Gorf brought this to my attention. It's regarding the problem with missiles @ 5:19
I just don't understand this nonsense. He is describing a number of bugs and/or tech issues - right there. Let me explain.
1) Collision Detect
If a missile doesn't "reach" it's target or the collision isn't triggered, detonation will fail, as will #3
2) Prediction
If a missile travel path goes out of sync due to network problems (e.g. packets dropped), it will fly blindly, never reach or hit its target etc
3) Energy Transfer
If a missile does reach it's target, but collision fails, even if it explodes, there won't be any energy (damage) transfer; thus no damage taken by the target
4) Flight Dynamics
See #2
Here is how I do it in Battlecruiser/Universal Combat, based on an engine that's decades old now. Truly, this isn't rocket science if you know what you're doing.
If you have the
GBS for UCCE 3.0 via the Steam forum, then you already know these stats.
MISSILE DEFINITIONVagrant (Space-To-Space)
{
STS_VAGRANT.3D,STS VAGRANT,STR,~60000,A0.1526,L100,C1000,H5000,P105,R120,Y45,g3,(MTPRYAVE),E200,{1000,}15000,Q3500,[0,]5000
}
Cluster (Air-To-Air)
{
ATA_CLUSTER.3D,ATA CLUSTER,AT,~30000,A0.2289,L100,C1000,H5000,P100,R180,Y45,g2,(MTPRYAVE),E100,<100,>25000,{1000,}35000,Q2500,[0,]5000
}
SHIP DEFINITIONSuper Carrier:
{
STORMCARRIER.3D,STORMCARRIER,SARc,
?24,*1000,!28500,%250,A0.1100,L125,C250,H300,&1800000,j90000,J120000,P9,R8,Y10,[2500,]5000,^60000,<100,>25000,{1000,}250000,(_PRYATVNEW)
}
Fighter:
{
STARDRONE.3D,STARDRONE,SARc,
?22,*1000,!10000,%100,A0.1068,L125,C300,H650,&600000,j20000,J15000,P20,R25,Y22,[250,]200,^35000,<100,>15000,{50000,}75000,(PRYATVNEW)
}
In my games, AIR/LAND/SEA/SPACE entities all have unique baseline dynamics and physics. Then each item has it's own unique (which augment and/or overload the baseline values) properties which determine how they perform.
Here is what each parameter means:
# [RADAR FLAGS]
#
# S appears only in TASCAN space radar / missile can lock in SPC mode
# A appears only in TASCAN air radar / missile can lock in AIR mode
# G appears only in TASCAN ground radar / missile can lock in GND mode
# R is a radar source or is missile with video feed capability
# T threat (missile, mine etc)
# N appears only in NID radar
# c craft object type
# p personnel object type
# r strategic object type
# t tactical object type
# i interstellar object type
# m misc object type
# L cannot be destroyed by laser fire
# l cannot be destroyed in multiplayer game
# I cannot be destroyed at all
# F cannot be destroyed by first person weapons
#
# [DYNAMIC FLAGS]
#
# P can pitch
# R can roll
# Y can yaw
# A can fly
# T can translate in XYZ // disabling this prevents object from moving
# E has propulsion system
# G affected by gravity
# U can maneuver while on seabed (otherwise will not be able to move)
# F can float at water level without sinking
# V velocity diffs from orientation
# O orientation independent of velocity
# M missile
# N radar source
# X explosion effect
# B laser blast
# Q uses quick render laser shot because model has no geometry
# L uses elongated type laser shot
# Z uses beam type laser shot
# _ support structure (another object can land on it)
# I object is invisible while being rebuilt (must also have 'T' AI flag)
# H object does NOT generate a shield animation when it collides with another object
# W object can be towed
#
# [AI FLAGS]
#
# m = meter, ms = milisecond, min = minute, ft = feet, d/s = degrees per sec, m/s = meters per sec
#
# $ resource points // resource points (NYI)
# @ defense points // defense points (NYI)
# s kill point // EPs awarded for destroying this target
# & ship turnaround time (ms) // time for unit to re-launch after docking
# ! gun range (m) // range before unit fires the gun / range of projectile (fp weapons only)
# % gun recharge time (ms) // gun recharge time
# ~ lifetime (ms) // missile self destruct time / laser shot (gun range/laser Hspeed) expiration time
# { min acquisition range (m) // min missile lock range / min radar range for unit / max radar range for ground unit
# } max acquisition range (m) // max missile lock range / max radar range for unit
# < min altitude (ft) // min craft operational altitude / min missile launch altitude / min visibility altitude for ground unit
# > max altitude (ft) // max craft operational altitude / max missile launch altitude / max visibility altitude for ground unit
# ^ missile reload time (ms) // time before unit reloads it's missile tubes
# Q missile lock time (ms) // time before missile acquires a valid lock
# * waypoint