The following is a spreadsheet created from datamined game files. For those curious, Frank Elstner wrote some unpacking scripts for BF3 that decrypts the files and makes them more easily readable - they also work in with PS2. The in-game tooltips are worthless except comparing exact same types of weapons like Tank AP vs Tank AP, ESF rotary ,etc, because while vehicles have a listed total HP, they all have difference resistances to each weapon. Examples: A Galaxy dies to a Zephyr faster than a Dalton because it only has 25% resistance to Light Ordnance(Zephyr/Bulldog/Viper), but 50% resistance to AP Ordnance(Dalton / Tank AP) Vanguard vs Magrider Vanguard AP tooltip shows 2000 direct damage. Vanguard HEAT shows 1750. Magrider Resists are -20% against AP and 0% vs HEAT(Heavy Ordnance) so the actual damage of the AP round head on is 2400 vs 1750...which is almost 37% more damage than the standard round, not the 14% the ingame calculator shows!! On top of this, armor is then added, which for a Magrider's front is 63%. Total damage taken from a Vanguard AP shell to a Magrider front = (2000)*(1+0.20)*(1-0.63) = 888 compared to 647 from a Heat round, with a Mag having 4000 total health. Keep in mind that this does NOT include upgrades like front/side armor which adds another calculation! A quick comparison of how much certs help. A default prowler cannon with perfect accuracy and level 1 lockdown(12% reload) would do ~301 dps to a Magrider's front. Max lockdown, Max reload speed AP Prowler would do ~707 dps, over double!!! Some important things to know: DAMAGE IS CALCULATED BASED ON WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE, NOT THE PART OF THE VEHICLE YOU HIT. If you are within 0~45 degrees left/right/above behind a vehicle, all shots count as rear shots. Similarly, if you are at a greater angle and score an awesome shot on the 2 pixel size rear part of the vehicle showing......it will only count as a side shot! For those wondering why some people's rocket pods 1 clip tanks seemingly so easily - it is because they likely know this and are simply within that 45 degree window and aiming at the top center of the vehicle so that random spread and slight misjudgements still hit while most people aim right at the rear bumper, causing random spread to make some rockets only count as splash on the ground and not direct hits. You still get hit markers for this, but vehicles only take splash damage from a Dalton, so the hit marker is really saying Hit for 0 Damage...annoying and misleading. A Fury will 1 clip an ESF and Lib that is diving on something if the gunner can hit the shots because they have poor resistances to light ordnance, and a fury will kill a lightning from the rear in 2 dumps. A Zephyr drops a galaxy 1 Tank buster + 1 Zephyr dump. 2 Tank(4 Prowler) Shells kill a liberator because they have crap resistance vs all tank main guns. Always shoot a harasser with whatever you have as it drives by so that it only takes 3 AV weapons to put them on fire/kill instead of turbo away while repping. It only takes a mag dump of one infantry gun to get to this level!! Similarly this is why it is very important to always stay topped up at 100% health!! PS2 Vehicle Resistances and Weapon Classifications (google docs)
Sadly this is so often the case whenever I look at game code. Almost all of the quality programmers aren't willing to work the longer hours, lower paying, less benefit and fewer long term career opportunities of gaming companies so the output is often #($*&#A$(*A#&$A#(*.
