LOD Ranges, there is no set formula per say.

It was set up for performance issues, and to keep things in check.
LOD which is level of detail controls the number of polygons allowed from an object at a certain point/time in freelancer. The only times LOD Ranges really make a difference is when it comes to cut-scences and inflight. FL, changes the model to a lower polycount in cutscence to provide a smoother transition though cut-scences, then back to higher one in flight. Also effects ships landed at planets. I havnt seen any other ref to models changing besides these three.

Other than that there is no real need to get involved in it. In reference to editing its like an on/off switch as far as modding goes.

Default is LODranges = 0, 40, 60, 140, 300, 1000
Modders is LODranges = 0, 999999, 999999, 999999, 999999, 999999

If your modding just go with the flow, there isnt anything you can really make spectacular without causeing a great deal of problems. The only real thing you could do is create a totally invisable ship, but there are easier ways to do this.
No point loosing sleep over this.

ok just wanted to check. I knew what they where for... but I couldn't get mine to properly animate in the cuts. wanted to get it to work at the lower Lod ranges... but I guess I will just adjust it higher.

(i know i said the same in 3 other threads...)

Using values like:
LODranges = 0, 999999, 999999, 999999, 999999, 999999
don't make much sense.
the numbers are the ranges where the next LOD-model is used for ur ship/object.
Do you really want a tiny lil fighter be visually visible up to ~999999 range?
I suggest you decide this by the size of the object. Custom made ships usually dont have several LOD models, so an entry like this:
LODranges = 0, 1000
is perfectly enough for a small vessel like a fighter.
using very high numbers can also have an impact on the performance on slower machines - the game has to calculate visibility for that model for extreme ranges (like in the whole system).
(i know this is influenced by the visibility range of 5k for player ships, also by the spawning range of NPCs... but for fixed objects like bases its true)

just a guideline (of course only for models with one LOD):
fighters:
LODranges = 0, 1000
gunboats:
LODranges = 0, 4000
destroyers:
LODranges = 0, 6000
battleships:
LODranges = 0, 20000

---------------------------------
Excelcia forever
www.excelcia.org/forum

ok I think I figured this out looking through Fl's normal ships in UTF and imported to MS3d
each ship has 3 LOD ranges that are moddeled and inserted into the .cmp
LOD 0 being the closest is used for ranges up to 500 or so by standard model
LOD 1 still has most of the inhert features with out the heavy detail and usually stretches out to a max of 2000
LOD 2 is a crapy blob that has the general outline of the ship in question

for custom modelers when you are exporting to .cmp if you have a preliminary design just export that one to the LOD 2 early on in your ship construction.
and as you get more detailed export to LOD 1
and finaly when you are done export to LOD 0
this is if you feel like keeping the poly count down
if not just make your LOD 3000 this will keep a small and large ship visible in the planet docking and landing 80+% of the time.

If A=A then santa doesn't exist

The last Number on the LODranges entry is the farest visible distance between viewer and object in meters...

so the other numbers are not things for resizing but for a detailed view