A Test of my Revamped Solo Mechanism

[ShadowDragon]

Yes Paul, that's exactly right, except a point is 11.25 degrees, so a ship is on a parallel course to the AI ship if it is 4 points (45 degrees) to either side of the AI ship's course. It would make more sense if a point was 15 degrees, but that would make it too easy!

Incidentally, putting your hands together thumb to thumb at arms length, the distance from pinky to pinky is roughly a point.

In "1)" you stated from where the wind was blowing, but I think you have it right in that the "tack" is the side the wind is blowing against.

Oh, and thanks for the rep!

My confusion was thinking that your bearing template related to the enemy ship's relative bearing. For the template it +/- 3 points, but on re-reading your instructions it does not say to use the bearing template. But I got it now. The enemy ship's relative bearing is in 4 quadrants of each of 8 points (parallel, starboard, reciprocal and port - with parallel centred on the AI ship's bearing). Easy.

Yes, I did mean the side the wind is blowing against.

The rep is well deserved for all of your hard work and willingness to share.

[Dobbs]

My confusion was thinking that your bearing template related to the enemy ship's relative bearing. For the template it +/- 3 points, but on re-reading your instructions it does not say to use the bearing template. But I got it now. The enemy ship's relative bearing is in 4 quadrants of each of 8 points (parallel, starboard, reciprocal and port - with parallel centred on the AI ship's bearing). Easy.

Yes, I did mean the side the wind is blowing against.

The rep is well deserved for all of your hard work and willingness to share.

Yep, the Bearing Template is just used to determine in which arc of the AI ship the player ship is. An imaginary line through opposite corners of the AI base can accomplish the same thing, but some folks like widgets.

I suppose a name other than Bearing Template would be better?

[ShadowDragon]

Yep, the Bearing Template is just used to determine in which arc of the AI ship the player ship is. An imaginary line through opposite corners of the AI base can accomplish the same thing, but some folks like widgets.

I suppose a name other than Bearing Template would be better?

The name of the template is fine. At most a sentence or phrase to clarify the relative heading (e.g., parallel = within 45 degrees / 4 points of the AI ship’s heading).

Looking forward to using the charts.

[Bligh]

I like the name of the template too Dobbs. It is an answer to a template without a proper name and explains it's function excellently.
Rob.