Meteorology
This section is intended to help with mission briefings, but is actually a key part of mission building. Weather and time of day play a much greater role in missions than many players appreciate. Gunship allows 25 options and the choice depends upon the course you want the mission to take. The terrain will obviously play its part, but a 'clear day' will inevitably mean a long range gunnery dual, with little chance for forces to get in close. Conversely, a 'stormy night' will result in very close combat, with many units passing each other unnoticed. Giving your AI control of artillery in this environment often results in fire falling equally on friendlies.
Limits to visibility and thermal detection ranges affects different units in different ways, depending on vehicle capabilities and a successfully executed defense on a clear day, will almost certainly yield a different result on a rainy day. Also bear in mind that wind speed and direction can play its part too, so don't launch rockets into a 10 knot crosswind if friendlies are close by.
The following chart gives all 25 available options and shows the limits of visibility and thermal detection. Cloud ceiling and wind data is also included. Use the chart to determine the engagement range required for the mission.
|
Ceiling |
Visibility |
Thermal |
Winds |
||||
| 0 | Clear | Dawn | nil | 1 - 2km | > 5km | nil | |
| 1 | Cloudy | Dawn | 2000ft | 1 - 2km | > 5km | NW | 1 - 2 knots |
| 2 | Overcast | Dawn | 2000ft | 1km | 2km | SW | 3 - 5 knots |
| 3 | Rainy | Dawn | 2000ft | 1km | 2km | W | 3 - 5 knots |
| 4 | Stormy | Dawn | 1500ft | > 1km | > 2km | NNW | 5 - 10 knots |
| 5 | Clear | Day | nil | unlimited | > 6km | nil | |
| 6 | Cloudy | Day | 2500ft | unlimited | 4 - 5km | N | 1 - 2 knots |
| 7 | Overcast | Day | 2500ft | 2km | 4 - 5km | SW | 3 -5 knots |
| 8 | Rainy | Day | 2000ft | > 2km | 2km | W | 3 - 5 knots |
| 9 | Stormy | Day | 1500ft | > 1km | 2km | NNW | 5 - 10 knots |
| 10 | Clear | Sunset | nil | 2km | < 6km | nil | |
| 11 | Cloudy | Sunset | 2500ft | 2km | < 6km | NW | 1 - 2 knots |
| 12 | Overcast | Sunset | 2500ft | 1 - 2km | > 5km | SW | 3 - 5 knots |
| 13 | Rainy | Sunset | 2000ft | 1km | 2km | W | 3 - 5 knots |
| 14 | Stormy | Sunset | 1500ft | 1km | > 2km | NNW | 5 - 10 knots |
| 15 | Clear | Twilight | nil | > 2km | < 5km | nil | |
| 16 | Cloudy | Twilight | 2500ft | > 2km | < 5km | NW | 1 - 2 knots |
| 17 | Overcast | Twilight | 2500ft | 2km | > 5km | SW | 3 - 5 knots |
| 18 | Rainy | Twilight | 2000ft | 2km | 2 - 3km | W | 3 - 5 knots |
| 19 | Stormy | Twilight | 1500ft | 1 - 2km | > 2km | NNW | 5 - 10 knots |
| 20 | Clear | Night | nil | 3 - 4km | > 8km | nil | |
| 21 | Cloudy | Night | 2500ft | 3 - 4km | < 6km | NW | 1 - 2 knots |
| 22 | Overcast | Night | 2500ft | 1 - 2km | 2km | SW | 3 - 5 knots |
| 23 | Rainy | Night | 2000ft | 1 - 2km | 2km | W | 3 - 5 knots |
| 24 | Stormy | Night | 1500ft | 1 - 2km | > 2km | NNW | 5 - 10 knots |
Details were extracted from the GS campaign missions. Conditions 8, 13 and 15 were not used and were extrapolated from the rest of the chart.
Writing Briefings
Microprose adhered to a fairly strict format when writing the Weather section of their briefings. An example of each of these is given below, including line breaks. I suggest you copy and save the rest of this page as a text file, then cut and paste the sections into your missions as required. It saves a lot of typing.
0 Clear Dawn
The weather in your sector is clear, with sunrise timed to occur at your Forward Assembly Area. \n\nVisibility is limited to 1 to 2 km due to an early morning mist. \n\nThermal conditions are good, with ranges up to 5km. \n\nWinds are calm.
1 Cloudy Dawn
The weather in your sector is partly cloudy, with a partial cloud layer at 2000 ft. Sunrise is timed to occur at your forward assembly area. \n\nVisibility is limited to 1 to 2 km due to an early morning mist. Thermal conditions are good, with ranges of up to 5km. \n\nWinds are light out of the NW at 1 to 2 knots.
2 Overcast Dawn
The weather in your sector is overcast, with a cloud ceiling of 2000 ft. Sunrise is timed to occur at your forward assembly area. \n\nVisibility is limited to approximately 1 km due to fog. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to 2km. \n\nWinds are light out of the SW at 3 to 5 knots.
3 Rainy Dawn
The weather in your sector calls for a steady rain, with a cloud ceiling of 2000 ft. Sunrise is timed to occur at your forward assembly area. \n\nVisibility is limited to approximately 1 km due to the precipitation. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to 2km due in part to thermal crossover. \n\nWinds are light out of the W at 3 to 5 knots.
4 Stormy Dawn
The weather in your sector calls for rain, with an increasing chance of thunderstorms. The cloud ceiling is at 1500 ft. Sunrise is timed to occur at your forward assembly area. \n\nVisibility is limited to less than 1 km. and thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to less than 2k. \n\nWinds are out of the NNW at 5 to 10 knots.
