Channel Command to be released this weekend

[hc_wolf]

Hi All,

I have been working hard to produce the most interactive and online friendly mission for the IL2 COD community.

I work hard on this to keep everyone inspired as to how good this game is and look beyond the bugs while we wait for the patch(s).

Read all about Channel Command here. Daily updates as I draw close to release date.

Special thanks to Snafu, Kodiak, Salmo & Bliss and ATAG community.

Channel Command Mission.
http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?1797-Channel-Command

[ATAG_Deacon]

Greatly look forward to flying the map this weekend!!!

[ATAG_Colander]

Channel Command to be released this weekend

Are we there yet? :D

[FS~Phat]

Awesome work Wolf! I look forward to trying this out from both aspects. Bomber attack & Fighter defence and I dont usually do bombers! ;)

This is exactly the sort of thing that I was hoping would make it on the ATAG servers to give some interesting objectives for both sides!

Really really great work!
:)

[Redroach]

1000 objects removed
Ohh, but I love detail! However unnecessary and pompous! :)

No, really, the description sounds triple-awesome! Yet to repeat it again: This game is so full of potential, it's a major shame how it is "treated" by the devs :(
And it shows how dedicated people are with respect to the sim, despite the dev team propping up all kinds of hurdles, including not putting out the SDK or dedicated server / manuals :(
Oh well, the good will always triumph over evil! ;-)

[hc_wolf]

Ohh, but I love detail! However unnecessary and pompous! :)

No, really, the description sounds triple-awesome! Yet to repeat it again: This game is so full of potential, it's a major shame how it is "treated" by the devs :(
And it shows how dedicated people are with respect to the sim, despite the dev team propping up all kinds of hurdles, including not putting out the SDK or dedicated server / manuals :(
Oh well, the good will always triumph over evil! ;-)

don't worry Redroach. I have it on very good authority that the Devs are heads down and working hard.

[Allons!]

Great Wolf, if now the stats of ATAg would be nearly as perfect everything would be fine for the next years. Who needs Moscow then :grin:

[Gourmand]

it's look like impressive !!! :shock::shock::shock::shock:
thanks for you're hard work !!!
would you applying for a job in maddox game? ;)

[Red Dragon-DK]

~S~

Well done Wolf. Ty for doing this. Im looking forward to fly the new missions this weekend.

[il_corleone]

Just incredible, epic work, thank you! i will fly this when its out :-P

[pupo162]

cnat wait

wil lthe code be open source? im really needing some inspirition for my own missions due to lack of skill :grin:

[tintifaxl]

Great Wolf, if now the stats of ATAg would be nearly as perfect everything would be fine for the next years. Who needs Moscow then :grin:

Stats? Who needs stats? :-P

[III/JG53_Don]

That sounds pretty awesome! Thx for your work wolf and buddies ;-)

Are these basically the new mission types you were testing on ATAG 2? The ones you talked about some months ago with a couple of screenshots of the point system?
Where will these missions be "released" at? A new server or on ATAG?

[hc_wolf]

That sounds pretty awesome! Thx for your work wolf and buddies ;-)

Are these basically the new mission types you were testing on ATAG 2? The ones you talked about some months ago with a couple of screenshots of the point system?
Where will these missions be "released" at? A new server or on ATAG?

Hi Guys. I had the server mission up for testing for the past few hours. Dutch just left a nice review if you are interested.

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?1797-Channel-Command&p=15638#post15638

[David198502]

sounds indeed interesting!so there are AI fighters as well now?is the mission running now??or is it again the same old missions we already have flown now for about 1year?

[hc_wolf]

sounds indeed interesting!so there are AI fighters as well now?is the mission running now??or is it again the same old missions we already have flown now for about 1year?

I just stopped the mission about an hour ago. I will start it up in 20-30 mins. I am just watching the Tour de france over internet while I wait for TV broadcast to begin, so don't want to give poor internet conneciton.

No this is a brand new mission I have been working on for past 3 months.

Yes there is AI in very controlled ways and capped and adjust based on volume of humans. Use the menu system to call missions and other info.

Go to ATAG forum and read the details of the mission from the start of the thread, I detail a lot there.

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?1797-Channel-Command

[JG52Krupi]

Sweet :D, nice work wolf and co I will have to check this out.

P.s. Wolf stop watching druggies in tight shorts and get back to work... sicko! ;)

[SiThSpAwN]

So when will this mission go live 24/7?

Looks very cool, cant wait to try it out...

[Bewolf]

Awesome news there. I am looking forward to try it out. Did I get that right, the mission will be online shortly?
Edit: I have a question. IF Red side calls a bomber mission, will that mission be displayed on blue side as an intercept mission?

[jamesdietz]

Post it- we'll play it!

[ATAG_Dutch]

Awesome news there. I am looking forward to try it out. Did I get that right, the mission will be online shortly?

Just look for hc_Wolf Channel Command in the server list chaps. Give it a spin while you can. :grin:

I didn't explore the commands menu very much, but from what I saw, this is the 'next gen' of online missions.

