Tank Fire

russwhite · Post by **russwhite** » 2007-07-29 10:06

First off this mod is brilliant, hats off to all you guys involved, great work.

The one thing that i think has lacked in every military sim that has ever been made is the awesome power that is experienced when a main battle tank fires a shell. At the moment in BF2 and in PR when a tank is fired you get the usual "computer game" puff of smoke from the barrel and a little fire effect explosion on impact and generally has very little effect on the battlefield. And the whole experience feels more like pulling a party popper than launching a
130mm tank round.

I have been lucky enough to experience a tank round live fire in person and it takes your breath away. It feels like someone smacks you in the chest with a hammer, and thats just the shock wave from 50yards! First off, you get an instant large bright fire ball which starts off at the end of the barrel rapidly increasing in size as it rolls in on itself and travells forward. The fireball is gone within about half a second and replaced by a large amount of smoke which drifts around the area for a while afterwards. The whole tank then rocks back on its tracks suspension from the recoil, and the shock wave radiates out from the tank lifting dust and debris into the air from the ground all around.
Then the impact comes, and far from what happens in the films and in every game i have played, a tank shell generally does not make a fireball. Instead, it throws up a huge amount of dirt, smoke, dust and debris into the air, the concussion effect creates a shockwave which creates havok to any structure or vehicle nearby, and the impact site is shrouded in drifting smoke and dust for a long time after detonation. As well as having falling debris littering the area, there is also a fair amount of visible damage to the site.

I know that every detail of this cant be replicated or we would all need rack servers to render the effects, but it must be possible to make a tanks presence on the battle field more forboding by creating a more realistic firing and impact sequence.

If any other PR member has any thoughts on this i would like to hear!

Cheers,
Russ.

Swe_Olsson · Post by **Swe_Olsson** » 2007-07-29 10:26

once the tank gun is fired, alot of dust & smoke pops up.. from the ground especially on desert maps.. not sure about the wooden ones...

would be great to add, if your standing next to the gun and it fires.. the effect should be the same as flashbang maybe

Revelation_Space · Post by **Revelation_Space** » 2007-07-29 10:31

It would certainly be cooler to have realistic tank-firing effects, but it's already a lot better than it is in BF2. The sound is a lot better/louder, and there's loads more smoke.

I agree though, having the whole area throw up dust around the tank would be neat.

Post by **Dunehunter** » 2007-07-29 12:03

That was in in .5, but due to the massive amounts of dust, the tank crew couldn't see anything after a shot was fired.

Waaah_Wah · Post by **Waaah_Wah** » 2007-07-29 12:09

russwhite wrote:First off this mod is brilliant, hats off to all you guys involved, great work.

The one thing that i think has lacked in every military sim that has ever been made is the awesome power that is experienced when a main battle tank fires a shell. At the moment in BF2 and in PR when a tank is fired you get the usual "computer game" puff of smoke from the barrel and a little fire effect explosion on impact and generally has very little effect on the battlefield. And the whole experience feels more like pulling a party popper than launching a
130mm tank round.

I have been lucky enough to experience a tank round live fire in person and it takes your breath away. It feels like someone smacks you in the chest with a hammer, and thats just the shock wave from 50yards! First off, you get an instant large bright fire ball which starts off at the end of the barrel rapidly increasing in size as it rolls in on itself and travells forward. The fireball is gone within about half a second and replaced by a large amount of smoke which drifts around the area for a while afterwards. The whole tank then rocks back on its tracks suspension from the recoil, and the shock wave radiates out from the tank lifting dust and debris into the air from the ground all around.
Then the impact comes, and far from what happens in the films and in every game i have played, a tank shell generally does not make a fireball. Instead, it throws up a huge amount of dirt, smoke, dust and debris into the air, the concussion effect creates a shockwave which creates havok to any structure or vehicle nearby, and the impact site is shrouded in drifting smoke and dust for a long time after detonation. As well as having falling debris littering the area, there is also a fair amount of visible damage to the site.

I know that every detail of this cant be replicated or we would all need rack servers to render the effects, but it must be possible to make a tanks presence on the battle field more forboding by creating a more realistic firing and impact sequence.

If any other PR member has any thoughts on this i would like to hear!

Cheers,
Russ.

Agreed

Post by **bosco_** » 2007-07-29 12:16

dunehunter wrote:That was in in .5, but due to the massive amounts of dust, the tank crew couldn't see anything after a shot was fired.

GeZe said it's still there, you just cant see it from first person.

DirtyHarry88 · Post by **DirtyHarry88** » 2007-07-29 12:28

That's good then.

Post by **Outlawz7** » 2007-07-29 12:29

Increased loss of hearing effect, when you stand near a firing tank would be nice....

DirtyHarry88 · Post by **DirtyHarry88** » 2007-07-29 12:34

What?

El_Vikingo · Post by **El_Vikingo** » 2007-07-29 13:24

IRL, gunners would see through the smoke using IR, in PR that's not possible.

If you're close enough to the tank when a shell hits it, you'll get the typical explosion effect.

If there were a device that could be connected to the PC via USB that knocks the player out, then maybe

AnRK · Post by **AnRK** » 2007-07-29 13:28

Well if your stood close enough you get the stunned effect but certainly not from 50 yards away.

Rico11b · Post by **Rico11b** » 2007-07-29 20:40

russwhite wrote:First off this mod is brilliant, hats off to all you guys involved, great work.

And the whole experience feels more like pulling a party popper than launching a 130mm tank round.

Cheers,
Russ.

Ah it's a 120mm round from a 120mm smooth bore cannon

And yes from about 50m away is close enough to take you breath away if you aren't in a tank yourself. It is truly an awesome event to witness. Not a good idea to be standing around nearby when it goes off. 120mm mortar rounds have a weaker but somewhat similar feeling. And if you are anywhere near the impact area, then prepare to have the very foundation of your world rocked.