5 Clear Day
The weather in your sector is clear. \n\nVisibility is unlimited. Thermal conditions are good, with ranges up to 6km. \n\nWinds are calm.
6 Cloudy Day
The weather in your sector is partly cloudy, with a partial cloud layer at 2500 ft. \n\nVisibility is unlimited. Thermal conditions are good, with ranges of up to 6km. \n\nWinds are light out of the N at 1 to 2 knots.
7 Overcast Day
The weather in your sector is overcast, with a cloud ceiling of 2500 ft. \n\nVisibility is limited to approximately 2 km due to fog. Thermal conditions are good, with ranges of between 4 and 5km. \n\nWinds are light out of the SW at 3 to 5 knots.
8 Rainy Day
The weather in your sector calls for a steady rain, with a cloud ceiling of 2000 ft. \n\nVisibility is limited to less than 2 km due to the precipitation. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to 2km due in part to thermal crossover. \n\nWinds are light out of the W at 3 to 5 knots.
9 Stormy Day
The weather in your sector calls for rain, with increasing chances of thunderstorms. The cloud ceiling is at 1500 ft. \n\nVisibility is limited to less than 1 km. and thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to less than 2k. \n\nWinds are out of the NNW at 5 to 10 knots.
10 Clear Sunset
The weather in your sector is clear and sunset should occur as you are leaving the target area. \n\nVisibility is limited to 2 km. Thermal conditions are excellent, with ranges greater than 6km. \n\nWinds are calm.
11 Cloudy Sunset
The weather in your sector is partly cloudy, with a partial cloud layer at 2500 ft. Sunset should occur as you are leaving the target area. \n\nVisibility is limited to 2 km. Thermal conditions are excellent, with ranges in excess of 6km. \n\nWinds are light out of the NW at 1 to 2 knots.
12 Overcast Sunset
The weather in your sector is overcast, with a cloud ceiling of 2500 ft. Sunset should occur as you are leaving the target area. \n\nVisibility is limited to approximately 1 to 2km and thermal conditions are poor, with ranges of up to 5km. \n\nWinds are light out of the SW at 3 to 5 knots.
13 Rainy Sunset
The weather in your sector calls for a steady rain, with a cloud ceiling of 2000 ft. Sunset should occur as you are leaving the target area. \n\nVisibility is limited to approximately 1 km due to the precipitation. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to 2km due in part to thermal crossover. \n\nWinds are light out of the W at 3 to 5 knots.
14 Stormy Sunset
The weather in your sector calls for rain, with increasing chances of thunderstorms. The cloud ceiling is at 1500 ft. Sunset should occur as you are leaving the target area. \n\nVisibility is limited to less than 1 km. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to less than 2k. \n\nWinds are out of the NNW at 5 to 10 knots.
15 Clear Twilight
The weather in your sector is clear. Nautical Twilight is timed to occur at your Forward Assembly Area. \n\nVisibility is limited to less than 2 km. Thermal conditions are good, with ranges in excess of 5km. \n\nWinds are calm.
16 Cloudy Twilight
The weather in your sector is partly cloudy, with a partial layer at 2500 ft. Nautical Twilight is timed to occur at your Forward Assembly Area. \n\nVisibility is limited to less than 2 km. Thermal conditions are good, with ranges in excess of 5km. \n\nWinds are light out of the NW at 1 to 2 knots.
17 Overcast Twilight
The weather in your sector is overcast, with a ceiling of 2500 ft. Nautical Twilight is timed to occur at your Forward Assembly Area. \n\nVisibility is limited to approximately 2km. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges of up to 5km. \n\nWinds are light out of the SW at 3 to 5 knots.
18 Rainy Twilight
The weather in your sector calls for a steady rain, with a ceiling of 2000 ft. Nautical Twilight is timed to occur at your Forward Assembly Area. \n\nVisibility is limited to approximately 2 km due to the precipitation. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges between 2 and 3km due to thermal crossover. \n\nWinds are out of the W at 3 to 5 knots.
19 Stormy Twilight
The weather in your sector calls for rain, with increasing chances of thunderstorms. The cloud ceiling is at 1500 ft. Nautical Twilight is timed to occur at your Forward Assembly Area. \n\nVisibility is limited to 1 to 2km. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to less than 2k. \n\nWinds are out of the NNW at 5 to 10 knots.
20 Clear Night
The weather in your sector is clear. \n\nVisibility should be helped by bright moonlight and should be between 3 to 4km. Thermal conditions are excellent, with ranges up to 8km. \n\nWinds are calm.
21 Cloudy Night
The weather in your sector is partly cloudy, with a cloud ceiling of 2500ft. \n\nVisibility should be helped by bright moonlight and should be between 3 to 4km. Thermal conditions are excellent, with ranges in excess of 6km. \n\nWinds are light out of the NW at 1 to 2 knots.
22 Overcast Night
The weather in your sector is overcast, with a cloud ceiling of 2500ft. \n\nThe clouds will obscure any ambient light, limiting visibility to approximately 1 to 2km. Thermal conditions are poor due to thermal crossover, with ranges limited to 2km. \n\nWinds are light out of the SW at 3 to 5 knots.
23 Rainy Night
The weather in your sector calls for steady rain, with a cloud ceiling of 2000ft. \n\nThe clouds and rain will obscure ambient light, limiting visibility to approximately 1 to 2km. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to 2km due to thermal crossover. \n\nWinds are out of the W at 3 to 5 knots.
24 Stormy Night
The weather in your sector calls for rain, with increasing chances of thunderstorms. The cloud ceiling is at 1500 ft. \n\nIt is a dark and stormy night, with visibility limited to 1 to 2km. Thermal conditions are poor, with ranges limited to less than 2km due to thermal crossover. \n\nWinds are out of the NNW at 5 to 10 knots.