GroundObjectRole index and explanations

[+WhiteBoySamurai 1,092]

I feel like there's not enough solid info about how ground objects are used by the game engine. For the benefit of modders who make things other than airplanes, it would be useful to summarize everything currently known. Also, I'd like to get some questions answered about certain rarely used/unused types of vehicles, if possible.

 

GroundObjectRole=

Tank: Appears on friendly and enemy sides during CAS missions.

Transport: Appears in enemy convoys during Armed Recon missions.

APC: ??? I was previously under the impression that these also appeared in Armed Recon missions, but after testing it out recently, they never show. So what are APCs for exactly?

Recon: ??? A few stock vehicles like the BRDM have this classification, but I'm not sure when and where they're supposed to show up. I could have sworn that I've seen a few spawn in/near bases before.

Artillery: ??? I've never seen them show up in game (aside from deliberately placing them with the editor, of course). Can these be assigned by type in terrain's target list like SAMs are?

EW_Radar, SAM_Radar, SAM_Launcher, Fixed_AAA, Mobile_AAA: Appear as dictated by terrain target list. Is Mobile_SAM a valid/working entry?

 

 

Naval units are a subset of ground objects and consist of the following types.

Cargoship: Appears as a target during anti-shipping missions.

Patrolboat: I've seen them appear a few times in random missions, but I have no idea what triggers their appearance.

Warship: Friendly warships will appear in single missions only if you are flying as a faction that has enough ships to form a task force. Hostile warships will appear if the terrain's primary enemy faction (Enemy01 in the _nations.ini list) has enough ships to form a task force.

 

WarshipClass=

Carrier: Can lead a task force. In random single missions, only one carrier per side (Blue/Red) will spawn on a map.

Battleship: Can appear as escorts for carriers OR leading their own task force.

Transport: Can lead a task force (separate from CV and BB groups).

Cruiser: Can lead a task force (if no CV/BB/LS available) OR act as escorts for carriers and battleships.

Destroyer: Appears as escort.

Frigate: Appears as escort.

Submarine: This type apparently exists somewhere in the game code, but currently unused??

 

The bare minimum for a randomly generated task force is one "capital ship" (carrier, battleship, transport, or cruiser) and one or two types of escorts.

Any capital ship leading a task force can be designated as a target for a randomly generated strike mission. However, if an aircraft carrier is able to appear on a map, it will get top priority as a strike mission target, taking precedence over all other ships or land targets.

 

That's all I've got at the moment. More data would be greatly appreciated.

[FastCargo 412]

Is Mobile_SAM a valid/working entry?

 

I'm wondering that myself...I KNOW I've been shot down by SA-8s (and a friendly Stinger...got too close in a low altitude dogfight and I got 'blue on blue' killed)...but the Mobile_SAM I've been trying to get in game isn't showing up...

 

FC

[KJakker 883]

It was my understanding that their was no Mobile_SAM role and that mobile SAMs had to use the Mobile_AAA role.

Edited December 1, 2012 by KJakker

[FastCargo 412]

You know, I remember that conversation somewhere....

 

So I changed them and sure enough, they showed up in game and started shooting!

 

Adds a nice bit of randomization to the short range air defense setup.

 

FC

[SFP1Ace 33]

I'm not 100% sure, but doesn't Mobile_SAM appear only during CAS (or was it Armed_Recon?) missions?

 

You know, protecting them rolling tank platoons/convoys?

Edited December 1, 2012 by SFP1Ace

[Wrench 9,616]

I set my APCs as tanks, depending on what model it is.

 

M-113s, with only their puny 50 cal, I set as TRANSPORT, so they appear in convoys ala truck. (but...they WILL shoot at you!)

OTH, Bradley IFV, I've set as TANK, due to the TOW launcher and 25mm cannon. Can't rememember what I did to the WarPak/Soviet stuff...

[+WhiteBoySamurai 1,092]

It was my understanding that their was no Mobile_SAM role and that mobile SAMs had to use the Mobile_AAA role.

