VIPER SHIVA

I've been looking into this, and I think the color is generally close to the correct tone when compared to a standard issue M61 frag. If it was a little closer to grey, than white, and it'd be spot-on.

The action, the way it quickly "pops" is certainly a big improvement- but I think it would look better if the smoke was quite a bit darker. Military-grade explosives tend to produce black/dark grey smoke when they go off. Even cooler still, would be if you could add red/orange sparks and a very brief flash of fire in the center. That said, you've got a greatly improved smoke grenade right now. And, with a little scripting, you have a great start towards a potential: white-phosphorous, tear-gas, and flash-bang. Rock on dude.

Frankly, I think it's up to the modder what values he thinks his representation should have. I don't personally have any deep-seated involvement in this mod at all. But I do like to encourage realistic, as well as playable mods, and I can see something unproven getting unbalanced really quick. He asked for our input, and this is mine. It's impossible to say how successful something is, without having to prove if the claims you've been making are true or not- until shots are fired and lot of young boys get killed. Heh. I get carried away. But seriously, in an actual armor battle against the US, perhaps in the WWIII scenario of a million Soviet MBTs rolling into West Europe, those tanks would be taken out by more than twice as many defending ATGMs- well before they collided with Nato's own tank forces. BTW, if you'll notice, none of the missiles I named are SALH-guided. The Maverick-G is IIR/man-in-the-loop weapon. IRL, it's got a range in excess of 25km. Bad for tank. Hellfire-K is millimetric radar guided, range 10km. Bad for tank. Javelin is EO guided, top attack, fire and forget. Bad for tank. Why did I name those? They are what's currently in use, and therefore, what we see in game. IRL, these weapons have actually proven themselves in combat, and constantly receive maintenance and improvements. When required, I can expect that missile to do what the vast majority of those fired in anger before it have done- go out and kill the tank. And do it better this time. That Cold-War type of MBT-dominated warfare is gone and over with, when tank development practically ceased in Russia. What's more, the West has poured treasure and technology into the ATGM sector, world-wide proliferation of ATGM's is at an all-time high. One Longbow Apache gunship can kill 16 MBTs in a single sortie. It should be no surprise that this is the case, massive numbers of advanced ATGMs was the most effective means for combatting a million Soviet tanks. The West got very good at it.

Once again, ( for the life of me, I don't know how to make this easier for you to understand... ) I NEVER stated that I had seen Hellfires, or Mavericks used against tanks equipped with Shtora. What I said was, "I tend to place my trust in what I've seen work in the field. Theory is only theory, until it's actually put to use." Which quite simply means that if a system has not ever actually been shown to function as advertised under battlefield conditions, it doesn't engender any trust in the men who have to use it in the field- such as myself, for instance. Now, I have seen what Mavericks and Hellfires can do to tanks, I know these systems work as advertised under battlefield conditions. You, however, cannot provide verifable proof that Shtora-1 works as advertised, because it has never been employed against the threats that we are discussing. In fact, there is NO evidence of it ever being used, successfully or not, against ANY threat on an actual battlefield. If I'm wrong, then you have only to produce the data. I'd love for you to do so. The rest of your post was unnecessary. No one said that all Russian equipment is useless. I never mentioned Iraq. I never even mentioned whether or not I was a Westerner. I guess you assume that I am, simply because I dare to doubt YOUR claims that this system is as effective as you claim it to be. ( based on nothing, but third-hand information and advertisements, BTW. ) In fact, you got quite insulting about it, as a matter of fact. From now on, I'd suggest that you remove your ego, and fanboy perspective from the equation. There's no need to fight for the dignity of the Shtora system, I'm sure it didn't feel at all insulted when I said I'd have to see proof that it actually works as well as the people who are selling it, claim it to be. I hope you understand me now. I think we've already gone sufficiently off topic, as is.

1. Manufacturers are in the business of selling their products, whether they're actually battle proven or not. Perhaps you should look up the definition of battle proven, but it can best be summarized by HAVING BEEN USED IN BATTLE. 2. I'm going to go out on a limb and bet you any amount of money that you can't actually prove it works at all, and that you CERTAINLY can't prove it has actually been tested versus Mavericks, and Hellfires. You show me that data from a verifiable source, and I'll never doubt another word you say. 3. I'm older than you, my young, rude, and dare I say- arrogant friend. 4. I never said that I have seen it work, anywhere. You said it works. I asked you to provide data that it does, from a verifiable source. I HAVE seen what mavericks and Hellfires are capable of doing, on an actual battlefield. You can go work on number 2 now. Thanks.

Well .COMmunist, If you trust manufacturers claims so much, I suppose you could test it out in battlefield conditions.... I tend to place my trust in what I've seen work in the field. Theory is only theory, until it's actually put to use. For game purposes, an IIR/EO Maverick, Hellfire-K, and Javelin are probably going to eat that tank at least 95% of the time.

