Front vs. rear aspect spotting

[kbluck]

Also, approach vehicle positions from the rear. Units can not see as well or as far to their rear, which will give you the advantage.

It may be that the game is designed to do this, but in my experience the practical effect is trivial to nonexistent.

I've attached a test scenario. Start a new game and run it. Two T-80s are approaching the friendlies in an equidistant manner, one from the front and one from the rear. Leave your friendly vehicles alone. On my system, after a minute or so both T-80s become visible at essentially the same range, usually on the same second of game time.

--- Kevin

[CPangracs]

It may be that the game is designed to do this, but in my experience the practical effect is trivial to nonexistent.

I've attached a test scenario. Start a new game and run it. Two T-80s are approaching the friendlies in an equidistant manner, one from the front and one from the rear. Leave your friendly vehicles alone. On my system, after a minute or so both T-80s become visible at essentially the same range, usually on the same second of game time.

--- Kevin
First of all, ensure that both vehicles are on the EXACT same elevation. If the vehicle approaching from the rear is at an elevation higher than the front in relation to the vehicle in the hole, there could indeed be enough of a difference in the spotting factor to make them look exactly the same. Barring that, I suggest you rerun the test at least 10 times and post the results, and please include when (if) the approaching vehicles disappear as they get closer! This may signify a change in elevation, though subtle, can impact the engine.;)

[kbluck]

It's the Iraq3 map, which is about as flat as it gets. The maximum difference in elevation over the entire path is 1 meter.

I admit I haven't run it 10 times, but I have run it several times, at least 5, and the result has been virtually identical every time I've run it; both tanks pop up yellow and then red within a few seconds of each other and at exactly the same range, as nearly as I can tell. They do not disappear once spotted; the los fan is quite continuous.

Perhaps you could run it? The scenario is attached to the first post.

--- Kevin

[CPangracs]

It's the Iraq3 map, which is about as flat as it gets. The maximum difference in elevation over the entire path is 1 meter.

I admit I haven't run it 10 times, but I have run it several times, at least 5, and the result has been virtually identical every time I've run it; both tanks pop up yellow and then red within a few seconds of each other and at exactly the same range, as nearly as I can tell. They do not disappear once spotted; the los fan is quite continuous.

Perhaps you could run it? The scenario is attached to the first post.

--- Kevin
I would love to help, but I only have one version of ATF, and it's the Raging Tiger build. I'm afraid our results may be entirely different!;)

[Pat Proctor]

I will check it out

[kbluck]

I only have one version of ATF, and it's the Raging Tiger build. I'm afraid our results may be entirely different!

Hopefully, they are. Wouldn't you like to know for sure?

--- Kevin