History Main / LeadTheTarget

* In ''WebAnimation/StarWreck'', when Pirk realizes that twinklers (phasers) do nothing against the ''Excavator'' (''Excalibur'' from ''Series/{{Crusade}}''), he decides to fire all of the ''Kickstart''[='s=] (''Sovereign'' from ''Franchise/StarTrek'') light bulbs (photon torpedoes) at it. While [[TheBigGuy Dworf]] is the weapons officer, Pirk wants to be the one to do it. He aims directly at the ''Excavator'' and fires. Every shot misses. Dworf laughs and tells him that he should have been firing ahead of the enemy. Pirk angrily asks why nobody has told him that before.

This is called leading (or windage), and is a RealLife tactic and training method. It's why you use clay pigeon traps for hunting practice, and is a key element in air-to-air gun combat. VideoGames used to avert this trope with {{hitscan}} weapons, which were an AcceptableBreakFromReality because of engine constraints; hitscan weapons didn't so much use "bullets" as simply hurt whatever was under the player's crosshairs at the time, regardless of distance. The alternative was the PainfullySlowProjectile, where the player not only has to lead the target, but actually shoot the bullet ''past'' where the enemy is, so the enemy will indeed walk right into it. But today games are much more complex and realistic, and a more moderate form of leading the target has reasserted itself. Slower projectiles obviously need more lead time, and sniping can be a real nightmare. The hitscan model is sometimes retained when energy, laser or other lightspeed weapons are available.

Lasers, due to moving at the speed of light, should not be expected to follow this rule. Regardless, plenty of space combat games [[SlowLaser ignore this]]. Perhaps they are taking into account very long ranges -- 20,000 miles is a tenth of a light-second -- and absurdly high speeds; a ship moving at Earth escape velocity covers ''a lot'' of ground in a tenth of a second. There may also be a delay between squeezing the trigger and actually releasing the beam.

* Similar to ''Film/SukiyakiWesternDjango'', ''Film/{{Wanted}}'' had the assassins curve the bullets mid flight as part of their GunKata powers, effectively leading and boomeranging shots.

* In ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}'', part of Oddjob's ImprobableAimingSkills with his lethal hat are because of this trope; he noticeably aims a significant distance in front of his moving target, and hits her cleanly on the neck despite the hat being much more slow moving than a bullet or an arrow.

Lasers, due to moving at the speed of light, should not be expected to follow this rule. Regardless, plenty of space combat games [[FrickinLaserBeams ignore this]]. Perhaps they are taking into account very long ranges -- 20,000 miles is a tenth of a light-second -- and absurdly high speeds; a ship moving at Earth escape velocity covers ''a lot'' of ground in a tenth of a second. There may also be a delay between squeezing the trigger and actually releasing the beam.

* Most space combat sims (such as the ''VideoGame/XWing'' and ''VideoGame/FreeSpace'' series) have a target reticule on the HUD showing where an enemy ship will be when it and your [[FrickinLaserBeams lasers]] converge, assuming it doesn't evade. Obviously, you want to be aiming for this.

** ''Mechwarrior'' games present a further challenge with any mech equipped with mixed laser and ballistic weapons. [[FrickingLaserBeams Lasers]] will typically ''not'' require leading the target,[[note]]or at least, minimal lead[[/note]] [[RailGun Gauss Rifles]] slightly more lead, and [[MoreDakka autocannon and machine guns]] more lead still, a combination that makes the famous AlphaStrike an AwesomeButImpractical tactic for all but near point blank shots.

This is called leading (or windage), and is a RealLife tactic and training method. It's why you use clay pigeon traps for hunting practice, and is a key element in air-to-air gun combat. VideoGames used to avert this trope with HitScan weapons, which were an AcceptableBreakFromReality because of engine constraints; hitscan weapons didn't so much use "bullets" as simply hurt whatever was under the player's crosshairs at the time, regardless of distance. The alternative was the PainfullySlowProjectile, where the player not only has to lead the target, but actually shoot the bullet ''past'' where the enemy is, so the enemy will indeed walk right into it. But today games are much more complex and realistic, and a more moderate form of leading the target has reasserted itself. Slower projectiles obviously need more lead time, and sniping can be a real nightmare. The hitscan model is sometimes retained when energy, laser or other lightspeed weapons are available.

* Essential with energy weapons in the ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' series, since the shots are anything ''but'' HitScan. AI ships will do it automatically, as will turrets if the player isn't controlling them directly. For [[FixedForwardFacingWeapon spinal mounts]], it helps to install both Fight Command Software packages. Mark 1 adds a cursor to your targeting reticule that marks where the target will be when the shot gets there (assuming it maintains the same heading), and Mark 2 allows you to set the guns to auto-aim for that point.

* When Vegeta attempts to fight [[EvilOverlord Freeza]] in ''WebVideo/DragonballZAbridged'', Piccolo notes that none of Vegeta's {{Ki Attack}}s are landing because Vegeta is failing to do this.

* In early chapters of ''Manga/SixSixSixSatan'' it is repeatedly made a point that you should ''not'' dodge attacks by [[InASingleBound jumping into the air]] because then the other guy can just use this method to attack you as you're landing.

* The final boss of ''VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon'' does this fairly well. If you run in a straight line for a while then those fireballs will hit you.

** [[StuffBlowingUp Torgue weapons]] in ''2'' all fire {{Painfully Slow Projectile}}s, thus one of the loading screen tips emphasizes the important of leading.

