External Views

[TX-Kingsnake]

TX-RaptorGuys I tend to remain silent about alot of things, but when it comes to external views/Icons I cannot remain silent anymore.I dont know where the majority of you stand on externals and enemy Iconsand padlock, but I just cannot stand to fly with those settings.1: depletes all senses of realism2: removes all tactical ability of IL2's and Stuka's3: totally removes the element of suprise (the bounce) when someone can scan around in external views.The way the Icons are set right now isn't too bad really.Is there any chance of at least having a couple full real days per week?No enemy Icons would be fantastic because you still have the ability to see friendlies, yet retain the ability to be sneaky EVEN with externals enabled IMHO it would be a nice compromise just leaving enemy Icons off and externals on.Also leaving externals off might reduced the screenshot cheat too I dunnowhatever the outcome may be Im getting seriously burned on not being able to use any real world tactical maneuvers on the enemy. Maybe theres a way to tweak the icon range SOMETHING to enable us to use some real tacticsPlease don't take this the wrong way I know some of you like externalsthis is only my opinionTX-RaptorWhite 4

[TX-Kingsnake]

TX-Zen"I don't see a problem with a certain amount of time per week of full real minus externals, but keep in mind our server is oriented around AI planes which require externals on. I think a solid discussion on this is appropriate and welcome everyone to chime in, but admit in advance that on this issue I am unlikely to be dissuaded. I am deeply convinced our style is the most effect way to run a game server and intend to continue and in some ways intensify our efforts. Having said that, I see no reason to be fixed on only one course of action. I encourage diversity and will absolutely vary the settings to keep things moving. It's a matter of proportion primarily. Thanks for bring this up however, it is a good suggestion."TX-ZenBlack 6TX-KingsnakeWhite >+

[TX-Kingsnake]

This is verbose, but please read it all because it will clue you in to why we do what we do....I put this to public vote because we need a place for the public to voice opinion because taking whining complaints in a chatline during combat is worthless. Settings can not be discussed in global terms. There are different types of games each requiring a settings specific venue.  Online we choose from cooperative, dogfight, and combined arms. Combined arms being a scripted server with target objectives. Combined arms maps are suited to large front line maps with flight times of 5 to 10 minutes to target. Engagement tends to be at higher altitude and higher energy, resulting in a more realistic staging point for a dogfight. Sacrificing reality for playability, externals enable us to see our targets on the ground, use AI planes, and relieve the boredom from a 5 minute flight. Padlock allows us to find ground targets to complete the mission objectives, assists in the formation with friendly planes, and prevents external hardware advantages. Icon ranges are set for each map depending on weather and visibility conditions. Almost every map in this setting is set for color, name, and ID at under 2k. The 2k range shouldn't offend anyone because you can see the plane type and insignia at that range. Pure dogfights on very small maps are well suited to locked cockpit and no icons. In this arena the map sizes are smaller, almost all the dogfights are all under 2,000 meters, sacrificing the reality of a staging point for a dogfight for the realism of visibility constraints. No Icons is an appropriate setting for this environment, this should be done with a range setting of .01 instead of turning icons off in the settings screen. In the pure dogfight target ID is part of the game. You can still padlock a friendly in this setting so padlock is not making the determination between friendly and enemy. It wouldn't be fair if there were a setting to disable track IR. Padlock is an optional feature when left on in the setting menu, if you don't like it don't use it.    Cooperative maps are subject to yet another settings environment, I won't go into detail about that. When making comments about settings it needs to be in the context of the map type. Keep in mind that I spent hours scripting and refining the 20 different maps in the rotation. Part of testing these maps was in the appropriate settings. Don't make a summary dismissal of the map settings in a carefully arranged historically accurate mission. If you are making  a comment about an all planes all year furball map you need to specify that. Take into account that I posted this thread and read everyone's opinions. There is no map that can make everyone happy. That is why we fly the 2 types of maps, the all year furrball, and the combined arms. If we want to introduce the locked cockpit, no icons maps inplace of the all year furrball I can accommodate this in the next month of rotations. This will mean making some people mad and some happy.   TX-KingsnakeWhite >+