Helicopter Suggestion (With Video)

[Tofurkeymeister]

This has been slightly suggested before, but mostly within other threads and in very unclear manners.

As such, I have taken the liberty to create a video highlighting my suggested changes to Project Reality helicopters, with a short demonstration as well. I also find it more suitable to place this in the feedback section, than that of suggestions, as it is an easy fix.

Video text is also listed below...



(From Video)

The current helicopter settings (Health, etc.) are acceptable, but much improvement can by made. Helicopters, such as the Apache, explode instantly on impacts with the ground or with light projectiles such as RPG's, as show in the video.

In real life, helicopters do not simply explode in mid-air leaving no chance of survival! That is why I am suggesting increasing the hitpoints of helicopters by 2-3 times, while keeping the critical damage "threshold" the same.

In this way pilots have more time to ditch their damaged choppers, saving the crew inside. At the same time moderate impacts with the ground and other light damage will not be so instantly fatal. The crew will have a reasonable chance to escape unharmed.

Granted, if these changes were to take in effect, severe damage from tank shells, Anti-Air missiles, and 1000+ft nosedives would completely destroy the chopper, as they should in real life. Its a simple change, and one which should benefit all.

Following is a clip of a Merlin helicopter with the health increased from 1000 to 3000. Critical damage is about the same. This means that when light damage occurs to the helicopter, it be criticaly damaged, instead of instantly being destroyed...

As you have seen the Merlin helicopter plunged into a (somewhat) epic crash, out of which the pilot escaped unharmed (not counting the 2nd RPG). This is more realistic than the helicopter exploding instantly in mid-air, as it might have otherwise done.

Please consider the changes mentioned above, I believe it will increase the realism and entertainment value of this great mod.

-Tofurkeymeister

*Note that on online servers the helicopter usually will not crash spectacularly. However, with the changes aforementioned there would be enough time to make an inelegant crash landing. Also, the other benefits, such as survival from small impacts with the ground, would still be in effect.

**Modified hitpoints, etc. has been brought about by editing the .tweak file of the merlin helicopter in PR_SP mod.

UPDATED

Its really great, and doesn't require much coding:

Go to My Computer --> Local Disk (Usually C Drive) --> Program Files --> EA Games --> Battlefield 2 --> mods --> pr_sp_08 --> objects

(Use the single player mod, how else would you get shot down?)

Now for the next section, I suggest having 7-ZIP as it can automatically update zipped files.

Open objects_server in 7-zip --> Vehicles --> Air --> gpthe_merlin

Right-click on gbthe_merlin .tweak, open with notepad. (Open With)

Code: Select all

rem *** Generated with Bf2Editor.exe [created: 2006/5/15 11:52]
GeometryTemplate.compressVertexData 1
GeometryTemplate.maxTextureRepeat 16
ObjectTemplate.activeSafe PlayerControlObject gbthe_merlin
ObjectTemplate.creator IGOR:andrew
ObjectTemplate.modifiedByUser "sofad"
ObjectTemplate.setNetworkableInfo BasicInfo
ObjectTemplate.saveInSeparateFile 1
ObjectTemplate.castsDynamicShadow 1
ObjectTemplate.cullRadiusScale 3
rem ---BeginComp:Armor ---
ObjectTemplate.createComponent Armor
[b]ObjectTemplate.armor.maxHitPoints 1100
ObjectTemplate.armor.hitPoints 1100[/b]
ObjectTemplate.armor.defaultMaterial 31
ObjectTemplate.armor.hpLostWhileUpSideDown 350
ObjectTemplate.armor.hpLostWhileInWater 400
ObjectTemplate.armor.hpLostWhileInDeepWater 400
ObjectTemplate.armor.hpLostWhileCriticalDamage 10
ObjectTemplate.armor.waterDamageDelay 0.01
ObjectTemplate.armor.deepWaterDamageDelay 0.01
ObjectTemplate.armor.waterLevel -0.5
ObjectTemplate.armor.deepWaterLevel -0.5
ObjectTemplate.armor.explosionForce 15
ObjectTemplate.armor.explosionForceMod 8
ObjectTemplate.armor.explosionForceMax 5000
ObjectTemplate.armor.explosionDamage 400
ObjectTemplate.armor.explosionRadius 15
ObjectTemplate.armor.explosionMaterial 99
ObjectTemplate.armor.wreckExplosionForce 10
ObjectTemplate.armor.wreckExplosionDamage 30
ObjectTemplate.armor.wreckExplosionRadius 3
ObjectTemplate.armor.wreckExplosionMaterial 70
ObjectTemplate.armor.wreckHitPoints 1200
ObjectTemplate.armor.timeToStayAsWreck 300
[b]ObjectTemplate.armor.criticalDamage (300 I think?)[/b]
ObjectTemplate.armor.destroyOnSpectacularDeath 1
ObjectTemplate.armor.addArmorEffect 0 e_vexp_heli_Generic 0/0/0 0/0/0

Change

Code: Select all

ObjectTemplate.armor.maxHitPoints 1100
ObjectTemplate.armor.hitPoints 1100

to

Code: Select all

ObjectTemplate.armor.maxHitPoints 3000
ObjectTemplate.armor.hitPoints 3000

and change

Code: Select all

ObjectTemplate.armor.criticalDamage (300 I think?)

to

Code: Select all

ObjectTemplate.armor.criticalDamage 2000

Save and exit, update .zip when 7-Zip prompts you.


