16 replies to this topic

[Johannes Falkner]

In TT a targeting computer grants a general improvement in accuracy (-1 to hit) or it allows for all weapons to be targeted at a specific location at the penalty of a harder shot. How do you do this in MWO?

We have already seen threads about how ACs should do their damage (salvos versus concentrated and refire rate versus damage) and whether they should be allowed to be very accurate. Lasers are confirmed to converge and do damage over time. With the known mechanics, how would you make a targeting computer work in MWO? Can you do it without creating unfair/undesirable game behavior?

[BerryChunks]

targetting computer speeds up convergence, makes ACs fire more accurately. I imagine ACs would ahve some kind of ring of "area" that you center on target and the AC hits anywhere inside that ring. Longer firing ACs having smaller rings. these rings would then decrease in size (read: making the AC more accurate), so that when you pull the trigger, you know where its going.

but thats just if I were doing things, which I'm not.

Edited by BerryChunks, 12 April 2012 - 08:28 PM.

[LordDeathStrike]

targeting computers are standard on all mechs.

the only upgrade is the clan one that allowed component targeting and a lead ring on hud display that estimated where you should fire at a moving target to hit the component you sub selected.

[pursang]

Quicker convergence would be nice. Would especially be usefull for 'Mechs with weapons in thier arms.

LordDeathStrike, on 12 April 2012 - 08:29 PM, said:

targeting computers are standard on all mechs.

the only upgrade is the clan one that allowed component targeting and a lead ring on hud display that estimated where you should fire at a moving target to hit the component you sub selected.

I believe your thinking about targeting and tracking systems - which every 'Mech has. Targeting computers are specialized equiptment that only a few 'Mechs actually use:

Quote

The Targeting Computer was introduced by Clan Mongoose in 2860.^[1] Targeting Computers are sophisticated pieces of electronics that, unlike normal targeting systems, physically help MechWarriors target their opponents. Recoil compensators and gyroscopic stabilizers are used to prevent normal weapon drift from factors such as recoil and movement while the computer accounts for atmospheric and other conditions to present an accurate "lead" on the target. This allows for more surgical precision of weapons fire, especially with naturally accurate systems, allowing for the user to hit specific parts on the target vehicle.
The Inner Sphere finally caught up to Clan technology with the Federated Suns' development of their own targeting computer in 3062.

http://www.sarna.net...geting_Computer

Edited by pursang, 12 April 2012 - 08:32 PM.

[EDMW CSN]

LordDeathStrike, on 12 April 2012 - 08:29 PM, said:

targeting computers are standard on all mechs.

the only upgrade is the clan one that allowed component targeting and a lead ring on hud display that estimated where you should fire at a moving target to hit the component you sub selected.

Dem Fedrats got it during 3062 as well. So we won't be seeing this toy for awhile.
As for the -1 to hit, just take quicker convergence and leave it at that.

[Felbombling]

Couple of ideas for targeting computers... zoomed in view or some sort of lead to target indicator based on range, target speed and weapon speed for standard shots, and a toggle that might enhance that with sticky targeting for aimed shots. Just to be clear, the targeting computer should not work with missile weapons... direct fire weapons only.

Edited by StaggerCheck, 12 April 2012 - 08:37 PM.

[Belisarius1]

Just speed up convergence substantially. That's actually all you'd need to do.

If you wanted to you could correct for desync as well, and have torso weapons on TC 'mechs fire at the floating crosshair within certain limits. Just say the TC's extra mounts and gyros etc give weapons a wider arc of movement.

Strongly opposed to any form of autoaim or sticky targeting.

Edited by Belisarius†, 12 April 2012 - 08:45 PM.

[Johannes Falkner]

Should targeting computers give additional aid like showing the various hit location hitboxes? For example, highlghting the boundaries between the various torsos. I can see some mechs not having clear boundaries and just showing the defining points could make your targeting much more effective.

Edited by Johannes Falkner, 13 April 2012 - 07:45 AM.

