, 01:20:12 AM
Have to disagree, short icon range I believe is one of the best features in special events.

I don't read as many WWII air combat pilot recollections as some, but I've often noticed pilots often talk about the strange and yet startlingly sudden transition from a peaceful sky to a sky full of bandits. And after some quick minutes of maneuvering they often find themselves all of a sudden alone in the sky again. I've had something like that experience in short icon mode, and it would just never happen with the 6k icon range. Long icon range gives you warning of the initial bounce, and 6k icon mode also keeps yourself far more aware (unrealistically so) of the "entire" fight than a typical fighter pilot would have been.
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Delirium on February 25, 2009, 01:46:41 AM
I'll bet big money that the ones that enjoy the short icon range are those running at a better resolution and have better computers overall.

Going from 1024 res to 1900x1200 made a huge difference, even with that plus, computers cannot take the place of the human eye.

If you factor in speeds of the combatants, the guy flying at higher speed has a much bigger advantage as well because he can close the distance and make the kill before the other guy can notice him.

Don't believe me? Many of the scenarios that had 262s enabled with short icon range proved this. Those that didn't do well were flown by those with little experience or the fight was happening above the normal operating altitude of the 262.
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Vulcan on February 25, 2009, 03:51:40 AM
I'll bet big money that the ones that enjoy the short icon range are those running at a better resolution and have better computers overall.

I like it and I fly at 800x600. Mk 1 eyeball can still spot dots at range, after a while you start to get good at picking stuff out (white dots are usually US iron, black dots are usually LW etc).

Harden up girls.
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Delirium on February 25, 2009, 03:58:29 AM
Well, hopefully I (and a large number of the community) can grow chest hair like you some day.

 :rofl
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: ROC on February 25, 2009, 09:10:56 AM
Quote
after a while you start to get good at picking stuff out (white dots are usually US iron, black dots are usually LW etc).

I actually noticed this for the first time last Friday.  Flying towards a cloud of dots on the horizon, I noticed they appeared as red dots.  Sure enough, Niks! Really started to notice after that.
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: ImADot on February 25, 2009, 12:48:25 PM
You might also want to check your range radio when you see bogies.  If there are names there that aren't part of your package, those dots are friendly.  Also, if you're inside your base's dar ring when you see those bogies, and the base is not flashing, chances are they are friendly.

Short icons makes the FSO experience all that more intense.  :rock
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: captain1ma on February 25, 2009, 12:56:06 PM
maybe you could compromise and go 4.5K. that way the newer or less experienced guys can see them just a bit further out and the orthodox FSO guys still get their short ranges. just a thought.....
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Nefarious on February 25, 2009, 12:57:10 PM
I say we have Friendly Icons only.  ;) :D
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: apcampbell on February 25, 2009, 01:02:12 PM
I'll agree with that!  :aok
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: 33Vortex on February 25, 2009, 02:37:51 PM
I say we have Friendly Icons only.  ;) :D

Yes!  :aok
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: daddog on February 25, 2009, 03:36:38 PM
What Nef said! I wish we could! :D
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Krusty on February 25, 2009, 03:53:43 PM
Doesn't help. I've got at least several old films archived of SEA events where enemies didn't show up unitl 800 yards (400 yards in some cases) simply because of the sheer number of planes in one area. Even when they don't magically appear 1k behind you (warping in) they still are very fast moving planes with very small cross-sections and easy to miss.

In these cases (which happened frequently) it doesn't matter if enemy icons are set to 6k. The game's programming limitations don't allow them to show up.

In small engagements, I've thought it would be better to have full icons, but when you really need it it wouldn't show up anyways.
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Motherland on February 25, 2009, 05:07:04 PM
On the subject of icons;
I don't seem to remember the setting in FSO, but is it possible (or has it been considered) to turn the 'full icon' off, so instead of having the icon tell you what specific aircraft it is inside of 800 yards you have to visually identify the variant? Ex., you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an La5FN and an La7 unless you knew the visual differences between the two types?
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: fudgums on February 25, 2009, 05:55:00 PM
I read where 85% of ALL WWII kills was when the pilot was not aware of the plane behind him. Don't count me true on this though.

I like the short Icons but I wish we had none as well though.

Quick Icon story back in Bob08 frame 2 I think.

There was no enemy fighters over england. So I cruised more inland to find some action in my 109E. I find a hurricane just climbing, about 5k below me. As I get closer. I start getting more Icons. I guess a squad but not sure. As I get closer to my hurri. I see a nice cloud formation that he is on the other side of. I think, since he can see my icon not as well. Coming through the clouds. Thats what I decide to do. Knowing that I would loose alt to the 4 other cons(spits). I really wish whiskers was here to confirm but I do have film of it. I said "Get the rescue team ready". I dive through the clouds. Dove under the hurri came up 200 out, scratch one. I race back to the clouds hoping the spits do see me. I didnt think so, but as I dove out to go home. Found a spit chasing. Beat the spit 1v1 for a good 5 minute fight. As I raced home due to low fuel. 25+ RAF fighters come diving down. Soon Jg26(my squad) and I think Shegotyas and maybe JG11 was in a furball on the deck. I obviously didnt live through that. So I bail and make a 30 minute walk to the closest rescue team.  :lol
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Anaxogoras on February 25, 2009, 06:23:18 PM
I do not have a high performance system and I enjoy the short icon ranges.  In fact, I would prefer it for the main arenas, too.

On the subject of icons;
I don't seem to remember the setting in FSO, but is it possible (or has it been considered) to turn the 'full icon' off, so instead of having the icon tell you what specific aircraft it is inside of 800 yards you have to visually identify the variant? Ex., you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an La5FN and an La7 unless you knew the visual differences between the two types?

I think it's already like that, Bubi.
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Motherland on February 25, 2009, 06:28:19 PM
I think it's already like that, Bubi.
I wasn't sure. It may be that in FSO's I already know what types they are, and I don't pay attention.
Actually, come to think of my last engagement, I think you're right.


Disregard :)
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: Anaxogoras on February 25, 2009, 06:30:54 PM
It doesn't matter too much in this FSO because either LA can run every Japanese plane down.
Title: Re: Icon Range Whine
Post by: daddog on February 25, 2009, 09:13:33 PM
Quote
I don't seem to remember the setting in FSO, but is it possible (or has it been considered) to turn the 'full icon' off, so instead of having the icon tell you what specific aircraft it is inside of 800 yards you have to visually identify the variant? Ex., you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an La5FN and an La7 unless you knew the visual differences between the two types?
CM's in all events have two settings to choose from concerning icons. Long (MA settings) or short (Snapshot and FSO normal settings).