Total Kudos to Wolf. It's fantastic. ;)

[hc_wolf]

Awesome news there. I am looking forward to try it out. Did I get that right, the mission will be online shortly?
Edit: I have a question. IF Red side calls a bomber mission, will that mission be displayed on blue side as an intercept mission?

Actually there are different senarios each time. Blue may have an intercept of that group, A mission to CAP/protect another site or another Bomber group or Protect/cap the British target.

[macro]

if you build it....they will come

[SlipBall]

Very nice thanks!:)

[BH_woodstock]

Very cool Wolf, very cool indeed.
~S~ :grin:

[hc_wolf]

Thanks for all the kind words guys. I hope this mission brings a lot of passion and people back to the game.
I worked through another night on it and had fly with 15 lucky people playing and testing the mission run from my PC (Yes this mission is built for Server). No real bugs just a bad spawn hanger which is fixed.

Progress is great and on track for release to ATAG Server guys this Saturday.

As the online game does not bring up slides at the moment you should look at the main objectives for both sides here. These are no way the only objectives. Many hidden across the mission.

See the two arial Recon slides on this link.
http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?1797-Channel-Command

[Bewolf]

So, Was able to try that server yesterday for a bit. A

It is fantastic.

This was the first time I spend quite a bit of energy on setting up a Ju88 and train a bit of level bombing. And going over England at high altitude with all that flak and those great targets was great. It was the first time some real "BoB" feeling came up.

The menu system needs a bit of getting used too, but I do not see much problem here.
I am not yet sure what to think about the AI fighters, I lost a bit respect for Spitfires knowing many of them are not controlled by real players. Takes away a bit of the suspense upon encountering them. Will need a bit to check if the added atmsophere here is worth that.

Only real point of critique is the constant radio chatter, which in itself would be neat if there were not so many repitions. Hearing the same voice saying the same things a couple times in a row is pretty unnerving.

Anyways, this is a quantum leap in regards to Multiplayer.
Short question, will there be moving trains and truck convoys to attack? Have not seen any yet.

[adonys]

I've seen a moving train somewhere in the central south england, while i was limping home, with my engine gripped and flying low over the country towards south.

the mission is great, much better than what we have right now.

you shouldn't dismiss the AI as useless, as they can always be set on higher difficulty settings, and also, with a server full of players, you would never know who's who anyway :)

[David198502]

tested it yesterday....seems to be really interesting!
some things i have seen...
my squadmate and me have spotted a train which traveled to Folkstone.after it reached the trainstation, i think it should despawn, but it didnt completely...from far away, it was visible as a whole train, but if you get closer to it, then there was only pieces of it left..it looked really strange..one could as well see the steamcloud rising when one approached the left parts of the train...

a nice thing i noticed, which i didnt know it was possible, was that a train actually came out of a tunnel....a not so nice thing i noticed as well, was that the train was already visible through the cliffs when it was still in the tunnel.

flak is really heavy in this mission!
what i noticed, although we were alone on the server,was that on hawkinge airfield half of the flak was destroyed and burning....i dont know whether it was AI bombers which attacked the airfield, or somebody else who left the server before we joined, but to me it almost seemed as the flak took itself out of action.
cause as i made a low flyby, i saw many flak shells imploding on the ground on the airfield quite close to other flak stations.

clouds,....there are many clouds in that mission...as they are not working correctly(players dont see necessarily the same clouds, or on the same position!) and as they are still performance demanding and seem to cause lags, i personally would prefer to have them disabled.

AI planes...we were alone on the server, and after a while we spotted 3hurricanes.i dont know about the skill level, but they didnt do anything when i engaged.one after the other was shot down, while pretty much ignoring me.

messages!....thats a nice feature implemented, and my squadmate had quite a good laugh when he heard some of them.


all in all it certainly looks way more interesting then the missions we have played now for a year already and which became really boring in the meantime...no offense!

[Bewolf]

Actually there are different senarios each time. Blue may have an intercept of that group, A mission to CAP/protect another site or another Bomber group or Protect/cap the British target.

*nods* I got that, I am just wondering if red and blue missions actually have an impact on the other side...well, impact not from the exploding bomb perspective, but in regards to organisation =)

Say, Blue creates a mission to target a factory complex in England. Will this "mission" then displayed on red side as "protect that target now!" event?

I "think" that is actually the case, going from what I have seen on the server, just would like a bit of official confirmation =)

Also, are there any plans to maybe include convoys to replicate the "Kanalkampf" phase of the battle a bit? No nessecity here, I am just curious.

Once again, all in all fantastic work and I know where I will spend the week end!

[hc_wolf]

*nods* I got that, I am just wondering if red and blue missions actually have an impact on the other side...well, impact not from the exploding bomb perspective, but in regards to organisation =)

Say, Blue creates a mission to target a factory complex in England. Will this "mission" then displayed on red side as "protect that target now!" event?

