This project is an attempt to fix Planet Hardpoints as they are do not work right in mission as they are now. The hardpoints on the model itself are placed too high and too low on the horizontal plane of the equator to be of any use when it comes to point defense. This problem creates an imbalance when it comes to mission times between drone and non-drone using races.
For example, a Lyran with ESG and disruptors needs to stand off and hammer the planet from a distance for quite some time until enough damage is done so that it may then close on the planet and beam aboard marines to capture it and end the mission. Meanwhile, a player in a drone bombardment ship needs only to fire off a few drone waves and the planet is reduced to rubble. Between these two scenarios, the droner spends a fraction of the time it takes the Lyran to complete his mission.
Rehardpointing planets along the equator is the only solution to solving this problem. It also will improve a Planets ability to hold off an enemy ship from closing to within optimal weapons range and fix the total lack of point defense.
What is illustrated in the following two pics are the distances shown from various hardpoints to a ship 5km away. Please note that damage is always measured from weapons hardpoint to shield edge. So the FCA you see in the pic has 5km true range to the planet for weapons, while the Planet measures from its hardpoint to the target which can be and usually is 2-3 times farther than the ship has to shoot. That is why Planet weapons are at innefective ranges while a ship can be at optimal weapons range.
My solution in the pic below has been tested and it works. The hardpoints need to be changed as shown below so that Hardpoint 11 is at the front of the model and the rest of the hardpoints go around the equator clockwise 15 degrees apart. Once the hardpoints are set as illustrated, I can change the weapon arcs in the shiplist to match and then we will have fully functional planets as they should have been from the start. When this was tested, it was done on an EAW mesh which has fewer polys than does OP models and only took several minutes. It is my hope that all 27 OP planet models can be rehardpointed. I have discussed this with FS and he has said if it is done he would consider adding it to his new OPPlus version. If done soon, I will use it on the new
Slave Girls of Orion IV OP Dyna server.
Hardpoints 1-10 are heavy weapon hardpoints and have been spaced about between phaser hardpoints. There are 24 weapon slots and each has been placed 15 degrees apart so all 24 fit equadistant in 360 degrees.
Modelers, I would, and I'm sure every dyna player would, greatly appreciate your help on this issue. Please let me know if you can tackle this project.
Diz
Topic: Modelers, help! New shiplist project needs your attention! (Read 3317 times)