[REPORTED] aircraft visibilty-LOD system

[winz]

Realy good find, some entries do really look weird, like the AH-64A

model = {
lods = {
	{"ah-64a.edm",50.000000},
	{"ah-64a_lod1.edm",100.000000},
	{"ah-64a_lod2.edm",200.000000},
	{"ah-64a_lod3.edm",300.000000},
	{"ah-64a_lod4.edm",400.000000},
	{"ah-64a_lod5.edm",5000.000000},
	{"ld_tec.edm",10000.000000},
},
collision_shell = "ah-64a-collision.edm",
}

A box after 5km...and no model at all after 10km

Edited October 1, 2014 by winz

[Eldur]

This box model seems to be very common... I heavily suspect it's the one that has been introduced back then in Flaming Cliffs 1 to counter fps issues with lots of ground units. They just took it for many other things, too.

 

Search "ld_tec.edm" (116 hits in 116 files)
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\1c91.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\1l13.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\2-c19.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\2-c3.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\2-c9.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\2b11.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\2c1.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\2c6m.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\2p25.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\40b6m.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\54k6.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\55g6.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\5p73_launch.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\5p85c.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\5p85d.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\64h6e.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\9a310m1.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\9a33.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\9a331.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\9a35.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\9p31.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\9s18m1.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\9s470m1.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\9t217.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\a50.lods (1 hits)
   Line 7:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\agm-84.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\agm-84e.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\agm-84s.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\agm-86.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\agm-88.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ah-1w.lods (1 hits)
   Line 8:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ah-64a.lods (1 hits)
   Line 9:         {"ld_tec.edm",10000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ah-64d.lods (1 hits)
   Line 9:         {"ld_tec.edm",10000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\albatros.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\atz-60.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\b-1b.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\bazalt.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\bm-21-40.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\bmd-1.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\bmp-1.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\bmp-2.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\bmp-3.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\brdm-2.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\btr-80.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\btr-d.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ch-47d.lods (1 hits)
   Line 9:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\gaz-66.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\gaz-66_searchlight.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\gepard.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\granit.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\hemtt.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\hmmwv_m1025.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\hmmwv_m1043.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\hmmwv_m1045.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\il-76md.lods (1 hits)
   Line 7:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\il-78m.lods (1 hits)
   Line 8:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ka-50.lods (1 hits)
   Line 8:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\kamaz-fire.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\kamaz-tent.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\kilo.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\lav-25.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\leopard-1a3.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\leopard-2.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\lvtp-7.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m-1.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m-109.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m-113.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m-2.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m-60.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m-818.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m1126.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m1128.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m1134.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m48.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\m6.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\marder.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\maz-6303.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:                 {"LD_Tec.edm", 1000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\mcv-80.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\MI-24W.lods (1 hits)
   Line 8:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\mi-28.lods (1 hits)
   Line 9:         {"ld_tec.edm",10000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\mlrs.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\molniya.lods (1 hits)
   Line 7:         {"ld_tec.edm",30000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\moscow.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\mt-lb.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",1000000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\mtlb.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",20000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\oh-58d.lods (1 hits)
   Line 8:         {"ld_tec.edm",50000.000000},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\P-51D.lods (1 hits)
   Line 9:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\rezky.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\sh-60b.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\smerch.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"LD_Tec.edm",50000.000000};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\snr-125.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\som.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\t-55.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\t-72.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\t-80ud.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\Uragan_9k57.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural-apa.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural_4320-31.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural_4320_b.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural_4320_k.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural_4320_t.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural_acp6.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural_atmz-5.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural_atz-10.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\ural_zu-23.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\vaz.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\vulcan.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\Zil_135l.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\zil_apa-80.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\zil_kung.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\zil_p19_kung.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\zil_p19_radar.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\zil_skp-11.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\zsu-23-4.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0},
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\zu-23.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};
 E:\DCS World\Bazar\World\Shapes\zu-23_s.lods (1 hits)
   Line 4:         {"ld_tec.edm",20000.0};

[arglmauf]

I hope this gets looked at. Guess Eldur is right on the box being originally a ground unit lod due too the missing underside. A box (or a composite of two or three boxes that span wings and fuselage) with proper size for the planes and matching coloring would be nice.

[fastfreddie]

So am I reading this correctly that the P51 doesn't show up until 4000m while the FW190 shows up at 6000m? Doesn't seem correct either considering they are about the same size and shape.

 

Sounds like using maybe others with different systems should try using the P-51D_lod5.edm version instead of the green box just to see how bad they suffer in performance and what differences they notice in being able to observe planes from distance.