I "think" that is actually the case, going from what I have seen on the server, just would like a bit of official confirmation =)

Also, are there any plans to maybe include convoys to replicate the "Kanalkampf" phase of the battle a bit? No nessecity here, I am just curious.

Once again, all in all fantastic work and I know where I will spend the week end!

Hi, in short Yes! When blue get a target. Red gets a briefing to fly CAP over Blues target. Or they can choose to support a RED BOMBERS that are assigned a ground target at the same time.

As for kanalkampf. Well I am just addidn in some new objectives as I write this. SHIP OBJECTIVES. I had the code dormant, just adding the ships onto map now.

[Bewolf]

Hi, in short Yes! When blue get a target. Red gets a briefing to fly CAP over Blues target. Or they can choose to support a RED BOMBERS that are assigned a ground target at the same time.

As for kanalkampf. Well I am just addidn in some new objectives as I write this. SHIP OBJECTIVES. I had the code dormant, just adding the ships onto map now.

hc_wolf, you da man!

This is getting better and better, hehe.

[Ataros]

Great work, Wolf!

How many missions can be called up at the same time per side? Is calling up missions limited by time (e.g. not more than 1 mission per 15 minutes)?

Many players are missing coop-mode (group flights with guarantied opposition). I was thinking that it is possible to simulate coop if calling up bomber missions will be allowed only if x >= 4 (or 5) human fighters spawn at the same airfield. Then they will be allowed to spawn 1x to 3x number of bombers. The opposite side should be informed about this raid to join their forces. All this will motivate cooperation and joint flights in coop style because you can create a bomber raid only if you spawn as a 4+ group and the larger your group is the more bombers you can create. Group flights will motivate the opposing side to join forces to intercept the raid if they want to have any success (intercept map-grid should be announced IMO as it used to be in COOPs).

I put down this idea in more details here some time ago http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?1432-Team-based-gameplay-enhancement-proposal-for-ATAG-server

Group action will be much more fun and attract more players imo. I have seen many complains of players leaving servers because they can not find many targets at one place. This is especially valid for the channel map.

[hc_wolf]

Great work, Wolf!

How many missions can be called up at the same time per side? Is calling up missions limited by time (e.g. not more than 1 mission per 15 minutes)?

Many players are missing coop-mode (group flights with guarantied opposition). I was thinking that it is possible to simulate coop if calling up bomber missions will be allowed only if x >= 4 (or 5) human fighters spawn at the same airfield. Then they will be allowed to spawn 1x to 3x number of bombers. The opposite side should be informed about this raid to join their forces. All this will motivate cooperation and joint flights in coop style because you can create a bomber raid only if you spawn as a 4+ group and the larger your group is the more bombers you can create. Group flights will motivate the opposing side to join forces to intercept the raid if they want to have any success (intercept map-grid should be announced IMO as it used to be in COOPs).

I put down this idea in more details here some time ago http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?1432-Team-based-gameplay-enhancement-proposal-for-ATAG-server

Group action will be much more fun and attract more players imo. I have seen many complains of players leaving servers because they can not find many targets at one place. This is especially valid for the channel map.

Hi Artos, I like your thinking on the +4 coop bomber mission. I will take a look next week and see if it can be done (should not be to hard).

As for the missions you can call up 3 at once and then they are limited by time or 80% destruction.

you can call 1 High level, 1 low level and 1 Ground mission at once. Limiting factors are online code at the moment and best to limit AI in game. But say a high level mission runs for 60mins, if you complete it early and destroy 80% of bombers then you can call another mission before the 60mins is up.

As for people saying there are not many targets... well Sittingbourne and Port of Calais have 17 objectives and about 35 buildings you have to destroy at each city. Then every ground mission you call brings in new factories and building objects designed for severl bomber passes or a group at once (on both sides).

Plus many bonus objectives (factories, ships, convoys etc.). They are just not advertised, but neither were they in war. Blow up a ship or a small factory in a small town and you just might get Bonus objective points awarded.

[III/JG53_Don]

One question considering the prestige and bonus points. Your pilot gets an entry in some kind of server statistics where all your prestige points are notified? Or do you have to earn this points every time you join the server anew?

[Ataros]

Thanks for the info.


As for the missions you can call up 3 at once and then they are limited by time or 80% destruction.

I think then that it would be nice if newcomers can call a list of active missions via the Mission Menu and see their objectives or intercept points. This would direct them to action if all 3 missions are already in progress (were announced before they joined the server).

As for people saying there are not many targets...
Sorry I meant other older missions, not your latest one. Fighters were usually complaining about difficulty to find more than 2-3 human fighters at one spot to have a good team dogfight like "was flying for 30 minutes to see only one enemy or a group of AI bombers".

[Blackdog_kt]

One question considering the prestige and bonus points. Your pilot gets an entry in some kind of server statistics where all your prestige points are notified? Or do you have to earn this points every time you join the server anew?

If my understanding of Wolf's mission design is correct, then i think that prestige points are not awarded to the pilot but to the team as a whole.
Then, the pilots in the team can use those points to "buy" reinforcements.

