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Rocket Range
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Delucian
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#1 - 2011-10-07 00:37:15 UTC
I should be getting roughly 8 km out of Thorn Rage rockets and 9 km out of Caldari Thorn's. If I set my orbit to 7500 and then reduce my orbit by 500 meters I am not hitting with the Thorn Rage's until I get inside of 6000 meters.

Anybody have any idea why?
Tomy Puhkastu
Children of Dioscuri
#2 - 2011-10-07 01:30:14 UTC  |  Edited by: Tomy Puhkastu
Taking a stab - not sure on this.

Rocket flight time x speed determines distance the rocket can travel. If your orbit is set to 7500m, is the rocket actually tavelling 7500m or does it have to turn into the target making its flight time longer.

Call me out if im way off . This is just a theory, i did no research.


edit: spelling.
Delucian
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#3 - 2011-10-07 01:44:00 UTC
You may be right, being that I am in an orbit it may be flying in a bit of an arch that is cutting my range down. I dont know. However, if I am orbiting at 7500 and I should have a range (EFT based) of 8k and I have to move in to 5k to hit every time, I doubt that there is a 2k arch.
Herping yourDerp
Tribal Liberation Force
Minmatar Republic
#4 - 2011-10-07 01:48:56 UTC
missiles do not start at max velocity, they have to accelerate, so if you just inside you flight time x max velocity range it will not reach.
Zoe Alarhun
The Proactive Reappropriation Corporation
#5 - 2011-10-07 10:32:38 UTC
Missiles have to accelerate.
I'm assuming you are firing at a moving target - so in that case you also factor in the distance the target's moved.
I'm assuming you are moving as well - so fire missile, it turns (which takes some flight time), accelerates (which means it doesn't get as far) then has to hit a moving target (has to catch up to it which means a greater distance covered).
DanFraser
State War Academy
Caldari State
#6 - 2011-10-07 11:48:40 UTC
Plus with the no straight lines in space, all of the above can drastically reduce rocket range. I have a malediction that has rockets fitted, never put any rockets in it though.
Delucian
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#7 - 2011-10-07 12:04:16 UTC
Makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.
Elindreal
Planetary Interactors
#8 - 2011-10-07 21:15:27 UTC
it's not universal, but a 10% lop off of the EFT stated missile range will generally give you a more accurate range.

In this case you're noticing almost a 30% reduction in range. I'm guessing this has to do with your target being fairly fast moving in which case the rocket wastes a precious second or two chasing it. At short ranges I notice the missile arc is extremely sharp. At longer ranges the missile can fly in a 'straighter' line.
Templar Dane
Amarrian Vengeance
Ragequit Cancel Sub
#9 - 2011-10-07 21:50:56 UTC
Missiles don't get their on-paper range because of acceleration time. Their flight time is true, but their speed is only their maximum speed. It takes a bit for them to get to that max speed.

Then you have to account for the target's movement. Imagine your rockets' max range as a bubble, with your ship in the center. When you fire, that bubble is stationary, centered on your position when you fired the volley. If, in the time it takes for the rockets to catch up to the target, the target moves out of that imaginary bubble....you're not going to hit.

A target moving away from you will takes longer for the missiles to catch, burning more of the missiles' flight time than a target that is rushing headlong into them.
Tom Willson
4 Inches Of PAIN
#10 - 2011-10-07 23:57:24 UTC
Nvm
Ines Tegator
Serious Business Inc. Ltd. LLC. etc.
#11 - 2011-10-08 07:38:41 UTC
A missile is a separate entity from your ship. The range from your ship to the target is unimportant- what matters is the range from the missile's point of origin to the target.

Once you fire, lop off for acceleration as noted above, then track the missile from the point in space that it was fired (NOT the current location of your ship) to the target. That's why the range seems to be off. Overview measures from your ship, not the missiles point of origin.

Overhaul Dscan!
Delucian
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#12 - 2011-10-08 15:03:22 UTC
Thanks again for all the input, very helpful.

I am also noticing that while I do less damage Phalanx rockets seem to reach fast moving targets more often.

I am doing some testing of the various rocket types now.