Thanks Hitman for your insight!! I'll take a look at the German scope for what you're talking about. Yes, I do realize the
ratio between the two magnifications is the important factor (4) not the actual numbers used. Again, thanks for the pointers.
I've got some bad news and some good news.
The bad news first. While running through the various resolutions I found one discrepancy with the stock game optics. The 1280x1024 resolution created a 2 degree field of view difference (low power) compared to all others!! The total FoV for the
1280x1024 resolution was 38 degrees wide! The total FoV for
all other resolutions is 36 degrees wide (the figure for having a
correct FoV is 32 degrees wide). Admittedly, I grew tired of guessing what relative degree I was on using the stock scope compass so I put in the Big Bearing compass of Captain Cox's and proceeded to check with clearer results. This 2 degree
wider FoV only showed on this
one resolution, no others. And wouldn't you know it, this is the resolution I usually use for my modding. I plan to check this difference on my other monitor. If past testing holds true, this quirk will require a specific optical setting just for it. The others seem to be exactly the same, even the 1280x768, 1280x960, and the 1280x800. Why, I don't know. I just know it's there.
So you may say, "What's the big deal about a couple of degrees wider with the field of view"?
A target in a wider FoV will appear smaller due to the increased size of its view width. This occurs even though the target is at a specific range away from your sight point. It will appear smaller to you due to the way the game defines its parameters. The trouble comes when you have the game set to "Manual Targeting". As a player you will either use the Stadimeter, scope Telemeter divisions, or Sonar to determine range to target (you can use the map to plot a targets position, measuring with the ruler if the "map contacts update" is enabled. This gets into a bit of "cheating" if you want to really play using manual targeting). Further, both Sonar and the map measurement method does not rely on the FoV for getting their range. Doesn't make a tinkers damn what the view is, the game plots the objects through its game engine and knows precisely where everything is. That's why using the auto targeting feature is accurate when displaying range. It does it through the games built in "GPS" (sort of speak), it knows exactly where it puts things. The trouble is with the Stadimeter, or using the scopes Telemeter divisions needing to have a correct view of a target to calculate range. Without a correct view neither will accurately give correct range. The Stadimeter relies on the targets second water line image to be placed on the screen to determine height. If the height is
lower than it should be (due to the smaller size of the target) the range finding will be inaccurate; leaning to a
greater distance in range than it should be. The scopes Telemeter divisions are marked for a 32 degree view (check it out, count the divisions from left to right, or top to bottom). A 36 or 38 degree camera view will not give accurate measurements if the the division marks are made for 32 degree FoV!!
The good news is I've corrected the other resolutions to give a 32 degree FoV. It would seem I'll have to make just two different mods to cover the possible resolutions a player may use. I do plan on testing more to make sure but this is where I'm heading.
I told you I would provide an example of what a corrected periscope view would look like. The following images are of a game resolution of 1280x1024 using the "Optical Targeting Correction" modification at low power. We start out at the compass bearing of zero, the plan is to check the bearing at the left edge of the screen.
We move to the point of reference onto the adjacent ship and find....
Ok, we're on the money. 16 degrees = half the field of view, x's 2 = 32 degree FoV.
How about a High Power magnification? We start with the scope centered on the 355 degree relative bearing. This time we will check the right side of the scope, centering on the freighters superstructure, just behind a porthole.
We're looking for 4 degrees of change from the center to the edge. This will give us the correct 8 degree total FoV. Here's what we have.....
So the optical corrections have been implemented for the 1280x1024 resolution. I have the others as well. I'm going to test more but for now I'm thinking there are just two resolution settings that need to be addressed. I just need to check more.
If all goes as planned now, I'll be testing mast heights and ship lengths soon. I'll keep you up to date.
Again, thanks for your input. Every little bit helps!!
