LOD change

[gavagai]

I have Clod settings figured out so that I get a good framerate over land. However, I had to reduce my resolution to 1600x900. The only problem I have is the level of detail on other aircraft at certain ranges. At long range, they are readily visible. As the range decreases, the LOD changes, and they become nearly invisible until they move a few hundred meters closer.

Is there any way to improve the transition? Thanks!

[*Buzzsaw*]

I have Clod settings figured out so that I get a good framerate over land. However, I had to reduce my resolution to 1600x900. The only problem I have is the level of detail on other aircraft at certain ranges. At long range, they are readily visible. As the range decreases, the LOD changes, and they become nearly invisible until they move a few hundred meters closer.

Is there any way to improve the transition? Thanks!

See here:

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=38700&page=2

This patch addresses visibility issues by adding reflection from aircraft wings and glass.

[gavagai]

Thanks, but I already have that patch installed. It doesn't help with the specific issue I'm talking about.

[SlipBall]

Thanks, but I already have that patch installed. It doesn't help with the specific issue I'm talking about.

Your system may need to be upgraded it is a very demanding game requiring a 1.5 card

[gavagai]

I see the same LOD problem when I try it on my friend's machine with a 3gb card. It seems like a holdover issue that existed in 1946 as well.

[SlipBall]

I see the same LOD problem when I try it on my friend's machine with a 3gb card. It seems like a holdover issue that existed in 1946 as well.


My personal opinion on that is either the monitor or the pilot of original game. Not meant to insult anyone, but I have not had that problem so it could not be the game, but since the rewrite it is now a problem with the game.:rolleyes:

[Royraiden]

I have the same problem while running at 1920x1200, I dont think it has to do with anything else but the lack of proper AA.Swetfx dos improve the jaggies a bit but mid range lods look jagged as hell.I plan to upgrade to a 2560x1440 monitor partly because of this.Im also going to pgrade to a gtx 680 4gb edition so Ill be sure to compare when I get that.

[zapatista]

presuming the new TF patch did not create new Lod problems ......

in the previous il2 series there were 3 lod models iirc, and over the yrs there were several errors with lod model designs for several planes. this meant some became nearly invisible at intermediate viewing distances (eg, at close distance the lod model is very large and hard to miss, and if the most distant lod model was active somewhere btw 1000 m and 1500 m it is/was less likely to be complained about because mosr people are concerned about SA of more nearby planes in the 1000 m danger zone surrounding them)

i dont know if anybody has directly examined the lod models in CoD to see if CoD contains similar errors

all of this of course is presuming people in CoD are using the correct FoV setting for their monitor size (and monitor viewing distance). with most people still mistakenly flying around 90% of the time with the widest (90) FoV, all ingame objects (like the distant planes you are searching for in the sky) can be shrunk in size by as much as 50% (meaning the lod model is much smaller then it should be and harder to spot)

imho the lod models in CoD need a closer look to exclude any design errors, AND the smaller lod models in cod (which uses 7 lod models per object iirc) need some visibility enhancements applied to them (discussed several times in other threads here in previous yrs), because right now these smallest lod models are focussed on still representing the shape of the aircraft/object correctly, but do not contain visibility-enhancements that might make them stand out sufficiently so distant visibility is more correctly simulating what you could/would see in a similar situation in real life.

[SlipBall]

I made a rather long and boring YouTube on dot visibility in original Clod. It shows me, well really AI closing in on a dot first spotted at 9km. The point was to show that the dot remained in sight. If any watch this and say "what dot" why then you have a problem :-P

may need a double click
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrgfZnWNa9g

[zapatista]

dot visibility (representing a distant aircraft for ex) has different issues from the LoD visibility problem. eg, the smallest most distant Lod model eventually transitions to a dot, and then for a specific further range stays as a dot until the dot eventually disappear. these dots stand out well against open sky, but not enough when viewed against a landscape/terrain background.

solutions for improving dot visibility (against a landscape terrain for ex) would be very different for what needs to be done to resolve the LoD visibility issue

for those currently having LoD visibility problems, make sure your monitor FoV is setup correctly first, after that you have a more accurate comparison to what it should look like in real life, and you can quantify the extent of the problem more easily

