User:Talas

AA shooting at "any" unit

Disclaimer

This has already been semi-debunked by GF in: http://zero-k.info/Forum/Thread/36893?postID=262077#262077

And to some extent also in: http://zero-k.info/Forum/Thread/35999?postID=256192#256192

However, I feel like it's a good exercise to explore the idea in detail.

The idea in a nutshell

• Make AA have two zones of operation: High altitude and Low altitude.
• If AA will fire on unit is determined by Altitude of target, firestate and Avoid Bad targets state.
• Certain planes and gunships should be made to fly a bit higher, so they avoid most flex-AA.
• AA that fires at high-altitude should be stronger.
• There should be some overlap between the High altitude and the Low altitude zone.
• Krow altitude, for example, could be so that it is hit by both types.
• Certain AA can work in both zones, ie Gremlin, Zephyr.
• Jumping and lobbed units shouldn't reach the High-altitude zone.

Intended outcomes

• Landed planes don't get targeted by AA.
• Launched units can be targeted by AA.
• AA is still AA, it won't shoot up hills.
• Certain planes/gunships can fly "under" the strongest AA (ie Artemis).

Issues

• Jumping/lobbed units can be hit by low-altitude AA.
• Building "correct" AA response becomes _more_ difficult.
• This is a large change, requiring huge balancing efforts.
• Might require engine changes to support altitude limited targeting.