On-line each player in the same session sees somewhat different picture because of the net lag (which is time, required data to pass from one player to other(s)). All damage and hits are calculated on computer of the player, who fired the projectile. I.e. player A fires a lead shot at player B and, his shells (on his PC) hit the target fine. At the same time player B may see player A firing with not enough lead and all his shot are miss. Next moment Player A's PC calculates damage, inflicted to B and sends it to B. So, what does B sees? A visually missed him, but still he gets destroyed.
Now, same situation, but A makes too much lead. On his PC he misses B, but due to lag B may see A's projectiles passing right through his plane, without hitting it.
Or, there may be a different situation, where both players play with minimal lag, and both see very close picture on their screens. But, for whatever reason, there happens lag fluctuation at the moment, both see hits on B, but the damage was not transferred yet (due to increased lag, or packet loss). So, B, despite getting visually hit, doesn't receive damage immediately. Instead, the damage from, say, 3-4 hits, separated in time, comes to B all at once, destroying him instantly. So, other players see 3 hits, which do not inflict any damage and then single 4th hit, which has effect of 4 simulations hits.
Sometimes, this damage packets may not come at all, so everybody see hits on B, but he isn't hurt, because packets with information about damage, A inflicted on B did not come from A (where lost).
That is why visual representation not always match actual events in the on-line game, or situation in the off-line session.
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