LOS CHART for (SPI) NEY VS. WELLINGTON Ted H. Kim tek@ficus.cs.ucla.edu 26 Feb 97 This chart replaces the LOS formula given in rule 10.41. 1. On the "Relative Location" (left) side of the chart, cross-index the height difference in levels with the hex distance from observer to the target location. 2. On the "Obstacle" (right) side of the chart, cross-index the height of the obstacle (in levels above the lower unit) with the hex distance from the lower unit. Remember that occupied hexes count as one level higher than normal as per 10.42(2). 3. Compare which of the two positions in the table is higher (closer to the top of the table). If the obstacle side is higher, the LOS is blocked. Otherwise, the LOS is clear. Relative Location | Obstacle | Level Difference | Height 4 3 2 1 | 4 3 2 1 =================+================= Hex | Hex Distance ---------------- |< 2 1 1 Distance 2 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 3 2 4 3 2 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 4 3 2 5 4 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 5 4 1 6 3 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 6 7 5 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 7 5 3 8 6 4 2 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 6 7 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 4 5 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 7 8 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 5 2 6,7 3 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 6 8 4 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 7 3 5 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 4 6,7 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 5 8 >| ---------------- ---------------- |< 6,7 | Example: Suppose unit A is 6 hexes away and 3 levels higher than unit B. Cross-indexing on the "Relative Location" side yields the line which reads "8 6 4 2". A potential obstacle on the LOS line from A and B is 2 levels higher than B. If it is located 3 hexes from B, then the "Obstacle" side of the table yields the "7 5 3" line. Since this line is higher up in the table, the LOS is blocked. If the obstacle was 4 hexes from B, then the LOS would be clear, since that line on the table (the "4" line about midway on the "Obstacle" side) is lower than the result on the "Relative Location" side. If the obstacle was occupied, then the LOS would be blocked since this effectively means the obstacle is 3 levels high. Design Notes: The "Relative Position" side of the table corresponds to the different values of the "H/D" part of the LOS formula given in 10.41. Higher up on the table means a greater value. On the map, it takes at least 4 hexes to change 4 levels and 2 hexes to change 3 levels. There is, of course, no need to list distances of 1, because of the rule about adjacent units (10.46). Also, 8 hexes (the range of artillery) is the maximum range that needs to be considered in the game. The obstacle side corresponds to the other half of the formula, "(h-1.5)/d". Adjacent lines on both sides of the table were combined, if there was no value in between from the other half of the table. Because of occupied hexes, some extra cases were added. Of course, the last hex an obstacle can be in is one hex less than the maximum range, that is 7 hexes. ****