Edited October 1, 2014 by fastfreddie

[NineLine]

So am I reading this correctly that the P51 doesn't show up until 4000m while the FW190 shows up at 6000m? Doesn't seem correct either considering they are about the same size and shape.

 

No, the "box" shows up at 4000m for the P-51 and the at 6000m for the 190... that is it switches to the "box" lod at that point. Its possible it makes the 190 harder to see between 4000-6000m compared to the Mustang...

[fastfreddie]

No, the "box" shows up at 4000m for the P-51 and the at 6000m for the 190... that is it switches to the "box" lod at that point. Its possible it makes the 190 harder to see between 4000-6000m compared to the Mustang...

 

I think Davidred is saying that Lod5 is easier to spot than the green box especially at certain angles (above and below). The green box blends in quite well with terrain from above and the green box disappears from below.

 

P-51 Lod5 is visible from 500m-4000m then it goes to green box.

FW190 Lod5 is visible form 500m-6000m then it goes green box.

 

So the FW190 should be easier to spot from further away depending on the angle and skin colors. Just pointing out that there shouldn't be any difference in the Lod5 between the two given their shape and size.

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

^^yes and no :)

both sith and you are right.

 

the box starts at 4k for the p51 and at 6k for the 190.

i dont see any reason why to have that difference.(as you pointed out, they are the ~same size/shape)

 

but that box, is actually, when viewed from certain angles, infact a big dark dot.very obvious at times.and in certain situations definitely easier to spot than the lod models.

 

but then there is the fact that its green and sometimes just blends in perfecetly with the terrain behind/underneath.

and as i also showed, becomes partially, or even totally transparent at certain angles.this also means, that when viewed from an angle, where the box should still be visible partially,but the distance is great enough, so that the actual visual part of the box becomes tinier than a pixel, and therefore doesnt get rendered at all, although it should be, as without that "invisible bug" it would still be more than one pixel.

 

so yes and no, the box, when lucky and not transparent+not blending in perfectly with the terrain, can be easier to spot than the lod model, but the lod model even if not as obvious as the box in certain situations, will be visible no matter what.(it can be very hard, and you may have to have good eyes to spot it, but at least its possible, and i prefer that any time than searching for an invisible box)

 

@cminer or all others interested...its even for my rig no problem at all, to just use the farthest lod model for each plane instead of the box performance wise.note, this will not make spotting all of a sudden way easier, but it gives you at least the chance to spot something in certain situations, whereas the box makes this impossible.

a big improvement with using this instead of the box is though, that you can identify planes way farther out.(keep in mind though, that your settings play a big part in this as well, and whether using or not using MSAA makes a huge difference).also its just a different style of spotting planes without the box.i noticed i became aware of planes because i saw the red spinner of a p51 flying above a forest for example, or that i saw one pixel of the white stripe of the wings, and only then noticed the other few pixels representing the plane.

 

BUT: i definitely hope for a quick and solid fix from ED, as this is a really important thing in my view, especially for wwii, although it affects probably all flyables.a solid fix which will make it redundant for everybody to mod their files.

Edited October 2, 2014 by 9./JG27 DavidRed

[fastfreddie]

Just built a new rig so I can pretty much max out everything but can these settings be realized on the server side online? What difference does MSAA make as far as viewing planes? Having a chance to spot the planes even if its different (sounds at least realistic) is much better than none at all. Different skins might actually have a real role other than aesthetic reasons depending on the maps weather conditions and terrain. Having a whitewashed FW190 against a summer forest background would make it easy pickings instead of the green box.

 

Hope they check into this but maybe this all changes anyway with EDGE. Just hope they add more reflective surfaces in the next engine. On my last flight I was amazed at the mirror effects of small ponds/lakes in clear skies at 11km and it was even possible to pick up semi trucks on the highway with the windshield glare.

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

well, in regards of online playing, yes to my knowledge theoretically the server could use these adjusted lod files and run an integrity check.but that would mean, that people who are not aware of this, and fly with the stock files, cant join.and thats certainly not in anyone's interest.

on servers which dont run an integrity check, all kind of funky things can happen, and people can join even when having the most ridiculous mods running.

so, i guess, the servers who run an integrity check will leave it as it is, and just wait for ED to fix this.(meaning you will not be able to fly with such a mod on those servers)

i would recommend, if you wish to mod your files for now, to use this offline only and wait for ED to release a global fix.

