Questions re. use/implications of dynamic weather in ME

[Bahger]

Hey gents, I'm almost finished with a detailed night mission in which both the terrain (the Caucasus mountains) and the presence of SAM threats will keep the player above an 18,000' floor. All briefed targets can be hit with LGBs, Mavericks and CBU-105s from altitude.

 

I was wondering if it might be worth putting in either rain/clouds, or dynamic weather to spice things up even more (the mission is quite task-intensive for the pilot). However, I have to make sure I do not make any of the mission assignments unattainable due to weather/low visibility. I was wondering if any of you can comment on the following assumptions, which may not be correct, in which case I shall refrain from adding weather:

 

- Whereas the TGP in FLIR can see through clouds, the laser for LGBs cannot. Therefore if I want the player to hit a target through cloud cover with an LGB, I will need to have the AI JTAC (who currently provides LSS guidance but not terminal laser guidance) to lase the target for the bomb.

 

- If the above is true, as long as the bomb code and the JTAC laser code (which is unchangeable AFAIK) are the same, won't the bomb guide on the JTAC's lase anyway, as long as LSS remains on until impact? Or would this not work because the LSS Search/Detect guidance for target location from the JTAC would not be recieved in the A-10 through the clouds?

 

- I see no reason why CBU-105 target i/d, designation and deployment through the TGP should be hampered by low visibility.

 

- Ditto I/R Mavericks.

 

- How much will weather effects, at any level, hamper players running the sim on medium or low-end PCs?

 

I do not want to create a solid layer of cloud between the player and the terrain, that would make the mission far too abstract and procedural. However, I'm thinking of either "Dynamic Weather" or rain plus clouds at a density of, say, 5 -8. Rather than spend many more hours I cannot afford to playtest different weather combos/consequences, can anyone save me a little time by commenting? Thanks!

Edited April 11, 2011 by Bahger

[GGTharos]

Hey gents, I'm almost finished with a detailed night mission in which both the terrain (the Caucasus mountains) and the presence of SAM threats will keep the player above an 18,000' floor. All briefed targets can be hit with LGBs, Mavericks and CBU-105s from altitude.

 

I suggest previewing/pre-flying the mission yourself so you can write 'weather at target location' into the brief, or at least send it as a message if you use dynamic weather.

 

I was wondering if it might be worth putting in either rain/clouds, or dynamic weather to spice things up even more (the mission is quite task-intensive for the pilot). However, I have to make sure I do not make any of the mission assignments unattainable due to weather/low visibility. I was wondering if any of you can comment on the following assumptions, which may not be correct, in which case I shall refrain from adding weather:

 

- Whereas the TGP in FLIR can see through clouds, the laser for LGBs cannot. Therefore if I want the player to hit a target through cloud cover with an LGB, I will need to have the AI JTAC (who currently provides LSS guidance but not terminal laser guidance) to lase the target for the bomb.

 

Yes, OR give him JDAMs. GBU's are more useful for moving targets, so use those if you are anticipating them, but if you are expecting to be dropping on coordinates through cloud cover, JDAMs are your babies. Unless you have a reason for something different, and any reason is good :)

 

- If the above is true, as long as the bomb code and the JTAC laser code (which is unchangeable AFAIK) are the same, won't the bomb guide on the JTAC's lase anyway, as long as LSS remains on until impact? Or would this not work because the LSS Search/Detect guidance for target location from the JTAC would not be recieved in the A-10 through the clouds?

 

It should NOT work, but if you have breaks in the clouds it may receive at least momentarily. If it DOES work, then it's just not implemented how it should be due to engine issues at this point.

 

- I see no reason why CBU-105 target i/d, designation and deployment through the TGP should be hampered by low visibility.

 

- Ditto I/R Mavericks.

 

- How much will weather effects, at any level, hamper players running the sim on medium or low-end PCs?

 

Correct.

 

Don't know how to answer the last. Clouds do reduce FPS.

 

I do not want to create a solid layer of cloud between the player and the terrain, that would make the mission far too abstract and procedural. However, I'm thinking of either "Dynamic Weather" or rain plus clouds at a density of, say, 5 -8. Rather than spend many more hours I cannot afford to playtest different weather combos/consequences, can anyone save me a little time by commenting? Thanks!

 

You'll have to play a bit with DW to get it just right at the target location; there's no way around this. You'll have to learn to 'read' the weather from the meteo signs on the map and the inputted or generated pressures ... it might help you guess where all the clouds are and how many at a glance, though for final confimation you'll probably want to stick a little object there that you can view the weather from :D

[Bahger]

Thanks for the very helpful response, GGT.

 

I want to showcase JTAC laser designation in this mission, hence the GBUs, so I might have to see if there is a level of weather I can dial up that will add tension/interest to the scenario without disabling the GBUs. However, the player does carry CBU-105s for a possible attack on stationary tanks from a coordinate given by a virtual SpecOps JTAC (i.e. a voice file). Hmm, if the weather over the GBU target turned out to be too cloudy, the pilot could switch to a WCMD. I wonder if he'd still have an LSS cue? If not he'd have to use the target coordinate and/or datalink provided by the JTAC and search for himself. This might be worth doing. Unless it's just homework for the player in an already task-intensive mission.

[GGTharos]

With some (possibly a little lengthy) trial and error, you can get DW to give you dense clouds with few breaks, or few clouds with much breakage, or something inbetween :)

 

If the weather is too cloudy, he shouldn't get an LSS cue. If he does, it's a sim issue.

 

Also, I wouldn't use WCMDs on targets you're looking to drop iron on normally. They have their own specific (non-simulated) issues. Usually there is a reason why you choose one weapon over another realistically (weapon effects etc. You might not want to be dropping cluster bombs in the middle of a village for example).

[Dusty Rhodes]

Why not? If they stand still they are disciplined Charlie, if they run, they are guilty Charlie and need exterminating LOL