Playing FSPort using the 3.6.12 SSE executable for a while I was quite pleased with the improved performance of the Interceptor missile' s lead trajectory as opposed to the follow trajectory of the original FS1 Interceptor missile. The follow path made it almost useless against small targets or anything that wasn't huge and directly in front of you (which is why I abandoned them all together when the Hornets were introduced in FS1 - at least for a follow missile it's tighter turn radius gave you a 1 in 4 chance of a hit instead of no chance with the Interceptors). Due to the change, the improved flight characteristics of the new Interceptors once again made it my go-to secondary because it was pretty sure to score a hit.
Which brings me to this concern: as I played through the FSPort again, this time using 3.6.14 RC6, I noticed the Interceptor's lead trajectory seems to have changed. It's weird, it's not quite lead, but not quite follow either. To make matters worse, I noticed when chasing some Basilisks around in one mission I'd get a lock, fire an Interceptor and the Basi would drop a CM and of course the Interceptor would take off straight like a Fury into the void. Fair enough, but that's not the problem. The problem is even though I still had lock and the Basi didn't drop any more CMs, if I fired any more Interceptors, they would all head straight out like Fury's, with no discernable change in course. If I broke away and reacquired lock and fired again, they behave normally, albeit with the strange not-quite-lead, not-quite-follow trajectory.
I replayed the mission in case it was a fluke, but the second time around it happened again: every time someone I got a lock on dropped a CM, all Interceptors fired at the target while still locked-on went straight out like a Fury until I reacquired lock.
So I went to the Tech Room and ran one of the stand alone missions (Loner) where you can beat up Shivans and a Vasudan Ace for kicks and tried the same thing there. The Shivans were an easy take down with lasers and, after waiting for the Vasudans to frag my wingmen so the Ace would show up, I tried the Interceptors on them. The wingman gave up with a straight shot to the face with 2 Interceptors (big surprise), but knowing the Ace was a bit more cautious, I got behind him and fired my first Interceptor at him and, sure enough he dropped a CM and missile blindly went straight. So, while maintaining lock and while listening carefully for the sound of a CM drop and not hearing it I fired more Inteceptors and they didn't change course at all - 6 missiles gone. I broke off, reacquired lock and fired again and this time the missile followed (he dodged and I missed). Subsequent shots hit their mark as I closed the gap and he failed to drop any more CMs. The "problem" is completely repeatable.
What's going on here? Maybe CMs are dropping but I'm not hearing the sound or something is up with the missile-lock code which invalidates all missiles fired at a target once one missile is defeated by a CM? I don't know. Is anyone else seeing something like this?