Improved Spotting

[HornedGod]

Also, the server now enforces a setting (so it'll use the server setting if it is lower than your selection). ACG looks to be using small. With 1.5.2 only the large setting is anywhere usable, so I hope they switch it to use that.

[SharpeXB]

Also, the server now enforces a setting (so it'll use the server setting if it is lower than your selection). ACG looks to be using small. With 1.5.2 only the large setting is anywhere usable, so I hope they switch it to use that.

It seems inevitable that if there are player adjustable settings, like small medium large, then this thing will end up being a server setting.

 

Is this option still "Enlarged Models" under Gameplay or back to being "Model Visibility" under graphics?

[gavagai]

Also, the server now enforces a setting (so it'll use the server setting if it is lower than your selection).

 

So that changed in 1.5.2? Too bad.:(

Edited December 14, 2015 by gavagai

[eekz]

With 1.5.2 only the large setting is anywhere usable.

 

All variant are currently broken.

small - has no noticeable effect

medium - disappear at certain distance and probably being rendered to far

big - disappear at certain distance, too big at most distances and and definitely rendered too far ~50km

 

To me it's good that server enforces the option, but the option is currently broken itselft.

 

We disabled improved spotting at Burning Skies till the moment it will be working correctly.

 

PS: the more people on the server, the less spotting factor matters ;)

Edited December 22, 2015 by eekz

[IronJockel]

I really hope they don't let us go through the holidays with bugged spotting and one dora 20 mm missing :(

[airdoc]

After the last update in 2.0 i think that the visibility options are working again, but there are still issues. LOD transitions are abrupt and unrealistic.

I think that the ideal solution would be a continuous scaling of the icon throughout the distance. Different LODs would only change the details and not the apparent size. Perhaps an introduction of a darker color for medium-far distances would add to spotting and help reduce the needed upscaling. Single engine props should not be visible at distances >10km, as they are right now.

 

This feature still needs a lot of work.

Edited December 22, 2015 by airdoc

[gavagai]

This feature still needs a lot of work.

 

Yes, I haven't been flying DCS because of it.:(

[CoBlue]

v1.5.2. Keep the Large option for those who want them (like me) & adjust the rest accordingly.

[dooom]

we are using medium on DoW at the moment.

[CoBlue]

we are using medium on DoW at the moment.

You need to crank it up to Large.

I flew at DoW today & I spent 97% of the time searching for the 6-7 enemy's that were on-line.

After a while I just got fed up & left as I want to dogfight, not flying reconnaissance flights ;)

[fastfreddie]

You need to crank it up to Large.

I flew at DoW today & I spent 97% of the time searching for the 6-7 enemy's that were on-line.

After a while I just got fed up & left as I want to dogfight, not flying reconnaissance flights ;)

 

Keep working on your spotting skills ... most servers are going to run realistic settings not ones that allow you to spot or view dogfights from 15-20km out.

[CoBlue]

Keep working on your spotting skills ... most servers are going to run realistic settings not ones that allow you to spot or view dogfights from 15-20km out.

Yes I would agree for the BVR servers.

 

But for WWII servers, that are entirely dependent on spotting it doesn't really matter if you can spot from long distance, since the goal is WVR. It makes things easier for the opponents to merge & dogfight.

 

The spotting has always been bad in DCS for WWII & that's why you have allot of more online players in BoS & BoB.

Well if a server don't want to use it it's up to them, it's their loss IMHO.

 

The WWII & Mig-15/F-86 servers were full of life when the new "Improved Spotting" came, then when it disappeared they all went dead!

[NineLine]

I always understood large was more geared towards VR headset users.

[gavagai]

The spotting has always been bad in DCS for WWII & that's why you have allot of more online players in BoS & BoB.

Well if a server don't want to use it it's up to them, it's their loss IMHO.

 

Yes, and it's not just spotting that's been bad. It's aircraft that you already see disappearing in front of your face. Maybe that sounds nit-picky, but we need to keep that fact front and center in the conversation.

 

The decision to allow hosts to limit the object magnification in DCS multiplayer was a misstep. Falcon4 has smart-scaling set client-side for 16 years now and it is fine. DCS multiplayer needs help to grow, not to be made more exclusive.

