So THAT's why lancs hit so hard? Lanc Guns Bug

[Krusty]

Was following a set of lancs and noticed something only because I was trying a low attack, film rolling, bobbing up and down. I thought it was easier than it should have been, but turns out pilot was wounded (that might explain it!).

The nose turret was firing backwards, upwards, rearwards, through the plane, slaved to the other guns.

It had no "stops" or, at least, they were very liberal ones. It shot backwards greater than 45-degress downwards, and on another attacker upwards at 45-degrees as well.

I think I might have seen some errant tracers from the nose before but this is the first time I've definitively got it on film.


http://www.nakatomitower.com/lanc_buggy_guns.zip
0.96MB zipped. Unedited (didn't know if that would screw with anything if I clipped or cropped it).

I did a quick and dirty (read: low res) capture via fraps from the film viewer to show it better:

[Chalenge]

Your approach to attacking them should result in you getting hit more often but as to the tracers it could just be an animation thing and not actually hit you.

[Krusty]

My approach was due to my position relative to the bombers, lack of time to get another position, etc.

That's beside the point though. On-topic, it COULD be a graphics bug, but I would think the tracers would not be drawn unless the bullet were fired.

Pseudo code being something like:
1) create bullet
2) give bullet path
3) fire bullet
4) show bullet

Unless it's a bug with the TAIL position, and those tracers are associated with the TAIL gun (and it's just firing too many bullets? from other guns?) From past experience it doesn't seem to take away from the ammo count in the nose turret when firing the tail gun or dorsal.

[Jayhawk]

This came up briefly in a thread a few months ago.  Here was one response:

Not sure if it's a bug or intended but when the gunner on a buff fires it appears as if ALL the guns are firing. So while yes it may appear that the nose guns might be shooting through the fuselage, trust me, they're not. Only the guns that can be brought to bear on you will be actually shooting bullets at you, the rest are just phantom tracers.

If you want to see this for yourself just have a gunner jump on board and watch him move the guns around and fire. You'll see them all move and fire at once.

[smoe]

I was wondering why after firing a 1-2 second burst into a bombers rear section why I still get slamed while on its dead six.

[Jayhawk]

I was wondering why after firing a 1-2 second burst into a bombers rear section why I still get slamed while on its dead six.

It might be a graphical glitch but I don't think a gun glitch.  You got slammed because you were sitting on his dead six for at least 1-2 seconds.

[Dichotomy]

Unless they're climbing out or RTB and AFK then it's just funny 

[oneway]

If the OP is right...he should be able to test this simply by launching a solo Lancaster and flying at low altitude...

Then empty all of the guns except the tail and chin...

Flying at low altitude, then fire the tail guns at the ground or water...

If the hit sprites show two distinct patterns and sources of fire he is right...

If not...its a graphical glitch

Oneway

[JunkyII]

If the OP is right...he should be able to test this simply by launching a solo Lancaster and flying at low altitude...

Then empty all of the guns except the tail and chin...

Flying at low altitude, then fire the tail guns at the ground or water...

If the hit sprites show two distinct patterns and sources of fire he is right...

If not...its a graphical glitch

Oneway

maybe check ammo spent from the nose gun as well

[oneway]

nevermind

Oneway

[OOZ662]

but I would think the tracers would not be drawn unless the bullet were fired.

Not necessarily the case. There is a current bug involving the Wirblewind and possibly the Ostwind. If your turret is destroyed, you can depress the trigger and fire phantom tracers. You cannot see it yourself, but everyone around you will see tracers spewing from the turret as if it were firing. I've used it many a time to chase off enemy aircraft as I wait for supplies; cut the engine and they think your engine is out instead.

[hitech]

You will always see all guns fire on the bombers when they are shooting at you. It is simply because the checks to see what to fire and what not to fire is to expensive when many bombers are around. The shooter only sees and only shoots the guns capable of shooting and it is his bullets that count.

HiTech

[Krusty]

Ahh... good point about the gunner's front end... I forgot that's the part that really matters.