[Royraiden]

dot visibility (representing a distant aircraft for ex) has different issues from the LoD visibility problem. eg, the smallest most distant Lod model eventually transitions to a dot, and then for a specific further range stays as a dot until the dot eventually disappear. these dots stand out well against open sky, but not enough when viewed against a landscape/terrain background.

solutions for improving dot visibility (against a landscape terrain for ex) would be very different for what needs to be done to resolve the LoD visibility issue

for those currently having LoD visibility problems, make sure your monitor FoV is setup correctly first, after that you have a more accurate comparison to what it should look like in real life, and you can quantify the extent of the problem more easily
What is the correct FOV? I see people playing with such a FOV that when looking straight through the reticle you can see the wings at each side, I assume this would make matters worse to see distant planes.When I play I can only see the front part of the cockpit and the top instruments only.

[gavagai]

Good comments. I think I'll try out a reduced FoV as default. While I don't like looking through a tube, having aircraft disappear is much worse!

Fwiw, I have a 23 inch monitor. Maybe someday I'll spring for a much bigger display.

[Continu0]

I have the same problem while running at 1920x1200, I dont think it has to do with anything else but the lack of proper AA.Swetfx dos improve the jaggies a bit but mid range lods look jagged as hell.I plan to upgrade to a 2560x1440 monitor partly because of this.Im also going to pgrade to a gtx 680 4gb edition so Ill be sure to compare when I get that.

After buying that monster-card, you could try downsampling..

[justme262]

The transition from dot to disappearing LOD seems to be worse at afternoon. 3-5pm in the game.

When looking a a distant bomber with its wing close to horizontal the wings will disappear and reappear as the angle changes. The AA has always been poor is this regard. I suspect the small size of the most distant LOD is behaving like the bombers wing and disappearing momentarily. I have watched 109s in the afternoon against the horizon transition from a clear dot to nothing at all then reappear as the range closes with my wing man reporting the same.

[paf]

Its the same for me gavagai, like in old Il2.
In one of the missions, where you got to engage Ju88s to defend the ships its very visible to me. At long range you can make out the bombers easily, then they "disappear" against the water and "come back" when nearer.
The funny thing is I remember really getting used to it in the IL2 days. But flying mainly ROF and ClOD only once in a while, that is one point that is really noticeable.

[*Buzzsaw*]

Salute

Here's a quick guide to improving your ability to spot aircraft in CoD:

1) Resolution. The higher your resolution, the more difficulty you will have in spotting the enemy. Some players go as low as 1280 X 800 to get max. improvement, personally I use 1680. Find your best compromise between eye candy and efficiency.

2) In your Documents/1CSoftClub/IL-2 Sturmovik Cliffs of Dover folder you will find a notepad file called 'conf'. Open it and scroll down till you see the section called '[core]'. Halfway down the section you will see 'VisibilityDistance=?'. Most have this set to 3, change it to 5. Going higher does not improve the situation.

3) In your options section for Video, eliminate 'Anti-Aliasing'. You can get this back by using SweetFX without the visibility penalty.

4) Under Textures, use 'Original Textures'

5) Install the TEAM FUSION mod. The reflections from cockpit glass and wings will allow you to spot aircraft more easily

Searching for the enemy:

When you are searching for dots, you will see them more easily if you are in the widest view, ie. 90 degrees.

On the other hand, if you are looking for aircraft close by, you will see them more easily by using the 30 degree view.

Hope these suggestions help.

[gavagai]

Thanks for the tips Buzzsaw. I'm curious, why are the original textures best for aircraft visibility?

[SlipBall]

Additionally the single best thing to do is get a true 120HZ monitor...caution here, because many monitors are not true 120hz.

[*Buzzsaw*]

Thanks for the tips Buzzsaw. I'm curious, why are the original textures best for aircraft visibility?

Because some of the visual effects are not visible without that setting. (especially in the TF mod)

For example, contrails.... very helpful in spotting the enemy.

[gavagai]

Hmmmm... I can see contrails with all of the texture settings.