[Wolf Rider]

rinse and repeat - an age old age old...

 

 

@ gavagai...

 

you ( collectively ) were given an original and elegant solution (you were also given the reasons why) and server setting was an ineveitable inclusion to keep MP fair, it wasn't a "misstep" it was a necessity.

 

Have you thought that if you want to play a certain way, perhaps get together and set up your own MP? - just a thought

Edited December 27, 2015 by Wolf Rider

[gavagai]

Have you thought that if you want to play a certain way, perhaps get together and set up your own MP? - just a thought

 

One step ahead of you. I often host when I fly WW2 birds in DCS. Sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes there is very enjoyable multiplayer combat.

 

you ( collectively ) were given an original and elegant solution (you were also given the reasons why) and server setting was an ineveitable inclusion to keep MP fair, it wasn't a "misstep" it was a necessity.

 

"Original" and "elegant" sounds like apple-polishing to me. As for the rest, we can agree that I am remain unconvinced. TTFN.

Edited December 27, 2015 by gavagai

[CoBlue]

Yes, and it's not just spotting that's been bad. It's aircraft that you already see disappearing in front of your face.

Agreed "disappearing in front of you" is a problem too.

[eekz]

or view dogfights from 15-20km out.

 

Large are visible at 100km. Tested it :)

 

PS: I'd prefer to keep it realistic. Not medium, nor large are realistic.

We use small at BS, and to be honest if you zoom frequently it's quite likely to spot a WWII plane in 10km radius. Maybe contacts lack a bit contrast, but I believe ED is working on that.

[Random]

How do you set and enforce the improved spotting? Is it just the setting set on the host? Or is there an option in the mission editor like for the F10 map and external views?

[Celestiale]

Large are visible at 100km. Tested it :)

 

PS: I'd prefer to keep it realistic. Not medium, nor large are realistic.

We use small at BS, and to be honest if you zoom frequently it's quite likely to spot a WWII plane in 10km radius. Maybe contacts lack a bit contrast, but I believe ED is working on that.

10km is not enough. When you know where a plane is, and it's flying above you altitudewise, you should be able to spot them up to 20km away(if you find them of course)..contrails should be seen way further away..till around 40km at least. A limit of 10km is not realistic. At 10-15km i can spot every single engine of an airliner

[gavagai]

PS: I'd prefer to keep it realistic. Not medium, nor large are realistic.

 

There is no one setting that is realistic. There are hundreds of different hardware/display combinations out there.

 

This is as easy to recognize as the fact that no one field of view setting will render objects life-size on the display. That even depends on how far away someone sits in his chair.:book:

[SharpeXB]

The problem with this Enlarged Model setting is that it's user-adjustable. That's necessary to accommodate the wide range of hardware and preferences but at the same time this adjustability guarantees that Enlarged Models will be a server restriction. It has to be. There's no other way to handle a setting which allows users to decide how large objects appear to them. That's the very definition of what should be enforced online.

The trouble with that is there aren't enough servers to give everyone their choice.

 

The best solution for this enlargement or enhancement would be for ED to arrive at a realistic level, one that doesn't compromise authenticity, look odd or anything but still gives a little help with spotting. Bake that setting into the game itself and take away the user adjusted Large Small etc settings. That way there won't be any problem dividing up servers.

[OnlyforDCS]

There is no one setting that is realistic. There are hundreds of different hardware/display combinations out there.

 

This is as easy to recognize as the fact that no one field of view setting will render objects life-size on the display. That even depends on how far away someone sits in his chair.:book:

 

I feel your pain and frustration. The decision to make the visibility settings server based was the wrong one.

[NineLine]

I feel your pain and frustration. The decision to make the visibility settings server based was the wrong one.

 

Optional options cant be wrong, only the way people use them, more options is almost always better.

[HeadHunter52]

Optional options cant be wrong, only the way people use them, more options is almost always better.

 

Yup. Options can be winnowed down, but never added. On some servers with regular pilots, the settings are determined by consensus. These things can be changed with healthy discussion among the fliers. Just a matter of speaking up!