Armor Laser Targeting

[gclark03]

To simulate the ability for tanks to fire accurately while in motion, certain conventional-army tanks should be given the ability to use a form of laser targeting.

The idea:

1) Driver/tank commander lazes the target with his camera crosshairs. (If possible, code this in such a way that aircraft cannot lock on to it.)

2) Gunner acquires target and fires. Stabilizing the turret on the laser target is impossible, but the shell itself can be coded to track and destroy the target, as long as the gunner has a relatively good view of the target. The gunner would have to aim well enough to keep the target lock, without having to force the driver to stop every time he finds a target to destroy.

[gclark03]

Any comments?

[Incomplete Spork]

Laser guided sabot?

[gclark03]

It's all we've got, really. There's no way to lock the turret itself onto a target. (This had already been explored in the suggestion threads about turret stabilizers.)

Granted, this sounds crazy, but it can be balanced by changing the maneuverability of the projectile so that it requires fairly good, but not exact aim to hit a target on the move.

[CAS_117]

Might work.

[Incomplete Spork]

To bad that all lasers are on the same channel so jets and helos can still pick it up.

Im looking for a word, It has hard in it, and some code too.

[gclark03]

It's not hardcoded. That aspect is hardcoded, but I know the idea itself is not.

The problem is this: do we want helicopters locking on to these targets? Is it so important that they can't lock on that the whole idea is void? My reasoning is that this can make armor much more effective against mobile AA, against which there isn't always an infantry spotter and CAS is very hard to use.

[Incomplete Spork]

Its hardcoded. I know for a fact that a DEV commented on something similar to this and said so

[gclark03]

How could it be possible for laser-guided bombs and impossible for tank shells?

[Incomplete Spork]

No, its impossible for it to be locked for only tanks to see. If you shot out the laser EVERYTHING could see it. So a tank could lase for jets and helos essentially

[Thermis]

So you make the tanks lock on time much faster than Jet/Helos, and no offense Spork but if a Dev said is somewhere could you quote it? The only problem I see is that you could have a SL laze a target over a hill and the tank might be able to fire over the hill and hit the target on the other side. Its a plausible idea. But I think the tactical positioning of tanks and knowing good hiding spots currently is better than a stabilizing system.

[crazy11]

Spork if you didnt notice an ex-dev said that it might work.

[CAS_117]

lolyarly

But I am gonna start working on this system tonight. And why the crikey shouldn't choppers and jets be able to lock onto tanks? Honestly guys that technology is like 40 years old now. Lets try to get with it eh?

@ Thermiss that issue of tanks shooting stuff over hills is easily avoidable. Just set directionbonus to 0. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who cares...

[CAS_117]

No really it will look good! Just need to disinfect my whole bloody PC.

[fubar++]

This sounds awesome (and very realistic) if tank commander can set "laser targets" and gunner can lock on to them if pointing barrel exactly to the target. It would be small and IMO acceptable price to realism if air support could use the same targets, and vice-versa.

[Gore]

I like the fact that it takes some skills to hit a tank from far away.
It could get boring over time just to lock, fire and hit.

[SocketMan]

Once you put the aim on the target - it needs to stay on that target (with a press
of a button) Any movement either enemy or your own should keep that lock until
another (or the same) buttons are pressed.

1.Find a target
2.Lock it
3.Fire/Move/Fire
4.unlock

[Thermis]

lolyarly

But I am gonna start working on this system tonight. And why the crikey shouldn't choppers and jets be able to lock onto tanks? Honestly guys that technology is like 40 years old now. Lets try to get with it eh?

@ Thermiss that issue of tanks shooting stuff over hills is easily avoidable. Just set directionbonus to 0. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who cares...

Well if Cas says it can be done then I believe it's possible. If you need any help with it give me a shout.

[Tannhauser]

Interesting, but make the targeting screen optional (like the one for the Tank Driver we currently have and is useless currently BTW). I also want to be able to fire manually in order to hit specific parts of an enemy tank.

This would help fire while moving, the only problem is it could be exploited. Also, GLTDs helping a tank firing accurately is ... weird. Very weird. One example of how it could be exploited is by using it like an arty cannon whereas the LaserDesignation would appear on the gunners Hud (Given by a guy with a GLTD), but he wouldn't see anything else than fog even though there's a tank/target/w-e being targeted by that guy with a GLTD who's closer to it.
I mean .. shooting things you don't even see, doesn't feel like a tank.
If this was used for onmap artillery like a Paladin (black screen over the whole map when aiming but can see LaserDesignation markers trough the black screen and fire on those) it would work, but IMO tanks used as long-range artillery feels biased...