are these type of tank battles now possible in the mission editor or online maps ?

[zapatista]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6xGuqK42TU&feature=player_embedded#!

i think an end user posted this video in the first couple of months after release, and it is not promotional material from 1c/oleg (? right)

but i havnt seen anything close to this level of detail of "active" ground vehicles (military or civilian) or artillery exchanges in video's from end users during the last 6 months, and no indication of anything like this either (ground battles in general, or 2 front lines shelling each other with long range artillery) in multiplayer online maps

is this level and type of ground activity now possible to obtain with the current release version ? have mission builders cut back on these features to get better frame rates ?

initially on release people seemed limited to fly over water to get decent frame rates, now with current improvement people are starting to fly more overland and still have half decent frame rates on medium level pc's, but is ground activity like this possible to now or will it need luthiers "50% improvement in frame rates" in his next build to obtain ?

and any sign yet of ground activity with AI routines at airfields ? i have seen plenty of user posted video's with planes crashing at airfields, but no signs of fire engines or ambulances rushing to the aid of the plane (which oleg referred to multiple times, and we have seen some preview video and screenshots of during pre-release times.)

note to moderators: please leave this thread in the main forum as a general discussion topic

[ElAurens]

That would grind online play to a halt.

You might be able to do it in single player, but with a server full of humans, not a chance with the sim in it's current state.

Perhaps after the next patch with it's promised increase in frame rates.

[zapatista]

That would grind online play to a halt.



but is it still available within the current game build, or has it been removed ? and which aspects are still present ?

ground battles between moving tank formations ?
frontline stationary artillery exchanges ?
stationary (or moving ?) front lines with friendly/enemy equipment on either side of the line ?
friendly AI ground activity at airfields, like fire engines, ambulances, equipment-fuel-maintenance vehicles ?

[ElAurens]

I'm sure you could do it, but no one is in any online servers I've played on.

Hell, the FMB is so complex I can't even figure out how to make a base work, and I used to make missions in the IL2 FMB all the time.

I have seen ships moving in the Channel, and formations of AI aircraft, so there is no reason why ground units cannot be placed, but as I said, in online, no one is doing it currently as it would be pointless.

Cool for YouTube vids though.

[SEE]

Yes, it is possible in SP.

Using FMB you can use the script commands to monitor Ground Units that take/lose key objectives during the course of the mission. These can be used to control the outcome by spawning additional ac, both enemy and friendly, the player is responsible for ensuring that their ground units succeed.

I created a SP mission based on Ground unit battles some time ago. The accompanying video I did for the mission and mision description (Liberation) is buried deep in the FMB thread somewhere.

Also, check the REPKA Operation Sea Lion server as this features moving front lines and advancing ground units both on land and Sea. Players dictate success/failure and progress of moving units.

[hc_wolf]

Yeah I created 5 online dynamic games for servers or single PC's or LAN with about 100 + ground vehicles and 30+ planes and over 3000 static objects on the English channel maps and Beta fields maps and all run fine with no stutter even when I host from my PC online. Repka used one of the early versions on thier server for a while.


So totally possible

[Ataros]

but is it still available within the current game build, or has it been removed ? and which aspects are still present ?

ground battles between moving tank formations ?
frontline stationary artillery exchanges ?
stationary (or moving ?) front lines with friendly/enemy equipment on either side of the line ?


Absolutely possible and present in Repka#1 mission right now.
Briefing http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpost.php?p=347304&postcount=125
Screenshots (landing party arrives and advances to enemy positions). http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpost.php?p=347511&postcount=128
Batteries of AT artillery are present on defending side.
There is no videos because external views are off on the server.

This is also implemented in naryv's sample missions in this archive http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpost.php?p=341507&postcount=1 which you can try and in many others posted here http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/forumdisplay.php?f=203
41Sqn_Banks is working on a dynamic campaign generator that will include ground war http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpost.php?p=358320&postcount=71

One thing to remember when watching tank battles with external views if that there is a distance limit beyond which you can not see tanks (20 or 40 km from the player). This is done to reduce hardware load. Therefore if you want to watch a nice tank battle you have to fly to the area, land there and only then use external views to see the tanks.

