Alan Phipps wrote: ↑Thu, 31. Mar 22, 12:40
".. the linked egosoft post in this thread does not directly address or explain the outlined issue, instead only gives a general statement of opinion and why those turrets might have tracking issues."
You mean the explanation and comments given by the dev that wrote the turret engagement code?
Did you actually read that linked post and my reply to it? His post explains why turrets might have trouble tracking and not fire because calculations say 0 chance of hit. Sure, but this does NOT explain why they completely lock up and refuse to operate AT ALL when faced with those targets (see my extensive testing results in previous replies). Enemy speed does not matter, even if the S ships slow down to a crawl or completely stop moving for extended periods of time the turrets will not react, hence tracking issues never even come play. Also they work fine in "attack my current target" against S targets (scoring occasional hits), just not other turret modes. Nor does the post explain why only this one particular turret was hit by this specific hindrance, as tracking / missing issues are common to basically all turrets. I am getting tired of explaining these important distinctions. Now, I grant you there
is a subtext to his reply that one OUGHT not to use them like that, and there is the line "
Debatable whether them flailing about or actually shooting off target would be better than appearing to not try" can be interpreted as "we chose to stop them working at all", but that is open to interpretation. It is not clearly or definitely explained if there was a conscious choice from the devs to hardcode a block to this one specific usage scenario, unless i missed it somewhere else?
I genuinely cannot understand the near absolute, aggressive negativity toward every suggestion of even the slightest change or improvement to the game. As I have tried to explain time and time again, giving players the OPTION to use M plasma in this manner would have no downsides, as anyone not wishing to use them like that can just switch to another turret targeting mode. Again, consider the fact that the M Plasma turrets will be used to engage any nearby hostiles as soon as a NPC pilot takes over, even if the player is still on the bridge, scoring occasional hits even against fast movers. So why not allow the player to use them like that as well?
I have also dived into great detail on the arguments against even the option, which are largely
opinions on the usage of plasma in that way, all of which are irrelevant to the possibility of HAVING THE OPTION to use them like that IF YOU SO WISH. For example I addressed the "they will miss a lot" or "the stray shots might hit friendlies" and other common, but largely tangential negative replies. Again, I am repeating myself a lot here, but the short of it is this: Making this change to the game would be welcome to many (yet more people have messaged me agreeing with my request on discord), and would still allow those not wishing to use them in such a way to change turret modes, and therefore not be negatively affected at all. So again, why not make this change?
Sorry for my frustrated tone, and my sincerest thanks for anyone sympathetic listening out there in the internets