reducing AI engagement range

[mowgli]

One thing I notice the AI does is to engage just beyond the fog draw range of the engine. To put it another way - if you set visual range to 1000meters then the AI will call out, and engage targets out to 1200meters and beyond. While this isn't really an issue for infantry, it makes helos and tank experience a pain in the ass. One solution is to crank the visual range in your mission out beyond the range of the weapons themselves: 2000, 4000, even 5000meters. But if you have alot of detail turned on and a large number of units involved this is feasible.
(If you're confused about what I'm referring to, try this to demonstrate: place yourself in a helo then fly towards some distant targets. Your cp/gunner will call out targets well beyond visual range. )

What I'd like to be able to have is some control over the max range at which AI will engage. I'd like it to be just UNDER the maximum range the player can see, not over. Anyone know how one can set this?

[General Barron]

Hmm.... I'm not sure if there is a good way to do this. You might try using fog, however. Try setting the viewdistance to some large number (3000 maybe), then set the fog thick enough so you can only see maybe 1200 meters. Then change the view distance down to 1200 again. Or you can try rain/darkness. That may work.

[M_S_Holder]

Yeah this is frustrating.

I had to find a working config.cpp and I have to tweak the IR scanrange min and max in the tank class for each different mission I have, depending on visibility.

I also removed the tank radars.  I hate those things!

There really isn't a simple way to fix this, but I finally got my tanks to engage only at targets that they could see!

It all comes down to the IRScanner.  Technically you can turn it off then give vehicles a really high camoflage rating, but that causes other issues.

[Rappy]

Well don't choppers use radar anyways for spotting targets ?

Which means that fog and viewdistance doesn't really affect it.

[General Barron]

Well don't choppers use radar anyways for spotting targets ?

True. That also happens to be the case with tanks.  The M1A1 can engage targets up to 4000 meters away. I'd say the AI is actually more realistic as is, since it can engage targets from beyond-visual range (using radar), and it can target effectively at that range. After all, the real thing has a computer that helps target the cannon. The problem really is that the player cannot do these things himself.