Flame Weapons at Night

[dmcgee1]

When a flame weapon fires at night, does it illuminate the area (much like a starshell would?)  If not, would it not be a much easier "muzzle flash" to target?

[Archer]

When a flame weapon fires at night, does it illuminate the area (much like a starshell would?)  If not, would it not be a much easier "muzzle flash" to target?

  As one who uses flame weapons alot, I would agree to this, as I can see it simply illuminating the AO nicely...  much to the detriment of the flamer trooper, of course.

[ezekiel]

yeah, its like"please shoot me!"

[Topkick]

Actually I would have to disagree - Granted a flamer would light up the area but at the same time it would negate night vision. Troops without night vision enhancing equipment would have to reacquire their night vision and those with night vision equipment would suffer longer periods of blindness and disorted vision. There in lies the trade off - flames illuminate but illumination negates the sense needed to take advantage of it.

[dmcgee1]

So, you're saying that Starshells do the same?

[Topkick]

No starshells are basically flares - fired above the battlefield they disperse light over the area. It gives marginally better vision but actually deepens shadows and is possible to hide in.

Direct flame weapons would flare across the field of vision adjusting the settings of the eye's lens filters. A cool trick when wanting to spring an ambush is to set off a foo-gas mine. The enemy look toward it automatically and ruin their night vision making it harder for them to spot the mussle flash of the ambushers.

[dmcgee1]

Makes sense.

[PFC joe]

maybe one of ya'll would know.

in the really real world, when a flare goes off do you drop to the ground or freeze on the spot?

If you drop then you're moving and at night the eyes pick up on movement

but

if you stand still yer probably standing in a presighted killzone.

so which is it?  (i've heard both)

-PFC joe

[Veez]

It's either actually, based on what is more applicable:

When the flares go off they create shadowing.  As they descend, the shadows move.  The higher the round goes off, they less dramatic the movement.  This gives you some wiggle room based off of whether you are surrounded by conceilment (say in some bushes) or standing in an open field (I would reccomend dropping down in that case).

Incidentally, you are supposed to close your shooting eye to maintain night vision.  Which goes to the flamer issue; short flashes of light do not wash out your night vision for long.  Some, such as a strobe, don't affect it at all because it is too quick.  In either case, because your eyes have adaped to the dark they recover quickly.

[Dragon62]

Starshells are more like road flares they're fired and land on the ground not above the area an illuminate an area 4 inches in each direction or an 8" diameter.

[Topkick]

Incidentally, you are supposed to close your shooting eye to maintain night vision....

True but even veteran troopers fall for the foo-gas trick - especially if you add a flash bang or some whistler fireworks for added effect.