Procedural 3D Craters

[Northstar98]

Hi Guys,

 

Here is something that I feel DCS really needs - dynamic, procedural 3D craters.

 

This more for things such as runway strike missions. At the moment craters in DCS aren't really a thing - they are only textures which end up on top of the surface - this can sometimes lead to very glitchy craters as I am sure users of the MiG-21Bis with it's nuclear bombs have found. Instead it would be great (at least for the munitions with larger warheads) is that when a bomb for example hits the ground it creates a 3D dynamic crater within the terrain.

 

This is exactly what we see in Outerra and its a feature that would be excellent to see on DCS (See

) - this is perfect for missions involving striking a runway and putting it out of action until at least an airfield repair is conducted.

 

Now obviously having procedural terrain of any kind means serious implications for the engine of DCS - but IMHO it would increase the immersion dramatically - especially for CA users. But I guess fractal processing would be required to prevent craters from causing severe FPS drops if people start dropping lots and lots of bombs (though fractal processing would also bring possibilities of greatly graphics at the ground level - but again - serious implications for the engine).

 

Cheers,

 

Ollie

Edited December 16, 2015 by Northstar98

[Aginor]

I somewhat disagree.

Not that the idea is bad, I like it, but I think generic craters would be as fine for DCSW, and much less work.

Although I am not sure if such a mesh deformation is even possible in the engine right now.

[Weta43]

Functionally, does it need to damage the mesh, or leave an actual crater, as long as you can see a crater, and the bomb/missile leaves wreckage when it lands that has a collision model to damage landing gear ?

If ít rips your gear off, does it matter if the lip that does the damage is at the front of the crater or the back ?

[Aginor]

I think the main point for mesh deformation is that it would look cool. From a simulation perspective it doesn't matter as long as it fulfills its purpose.

[Northstar98]

Functionally, does it need to damage the mesh, or leave an actual crater, as long as you can see a crater, and the bomb/missile leaves wreckage when it lands that has a collision model to damage landing gear ?

If ít rips your gear off, does it matter if the lip that does the damage is at the front of the crater or the back ?

 

I was also thinking with CA in mind - a crater could make driving more interesting... :D

[Northstar98]

I somewhat disagree.

Not that the idea is bad, I like it, but I think generic craters would be as fine for DCSW, and much less work.

Although I am not sure if such a mesh deformation is even possible in the engine right now.

 

Fair enough from a purely aviation standpoint - and no I don't think deformation is possible (well a tonne of things aren't possible from any thing map related - so I doubt this is)

[Aginor]

Yeah, driving vehicles like in Spintires would be awesome.

But at the moment that's just not feasible I guess.

[Northstar98]

Yeah, driving vehicles like in Spintires would be awesome.

But at the moment that's just not feasible I guess.

 

True - I guess that's what the wishlist is for :D

 

But also I guess I'm too much of an Outerra + DCS World dreamer

 

(And yes CA physics like in Spitires would be great, looking at videos)

Edited December 19, 2015 by Northstar98