Well, I just completed a test.
System specs:
CPU: 1.1ghz Processor
RAM: 128mb
Video Card: 128mb Geforce FX 5200 PCI
Screen Res: 1024x768x32
D3D
Launcher Flags:
-HTL
-jpgtga
setting:
12 Perseus fighters (including mine) attacking a Demon Destroyer (playing dead)
Double Load Of hornets (mine), 80 each. Double Subach HL-7 (Lightspeeds)
At start:
Demon only on screen, FPS: ~30
When all 11 other fighters on screen, + Demon, all firing double Hornet savlos, and double firing Subachs, and myself double firing missiles, FPS low: ~7.5 (note that increasing time compression while only Demon on screen caused the same, not sure if revealent)
All fighters + Demon + Support Ship, no missiles, still firing guns, FPS: ~20
Highest FPS: 40 (external view myself, nothing else in sight)
ONe or two other fighters, firing missiles + guns, +myself doing same, FPS: ~20
Note: before upgrading to this HT&L build, I was getting FPS ~17.5 without any combat. When combat started, it would drop.
SO, think about this. I had a Demon Destroyer, 11 Perseus fighters, 12X4X? Subach HL-7 bolts, 12x8x? Hornet missiles, ? explosions, plus all the shading etc, on screen at once.
To me, it's not much of a drop, but to others......
I'll have a look at reducing the poly count a little, make LOD0 use 12 sided cylinders rather than the current 24.......
:EDIT: yes KARMA, I understand you, but they look damm cool! (besides, I'm heading that way now)