Drop Zone Crates Disappear Into Cliffs

[shauffhausen]

Prerequisites

• I have searched for similar issues and confirmed this is not a duplicate

Game Version

• Command & Conquer Generals
• Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour
• Other (please specify below)

Bug Description

Couldn't find this specific issue reported but I know it's been a long-time problem. Drop zones placed near cliff faces result in cargo planes releasing crates directly into the cliff face and disappearing. Different to just landing in impassable areas, these don't appear to land at all and the money is lost.

Reproduction Steps

Build a drop zone on a map near a steep cliff (Although even minor grades can be an issue).
Watch the crates disappear and the parachutes dissolve into the cliff face with no money symbol appearing.

bugged-sm.mp4

Additional Context

This is very restrictive with map design and game balance. Any map designed around being an island or using cliffs is punished with balance issues. A change in the mechanics of the cargo plane, crates, or drop zones (Or whatever common sense approach is best) to resolve this would be nice so that it's not something mappers and USA players need to be conscious about.

10 drop zones ordinarily provides 15k cash. I observed this region below with 10 drop zones provides roughly 4k due to this issue.

[xezon]

A potential fix here is to have the cargo plane fly not lower than its minimum required drop height above the drop zone elevation, so that it does not fly down valleys and does the drop from too far below.

[Caball009]

Similar issues: #1932 #1937

[DrGoldFish1]

What if we make the cargoplanes and promotionplanes change terrain by looking at a point in front of them underneath them and behind them so change height. So it prioritises flying higher when one of these points is seeing high terrain. So we wont have units, bombs and crates die or disappear cause of the plane flying not rising fast enough.

[shauffhausen]

A potential fix here is to have the cargo plane fly not lower than its minimum required drop height above the drop zone elevation, so that it does not fly down valleys and does the drop from too far below.

What if we make the cargoplanes and promotionplanes change terrain by looking at a point in front of them underneath them and behind them so change height. So it prioritises flying higher when one of these points is seeing high terrain. So we wont have units, bombs and crates die or disappear cause of the plane flying not rising fast enough.

I could see both of these working, the default height probably the quickest and simplest. The cargo plane "terrain vision" adjustment/offset sounds nice too (If that's an option that exists).