I build a new Laser pointer for Armada:

The Range of it is distance 1. It was made for measuring of squadron fights.

Basicly i wanted to make a distance laser for all ranges (short, medium, large and distance 1-5). But this will be a really expensive and long work .

So this one has to do the job for now.

As awesome as that is, (and it totally is), surely you'd have to make sure you hold the thing at a set distance from the table?

It shouldn't matter, if its two aligned line lasers that appears to be mounted distance 1 apart.

It shouldn't matter, if its two aligned line lasers that appears to be mounted distance 1 apart.

That's what it looks like he did. Good job!

Yes, the distance to the table does not matter. Unless it is several meters. But the laser start to diffuse on this distance way more.

The first idea was a case with 4 lasers on one side (short, medium, large range) and 6 on the other (distance 1-5). But the casing would have been a bit longer than the range ruler. And 10 lasers cost a bit much.

So i tested it first with only 2 lasers.

Maybe you could use 2 lasers but have one of them on "rails" and moves up and down the housing and "clicks" into place at the various ranges and distances?

My request? Ship the laser with a stand- that way you can position it without your arm being all shakey from having eaten nothing all day but two double-shot espressos. And yes, I am referring to something that actually happened.

Lasers to represent arcs!!!

Would this have to be exactly parallel to the table to be accurate? My geometry and physics fails me here....

Would this have to be exactly parallel to the table to be accurate? My geometry and physics fails me here....

In so much that a Hand-Held Range Ruler has to, as well.

Tilting a stick will reduce it's range, so keeping it as perpendicular as possible will give you it's best range. But the lasers will give you longer ranges as it gets tilted.

Would this have to be exactly parallel to the table to be accurate? My geometry and physics fails me here....

Yes. The lasers will always be the same distance or the correct distance apart on any particular plane. Depending on how you're holding the device that plane may or not be the exact plane of the table top. So as you increase the amount of not parallel to the table you are holding the device you move the projected lines closer/further apart. This increase is also subject to the distance from the table top you're holding the device.

But as Dras points out you should be "close enough" for most applications. The question becomes one of how accurate do you need to be.

So the bottom half of that is what we're talking about. W is the distance in the box between the lasers. As Theta changes you're going to change the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle (opposite the d1-d2 side) which is the "range" you'd see projected on the table.

Which goes to say, if you don't hold your Range Ruler Parallel to the table itself, then the parallax between your visions point and the actual distance on the table is different...

This goes for both Angle and Range... Distance 1 is greater, of course, if you hold your Range Ruler above the hight of the squadrons themselves, rather than just above its base, for example...

Nothing is perfect, a lot of things are fudgy... The rules and regulations tell us, basically, to be cool with the little things, and to not be a turd about it.

Which goes to say, if you don't hold your Range Ruler Parallel to the table itself, then the parallax between your visions point and the actual distance on the table is different...

This goes for both Angle and Range... Distance 1 is greater, of course, if you hold your Range Ruler above the hight of the squadrons themselves, rather than just above its base, for example...

Nothing is perfect, a lot of things are fudgy... The rules and regulations tell us, basically, to be cool with the little things, and to not be a turd about it.

Pretty much.

What this conversation suggests though is the need for a laser device that would project a circle. The device would have an adjustment allowing you to choose the diameter of the circle. It could also have a string that would help you hold the device at the correct height and allow you to properly locate the center of the circle. Or perhaps it could project the center as a point of light in the traditional laser-pointer sense.

To really fancy it up without the string the chosen range would be projected but is only readable when the device is held at the correct height and angle helping assure you're being the least amount of fudgy.

Here's an idea for a product I had: put a properly sized "vassal-ish" range band picture at the end of a flashlight: boom, mini projector! Just have it on a stand with a calibrated fixed height and you're golden.

Too bad I'm too lazy to implement

It shouldn't matter, if its two aligned line lasers that appears to be mounted distance 1 apart.

Line lasers create a plane, effectively, so the exact distance effect only works if the two are perfectly level, and the lasers are mounted perfectly perpendicular to the table

It shouldn't matter, if its two aligned line lasers that appears to be mounted distance 1 apart.

Line lasers create a plane, effectively, so the exact distance effect only works if the two are perfectly level, and the lasers are mounted perfectly perpendicular to the table

What I was stating is that there are degrees of "perfect". Or rather, "Close enough."

Visually, a Range 1 Ruler will only work when its on the table. Any amount of holding it above the table will result in a changed distance, and that is even with the assumption you are viewing it from directly above.

There is enough "close enough" in this game to warrant a "That's certainly good enough. nice job." rather than tossing physics at someone and scolding them for being somewhat less than perfect.

You are causing more damage to the game state when trying to move a distance ruler into a pack of squadrons .

And even if you are not holding the laser pointer absolute directly over the table in a perfect 90° it is still good enough. At least for a first viual check. In worst case you can still try to hold a distance ruler into the pack.

Sure, if you hold it 45° it will become a bit inaccurate. But so does the normal line laserpointer for fire arcs.

It shouldn't matter, if its two aligned line lasers that appears to be mounted distance 1 apart.

Line lasers create a plane, effectively, so the exact distance effect only works if the two are perfectly level, and the lasers are mounted perfectly perpendicular to the table

What I was stating is that there are degrees of "perfect". Or rather, "Close enough."

Visually, a Range 1 Ruler will only work when its on the table. Any amount of holding it above the table will result in a changed distance, and that is even with the assumption you are viewing it from directly above.

There is enough "close enough" in this game to warrant a "That's certainly good enough. nice job." rather than tossing physics at someone and scolding them for being somewhat less than perfect.

I did not mean to run the OP down by tossing geometry at him. I think this is pretty slick. I just like geometry questions and meant everything constructively and in the sense of "This is cool. How can it be cooler?"