But I have seen pics of insurgents using SVD's w/o a scope, so there is a good reason for it in the addon.

But in that scenario, those tanks would get owned by superior weapon systems such as the Sensor Fused Weapon, MLRS/ATACMS, and the JSOW-B. If it doesn't sound like a fair fight, it's probably because it's not. NATO airpower mauled Serbia, because it could.

I'm a major fan of the 1911, and .45ACP cartridge, so I really LOVE this addon, but that said, it hits a little hard. One-shot kills to center mass, and the head are normal/possible/likely for this round, but I'm seeing instantaneous one-shot kills in hits to the wrists and ankles. Yes, I'd expect that a person could bleed out and die if you shot them in the lower leg with a .45 ( JHP or FMJ ) but, I think it would at least take several minutes.... Anyway, great addon, and a great update. I'm looking forward to seeing more, perhaps some really high-end .45's, such as the Wilson Tactical Elite, and the CQB. It would also be cool to see them equipped with tactical lights, laser sights, and suppressors. Everything I've read about Tier 1 units, and dynamic entry/active shooter situations states that the .45 long slide is the weapon of choice for taking down tangos in CQB scenarios. When the best of the best of the best have to enter and clear a room full of badguys, they usually do so with a .45 spittin' big chunks of high-speed lead.

The deciding factor in any major conflict will always be intelligence. First look, first lock, first shot, first kill. If it can be seen, it can be destroyed. It didn't really matter what the Iraqis fielded. Once the US forces could target it, it was destroyed. ERA, and active defense systems are no match against AWACs, JSTARS, and JDAM's.

Shtora would also be completely ineffective against IIR guided missiles, such as the Maverick; against video guided missiles, such as the Javelin and Predator; and against radar guided missiles, such as the Hellfire II. Frankly, I'd be frightened to death to have to face any of those missiles in a Russian tank.

Ah. Me too, unfortunately. So we'll just have to keep our eyes open and keep askin' others, 'cause I sure don't have the time to learn modeling, texturing, or even scripting.

The DRACO thermobaric round would also have incendiary effects, and the HELLHOUND has a greater fragmentation radious, as well as much increased armor-penetration. Yes, you could probably achieve these things with standard issue HEDP, but it might be cool to have them in your mod for realism/accuracy's sake. But aside from a full ammo load, it would be immensely cool if you included a "heavy" grenadier, packing an MGL-140. Just sayin'....

I'd like to see the 40mm HELLHOUND, and DRACO rounds from MEI as well- and while I'm wishing, the Milkor MGL-140 would be a real blast. http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_MGL,,00.html

Do you have any plans to add the 105mm MGS, and medical variants? Would be very cool... The rest of your project sounds spot on, I'm looking forward to seeing your work. okthnxbi

Frankly, I've found that this addon, ( the vibi.pbo, and all of the configs .pbo's) are causing my system some serious HARD crashes to desktop. I'm using a fairly high-end PC, and have the most up to date patch installed. No other addons have caused me more than a warning message, but very nearly all the new guns are locking my system up tight, requiring a re-start. Are there any known conflicts with other ArmA addons, that I should be aware of? I'm not reinstalling the addon until the stability issues it causes to my machine are solved.

I think it's easiest to consider all "Tier One" units like SAS, Delta, DEVGRU, MARSOC, etc. to be "undercover" while operating. The purpose is likely to be politically, and operationally motivated. When an op goes tits up, complete governmental denial is SOP. So what's most likely to look most authentic, would be to think what's most simple, light-weight, drab, grungy- (With bits of new kit dispersed throughout, like a clean field jacket, new hiking boots, high quality sunglasses, etc. ) unkempt- ( long, shaggy hair, unshaven, smudged with mud, blood, grease, soot. ) etc. No two guys should look alike. If you want it to look real, try to vary each operators kit somewhat. Maybe make something slightly different, per "class". I think you've got the weapons right just about right. They can use everything- but in any picture of them, or another unit like them, they were equipped with camo'ed M16/M4/C7/C8's with M203, AG36, GPMG. Don't know about the SA80/LSW, but if they wanted to, they could. It wouldn't be that surprising, would it? Probably a HK MP5,G33/G53/G36 wouldn't go amiss. I wouldn't be surprised to see a FN FAL/FNC. Just rummage throughout the most common small arms of NATO members, and you'll do fine. Might also be appropriate to equip them with some of the better/perhaps customized, AKs, SVD, etc. Splash some camo textures on it, dirty it up- ( But not too dirty. These guys are pros, and they'll keep their weapons serviceable. ) Radio's/earpieces,throat/lip mikes, sunglasses, fleece jackets, sports/hiking/tactical boots, binoculars, bergen's, shemagh's, Afghan/ski/jungle/balaklava hat, gloves, dive watch, GPS/ballistic/PDA, NVG's, LD/LRF's, and various pouches for everything. Anyway, I hope this was helpful. It would be nice to have some really decent Tier One units in the game, and I can't model them myself.