Simple Beacon IFF

[Reticuli]

Not sure if anyone's tried this, but it works well if you're sick of asking your wingman if it's o.k. to kill targets. There are apostrophies between some of the quotations, by the way. Yes, they're kind of hard to see below. I think of it like Gulf War-era IR beacons.

 

-- Label parameters

-- Copyright © 2004, Eagle Dynamics.

AirOn = true

GroundOn = true

NavyOn = true

WeaponOn = false

-- Label max distance depends on graphics visibility range option value

-- For low E40000.0 m

-- For medium E50000.0 m

-- For high E80000.0 m

---------------------------------

-- Label text format symbols

-- %N - name of object

-- %D - distance to object

-- %P - pilot name

-- %n - new line

-- %% - symbol '%'

-- %x, where x is not NDPn% - symbol 'x'

------------------------------------------

-- Example

-- labelFormat[5000] = "Name: %N%nDistance: %D%n Pilot: %P"

-- up to 5km label is:

-- Name: Su-33

-- Distance: 30km

-- Pilot: Pilot1

AirFormat = {}

AirFormat[10] = "'"

AirFormat[5000] = "'"

AirFormat[7000] = "'"

AirFormat[20000] = ""

AirFormat[30000] = ""

GroundFormat = {}

GroundFormat[5000] = "'"

GroundFormat[7000] = "'"

GroundFormat[20000] = ""

NavyFormat = {}

NavyFormat[7000] = "'"

NavyFormat[20000] = ""

NavyFormat[40000] = ""

WeaponFormat = {}

WeaponFormat[5000] = ""

WeaponFormat[10000] = ""

WeaponFormat[20000] = ""

-- Colors in {red, green, blue} format, volume from 0 up to 255

ColorAliesSide = {70, 225, 70}

ColorEnemiesSide = { 100, 125, 125}

[miguez]

Hey Reticuli,

 

Sorry for my ignorance, what does the above script change/do?

 

Thanks,

[S77th-RYKE]

Hey Reticuli,

 

Sorry for my ignorance, what does the above script change/do?

 

Thanks,

 

it uses labels as a IFF beacon

 

makes all ennemies wear this label " ' " next to them

 

or so I think

 

:joystick:

[Reticuli]

Gives allies this little hud-green beacon mark. Enemies have a very faint, hard to see terrain/sky-colored mark. I haven't figured out how to get rid of labels just for enemies. I actually don't want any markers on the enemy, but that's the closest I could get. If I make the enemy label too dark, it really shows up. If it's light like this, though, it shows through the HMS frame and the cockpit.

[X-Raptor]

Reticuli, thank for your work but can you describe better what your script do: I still haven't understand about it ? please can give us any further and large explanation step-by step? and where you put this script? thank you

[Weta43]

It's not a script as such - it's an edit for the labels.lua

[McVittees]

I personally don't like any kind of labels - real immersion killer for me. Being able to create SA is half the game. However, if I really want to check the ID of a target I just look at the F10 map (enemies set to hidden - of course ;)). From it you can easily deduce if you about to conduct some red on red combat.

[Weta43]

I tend not to use them because they're ugly :-)

When I use them I have edited the labels to reduce the information they give (both sides same colour, much shorter distances to display, only a . or ' as a marker)

The reality is though - the ability to find things by eye on a monitor is so much lower than it is in real life that as far as actually spotting targets is concerned, correctly configured labels (without IFF :-) is probably MORE realistic rather than less...

[Reticuli]

Yeah, it just replaces the labels.lua. I usually run it without any labels, but when I want to know where all my units are this works well. Is there a way to turn off enemy labels only? It's especially informative at night, where you have no clue how many good guys are driving around under you. Almost a waste not knowing what's going on.

[McVittees]

The reality is though - the ability to find things by eye on a monitor is so much lower than it is in real life that as far as actually spotting targets is concerned, correctly configured labels (without IFF :-) is probably MORE realistic rather than less...

 

While that is true, it also true that in real life there are far more hinderences to spotting things than those simulated in BS: many more and complex structures, far more complex terrain, far more foilage, deliberate camoflage and varied atmospheric conditions to name a few. Also, the the AI doesn't know how to hide or take cover - this alone would multiply the difficulty of finding and destroying targets considerably. I'm certain, all weighed up, it is far easier to find and prosecute targets in the game than it is in real life, regardless of resolution.

 

I believe that the solution ED (and most other sims) use of increasing the contrast of vehicles at long ranges, is the most workable solution to spotting at distance.

[Reticuli]

What about muzzle flashes?

 

ColorAliesSide = {70, 225, 70}

ColorEnemiesSide = { 50, 100, 100}

 

This works better, as the enemy blip is harder to see. If anyone finds out a way to make the enemy labels completely invisible, let me know.

[Frederf]

How about IFF on friendly forces and no IFF beacons on enemy forces.

[Reticuli]

That's what I'm trying to do. A Hud-colored green blip on all the friendly units within 7km and none on the enemy. Right now, the best I can do is terrain-colored blips on the enemy. So if anyone knows a way to turn off just the enemy labels, let me know.

 

Still, I would think muzzle flashes should be a good way of finding any target that's facing your direction and a threat...and armed with any firearms.