range (m) // range from waypoint before unit determines it has reached it
# ] armor // unit's armor protection value
# [ shield // unit's shield protection value
# E blast energy // missile/laser damage value
# P pitch rate (d/s) // rate of pitch
# R roll rate (d/s) // rate of roll
# Y yaw rate (d/s) // rate of yaw
# p pitch spin rate (d/s) // rate of spin along pitch axis
# r roll spin rate (d/s) // rate of spin along roll axis
# y yaw spin rate (d/s) // rate of spin along yaw axis
# L low speed limit (m/s) // low speed threshold
# C cruise speed (m/s) // cruise speed threshold
# H high speed limit (m/s) // high speed threshold
# A best acceleration // best acceleration
# D best deceleration // best deceleration. Presently == acceleration
# T rebuild time (min) // unit rebuild time
# J jump transit time (ms) // hyperjump transit duration
# j jump recharge time (ms) // hyperjump engine recharge time
# B bounce elasticity // 0 (no bounce, default) - 1.0 (rubber ball)
# g guidance type : // type of guidance system for fire control systems
#
# 0 = none (default)
# 1 = CTL
# 2 = ATL
# 3 = ATL/V
# 4 = RITL/V
# 5 = VITL
# 6 = ASL
# 7 = VSL
# 8 = LTA (lasers only)
# 9 = ODSM
# 10 = RANDOM
# 11 = RKT (rockets)
#
# ? object class // object class/spec type
#
# [CLASS TYPES]
#
# 0 None
# 1 Turret
# 2 Civilian structure
# 3 Military structure
# 4 Cargo pod
# 5 Personnel
# 6 Asteroid
# 7 Space Force marine
# 8 Mobile Infantry marine
# 9 Elite Force marine
# 10 Mine
# 11 Launch pad
# 12 Probe
# 13 Radar site
# 14 Enemy Air Defense
# 15 Orbital Defense System
# 16 Supply Platform
# 17 Naval craft
# 18 Ground vehicle
# 19 Close air support craft
# 20 Shuttle
# 21 Transport
# 22 Fighter
# 23 Cruiser
# 24 Carrier
# 25 Starbase
# 26 Starstation
# 27 Surface To Orbit unit
# 28 Mobile Forward Base
# 29 Smoke grenade
# 30 Frag grenade
# 31 First person item
# 32 Naval sub
# 33 Naval LCAC
# 34 Assault Force marine
# 35 Recon Force marine
# 36 Engineering Corps marine
# 37 Medical Corps marine
# 38 Proximity grenade
# 39 Flash bang grenade
# 40 Anti-personnel mine
# 41 Wildlife1 (animals, reptiles)
# 42 Wildlife2 (birds, fish, insects)
Using the examples above, the Vagrant's fastest speed (amount = 5000 m/s) missile is much higher than the Stormcarrier speed (amount = 300 m/s), so once it's launched and locked, that ship has zero chance of escape. It can only jam, or if that fails, hope that the shield and armor withstand the impact. Also, the ship stands zero chance of out-maneuvering the missile because the latter has a faster PRY rate.
If a missile is fired in "dumb" mode without a lock, it just flies ahead until it either hits (see below) a target or it runs out of fuel and self-destructs.
If a missile is fired with target "lock", it will follow the target until it either hits (see below) a target or it runs out of fuel and self-destructs.
If the missile hits (energy transfer = E200) the ship, if the shield (amount = 2500) is down or less than 200 units, the energy transfer will breach the shield, thus transferring damage to the armor (amount = 5000). If no shield, then the armor takes damage directly. So it will take several missiles to breach the shields (which recharge over time), then the armor (no recharge, only repair), then the ship's hull. And even so, even with a shield-->armor-->hull breach, unless the damage to the hull hits the reactor core, the ship won't explode right away; it will just be disabled.
If the missile gets near the target, it doesn't actually have to touch it. There is a built-in proximity (base on size of target) fuse which immediately detonates the missile when it's close enough. The damage shockwave from the proximity blast (spherical), as well as missile shrapnel (individual bits with own energy/damage transfer), are what cause the actual damage to the target.
If somehow a ship manages to evade a missile until it's timer runs out, the missile will self-destruct (causing damage to anything within range).
As you can see, there are lot of other parameters which take other factors into account. It's why missiles in my games tend not to spell immediate doom when one (with or without lock) is fired at you.
Here watch this epic space combat battle in one of my games which shares that same engine with BC/UC
I have no idea why, after
over 6 years they are still having problems like this, and which they should have solved since year one when they put in flight dynamics and missiles. It makes NO sense to me. And he says they don't have "time" for when it will be fixed. Wow.
I mean, look at this:
