Greetings,
In regards to this issue: We’ve been told by management that an OB coordinates calculator, deriving from coordinates in the webmap, is allowed. While not specified, I’m sure this extends to changing the coordinates displayed in webmap through altering the HTML code in the site itself.
I’m a long timer in the SL role and I haven’t yet encountered a situation where I couldn’t achieve the same result through basic math or my own methods, like grafting coordinates. While the webmap could theoretically offer an advantage by allowing you to place OBs in “fallback” positions that aren’t visible, ensuring you avoid walls, I personally don’t find it a game-changer as long as protections such as hive-core and pylons are in place at your server. I believe the use is more limited, at least for OB placement, than most people think it is.
The only real issue would be if people are using their ghost time to check where the hivecore protection ends, and then using an HE OB in that exact spot (through coordinates from the webmap) to destroy hive, as HE OB wave can hit beyond the hivecore. But that’s metagaming, it’s a different issue.
Summary
This is an example of an usage of webmap to get the perfect OB in a possible xeno retreat, hitting the exit area of two fall back points. Still could be done by adding 15 N from the middle of the dropship, a quick glance at the tacmap could’ve given you the same answer.
I hope I helped you tackle the issue. I’d like to get the opinions of Alan Jones in this topic, since it’s one of the few players I can trust with their opinions on OBs.