Regarding performance we tested about 30 vs. 30 tank battles online without any problems for server. Biggest performance hit is smoke from dozens of killed tanks. It is a problem for clients (not for server) if clients have effects settings higher than LOW not having a top video card. You can try making such a mission in FMB. It is fun :)

friendly AI ground activity at airfields, like fire engines, ambulances, equipment-fuel-maintenance vehicles ?
I do not recommend doing this online as it does not add any functionality to gameplay imho and reduces framerate. But it is easily implemented if this script is included in an online (or offline) mission http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpost.php?p=335114&postcount=8

[zapatista]

Absolutely possible

thank you for the answer and the detailed information you provided. if this level of ground AI scripting for ambulances and fire engines (and rearming/refueling trucks ?) are possible, why dont most players with higher end pc's implement/activate this right now ? for many it would significantly improve immersion, and high end pc's should be able to cope with it then.

and is this right now activated by some options in the preferences settings, or only by editing code in the files ?

luthier and 1C should also produce some video's with these elements activated in full and with all detail visible, it would significantly improve sales imo

since you are knowledgeable on this topic, do you have any information on:
- is there any signs yet of being able to player control a battery of artillery or anti aircraft guns ? there was some discussion of this prior to release by oleg, and in principle it was going to be possible
- is there some form of dynamic campaign engine yet ? eg a script hat could run on an online server 24/7 where an unfolding ground/ar battle takes place between the 2 sides ? (rather then a single scripted mission that only runs for a few hrs). oleg spoke extensively of this in the lead-up to release, but afaik large elements of it were removed just before release so they could focus on bug fixing and they and get the basics working first.

[Ataros]

thank you for the answer and the detailed information you provided. if this level of ground AI scripting for ambulances and fire engines (and rearming/refueling trucks ?) are possible, why dont most players with higher end pc's implement/activate this right now ? for many it would significantly improve immersion, and high end pc's should be able to cope with it then.

and is this right now activated by some options in the preferences settings, or only by editing code in the files ?

luthier and 1C should also produce some video's with these elements activated in full and with all detail visible, it would significantly improve sales imo

Ambulance script was developed later than the official campaign and stock missions. That is why it is not included I think. Scripting allows to include anything to any mission but every piece takes development time and reduces performance. For instance I personally am not interested in any ambulance, fire-cars or any other airfield decorations. I would prefer more details added to the landscape and vegetation and clouds to make the world more life-like and be able to add more military units into each mission. All this competes and struggles for PC resources and the devs time. Thus it is not possible to meet everyone's personal tastes immediately I guess.

Now it is up to a mission maker/server owner to include these or any other scripts available here http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/forumdisplay.php?f=203


since you are knowledgeable on this topic, do you have any information on:
- is there any signs yet of being able to player control a battery of artillery or anti aircraft guns ? there was some discussion of this prior to release by oleg, and in principle it was going to be possible
Not yet, but I think it will be added in the future. If not, community will make it after an SDK is released. E.g. something similar to WoT gunsights.


- is there some form of dynamic campaign engine yet ? eg a script hat could run on an online server 24/7 where an unfolding ground/ar battle takes place between the 2 sides ? (rather then a single scripted mission that only runs for a few hrs). oleg spoke extensively of this in the lead-up to release, but afaik large elements of it were removed just before release so they could focus on bug fixing and they and get the basics working first.

Repka #1 runs a campaign 24/7 with an unfolding ground and air battle. Unfortunately the 6000-lines script has some stability issues that prevents many players from flying there. We are waiting for the v.2.0 which fixes the issues.

HC_Wolf's missions also have it. New very promising campaign by 41Sqn_Banks is otw http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpost.php?p=358320&postcount=71

Sorry, did not see your reply earlier. Came back here to offer trying a new Village Attack mission included into a new version of podvoxx's Mission Loader. http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=28056
It features a cinematic ground battle and looks very immersive even looking on pictures.

It is all up to a mission maker to include any details he/she wishes. Screenshots here http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpost.php?p=367087&postcount=12

[zapatista]

Ataros,

thanks for your detailed answers, it has been a great help !

[Ataros]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cOkM40zC9io

A video of a ground-war part of this mission http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=28595&highlight=tank+battles