22 replies to this topic

[Phoenix Branson]

In addition to the total cumulative heat indictor currently on the HUD, there should also be the dH/dt indicator on the HUD as well, similar to MW2. The dH/dt indicator gives the mechwarrior the instantaneous heat flow to the heat sinks and is described below:

dH/dt = Cp*(dT/dt)

where

dH/dt = Heat flow to heat sinks (J/s)
Cp = Heat capacity of coolant (J/deg C)
dT/dt = Heating rate (deg C/s)

As you can see from the above equation, the heat flow term (dH/dt) is the instantaneous heat flow to the heat sinks measured at any point in time. This is a function of the heat capacity of the coolant (Cp) and the rate of temperature change (dT/dt).

This new dH/dt indicator on the HUD will tell you how fast the heat is dissipating. This might come in handy if you have internal heat sink damage!

Edited by Maverick01, 23 July 2012 - 05:32 AM.

[NWHHarrier]

Math is hard.

Are you asking essentially for a gauge that shows how fast heat is dissipating, in addition to the current heat indicator?

[Scytale]

This sounds a lot like a first-year engineering student =P
What's the relevance of Cp and dT/dt? They're not implemented in the game in any way.

NWHHarrier, on 23 July 2012 - 05:15 AM, said:

Math is hard.

Are you asking essentially for a gauge that shows how fast heat is dissipating, in addition to the current heat indicator?

Yeah that's what he's asking

[Melcyna]

Why not..

as it is from the current heat indicator we can see in the screenshots and the vids, we can tell how hot the mech currently is...

but we don't know how FAST the heat sink is capable of suppressing them except manually gauging it by heart and counting the rate in which the heat level is changing.

essentially this gives us the rate at which this is occurring in hard number rather than making us gauge it manually.

[Phoenix Branson]

NWHHarrier, on 23 July 2012 - 05:15 AM, said:

Math is hard.

Are you asking essentially for a gauge that shows how fast heat is dissipating, in addition to the current heat indicator?

yes

[Der Zivilist]

Scytale, on 23 July 2012 - 05:17 AM, said:

This sounds a lot like a first-year engineering student =P
What's the relevance of Cp and dT/dt? They're not implemented in the game in any way.

Are you sure?

Is a 25-ton Commando at 0% heat able to fire its Large Laser and end up with exactly the same % heat that an Atlas would have after it fired a single Large Laser?

This has been something that's been driving me nuts for weeks. I want to know how it works. But alas, still pending...

[Gryphonne]

If you're going to describe a heat exchanger, at least use the correct model. Other than that, there is absolutely no relevance to the variables you've posted unless the designers coded some advanced thermodynamics. A gauge showing how fast heat is dissipating (in J/s) would not be useful anyway because the heat meter is in %.

[NWHHarrier]

I'd never argue against having more information in the pilot's seat but I just assumed you could satisfy this one by watching how fast the heat gauge drops.

But OP did give me a neat thought, what if, for whatever given weapon group you have selected, a ghost heat bar is projected on top of whatever your current heat level is to show you the anticipated heat gain when you fire that weapon or weapon group? Or maybe that takes some excitement out of it idk.

Edited by NWHHarrier, 23 July 2012 - 05:31 AM.

[Himack]

NWHHarrier, on 23 July 2012 - 05:30 AM, said:

I'd never argue against having more information in the pilot's seat but I just assumed you could satisfy this one by watching how fast the heat gauge drops.

But OP did give me a neat thought, what if, for whatever given weapon group you have selected, a ghost heat bar is projected on top of whatever your current heat level is to show you the anticipated heat gain when you fire that weapon or weapon group? Or maybe that takes some excitement out of it idk.

While they're at it they could implement an auto pilot too... much easier ;-).

Seriously though, we don't want our hand held too much. Skill, experience and judgement have to have somewhere to live.

[NWHHarrier]

Himack, on 23 July 2012 - 05:40 AM, said:

While they're at it they could implement an auto pilot too... much easier ;-).

Seriously though, we don't want our hand held too much. Skill, experience and judgement have to have somewhere to live.

Fair enough, though I dont buy that a heat level predictor is on the same level of handholding as an autopilot of all things. I guess it's all moot anyway while stuck in pending limbo.

[BenEEeees VAT GROWN BACON]

Wasn't this in Mechwarrior 2.

[Der Zivilist]

It was. Just like the OP started in his first paragraph.

[William Petersen]

BenEEeees VAT GROWN BACON, on 23 July 2012 - 06:00 AM, said:

Wasn't this in Mechwarrior 2.

Only a positive scale one, but yes.

[Melcyna]

Himack, on 23 July 2012 - 05:40 AM, said:

While they're at it they could implement an auto pilot too... much easier ;-).

Seriously though, we don't want our hand held too much. Skill, experience and judgement have to have somewhere to live.

I don't see how the heat gradient indicator equates to holding the player's hand...

it's PRESENTING the player with a very useful information

What the PLAYER DO WITH IT, is still his decision....

under no part of that is the decision taken from the player... the player is simply INFORMED of it so he can make a decision based on that.

[Ghost]

I'm totally in support of a dT/dt indicator / "ghost heat gauge". Now that we have maps that mess with the heat dissipation rate on a global scale, knowing just how long you're going to have to wait to fire again could mean the difference between life and death.

[Nik Van Rhijn]

I think it's a ggod idea, especially if it was able to be toggled off for those who don't want it. From what I have seen so far weapons have a higher RoF than Tt and heat is applied instantly. heat seems to be dissipated much more slowly, perhaps at TT rate. This means that most mechs will run hot compared to Tt, let alone previous games. Fire contol, low heat weapons, extra HS may all be needed if you are not to shut down.

[Eximar]

Der Zivilist, on 23 July 2012 - 05:23 AM, said:

Is a 25-ton Commando at 0% heat able to fire its Large Laser and end up with exactly the same % heat that an Atlas would have after it fired a single Large Laser?

If they have the same number of heat sinks, yes. If not, no.

[William Petersen]

Ghost, on 23 July 2012 - 09:11 AM, said:

I'm totally in support of a dT/dt indicator / "ghost heat gauge". Now that we have maps that mess with the heat dissipation rate on a global scale, knowing just how long you're going to have to wait to fire again could mean the difference between life and death.

I'd rather leave the "ghost heat" as a part of the skill, myself. dH/dt, however, would be a nice pretty little bar which itself doesn't tell you "Okey, it's safe to fire", but rather just says "this is how fast your heat bar is moving at this moment in time".

[JessterC]

I agree with the OP that a rate of dissipation gauge would be helpful in assessing internal damage to heat-sinks (assuming that the game is coded to factor such things, and they are not simply "good or bad") It might also help newer people to see why it is not a good idea to load your arms with heat sinks, as they overheat with every PPC shot after losing one of said arms.

[YeldaTheImpaler]

You know I never realized the subtle calculus reference when I played MW2 until now lol