For example, you bomb a target with a couple of wingmen, gain some points for your team, then anyone in the team can use those points to buy extra fighters or new bombers to replace the ones that got damaged in the mission. I think it goes something like that, but i can't be entirely sure. Just what i could gather by reading Wolf's thread over on the ATAG forums.

[hc_wolf]

Thanks for the info.



I think then that it would be nice if newcomers can call a list of active missions via the Mission Menu and see their objectives or intercept points. This would direct them to action if all 3 missions are already in progress (were announced before they joined the server).


Sorry I meant other older missions, not your latest one. Fighters were usually complaining about difficulty to find more than 2-3 human fighters at one spot to have a good team dogfight like "was flying for 30 minutes to see only one enemy or a group of AI bombers".

Yes new people joining the fight simply go into the menu in game and look at the high, low or ground mission status and the targets/orders will be displayed.

You can also go into objectives and see which are completed and which are not.

Further you can press escape once in your plane and this will also display briefing in more detail.

Also in menu you can see time mission has been running, time left etc.

Hope that is enough

[hc_wolf]

I have been getting a lot of questions about targets and objectives.... "will it be random, will you need to take more than 1 bomber, is each target just one building...etc" So here is what I posted on ATAG forum today.

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?1797-Channel-Command

Note: Update 20.07.2012. Channel Command!
- OK so pretty much ready for release. Today I would like to show you a map of some of the Objectives in the game. This is just off Google maps as I am at work.

The pink dots reference Mission Bombing Objectives. Not all these objectives are available from the beginning. If you call up a mission then one of these objectives opens up and becomes a target / objective. These targets vary in size so you may need to take friends with you or make a couple or many return trips.

Example: "Ammunitions Factory discovered north of Ashford. Destroy the factory complex!(grid ref inc.). "

This Factory may or may not have been there since the start of the game. So every time you play this mission online you will not have the same old targets to hit from the start. Objective targets vary in size and shape, but easy to distinguish from surrounding houses.
10312

Big circles represent large amounts of targets or multiple objectives. That's all for now.

[adonys]

I remember I've tried to have a look at the current active objectives, but it wasn't so simple: both because of the way to ask for, and the way the output was presented.

A fast, simple way to bring up the current active objectives would be of a great help for everyone.

[Bewolf]

I remember I've tried to have a look at the current active objectives, but it wasn't so simple: both because of the way to ask for, and the way the output was presented.

A fast, simple way to bring up the current active objectives would be of a great help for everyone.

I agree, checking active missions and then chosing one in the menu as it's own rider would be simplifying usage quite a bit.
I have to admit I got quite confused witht eh current system. Not to a degree that I couldn't figure it out, eventually, but it took a while.

[hc_wolf]

I agree, checking active missions and then chosing one in the menu as it's own rider would be simplifying usage quite a bit.
I have to admit I got quite confused witht eh current system. Not to a degree that I couldn't figure it out, eventually, but it took a while.

It's hard to please everyone.... ;)

Ok I may make it easier. Just remember there can be 3 current missions at once. And until we can display multi lines on-screen I have to break it up to 3 menu options as the width of the screen is not enough.

So Maybe next week I will adjust the menu. It is not a 5 min job. Maybe 6-7mins. :-P

Edit: See below: 'Work in Progress' ;)

[ATAG_Dutch]

It's hard to please everyone.... ;)

Ok I may make it easier. Just remember there can be 3 current missions at once. And until we can display multi lines on-screen I have to break it up to 3 menu options as the width of the screen is not enough.

So Maybe next week I will adjust the menu. It is not a 5 min job. Maybe 6-7mins. :-P

:grin: Don't sweat it Wolfy mate. Tell 'em about 'Work in Progress'. It's quite a famous phrase on this forum! ;)

[Bewolf]

It's hard to please everyone.... ;)

Ok I may make it easier. Just remember there can be 3 current missions at once. And until we can display multi lines on-screen I have to break it up to 3 menu options as the width of the screen is not enough.

So Maybe next week I will adjust the menu. It is not a 5 min job. Maybe 6-7mins. :-P

Edit: See below: 'Work in Progress' ;)

No stress, Wolf, merely a suggestion here, no pressure attached. If you manage to implement it, great! But that is critique on a very high level. I am just glad we finally get such an online environment to begin with =)

[Red Dragon-DK]

At least it's good to see a Friday update. ;)


Ty ATAG_Wolf

[adonys]

so.. the ATAG server will switch to this starting with this evening?

[pstyle]

so.. the ATAG server will switch to this starting with this evening?
not necessarily.
sometime this weekend.
I'm sure they will announce it, when it happens

[zapatista]

Hi Wolf,

have you added any AI ground activity routines to the maps/airfields to make the environment more immersive ?

eg some trucks/jeeps driving around the airfield, other planes landing and taking off on other missions (new supply planes arriving ? etc..)

maybe some AI civilian or military vehicles on the roads, as well as some civilian trains maybe ? there are advanced features like that built into the sim, just not much info on how to access it or script for it. would be a great "feature' to show off some of the potential of this new sim.

