Why the "Beta patch" for TMO 2.0 is a Beta

Ducimus · 02-01-11, 04:54 AM

Ordinarily id post this in the TMO thread, rather then attention whore myself with a new one, but i need an idea of how people feel, hence a poll.

Anywho, why is the "beta patch" a beta?

Because i couldn't make up my mind on a design change that is fundamental to the TMO mod. That design change is the removal of underwater detection for aircraft, for much of the war.

Current situation:
Aircraft can detect the player while submerged if the weather and player depth permits.

Situation as changed in the Beta patch:
Aircraft can no longer detect the player while submerged until around october 1944. At that point, some aircraft change over to a visual sensor that behaves as before. Allowing for submerged detection if weather and player depth permits.

Why would i consider changing the status quo on aircraft visuals?

1.) It's been my thought that shallow water operations are more dangerous then they should be. As it is, if you get caught in shallow water in the right conditions by aircraft, your pretty much hosed. And there's a lot of shallow areas to traverse.

2.) It's also been my thought that the water is too transparent. The water transparency i adjusted so that you could barely see the silloute of your sub at 160 feet. While this has no bearing on the AI's actual sensors in any way shape or form, this adjustment was made for the sole reason of the inevitable post of "OMGWTF! There's no way a plane could see me at that depth". Well, i made it so you could see yourself, It's very much a placebo. (Yes, i think this far in advance on some things) Is the water transparency realistic? In some areas, perhaps, but i think it's just a little overdone. The transparency level in the beta patch, is *about* where i think it should be at. Could probably use a little adjustment. Yes I realize this is all graphical and eyecandy in nature, but there you have it. I have considered it at length.

3.) The way visual detection works, it could probably better be served as MAD. (think of this in terms as "the most correct" answer on a mulitple choice test) Of course this means sacrificing normal submerged visual detection, and thereby eliminates the main reason to fear aircraft for most of the war.

Why not just make an optional mod?
Now, i could always cheese out and make one visual schema or the other an optional mod, but truthfully, i dislike making optional mods because

a.) They create more work for me to do. (because you have to make them, and then maintain them. The Aft deck gun mod is very high on my excrement list, but its not going away)

b.) There's already lot of mod overlaying mod with conflicting files. It's always been my personal opinion that it's bad practice to overlay mods on top of mods with file conflicts. However, modern versions of JSGME make this easier and less prone to some mod screwups with the end user, and it's become the accepted norm in the community out of neccessity. What's more, with my own work that i do internally, i overlay files all the time because its easier to make and revert changes. My thought has been that, I know what i'm doing, but the trouble is, not all end users do. So with my own published work, i think i should strive to try to keep the overlaying of mods down to a bare minimum.

Combine points A and B, and you can pretty much guess that I've never been a big fan of making TMO optional mods.

At any rate, vote what you think if you care. I'll let this subject float around for awhile before i act on it. Eventually, i have to finalize the next update to TMO. Unfortunately, i strongly suspect it will be without Captain America's interior work (officers country if you remember). Haven't seen hide nor hair of the man. Can't say i blame him if hes moved on to newer hobbies, modding does get old after awhile.

View Poll Results: How should Aircraft visual detection be?
Leave it as it is. Submerged detection is part and parcel of TMO.	8	15.69%
Change it to be a MAD like sensor in late 1944 like the beta patch has already done.	43	84.31%
Voters: 51. You may not vote on this poll

02-01-11, 04:54 AM	#1
Ducimus Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,987 Downloads: 67 Uploads: 2	Why the "Beta patch" for TMO 2.0 is a Beta Ordinarily id post this in the TMO thread, rather then attention whore myself with a new one, but i need an idea of how people feel, hence a poll. Anywho, why is the "beta patch" a beta? Because i couldn't make up my mind on a design change that is fundamental to the TMO mod. That design change is the removal of underwater detection for aircraft, for much of the war. Current situation: Aircraft can detect the player while submerged if the weather and player depth permits. Situation as changed in the Beta patch: Aircraft can no longer detect the player while submerged until around october 1944. At that point, some aircraft change over to a visual sensor that behaves as before. Allowing for submerged detection if weather and player depth permits. Why would i consider changing the status quo on aircraft visuals? 1.) It's been my thought that shallow water operations are more dangerous then they should be. As it is, if you get caught in shallow water in the right conditions by aircraft, your pretty much hosed. And there's a lot of shallow areas to traverse. 2.) It's also been my thought that the water is too transparent. The water transparency i adjusted so that you could barely see the silloute of your sub at 160 feet. While this has no bearing on the AI's actual sensors in any way shape or form, this adjustment was made for the sole reason of the inevitable post of "OMGWTF! There's no way a plane could see me at that depth". Well, i made it so you could see yourself, It's very much a placebo. (Yes, i think this far in advance on some things) Is the water transparency realistic? In some areas, perhaps, but i think it's just a little overdone. The transparency level in the beta patch, is about where i think it should be at. Could probably use a little adjustment. Yes I realize this is all graphical and eyecandy in nature, but there you have it. I have considered it at length. 3.) The way visual detection works, it could probably better be served as MAD. (think of this in terms as "the most correct" answer on a mulitple choice test) Of course this means sacrificing normal submerged visual detection, and thereby eliminates the main reason to fear aircraft for most of the war. Why not just make an optional mod? Now, i could always cheese out and make one visual schema or the other an optional mod, but truthfully, i dislike making optional mods because a.) They create more work for me to do. (because you have to make them, and then maintain them. The Aft deck gun mod is very high on my excrement list, but its not going away) b.) There's already lot of mod overlaying mod with conflicting files. It's always been my personal opinion that it's bad practice to overlay mods on top of mods with file conflicts. However, modern versions of JSGME make this easier and less prone to some mod screwups with the end user, and it's become the accepted norm in the community out of neccessity. What's more, with my own work that i do internally, i overlay files all the time because its easier to make and revert changes. My thought has been that, I know what i'm doing, but the trouble is, not all end users do. So with my own published work, i think i should strive to try to keep the overlaying of mods down to a bare minimum. Combine points A and B, and you can pretty much guess that I've never been a big fan of making TMO optional mods. At any rate, vote what you think if you care. I'll let this subject float around for awhile before i act on it. Eventually, i have to finalize the next update to TMO. Unfortunately, i strongly suspect it will be without Captain America's interior work (officers country if you remember). Haven't seen hide nor hair of the man. Can't say i blame him if hes moved on to newer hobbies, modding does get old after awhile. Last edited by Ducimus; 02-01-11 at 05:09 AM.