a couple ideas about the SOFLAM and lazing in general

[baptist_christian]

1: Make it so the laser marker stays on a target indefinitely and make it so the SOFLAM operator can remove the laser at will. This is probably a helpful idea because many times when you laze a target, the target box disappears by the time aerial support arrives.

2: Make it so the laser box is guidable like an Anti-tank missile. This would greatly help officers and special forces operators mark vehicles for attack

3: Make it so the laser box from the guncam on an apache is NOT guidable like a HAT round.

4: Make it so pilots in LGB equipped planes can laze targets. Basically it switches to the screen from a LANTIRN Pod and fires a lazer target box which stays on a static target indefinitely

5: Make it so on the guncam and SOFLAM, the laser target box has a distance under it like the laser guided missiles are enabled in an attack jet. \

[Rudd]

1: Make it so the laser marker stays on a target indefinitely and make it so the SOFLAM operator can remove the laser at will. This is probably a helpful idea because many times when you laze a target, the target box disappears by the time aerial support arrives.
no, IRL lasers have to be constantly applied? therefore the laser has a lifespan forcing you to relaser if necessary
2: Make it so the laser box is guidable like an Anti-tank missile. This would greatly help officers and special forces operators mark vehicles for attack
Agree, but resuggestion

3: Make it so the laser box from the guncam on an apache is NOT guidable like a HAT round.
why? kinda defeats the previous point
5: Make it so on the guncam and SOFLAM, the laser target box has a distance under it like the laser guided missiles are enabled in an attack jet.
sounds cool\

my comments in bold

[daranz]

Even if the markers aren't made permanent, it'd still be nice to give them a longer time to live. Right now, people relase frequently to make sure they don't lose the marker, which makes it more difficult for the aircraft.

Guided markers were suggested before. I understand why you wouldn't want them guided on choppers, with the cameras being as unstable as they are, but I'd be happy with a system where you can either tap the button to "shoot" the marker unguided, or hold it to guide. Isn't this, after all, how SACLOS weapons work in BF2 and PR?

As to airplanes lasing targets for themselves, it kinda makes sense, but on the other hand, planes diving for targets only to place a laser marker on them is somewhat unrealistic. Perhaps this is something for two-seater planes...

Distance markers would make sense, especially if the laser designators had range readout.

[Alex6714]

As to airplanes lasing targets for themselves, it kinda makes sense, but on the other hand, planes diving for targets only to place a laser marker on them is somewhat unrealistic. Perhaps this is something for two-seater planes...

Its not unrealistic, just in real life most planes don´t have to dive.

[daranz]

Its not unrealistic, just in real life most planes don´t have to dive.

That's my point. When deploying LGB and lasing from the same platform, the aircraft does a wide half circle around the target, with its LANTIRN pointing its laser at target. In PR, it'd be one pass to lase, one pass to drop bombs, or both in the same pass. Either way, it'd be sorta odd: the former would be pretty weird realism-wise, the latter would be merely a replacement for the lack of proper sights.

[Alex6714]

That's my point. When deploying LGB and lasing from the same platform, the aircraft does a wide half circle around the target, with its LANTIRN pointing its laser at target. In PR, it'd be one pass to lase, one pass to drop bombs, or both in the same pass. Either way, it'd be sorta odd: the former would be pretty weird realism-wise, the latter would be merely a replacement for the lack of proper sights.

Well what you say is possible, I have seen it and would love it, but "oh imagine the overpoweredness".

[McBumLuv]

I at least agree with the 4th point, no comments on the others. I would like to see planes laze targets, which would stay until the plane leaves 1000m (or some other distance) of it. This would both advantage LGM-bearing planes as it could disadvantage them. For single seat planes, they should also get this, but would really disadvantage them at times so they need to know when they can safely do this. Two seaters should also get this, otherwise they will remain less powerful than Attack helicopters, ie. copilot in Apache can lase and fire missiles/main gun, but Tornado copilots can only wait for a lase and to do exactly as single seat CAS planes do, drop bombs.

[Waaah_Wah]

2 seater bombers should get the TVGMs IMO...

[Solid Knight]

I liked the system I used in my personal mod.

All vehicles have LaserTarget_vehicle on them.
Laser guided weapons have a long lock time and small lock angle.
Laser guided weapons HUDs only show a box when locked.

Having pre-painted vehicles simulates the fact that most weapons are capable of lasing (acquiring) their own targets. Removing the box except when locked allows vehicles to hit better. The small lock angle and long lock time make it so you have to put more effort into acquiring locks and prevents missile spam.

The only problem with this is that if you wanted to keep the SOFLAM, (perhaps designate a hot spot of enemy activity) you wouldn't be able to see the box for it thus making the SOFLAM entirely useless. It would be great if the HUDs could differentiate between different types of LaserTarget objects but it doesn't.

Incidentally, I like using the same HUD for my wire-guided (TOW, Eryx) weapons as well. It'll put a lock box up when you fire which shows you precisely where the missile is going and you'll be surprised that it isn't always the dead center of the screen--many times it's slightly off-center.

[baptist_christian]

my comments in bold

regading the SOFLAM and locked target boxes, the intention is to simulate constant application of the laser beam

why? kinda defeats the previous point

not really. The apache, cobra, and hind guncams are flying all over the screen. they're great for anti-personell engagements, but if you want to take out say armoured targets you need pinpoint accuracy with those hellfires if you dont want to waste 8 hellfires and have a 50% chance of hitting the damn vehicle. But with a SOFLAM you have a stable platform from which to laze targets.

[baptist_christian]

2 seater bombers should get the TVGMs IMO...

give them TV Guided bombs!