 

I was under the same impression. At least, I'm not seeing them show up randomly unless I change them to Mobile_AAA.

It looks like the SA-8 is the only stock Mobile_SAM object. It also, for some reason has a maximum speed of 64mps (200+ kilometers per hour!)... which is probably irrelevant, since I've never seen them move on their own, either.

 

I set my APCs as tanks, depending on what model it is.

 

M-113s, with only their puny 50 cal, I set as TRANSPORT, so they appear in convoys ala truck. (but...they WILL shoot at you!)

OTH, Bradley IFV, I've set as TANK, due to the TOW launcher and 25mm cannon. Can't rememember what I did to the WarPak/Soviet stuff...

 

I've got a similar setup on my end (and having trucks that shoot back makes armed recon much more interesting!), but so far I've left the third party red vehicles like BMPs with the APC/RECON tags they came with. I'd still like to know what the game is supposed to do with APC and recon objects. Has anyone seen either type appear in a CAS mission before, for example?

[+whiteknight06604 932]

I've seen recon objects(at least stock ones) sitting around airbases from time to time. other than that i never see APCs or Recon anywhere or doing anything. it's a shame that in CAS missions the computer can't have a "mixed" formation of tanks and APCs with maybe an AAA ro recon vehicle thrown in. almost like the way naval task forces are run now.

Edited December 2, 2012 by whiteknight06604

[FastCargo 412]

Well, I sort of have that now. I have tanks where the main gun is ground only, but the 2 aux guns are air or ground. And there have been a few times I got too close and all 9 "tanks" in a 'square' opened up on me (I gave them pretty liberal firing arcs)...looked like a damn wall! And hurt like one too....

 

Here's a thought...make duplicates of your mobile SAM and AAA units, but designate them as tanks. See if the game mix and matches them in the CAS formations. Also, I think you can increase the number and arrangement of items in CAS formations...so you can have more epic battles.

 

FC

[FastCargo 412]

Well, crap, that didn't work.

 

One side ended up being all tanks, the other was all mobile SAMs...

 

FC

[Fubar512 1,350]

Well, crap, that didn't work.

 

One side ended up being all tanks, the other was all mobile SAMs...

 

FC

 

Just for s**tz n' grinz, you should try giving the mobile SAMs air and ground capability

[FastCargo 412]

Actually...

 

My Mobile SAMs have an secondary gun that does have air and ground capability. They were doing double duty...firing at their counterparts with the gun, while firing SAMs at the airborne stuff... It was only because of limitation of the other side's MBTs that they didn't get slaughtered...

 

FC

[Fubar512 1,350]

I meant assigning the missiles air and ground capability....that isn't unprecedented, BTW, several SAM systems were/are touted as being dual purpose.

[+WhiteBoySamurai 1,092]

Yeah, Canada's ADATS comes to mind. Not sure how effective a laser-guided missile with a heavy anti-tank warhead would really be against fast movers, but I wouldn't want to risk it in an attack helicopter.

 

I agree with WhiteKnight in that we really need an option for making mixed formations. Given how fleets are set up, it shouldn't be very hard for Thirdwire to do. The more realistic and dynamic the ground war is, the more immersive the campaign.

[+Dels 594]

that isn't unprecedented, BTW, several SAM systems were/are touted as being dual purpose.

 

Yeah, if you watch Navy SEALs apparently a Stinger can blow up a BTR-152 APC.

Edited December 3, 2012 by Dels

[+whiteknight06604 932]

Yeah, if you watch Navy SEALs apparently a Stinger can blow up a BTR-152 APC.

 

I'm pretty sure that I could blow up a BTR-152 after a dinner at Taco Bell.......

[Centurion-1 1,228]

LOL. But yeah, if Sidewinders can be locked and fired on ground units (IRL) based on heat why not IR SAMs, like the SA-9/SA-13 or Chaparall. Still not super effective though and ingame they would just waste their missiles.