[hc_wolf]

Hi Wolf,

have you added any AI ground activity routines to the maps/airfields to make the environment more immersive ?

eg some trucks/jeeps driving around the airfield, other planes landing and taking off on other missions (new supply planes arriving ? etc..)

maybe some AI civilian or military vehicles on the roads, as well as some civilian trains maybe ? there are advanced features like that built into the sim, just not much info on how to access it or script for it. would be a great "feature' to show off some of the potential of this new sim.

Yes and No. Yes it is all there in another .CS and .mis file but it will not be in this release. It will need to wait until the net code is improved. I tried it all in earlier and once you have more than 8 people joining the time it takes to join is tooo long and people drop out.

So I have thinned it out to give some life but minimised the moving objects to Objectives, ships and AI planes for now. But yes it is all there to swap in ASAP. for now I say have a fly around and you can see lots of little additions.

[hc_wolf]

Final version has just been sent to ATAG_Bliss. There are a few minor things i need to fix (I am just a perfectionist) but the mission is good to go.

It will be on ATAG some time this weekend when the ATAG server guys wake up and have time to migrate the file in to rotation.

Hope you all like it, leave feedback if there are issues please.

Mission is up on my PC now for the rest of the night if you want to try it out on a NON-server PC. ping may be high :)

[pstyle]

It will be on ATAG some time this weekend when the ATAG server guys wake up and have time to migrate the file in to rotation.
)

Cheers mate,
will it be obvious to us when we join if it is the new mission? (i.e. map or briefing)

[Ataros]

Regarding better briefings.

I was told by the devs that a submission briefing if exists is loaded with any submission. This makes possible to use C# to generate a text file current.briefing for instance and load it with an empty submission every time objectives change.

The briefing then can be viewed both in the main menu and in the inflight-map window (RMB click -> Show briefing). A short prompt can be shown in chat window saying that objectives have been updated.

[JTDawg]

Doc was telling us about it last night , sounds great , an i'm sure all will go well , Keep up the great work ATAG !! Hey btw can you make me a spit with a couple bofors (1 under each wing will do ) no hurry , i'll wait or hey , even a better idea a rear mounted bofor to help out on the six cleaning ,Won't that make those bad guys think twice!! Good luck Dawg

[hc_wolf]

Regarding better briefings.

I was told by the devs that a submission briefing if exists is loaded with any submission. This makes possible to use C# to generate a text file current.briefing for instance and load it with an empty submission every time objectives change.

The briefing then can be viewed both in the main menu and in the inflight-map window (RMB click -> Show briefing). A short prompt can be shown in chat window saying that objectives have been updated.

Yes this is already in place for every mission.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Cheers mate,
will it be obvious to us when we join if it is the new mission? (i.e. map or briefing)

Yes it will pstyle. As soon as you spawn probably, if not before. :grin:

[hc_wolf]

Yes it will pstyle. As soon as you spawn probably, if not before. :grin:
Yes a hand reaches out and slaps you hard across the face from left to right. :-P

I should add. Once you log in the briefing does not work. Devs need to fix this. But once in a plane you can check briefing or menu and it works then to show you your mission or current mission. If no briefing then call up a mission of your choice

[ATAG_Dutch]

Yes a hand reaches out and slaps you hard across the face from left to right. :-P

Awww, now you've spoiled it.....:(

[ATAG_MajorBorris]

Thanks Wolf,

I hope to try it this weekend:-)

[ATAG_Bliss]

Mission is in the rotation :)

[Warhound]

Channel command is live right now, just started!
come try it out. :)

[SlipBall]

Channel command is live right now, just started!
come try it out. :)


I'm not seeing it listed in the server list :)

[hc_wolf]

I'm not seeing it listed in the server list :)

He means it is live on the ATAG server. It is in rotation with a couple of other missions I think.

[Blackdog_kt]

I don't know, but maybe in a while we probably won't need the other missions to be separate.

Since channel command can load "sub-missions", it could be running all the time as the "master mission" and whatever new scenarios the guys build could be added to the "sub-missions".

Just a thought, because i expect a lot of people joining to try out channel command, getting a different one and going "awww, it's not the new mission" :-P

Keep up the great work ;)

[Tata]

I don't know, but maybe in a while we probably won't need the other missions to be separate.

Since channel command can load "sub-missions", it could be running all the time as the "master mission" and whatever new scenarios the guys build could be added to the "sub-missions".

Just a thought, because i expect a lot of people joining to try out channel command, getting a different one and going "awww, it's not the new mission" :-P

Keep up the great work ;)

+1

also would be great to have front line moveable... :)

[Steuben]

Is it possible to see when the channel map is up ....in rotation on the ATAG webside?

Thank you very much!

[Bewolf]

Is it possible to see when the channel map is up ....in rotation on the ATAG webside?

