Topic: "Hidden" Mine Placement?

[Bonk]

Playing SFB-OP again, I'm looking at the details (found an off-axis explosion texture...), anyway it occured to me I could hide the mines... what do you think?

If we do get the source, it occurs to me it might be good to add textures to the validated client files for such features.

[Dizzy]

The minelayer would see them and allies, but everyone else, neutral and enemy would not?

[deadmansix]

Playing SFB-OP again, I'm looking at the details (found an off-axis explosion texture...), anyway it occured to me I could hide the mines... what do you think?

If we do get the source, it occurs to me it might be good to add textures to the validated client files for such features.

this is what I think, if you want to start using mine fields then yes hide them to all except allied races and then only use them around bases as part of there protection but even then there was away to detect them it was small but there was a chance.

[Bonk]

The minelayer would see them and allies, but everyone else, neutral and enemy would not?

Nope, everyone would still see the little model and hear the sound (and see the transsporter for t-bombs appropriately), I just propose removing the colored rings that highlight the mines. Thus the quotes around "hidden".  Nobody would see the rings, you'd have to be mindful of where you left mines. They will be difficult to detect in a busy battle like you'll find on SFB-OP.

[Bonk]

Playing SFB-OP again, I'm looking at the details (found an off-axis explosion texture...), anyway it occured to me I could hide the mines... what do you think?

If we do get the source, it occurs to me it might be good to add textures to the validated client files for such features.

this is what I think, if you want to start using mine fields then yes hide them to all except allied races and then only use them around bases as part of there protection but even then there was away to detect them it was small but there was a chance.

Cant really do minefeilds proper because mines expire in OP... if we get the source... . As I stated above I just propose to remove the rings that highlight mines.

[Bonk]

Some screenshots to clarify:

http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads/repository/Images/OP%20Screenshots/HiddenMines01.JPG
http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads/repository/Images/OP%20Screenshots/HiddenMines02.JPG
http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads/repository/Images/OP%20Screenshots/HiddenMines03.JPG
http://www.dynaverse.net/downloads/repository/Images/OP%20Screenshots/HiddenMines04.JPG

[Dizzy]

Well, I can use a different model for the mine to help it show up better if the rings are gone. So it matters little to me, but what about black rings? They'd be harder to detect, but you could still see them. But cant I just go into the textures folder ands change the color myself? If so, then whats the point?

Its probably safer to stick with stock mines. But I'd like to see temporal mines... and power absorber mines...

Oh, aand what about the shift-M for nuclear mine? If Andromedan, couldnt you use shift+M for a power absorber mine? But you'd need to transport it... Not just drop it out the back.

What about Alt+M or ctrl+M. Could that be hardcoded so we could use different type mines? What all types are there?

[Bonk]

Well, I can use a different model for the mine to help it show up better if the rings are gone. So it matters little to me, but what about black rings? They'd be harder to detect, but you could still see them. But cant I just go into the textures folder ands change the color myself? If so, then whats the point?

Its probably safer to stick with stock mines. But I'd like to see temporal mines... and power absorber mines...

Oh, aand what about the shift-M for nuclear mine? If Andromedan, couldnt you use shift+M for a power absorber mine? But you'd need to transport it... Not just drop it out the back.

What about Alt+M or ctrl+M. Could that be hardcoded so we could use different type mines? What all types are there?

What's the model for it? I could not find one...

As I suggested, down the road, textures would have to be added to the validated client files for such features.

[FPF-DieHard]

Might need the Code for this, but Dropped mines should be hidden, those deployed by transporter should be seen.

[el-Karnak]

Hide the mines or make the rings pink.

[GDA-S'Cipio]

Hmmmm........

Hide the mines.  Put the mine models in the Scripts folder in your shiplist folder, and then put them in the Validated Client folder on the server.  People  will *have* to use your hidden mine textures, or they won't be able to log on.    muahahahahahahaha!

Seriously, I'd like to play with hidden mines.  It could be cool, especially when you are closing in on that WE that has surruptitiously dropped that hidden NSM.....

DH's statements about dropped mines being secret in SFB, while transporter bombs are secret, but your scheme would be in line with this.  Dropped mines would be hard to see (like suicide shuttles now) while transporter bombs would have the transporter effect to announce their placement.

Good luck keeping up with where they all are. 

-S'Cipio

[Green]

Wouldn't the mines still show in the F11 HUD?  Everything else does.

(voted to keep them visible)

[Vorcha]

Heck ya...if there is a way..they should be hidden.  Sounds like a lot of fun.

V

[SSCF-LeRoy]

Wouldn't the mines still show in the F11 HUD?  Everything else does.

(voted to keep them visible)

Yep, they do. Every mine is denoted by a range indicator on the F11 HUD so it would still be possible to navigate around mines, although it would be more tricky without the visual reference of the proximity rings.

BTW, to make the mines truly invisible, how about using the dummy.mod that resides in the root models directory in place of the xmn.mod and make the proximity rings black?

[Bonk]

BTW, to make the mines truly invisible, how about using the dummy.mod that resides in the root models directory in place of the xmn.mod and make the proximity rings black?

Thats what I'm after thanks for the suggestion.

[Sethan]

I like the idea of hidden mines - but it sure would be nice if the person who placed them and their allies could see the rings.

As to minefields being a non-starter due to mines expiring - once we have access to the code, they don't have to expire.

[FireSoul]

I have 2 problems with the hidden mines idea:

1- The AI certainly won't be affected by it.
2- tbombed mines should be visible.

So perhaps that should be put into consideration as well? Until a proper implementation *may* be completed, I believe we should go with stock.

[el-Karnak]

Leave the stock mines as-is.  Setup a shiplist entry to use an hidden mine model. Then the mission script could map out an hidden minefield.

[Rod ONeal]

There's too many fubars in trying to do this, right now. I'd love to see (sic) hidden mines in SFC. You should know where "friendly" mines are. You should be able to see where the transported mines are. F11 messes up hiding them. The AI should be under the same limits as the players.