PDC CIWS

[bean (OP)]

I've been wondering if CIWSs mounted on PDCs in-atmosphere work.  I know that beam weapons except mesons are degraded by atmosphere, but I wasn't sure if the same was true of CIWSs.

[Erik L]

I've been wondering if CIWSs mounted on PDCs in-atmosphere work.  I know that beam weapons except mesons are degraded by atmosphere, but I wasn't sure if the same was true of CIWSs.

I believe railguns are the only "beam" weapon not degraded by atmosphere.

[bean (OP)]

I thought that was mesons.  However, CIWSs aren't normal beam weapons.  Does anyone specifically know if they are affected?

[Charlie Beeler]

Unless Steve has closed the loophole in v5.3 Gauss Cannon function in point defense no matter the atmosphere.  So CIWS should as well.  I know that they should be degraded by atmosphere, but my experience has been PDC mounted beams work in point defense and in PDC vs PDC combat.

[bean (OP)]

OK, thanks.  That was what I wanted to know.

[UnLimiTeD]

Trick here seems to be that in final defense, aka, range 0, they don't technically pass through atmosphere.
But area defense will obviously not work.

[Father Tim]

Except final defensive fire occurs at 10,000 km, not 0 km.  Otherwise, the chance to hit would be infinite.

[UnLimiTeD]

I think up to 10k is considered point blank.
100% accuracy, no damage fall off.
Doesn't accuracy calculate with a linear fall-off?
I think it wouldn't make sense to make it a multiplier of range, that way it wouldn't ever reach zero.

[Brian Neumann]

The range dropoff is linear, but the minimum range is 10,000km.  Anything less than 10,000km is treated as if it was 10,000km so you do not get that infinite chance to hit working in your favor.

Brian

[UnLimiTeD]

Well, if it's linear, then a fall off from 100% to 0% over, say 100k range, would mean it'll be 110% accuracy on 0 range if there was such a thing.
But I guess that isn't the point here.
I think Steve said something about the Defensive fire working in atmosphere.
I can't remember what the reason was it worked, but there was one.
Someone ask him next time he passes by.^^

[Brian Neumann]

I think the main reason defensive fire works in an atmosphere is that Steve never coded in a check for the atmosphere density when determining the pd fire.  As far as having a 110% chance to hit, you would be correct exept that anything under 10,000km is treated as if it was 10,000km.

Brian

[Charlie Beeler]

OK I just ran a test.  The last time I tried using beams in a PDC v PDC was v4.9.  Steve has appearently closed the coding hole I'd found, and reported, that allowed beams other than mesons to fire within a atmosphere of 1.0 or greater.  I have not tested whether PD modes work or not.

But if I recall correctly... my last v5.2 game had Precursors and NPR's using CIWS successfully within atmosphere.