Thank you very much!

That would be nice. I am checking myself every other hour if it's up already =)
Or maybe it is possible to bring it up completly over the week end so people can check it out?

[SlipBall]

That would be nice. I am checking myself every other hour if it's up already =)
Or maybe it is possible to bring it up completly over the week end so people can check it out?


It's up and running right now, I think...I could not get any steerage at the Pihen base, could not turn for take off, wind?:(...must have been lag because the second time no problem with turning. I really liked what I was seeing, and the new patch should do wonders for this concept. With the 40-50 pilots my system was just to laggy to enjoy

[hc_wolf]

UPDATE: 22/07/2012

Hi all, first thanks for all the positive responses and helpful criticism. I addressed all issues people highlighted (3 in total) and the fixes are in current server mission.

So the last 2 days I did some flying myself and made some additional triggers to provide more hidden objectives and bonus points if you bomb them.

Today i took on a challenge from Artos. Coop bomber missions. How does it work yo ask?

Well if 3 or more of you spawn at a designated airfield within a specific time, your group will get a specific and challenging bomber mission separate to all others in the game. They will not know you have the special mission, but they will be alerted to your bomber group taking off (blame the spies in close by villages).

If you spawn in a fighter with the group then you will have a special briefing for u also to protect the group. Also points (lots) will be hanging on you protecting the bomber group in lots of 20% of group destroyed) and for the bombers reaching their objective in tact.

Bombers get points and awards for completing mission. There may also be objectives you must meet to ern bonus points by reaching a waypoint in a particular time. Bonus for reaching may be you get extra air cover.

Note: this is not in current server it is only on my test server.

Testing going well and may be ready by next Friday.

My question to community? What sort of targets would appeal to you for this coop style bombing missions? Please give me ideas.

ATAG_wolf out

[Bewolf]

UPDATE: 22/07/2012


My question to community? What sort of targets would appeal to you for this coop style bombing missions? Please give me ideas.

ATAG_wolf out

First, that sounds great!
And to your question, I think that depends a bit on the kind of Aircraft you spawn. Btw, do fighter bombers count?

So the big guys, He111 and Ju88 could be used on level bombing missions, harbors, industrial areas, troop concentrations, airfields etc.
Ju87 would be great for what it was designed for, pinpoint targets like ships, trains, radar stations, vehicle convois, special gun emplacements at the coast etc.

So basicly pretty much what they had to bomb historically.

It really is a pity red side lacks the Wellington, doing all of this with just one aircraft, the Blenheim, really is poison to a more balanced apporach here. Red is at a severve disadvantage in this regard.

[Bewolf]

It's up and running right now, I think...I could not get any steerage at the Pihen base, could not turn for take off, wind?:(...must have been lag because the second time no problem with turning. I really liked what I was seeing, and the new patch should do wonders for this concept. With the 40-50 pilots my system was just to laggy to enjoy


Thanks for that, btw, been there, had lots of fun =)
Will have to check again today when it is up.

[ATAG_Dutch]

It really is a pity red side lacks the Wellington, doing all of this with just one aircraft, the Blenheim, really is poison to a more balanced apporach here. Red is at a severe disadvantage in this regard.

Yeah, it'd be great if we could carry some heavier loads. :grin:

But! I took out one objective in Calais today on one solo Blenheim run, so it's do-able in the Blenny. Besides, as part of the progression to a more 'BoB' style mode of play, Red side ought to be defending a lot more than attacking.

If any Blue Bomber squads get it together with some fighter escort for a Co-op style mission, I could almost guarantee that us Blenny pilots will jump in a Spit anyway. Would really love to try that out. :grin:

[TomcatViP]

Yeah, it'd be great if we could carry some heavier loads. :grin:



Blam the era, the available knowledge and the Bomber Command strategy.

I think it wld be great if it stays like that as it suits more reality.

if they make the Welly flyable then some will complains of being shot down to often on deck run and we will end with stupid modded Welly just like th e17 and the Supersonic 24 with barbet destroyer guns that we had in old IL2. Once is enough. Errare humanum est and blablabla...

So I would be really happy if devs stay out of this idea.

[Blackdog_kt]

First, that sounds great!
And to your question, I think that depends a bit on the kind of Aircraft you spawn. Btw, do fighter bombers count?

So the big guys, He111 and Ju88 could be used on level bombing missions, harbors, industrial areas, troop concentrations, airfields etc.
Ju87 would be great for what it was designed for, pinpoint targets like ships, trains, radar stations, vehicle convois, special gun emplacements at the coast etc.

So basicly pretty much what they had to bomb historically.

It really is a pity red side lacks the Wellington, doing all of this with just one aircraft, the Blenheim, really is poison to a more balanced apporach here. Red is at a severve disadvantage in this regard.

Well, the red side is limited to 4000ft or so due to visibility issues from the front seat (the higher you go, the less time you have to line up the target), but currently only the red side can level bomb.