** VideoGame/WorldOfWarships also requires this to a larger degree. Not just for guns but torpedoes as well.

* ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' has two CameraLockOn states: an orange "soft"-lock will make you shoot where your target currently is, while a red "hard"-lock takes velocity into account automatically. This is governed by your customizable Fire Control System, so different [=ACs=] can have different lock-on dynamics at work. A savvy opponent will try to zig-zag to fake out a hard-lock, though this means a soft-lock might still hit them. Also, some DifficultButAwesome weapons can only be aimed manually, requiring you to do this yourself.

* In ''Film/StarWreck'', when Pirk realizes that twinklers (phasers) do nothing against the ''Excavator'' (''Excalibur'' from ''Series/{{Crusade}}''), he decides to fire all of the ''Kickstart''[='s=] (''Sovereign'' from ''Franchise/StarTrek'') light bulbs (photon torpedoes) at it. While [[TheBigGuy Dworf]] is the weapons officer, Pirk wants to be the one to do it. He aims directly at the ''Excavator'' and fires. Every shot misses. Dworf laughs and tells him that he should have been firing ahead of the enemy. Pirk angrily asks why nobody has told him that before.

* ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' has two CameraLockOn states: an orange "soft"-lock will make you shoot where your target currently is, and a red "hard"-lock takes velocity into account automatically. This is governed by your customizable Fire Control System, so different [=ACs=] can have different lock-on dynamics at work. A savvy opponent will try to zig-zag to avoid a hard-lock, though this means a soft-lock might still hit them. Also, some DifficultButAwesome weapons can only be aimed manually, requiring you to do this yourself.

* ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' has two CameraLockOn states: an orange "soft"-lock will make you shoot where your target currently is, and a red "hard"-lock takes velocity into account automatically. This is governed by your customizable Fire Control System, so different [=ACs=] can have different lock-on dynamics at work. A savvy opponent will try to zig-zag to avoid a hard-lock, though this means a soft-lock might still hit them. Also, some DifficultButAwesome weapons can only be aimed manually, requiring you to do this yourself.

* ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' has two CameraLockOn states: an orange "soft"-lock will make you shoot where your target currently is, and a red "hard"-lock takes velocity into account automatically. This is governed by your customizable Fire Control System, so different ACs have different lock-on mechanics at work. A savvy opponent will try to zig-zag to avoid a hard-lock, though this means a soft-lock might still hit them. Also, some DifficultButAwesome weapons can only be aimed manually, requiring you to do this yourself.

Lasers, due to moving at the speed of light, should not be expected to follow this rule. Regardless, plenty of space combat games [[FrickinLaserBeams ignore this]]. Perhaps they are taking into account very long ranges - 20,000 miles is a tenth of a light-second - and absurdly high speeds; a ship moving at Earth escape velocity covers ''a lot'' of ground in a tenth of a second. There may also be a delay between squeezing the trigger and actually releasing the beam.

* In RealLife throwing a ball is similar, with the ability to lead a teammate being an essential skill for quarterbacks in UsefulNotes/AmericanFootball. The ball has a certain flight time depending on factors like arm strength, throwing style, and how much it spins as it flies, so a QB has to throw to where his receiver is going to be in a second or two.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' requires this for archery for any enemy that moves or if Link is moving while shooting. Enemies will attempt to track Link's movements with varying levels of success as well - Bokoblins are pretty bad about it (to the extent that Link actively dodging in any way will make them more likely to hit their allies), while Octoroks are experts - if Link's movements are in a straight line, Octoroks ''will'' accurately shoot him on the move.

*** Radar-controlled gunlaying revolutionized the firing solution problem, and it was the reason why USS Washington and USS South Dakota sunk Japanese battleship Kirishima almost leisurely. Even later, the electronic computers superseded the mechanical fire control tables, turning naval artillery effectively into pure mathematics.
*** Because the first Torpedoes were unguided, all Torpedo-equipped vessels needed to get close to the enemy or make very hopeful guesses as to where the target will be and fire on those locations instead. The introduction of guidance systems was a desperately needed improvement which increased the probability of a hit by allowing torpedoes to correct their path mid-flight.

Lasers, due to moving at the speed of light, should not be expected to follow this rule. Regardless, plenty of space combat games [[FrickinLaserBeams ignore this]]. Perhaps they are taking account of very long ranges - 20,000 miles is a tenth of a light-second - and absurdly high speeds; a ship moving at Earth escape velocity covers ''a lot'' of ground in a tenth of a second. There may also be a delay between squeezing the trigger and actually releasing the beam.

* This is the main thing that sets [[EliteMooks Veteran Bulletkin]] apart in ''VideoGame/EnterTheGungeon''. Normal Bulletkin will just fire wildly in your general direction, [[PainfullySlowProjectile something that in this game is not exactly hard to dodge]] ([[BulletHell the problem]] is that all mooks have a nasty habit of [[ZergRush ganging up on you]]), but Veterans will lead you and can and most probably will catch you off guard the first few times.

** This is the main thing that sets [[EliteMooks Veteran Bulletkin]] apart in ''VideoGame/EnterTheGungeon''. Normal Bulletkin will just fire wildly in your general direction, [[PainfullySlowProjectile something that in this game is not exactly hard to dodge]] ([[BulletHell the problem]] is that all mooks have a nasty habit of [[ZergRush ganging up on you]]), but Veterans will lead you and can and most probably will catch you off guard the first few times.

** This is the main thing that sets [[EliteMooks Veteran Bulletkin]] apart in ''VideoGame/EnterTheGungeon''. Normal Bulletkin will just fire wildly in your general direction, something that in this game is not exactly hard to dodge, but Veterans will lead you and can and most probably will catch you off guard the first few times.

** During the Korean War, one of the advantages held by the F-86 over the MiG-15 was its radar controlled gunsight that automatically calculated lead.