Curious question

Jersy · Post by **Jersy** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 4:32 pm

While reading some online Allegiance material (specificaly the section about aiming reticule), I noticed the following thing:

Upgrading the gun range is done by increasing the speed of the projectiles (so they can travel greater distance in their fixed lifespan), which makes aiming with the reticule inaccurate.

The question is simple:

Why is it the speed of the projectile rather than their life-span, that is being upgraded? Is it easier to code in any way? Or is it just the way Alleg came from Microsoft? Were there any reasons at all?

The only one I can possibly think of, is that this way, the amount of projectiles flying around does not change after the research (so if a bullet has a life-span of 1 second and the gun fires 5 of them per second, there would still be maximum of 5 bullets flying around, no matter how fast they would be, as opposed to the situation, where the life-span of a bullet would be - for example - 2 seconds, resulting in a maximum of 10 bullets flying around...).

Simple put, the reason might be: "To minimize the amount of objects in need of processing"...

However, would high amount of projectiles be really that much of an issue to "justify" making the reticule inaccurate and therefore pretty much useless?

Just wondering, because I figured that if it was the life-span that would be changed with range-upgrades, then although the reticules still wouldn't appear at the correct time, they would at least correctly tell you where to fire, once they do appear...

Post by **pkk** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:13 pm

Jersy wrote:QUOTE (Jersy @ Jan 4 2011, 05:32 PM) Or is it just the way Alleg came from Microsoft?

This, ask Microsoft Research developers...

Broodwich · Post by **Broodwich** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:17 pm

pw range increases the speed of projectiles, ew increases lifespan. faster bullets mean less leading, and less time for the enemy to dodge, which is why pw range is actually a good upgrade

Dorjan · Post by **Dorjan** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:42 pm

tbh, seeing the accell fix on the bug tracker, this can't be a hard thing to fix.

Take into account the target ships distance and the speed of projectile(+ga)+life of projectile(+ga if one affects as brood says).

hmm...

Malicious Wraith · Post by **Malicious Wraith** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 6:41 pm

I think the point is that the upgrade would suck if it weren't for this upgrade.

It would be like REVERSE fixing accel.

Currently - Range = y distance traveled in x seconds.

When you buy the GA, the x remains the same, but the y is increased.

Broodwich · Post by **Broodwich** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:37 pm

lol how insightful

Malicious Wraith · Post by **Malicious Wraith** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:51 pm

Broodwich wrote:QUOTE (Broodwich @ Jan 4 2011, 02:37 PM) lol how insightful

Thanks Brood, I put the extra effort into it so you could understand.

Jersy · Post by **Jersy** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:05 pm

Broodwich wrote:QUOTE (Broodwich @ Jan 4 2011, 06:17 PM) pw range increases the speed of projectiles, ew increases lifespan. faster bullets mean less leading, and less time for the enemy to dodge, which is why pw range is actually a good upgrade

Not saying it isn't a good upgrade - I was only talking about it's relation to the aiming reticule. But if EW Range upgrade indeed increases life-span, then I guess that PWs could have it too, but it was simply decided otherwise (And the reticule not taking the speed change into consideration is just something left by Microsoft)...

Malicious Wraith wrote:QUOTE (Malicious Wraith @ Jan 4 2011, 07:41 PM) I think the point is that the upgrade would suck if it weren't for this upgrade.

It would be like REVERSE fixing accel.

Currently - Range = y distance traveled in x seconds.

When you buy the GA, the x remains the same, but the y is increased.

I see the logic of your definition, but I believe the following one to be more understandable:

Range (m) = Projectile Speed (m/s) * Projectile Life-span (s)

EXAMPLE:

1.

Projectile Speed = 1000 m/s
Projectile Life-span = 0.5 s

Range = 500 m

2.

Projectile Speed = 2000 m/s
Projectile Life-span = 0.5 s

Range = 1000 m

3.

Projectile Speed = 1000 m/s
Projectile Life-span = 1 s

Range = 1000 m

As you can see, cases 2. and 3. have the same results, only in case 2., the projectile speed was increased, and in case 3. it was projectile life-span.

Malicious Wraith · Post by **Malicious Wraith** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:15 pm

Jersy wrote:QUOTE (Jersy @ Jan 4 2011, 04:05 PM) I believe the following one to be more understandable:

Range (m) = Projectile Speed (m/s) * Projectile Life-span (s)

You forget your audience.

Broodwhich is on this forum.

lexaal · Post by **lexaal** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:50 pm

It's magic.