I've been crying my lungs off for months about the bugs in the Lofte bombsights and yet, it's still unknown to the general public that in this battle of Britain the luftwaffe can't level bomb :-P

Currently, the only way to do damage to area targets is to level bomb with a calculator by your side doing what the bombsight should do by itself, or to use dive bombing Ju-88s.

So if you guys want something to shoot, support my petition to fix the bombsights and if i can blow things up then i'll be happy to take up a formation for you to intercept :grin:

[Bewolf]

Well, the red side is limited to 4000ft or so due to visibility issues from the front seat (the higher you go, the less time you have to line up the target), but currently only the red side can level bomb.

I've been crying my lungs off for months about the bugs in the Lofte bombsights and yet, it's still unknown to the general public that in this battle of Britain the luftwaffe can't level bomb :-P

Currently, the only way to do damage to area targets is to level bomb with a calculator by your side doing what the bombsight should do by itself, or to use dive bombing Ju-88s.

So if you guys want something to shoot, support my petition to fix the bombsights and if i can blow things up then i'll be happy to take up a formation for you to intercept :grin:

Hm, I have hit with the Lofte. Not from too high altitude, though. Only problem was, as you said, the extremly late appearance of the target buildigs. Same with thips, that should be looked into.
Can you elaborate?

[SlipBall]

Still not sure what I should be doing after spawning. I selected a mission, but I don't think it was assigned to me...also, I think I got in trouble for taking off, maybe I should have asked first:-P

[Blackdog_kt]

Hm, I have hit with the Lofte. Not from too high altitude, though. Only problem was, as you said, the extremly late appearance of the target buildigs. Same with thips, that should be looked into.
Can you elaborate?

The short version is that the Lofte has two main algorithms, one to track the target (keeps the crosshairs on the target as the plane moves) when automation is engaged, and one to calculate the bomb release point for that target point. The problem is that the user's inputs are treated as different units (imperial vs metric, this is what happened before the beta) by each algorithm, or they use the IAS/TAS conversion tables that correspond to the other set of units (so if you are flying at 300km/h and 3000m, you look at the imperial chart in the manual and get your TAS for 300mph and 3000ft).

However, it seems this only happens for the bomb release algorithm.

That means you can either track correctly and release at the wrong time by using metric, or you can release correctly for the aim point by using the imperial data, but the aim point doesn't stay on the target because the tracking algorithm seemed to work in metric. And i say seemed, because with the beta patches that has also changed, now it won't stay in place.

What it should do is that once you calibrate for speed and altitude over target, it should require almost no correction at all.

There's also a video on the atag forums by Aus3620 that shows the current workaround for scoring hits, but we have a couple of things regarding altitude conversions that we need to test before deciding on the final way to do it.


In order not to derail this thread, here's the link to all bombers issues i have managed to collect with the help of other users: http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=32592&highlight=bombers

That thread needs a bit of updating because the pre-beta workaround doesn't work now (they changed something in the Lofte but it's still not working according to specification), but you can get an idea of what is left to debug. Cheers ;)

[Bewolf]

The short version is that the Lofte has two main algorithms, one to track the target (keeps the crosshairs on the target as the plane moves) when automation is engaged, and one to calculate the bomb release point for that target point. The problem is that the user's inputs are treated as different units (imperial vs metric, this is what happened before the beta) by each algorithm, or they use the IAS/TAS conversion tables that correspond to the other set of units (so if you are flying at 300km/h and 3000m, you look at the imperial chart in the manual and get your TAS for 300mph and 3000ft).

However, it seems this only happens for the bomb release algorithm.

That means you can either track correctly and release at the wrong time by using metric, or you can release correctly for the aim point by using the imperial data, but the aim point doesn't stay on the target because the tracking algorithm seemed to work in metric. And i say seemed, because with the beta patches that has also changed, now it won't stay in place.

What it should do is that once you calibrate for speed and altitude over target, it should require almost no correction at all.

There's also a video on the atag forums by Aus3620 that shows the current workaround for scoring hits, but we have a couple of things regarding altitude conversions that we need to test before deciding on the final way to do it.


In order not to derail this thread, here's the link to all bombers issues i have managed to collect with the help of other users: http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=32592&highlight=bombers

That thread needs a bit of updating because the pre-beta workaround doesn't work now (they changed something in the Lofte but it's still not working according to specification), but you can get an idea of what is left to debug. Cheers ;)

Thanks for the info! Will keep that in mind next time I try it. And indeed, if what you describe is the case, it needs fixing asap.

[III/JG53_Don]

Tried the mission yesterday evening and I've got to say I'm pretty impressed, nice work!
it was quite some fun to fly, thank you for your efforts!

[FS~Phat]

@Wolf

I played for a couple hours last night and had a really great time.

One thing I noticed though was that one of the JU87 bombing waves only a couple of the AI gunners were firing at me. I was able to sit in formation with a couple of them wing tip to wing tip with me and they didnt fire a single shot. (which was kinda cool!) ;)

Yet if I moved over to one of the other flight groups (Gruppen) 1 or 2 AI would start shooting.

