M777A1 vs M777A2 Excalibur

[shahadi]

Getting rid of the VT munition opens up another slot, and that in my mind is a good thing.

Generally, I approach the Mobhack and OOBS with the idea of what can I do to simulate munitions that I need for a scenario. What the AI has to work with is frankly, not really of concern to me, as I take the people supporting and researching OOBS and the game's TO&E do a really good job.

Now, I thought the Excalibur has increased range over the FH shells but more importantly, that munition is GPS guided. We really do not need "eyes on target," either a FOO, a UAV, or some other FO vehicle with GPS classed munitions as the Excalibur in real life. I am researching the impact of increased Artillery Command of unit and formation leaders, and crew experience to 255. Thus far, it appears to have improved accuracy without a spotting unit.

However, after reviewing the comments here, I am not confident GPS munitions would enhance the gameplay. So, I strapped a Maverick AGM65L, air to surface, accuracy 115, in the M777. The result was much improved accuracy over the FH munitions without a FO.

The M777 FH munition with ROF at 5 scatters rounds all about a target, rarely hitting the intended HEX without "eyes on." However, accuracy improves dramatically with a FO, and incrementally more with increased experience of the spotting unit.

What I am getting at, it is possible for a designer, and that is my focus, to modify weapons to affect certain desired results. In the case of the Maverick it is far too lethal for a GPS munition Excalibur, but a guy could modify the OOB (not what I like to do) reducing the HE kill, range, and WH, and changing the name to something other than AGM65L Maverick as he releases a scenario.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by shahadi

...but more importantly, that munition is GPS guided. We really do not need "eyes on target," either a FOO, a UAV, or some other FO vehicle with GPS classed munitions as the Excalibur in real life.

While Excalibur can hit the living room of a house 20 miles away someone still has to have had some sort of "eyes on target" or you have no idea if the living room you want to hit is in house #1, #2, or #3.

Originally Posted by shahadi

The M777 FH munition with ROF at 5 scatters rounds all about a target, rarely hitting the intended HEX without "eyes on." However, accuracy improves dramatically with a FO, and incrementally more with increased experience of the spotting unit.

This is true for any/all indirect fire.

Originally Posted by shahadi

What I am getting at, it is possible for a designer, and that is my focus, to modify weapons to affect certain desired results. In the case of the Maverick it is far too lethal for a GPS munition Excalibur, but a guy could modify the OOB (not what I like to do) reducing the HE kill, range, and WH, and changing the name to something other than AGM65L Maverick as he releases a scenario.

That's the advantage/power of the editor.
While you can't modify individual weapon stats with the editor you can use any existing weapon to represent whatever you desire. You can also use existing weapons from ANY OOB (that specific unit must however use ONLY weapons from that specific OOB).