[Leetskeet]

Johannes Falkner, on 13 April 2012 - 07:45 AM, said:

Should targeting computers give additional aid like showing the various hit location hitboxes? For example, highlghting the boundaries between the various torsos. I can see some mechs not having clear boundaries and just showing the defining points could make your targeting much more effective.

Makes me think of turning on the targeting computer and it highlights each section of the mech based on damage, like a more modern... what was in called in MW2... the wire frame mode... Image enhancement or something?

[Victor Morson]

Did you ever play Wing Commander from 2 up? It incorporated a system called ICCS I believe. Effectively what it did is take a target's direction and speed into account, then provide you a floating reticule showing where you need to target your weapons to hit it.

It wouldn't help all that much with laser boats for obvious reasons, but with things like PPCs, ACs and Gauss this would be a massive edge and quite possibly worth the tonnage required to equip it.

Edited by Victor Morson, 13 April 2012 - 08:16 AM.

[Thorn Hallis]

LordDeathStrike, on 12 April 2012 - 08:29 PM, said:

targeting computers are standard on all mechs.

the only upgrade is the clan one that allowed component targeting and a lead ring on hud display that estimated where you should fire at a moving target to hit the component you sub selected.

Thats just the way it was in MW3.

Edited by Thorn Hallis, 13 April 2012 - 08:35 AM.

[Wyzak]

Enhanced Imaging is always a possibility, and in MW3 the clan targeting computer gave you a bigger reticle and generally made it easier to target individual parts. Of course, it also made your zoom reticle circular which wasn't really that much of an improvement over a square...

[Johannes Falkner]

Looking toward clan mechs, in the invasion we have the Fire Moth (Dasher), Adder (Puma), Hellbringer (Loki), Summoner (Thor), Man 'o War (Gargoyle), Warhawk (Masakari) and Gladiator (Executioner) that have canon variants with targeting computers (in the invasion). The Warhawk is notable for all configurations having a targeting computer (and ammo to explode on an energy boating mech...). So I am pretty sure this one will need to be addressed. Not necessarily for release, but it probably needs to be one of the things they start thinking about early in the next cycle.

[Nik Van Rhijn]

I would have it so that you had a zoomed reticule to make it easier to place your shots as well as quicker convergence. It depends on weight weight and crit penalties your looking at.

[Bongo TauKat]

While not available for IS mechs in 3049, the clan version should work as it did in MW3 bu showing a pipper for leading a target. It made sense without making a horribly unballanced advantage.

[Soviet Alex]

I'd like to see the Targeting Computer feature the predictive aiming reticle from MW3 (which was jammed by ECM) & quicker convergence. A bonus to targeting specific body parts isn't really needed because that's so much easier in a 1st person sim than on the table top. The one thing from MW3 that need correcting is the tonnage. A Battletech T-Comp weighs 1 ton per 5 (Clan) / 4 (IS) tons of weapons linked to it. The MW3 T-Comp weighed 1 ton & took up 1 critical slot. There was simply no reason not to have one.

[verybad]

Leetskeet, on 13 April 2012 - 08:14 AM, said:

Makes me think of turning on the targeting computer and it highlights each section of the mech based on damage, like a more modern... what was in called in MW2... the wire frame mode... Image enhancement or something?

That would look crappy as all getup. No thanks.Wireframe views are NOT futuristic looking. That's futuristic in the 80s, not now. Especially since modern models often can have over 10K triangles (likely Mechwarriors might be @ 15-25K) considering previous Crysis models), and some are there for texturing purposed (eg a unit icon) it would look really funcky.

The tonnage has a canon value (1ton per 4 tons weapons IS, one ton per 5 tons weapons clan), but I don't know whether that should be held too, depending on the actual performance boost in the game. If it doesn't help as much in game as it does in the TT, then nobody will use it if it's too heavy.

It would be kind of cool if you can get predictive reticule locks to specific locations using it. In addition, it should stabilize the cockpit's view on targeted units.

Edited by verybad, 14 April 2012 - 12:27 PM.