Overall loved the sense of immersion and feeling like I had a purpose instead of just looking for targets of opportunity. :)

[hc_wolf]

@Wolf

I played for a couple hours last night and had a really great time.

One thing I noticed though was that one of the JU87 bombing waves only a couple of the AI gunners were firing at me. I was able to sit in formation with a couple of them wing tip to wing tip with me and they didnt fire a single shot. (which was kinda cool!) ;)

Yet if I moved over to one of the other flight groups (Gruppen) 1 or 2 AI would start shooting.

Overall loved the sense of immersion and feeling like I had a purpose instead of just looking for targets of opportunity. :)

Thanks FS~Phat ,

Yes I noticed this also, I had missed these guys. I have since adjusted their skills now and suggest you don't try that again. I have also adjusted them to dive bomb their targets as I had them set on Level bombing.

Note: This update is not in the current ATAG Server mission.

[Redroach]

Anyways, this is a quantum leap in regards to Multiplayer.

This. It's just awesome! The sheer amount of available missions/tasks is quite a chunk to swallow for first-timers. But this is no critique at all - it should be that way! And I'm especially looking forward to the 'double sided scoring' feature - this should increase the incentive to actually defend something!
Maybe you (hc_wolf), or one of your mates who is familiar with the missions should write a comprehensive "manual" (A manual for online missions! Amazing! :-) ) when there's some time and motivation left! And if you want to hold some super-secret missions back for players to discover, you could restrict information on these to a subtle hint or so :-)
Oh, and I can't wait until the netcode is improved (some 2-3 years from now :rolleyes: ), so that you are able to bring some immersion stuff into the map/mission complex! Now I saw why you have restricted yourself in that department... the longer loading times don't bother me too much, but they could throw off some new players. :-(

@Blackdog, regarding Lotfe bugs:
Perhaps you should do it like Andy Dufresne did: Write a letter/email/PN to the devs every day! It only took him 6 years! :D

[hc_wolf]

FYI mission is up in test mode now if you want to play. I will leave PC running mission for the next 5 hours. It is a home pc not a dedicated server.

It is running some new missions, features etc. It is re-designed to dynamically change AI volumes as more people join or leave.

Should assist in faster log in times.

[AbortedMan]

FYI mission is up in test mode now if you want to play. I will leave PC running mission for the next 5 hours. It is a home pc not a dedicated server.

It is running some new missions, features etc. It is re-designed to dynamically change AI volumes as more people join or leave.

Should assist in faster log in times.

You should keep this up at all times if possible, as ATAG is clutching to their (IMO) defunct original missions and still running them ragged in the rotation. I (and others) have not been able to get any significant time in on your great mission...it really bums me out.

[ATAG_Doc]

Thanks Wolf! I hope I get to test it.

[hc_wolf]

Hi Guys!

UPDATE: 30.07.2012 (just before patch ;) )

I have done a little tinkering with the mission while at work. I focused on the long load times once more people join the server.

I have made an update to the mission and put in CAP limits on AI and removed most of the extra Ship AI's I had in game.

The CAP system is dynamic and reacts to the volume of people joining or leaving the server.

Supply ships = If 6 or more people join, Supply ships will be removed; Supplies will switch to Air operations with supplies flown in. It is quicker and less taxing on CPU and load times.

Train Supplies = If 6 or more people join, Supply trains will be removed; Supplies will switch to Air operations with supplies flown in. It is quicker and less taxing on CPU and load times.

Patrol Missions = if 6 or more people join, Patrols will be reduced with each member joining and phased out once the volume of people join the server of a designated amount.

Interceptions = If 6 or more people join they WIL NOT stop, however, they will be prevented from spawning IF the Maximum amount of AI are already in game or there are x amount of humans online.

All above operations will resume if volume of players reduce below 5 and AI in game are below a set level.

Introduced 2 new mission types and some elements that decide when they run depending on volume of Humans and AI already in game.

Blitzkrieg = 2 missions up to 25 AI Bombers with Escorts at 5,500 meters. I will leave their targets as a surprise. They vary and if you are over the channel following them as they approach England, you are in for a treat.

British Bombing Attack = 1 Mission up to 18 Wellingtons and escorts at around 3,500-4000 meters (to be adjusted, maybe up). Multi targets and again a bit of a surprise as they cross the French coast.


Added a special call in the Menu to call one of these missions Based on volume of AI and other players already in mission. example, if there are 10 people in game and multi AI then this mission will not trigger nor can it be called up.

There is also a timed check on the server every 20-30 mins that will trigger one of the above missions depending on volume of players, AI and some other variables.

These changes (reduced ship AI and CAPs on AI objects should reduce load times maybe improve FPS for some.

I left the mission running on my PC for 4 hours last night, sorry for cutting people off the server this morning, I had to go to work. The mission upgrade will be past to ATAG server guys tonight and will be put to main server when they have time in next couple of days..