Intercept on Recon

[Ambreville]

Is there any way to make air unit recon missions interceptable?

 

[GeoModder]

There's more then meets the eye here. You probably also want a way to make recon units interceptable during wartime only.
A good thing would be to give diplomatic penalty points for doing recon missions on empires which you don't have open borders with.

 

[Ambreville]

There's more then meets the eye here. You probably also want a way to make recon units interceptable during wartime only.
A good thing would be to give diplomatic penalty points for doing recon missions on empires which you don't have open borders with.

Not necessarily. A "recon" (call it a "spy") aircraft can be shot down during peace times (ask Gary Powers about that one).

It wouldn't matter anyway. War is the basis for the scenario mod I am putting together. The issue here is no so much diplomacy et al, but how you actually intercept a recon mission...

 

[Dom Pedro II]

I think this would have to be done in the SDK, but it would actually be fairly simple to do in the SDK. I would assume that the reason they didn't make recon interceptable is because the recon feature was considered the weakest of the air missions and the risk therefore would not be worth the reward. I don't think it was a matter of difficulty.

Here... add this line to the recon function:

	if (interceptTest(pPlot))
	{
		return true;
	}

That should do it.

 

[Ambreville]

Alright -- Thanks!

What software do I need to make that change (is notepad enough)? In what file is the change to be made?

 

[Ambreville]

The thing about this is that I can make recon-specific aircraft that would have a better chance of avoiding interception (??) On the other hand, they wouldn't be able to take on most other air missions.

 

[Dom Pedro II]

The thing about this is that I can make recon-specific aircraft that would have a better chance of avoiding interception (??) On the other hand, they wouldn't be able to take on most other air missions.

Well, are you asking me if you can make recon-specific aircraft that have a high evasion chance and can't perform any other air mission? Because the answer to that is yes. This can be done in the XML. If you're asking me if there's a way to make a recon-specific unit that has a high evasion chance when doing recon missions and can perform other air missions but with a lower evasion chance, the answer is no. However that too could be modded to be allowed.

EDIT: Actually, there would have to be some SDK modifications to make the computer disregard the combat value of the unit to allow it to defend itself when intercepted but not allow for airstrikes. Any air unit with a strength value can airstrike.

 

[Ambreville]

Well, are you asking me if you can make recon-specific aircraft that have a high evasion chance and can't perform any other air mission? Because the answer to that is yes. This can be done in the XML. If you're asking me if there's a way to make a recon-specific unit that has a high evasion chance when doing recon missions and can perform other air missions but with a lower evasion chance, the answer is no. However that too could be modded to be allowed.

EDIT: Actually, there would have to be some SDK modifications to make the computer disregard the combat value of the unit to allow it to defend itself when intercepted but not allow for airstrikes. Any air unit with a strength value can airstrike.

My last post wasn't really a question, just a comment (sorry for the confusion). My question is what is the SDK file in which I need to make the changes you originally described, and do I need special software to make the edit? I know nothing of SDK -- thus the questions.

 

[Dom Pedro II]

You'd need a program that can compile the SDK files. I recommend using this: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=166933

And the file you're looking for is the CvUnit.cpp file.

 

[Ambreville]

You'd need a program that can compile the SDK files. I recommend using this: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=166933

And the file you're looking for is the CvUnit.cpp file.

Thanks!

I guess I'll try my hand at SDK now...

 

[jkp1187]

I like this idea.

I think it should be complemented with two things, though:

1.) A ban on combat aircraft being able to perform recon missions with closed borders in peacetime.
2.) Creation of a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft that IS able to perform recon missions with closed borders (the way that the caravel or submarine can cross closed borders in peacetime.) Would be nice to use the U-2 aircraft that someone created over in the unit graphics area.

* In light of how such missions sometimes went (e.g., Francis Gary Powers' mission,) I would continue to allow those recon aircraft to be intercepted...although they should get a very high evasion percent chance. Although I would give them a strength value of 0.

 

[Ambreville]

The only way I'd implement this is if only recon aircraft could perform recon missions. I'd strip the recon mission from all other combat aircraft. This should reflect what you described.

 

[Ambreville]

* In light of how such missions sometimes went (e.g., Francis Gary Powers' mission,) I would continue to allow those recon aircraft to be intercepted...although they should get a very high evasion percent chance. Although I would give them a strength value of 0.

Correct

...now if I could just find someone to help me out with the night mission idea...

 

[jkp1187]

The only way I'd implement this is if only recon aircraft could perform recon missions. I'd strip the recon mission from all other combat aircraft. This should reflect what you described.

Err...well, I wouldn't be keen on that. Recon is something easy that any acft could perform....but the recon acft could do it with less likelihood of being shot down, and can do it in peacetime.

I'd give the U-2 a very big range...and, if possible, give it a +1 to sight (akin to sentry).

 

[Dom Pedro II]

I'd give the U-2 a very big range...and, if possible, give it a +1 to sight (akin to sentry).

That's not going to do anything. The range of a recon mission is determined by a globally defined number that is not reflected by the unit's own visibility range. Of course, it would be possible to create a new promotion ability that would increase recon range.

With regards to spying on civs you're at peace with, this is possible though incorporating diplomatic consequences would require a bit more work.

 

[jkp1187]

By "range", I refer to: distance unit can travel before it performs its mission. That should be in the XML. I think it should have a very long range to permit spying over landlocked areas. (And also to differentiate it from the shorter ranged air combat units.)

By "visibility", I meant the area over which the unit can remove Fog of War when performing the recon mission. You are quite right -- even enabling Sentry for the air units doesn't work. Do you know where this info is located? Will it require SDK?

 

[Dom Pedro II]

By "visibility", I meant the area over which the unit can remove Fog of War when performing the recon mission. You are quite right -- even enabling Sentry for the air units doesn't work. Do you know where this info is located? Will it require SDK?

I meant the visibility before. This is not a hard-coded number. You can find it in the Global Defines XML file. do a search for recon. However, this will change the recon visibility range for all air units. To make something that does it for specific units will require SDK work and I've already added it to my to-do list for my upcoming promotions modcomp (thanks for bringing up the issue ).

 

[Ambreville]

How does CIV4 compute interception odds anyway?

Is it a two step process (check bomber's % evasion first, if not evade then check fighter % interception)?

or

A one step process (bomber modified evasion % minus fighter modified intercept %)?

 

[Dom Pedro II]

There's a random chance of evasion based on the probability... if evasion fails, it looks for the best interceptor. If one is found, then there is a chance for interception based on the unit's current interception chance. which... now that I look at it, if the fighter is set to 100% interception chance, then the only time the intercept promotion would be useful is when the unit is damaged.

 

[Ambreville]

There's a random chance of evasion based on the probability... if evasion fails, it looks for the best interceptor. If one is found, then there is a chance for interception based on the unit's current interception chance. which... now that I look at it, if the fighter is set to 100% interception chance, then the only time the intercept promotion would be useful is when the unit is damaged.

So, provided there is only one available interceptor for the job, damage reduces its chances of interception?

If the interceptor has a basic 100% interception chance, any further intercept promotion is worthless...