 

well, in regards of settings, there are lots of opinions, and i know that here on this forum im in the minority when i say that i can spot planes way better and way farther out with making sure MSAA is disabled, than having it enabled.the downside of this is of course, that it doesnt look as smooth anymore.but personally i got used to this pretty quickly, and dont notice it anymore in a way that i find it annoying.

i guess you will have to try yourself and then base your choice on this.certainly better than to read the forums and trust the "other" guy.what works for him might not work for you.so test, test and test.

Edited October 2, 2014 by 9./JG27 DavidRed

[Weltensegler]

thank you for this thread! great find.

Edited October 2, 2014 by Weltensegler

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

^^@ Weltensegler, just tried it, and the box becomes totally invisible once inside.

[Weltensegler]

:) yeah I deleted that part of my suggestion since I, just coming from work fixing similar things but now being intoxicated, kinda missed for a moment that one would rather replace the box and override the other model file. :-p

 

but ok now we know it actually a missing polygon :D

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

well, are you able to do that?

[Weltensegler]

Well I haven't worked a lot with EDM tools.

But as you mentioned are tons of talented people in this community that do the same process every day with the EDM tool.

All the modders in the modeling section of this forum have other than me the routine of exporting a box from max into EDM tools and export it the right way to DCS or skip EDM completely. Should be easy as pie for anyone that has ever brought a model from max to DCS.

[Toxic]

Awesome work David!

[otavio]

Any word from ED on this?

[Pikey]

Great find David! Great thread, technical and worthwhile.

[winz]

I've made a little app that goes through all .lods files in a directory + all its subdirectiories and replaces the ld_tec.edm with the previously used lod (i.e. for p-51D "P-51D_lod5.edm" is used instead of the big green box).

It also extends the last lod visibility, if it is lower then the distance specified. I haven't done much testing, so I cannot tell if doesn't screw some models, or how much of a performance hit it will be.

But, I can upload it here, if anyone is interested. OFC, it's for SP only, as you'll fail integrity check on any server that checks the lods.

Edited October 2, 2014 by winz

[ViFF]

The current state of air unit visibility (or lack thereof) needs to be addressed smartly. This should be looked at for all the air units, human flyable and AI, not just the P-51.

 

I really hope ED does an overhaul on this whole concept of using the "ld_tec.edm", at what range the unit becomes a simple 3d box, and make the specific adjustment for each aircraft size. For example the representing "ld_tec.edm" of a B-52 bomber should be larger and visible much further away then lets say that same of the MiG-21.

 

FWIW I like the idea that RonyS suggested:

 

Can we make a few boxes for different distances?.

 

This will allow creating a "less linear" sizing of a single pixel (dot). If we could add a few ld_tec.edm for 4000-8000,8000-16000, and 16000 to 20000, and increase their size accordingly, we could allow better visibility.

 

Cheers.

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

well, as quick fix to have a complete box in different colour would already be a big improvement...

but i think the real answer is to have no box at all...flying a little longer with both the lods adjusted for the p51 and the fw190, where i just made sure to use the least detailed lod model instead of the "box" convinces me more and more, that the real solution is to just create more lod models for the planes.

 

i am amazed at what distances and in what situations i am able to spot but more importantly identify the planes without having this box.(note: without using the zoom function which i strictly avoid, i fly with a constant 90°FOV)

 

only thing is, that its a waste of recources. with 30planes in the air, its still very playable for me, but i think i notice a small performance hit in certain situations.

i think whats really needed, is to add more, less detailed lod models to every plane.the p51 and the fw190 each have 5currently.whats really surprising though is, that for example the F86 doesnt seem to have any!

i dont know how much work it is to create such lod models though.but i guess one would use the aircraft model itself, and just take away more and more details?at least thats how the lod models look like.

[ZaltysZ]

i guess one would use the aircraft model itself, and just take away more and more details?at least thats how the lod models look like.

 

Almost. Sometimes simple automated reduction is enough, but sometimes such reduction creates a "mutant", which has to be corrected manually without adding too much details (increasing poly count) - it takes time.

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

thx for explaining!

[damar]

Great finding. It should be easy to fix. Wish ED can solve it asap!

[derammo]

Actually it is not a box. It is a T-80 tank, reduced down to a level of detail of 5 polygons. :) You can tell from the texture map it references. That also explains why there is no bottom, since it was made to be a ground unit.

 

So yeah, at the very least it should use a "generic airplane" at distances over a few Km and maybe increase the size of that generic airplane at very large distances to make it easier to spot.

[snowsniper]

any news about that thread ?

 

Spooting aircraft is essential for Wwii fighter.

 

Will "the lod box" be in Edge a corrected Issue ?