There ya' go! Its easier than it seems. Boot up Al Basrah, put everyone on the insurgent team, and fly the Merlin over RPG-wielding insurgents .

Note that this is just what I did, you can change the heli in question, the health, and even the critical damage value!

I believe that the critical damage value actually is in reverse, that is you subtract the critical damage value (2000) from the total hitpoints (3000) to get the correct value.

That is, your helicopter enters critical damage at 1000 HP, not 2000 for 3000-2000=1000.

That's my assumption...

ENJOY!

[gazzthompson]

(inb4thechuck)


this looks VERY good, what sort of damage, if any, dose the pilot take bailing out of chopper so soon after impact ?

dose chopper instapwn if hit "going down" when moving at high speed in flight ?

[SFOD_F HaXXeD]

what about the g's killing the guys inside when they hit the ground really freakin hard?

[gazzthompson]

we need [R-DEV]~KILL~Pirate in this thread, im sure he could give us a great insight into (blackhawk at least) crash survival ect

[M_Striker]

WOW, I think this will work very well.

And if the helicopter is high up, and it loses control and crashes like that, then it makes sense that the crew would die.

[Conman51]

H[= HaXXeD;893991']what about the g's killing the guys inside when they hit the ground really freakin hard?

yea it just blow up when it hits the ground too hard..idk if you made it do atht..and the pilot and passengers should bleed when getting out..lbut other wise i like the idea very much

if this is accepted i would also like to see it on other vehilces too

[Tofurkeymeister]

Obscenely crazy crashed WILL instapwn the chopper, as in real life I believe...

Medium to slow crashes will have less of an effect.

Basically, the faster you go, the higher your chance of dying ('cause there is more damage).

In addition, one could add "escape from flaming vehicle damage" to heli's to make it even more realistic, as you would bleed out.

[Zerapup]

Very good idea. Depending on the altitude pilots should have different damage . When u fall from 100 meters for example pilots can survive. But helicopters shouldnt explode at once. When chopper is criticaly damaged it should just lie on the ground smoking for 30 seconds or maybe 1 min for example.

[Proff3ssorXman]

This is good work man, these changes would make it more realistic.

Also guys, take into account that a lot of these choppers have very good suspension which makes it possible for these birds to land on rough and uneven ground. This means that they can also take hard/heavy landings quite well. Choppers like the little bird and Huey that have bars for landing gear can also take it to a smaller extent as the way they are designed they are meant to take a lot of impact.

[Skodz]

Very interesting

[Masaq]

yea it just blow up when it hits the ground too hard..idk if you made it do atht..and the pilot and passengers should bleed when getting out..lbut other wise i like the idea very much

if this is accepted i would also like to see it on other vehilces too

Blackhawks are one of the most surviveable choppers out there - Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

That was a 200km/h crash, and everyone survived, 2 of them uninjured from this -

[Rudd]

Very well made suggestion, kudos to you

fully agree

[Hitperson]

if only all suggestions were like this...

but then we might have loads of clips from BHD...

good ideas though mate.

[PlaynCool]

But what will happen when the helicopter hits the ground, and its on the ground damaged, but not on fire.Does that means that its captured by the oposite force and wont spawn in the MB 10min later, or when it hits the ground the crew have 20-30 secs to escape before the helicopter explodes?

[White Rock]

But what will happen when the helicopter hits the ground, and its on the ground damaged, but not on fire.Does that means that its captured by the oposite force and wont spawn in the MB 10min later, or when it hits the ground the crew have 20-30 secs to escape before the helicopter explodes?

I belive it's "possible" to do both, but i think the chopper surviving has more intresting aspect to it then letting it explode everytime. Besides, 8.5 makes vehicles a source of ticket loss so there's no longer any reason to NOT kill abandoned vehicles.

GREAT thread btw, it reminds me of my old thread about the same thing (offcourse i want/wanted EVERY VEHICLE to be disabled rather then instant exploding)

[Neo_Mapper]

looking forward to see this in .85 Looks like it isn't that hard to code. "Only" some heavy tweaking and adjusting have to be done =)

[cyberzomby]

as long as the chopper cant fly anymore and just crashes to the ground its a great suggestion! Or maybe just for a second or 5 before it explodes. Than it depends on the pilots choice, try to make it back to repairs or ditch!

Would be great to have something like this in the game though! Rescuing pilots is great!

[Skodz]

Yup, I would like my squad to be tasked with rescuing a pilot behind ennemy lines (On PR...)

[Neo_Mapper]

Another idea which came into my mind now:

What about loosing tickets when the pilot was arrested by the enemy team?
Or maybe make the respawn of the destroyed aircraft longer (well i doubt that this is possible )
Could be realised by shooting the pilot and grabbing his kit.

So it would be essential for the team to rescue their "fallen angels" It would add some more gameplay dynamic and I think it is pretty realistic to rescue some pilots in the enemy teritory.

What do you think about it?

[Rudd]

^ lets keep on topic first?

but ur idea would be best suited to insurgency imo