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View Full Version : DLC For Improving the Skirmish/Training Mode - Very Important for Replayability!


Zero-Sen
09-19-2009, 08:08 AM
Hello all. Like many other folks here I am also largely a console-flyboy who enjoyed what the consoles had to offer for flight combat (Ace Combat is admittedly always a fun, if not at all realistic, play) but have always wanted something more immersive.

As such, also like many others here, I have been having a grand old time with BoP so far. If you'd all indulge me in a mini-review before I address my thread topic - yes, BoP certainly IS NOT the ultra-realistic IL2 experience that can be found on the PC (on the other hand, I understand the devs are hard at work on a brand new PC one as we speak...) but I understand that ultra-realism was never BoP's true goal. Instead, 1C and Gaijin must really be commended for finally making the best (at the moment...) console flight title that bridges that gap between arcadey-console sims and realistic PC sims.

In short, if you play it on the console-sim style arcade mode, you'll find a great-controlling and action-packed experience that I - like many other reviews have stated - believe really is the best console flight game available at the moment. On the other hand, although it isn't identical, PC IL2 veterans who play the realistic Sim mode will find that there are many similarities and new bells and whistles (ie. fantastic graphics, great score, etc.) that makes BoP worth experiencing all the same.

Consequently, as we owners/players are now all theoretically 'share-holders' in this new BoP line of IL2, of course we have suggestions on how to make BoP even better and to last us until the sequel :) (after all, have you noticed? BoP is getting rave reviews - good job guys!).

I know there has been a lot of issues regarding the multiplayer bugs and glitches on both PS3 and 360, so I'm not going to add fuel to that fire here. Instead, as my topic suggests, I'm here to suggest a few changes to the singleplayer skirmish/training mode that would result in big improvements and great longevity.

First off, the devs were already *so close* to making the Training mode basically the mission editor mode that many of us want. It already has many of the features needed but is missing only a few very important ones, like:
1) Ability to select number of and aircraft type for allied AI wingmen - BoP already has a *functional* AI wingmen command system, so please include it in the training mode as well. Yes, the AI isn't always so smart, but they are fairly good at doing what you tell them to do. Besides, as many on the boards have stated, it really isn't fun to attack/defend the Channel/Stalingrad/Berlin for the nth time as the ONLY pilot for your chosen nation vs 16 other belligerent Spits/Yaks/109s who all have you as their ONLY target.
2) German cockpits for Training Mode use - ok, I know Anton has stated to death that we'll get at least the 109 and 190 'pits via DLC, but please make sure that the cockpits are useable/available for the Training mode as well for a fully fleshed out skirmish/training mode. And,
3) Ability to select mixed aircraft for allied AI wingmen and for enemy AI. This would just be the icing on the cake and would finally allow for unlimited bombing/defend/escort/interception scenarios.

So there you have it - I personally think that just these THREE additions to the Training mode would give BoP huge replayability. Too tired to muck around with setting up online sessions? Fire up the training mode with these additions and play any number of encounters to your hearts' content.

So, just to summarize, it would be absolutely beyond my wildest dreams if these 3 additions could be made via DLC to the Training Mode:
1) Ability to select number of and aircraft type for allied AI wingmen,
2) German cockpits (basically Bf109, FW-190) available for use in training mode, and
3) Ability to select mixed aircraft types for AI and enemy bots in training mode.
Hell, I'd be happy if only 1) and 2) made it in for DLC additions!

This is certainly not a demand, but simply suggestions that I think anyone in the IL2/BoP community would like for BoP additions. As such, please feel free to offer your own opinion on this topic for further constructive discussion to the devs! Cheers!

simfex
09-19-2009, 08:58 AM
Yes, I am completely on your side. But there is one we can add too. I think it should be possible to make that the bombers hold there positions when they fly in formation. It is completely unreal and frustrating when they turn like fighters. And as a second option the flak should also be available.

MorgothNL
09-19-2009, 09:02 AM
Yes, I am completely on your side. But there is one we can add too. I think it should be possible to make that the bombers hold there positions when they fly in formation. It is completely unreal and frustrating when they turn like fighters. And as a second option the flak should also be available.

the flak is available in the current training mode ;)its not effective... but its gonna be updated in the title update.

Ancient Seraph
09-19-2009, 10:03 AM
Although I probably won't use it, I do agree that it would be a nice addon for a lot of people. A mission editor would be even more awesome if you could play it Coop, like in PF, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. The expanded training options would be a nice addition.

Houndstone Hawk
09-19-2009, 11:15 AM
Agree whole heartedly with everything you suggest re: simple addons to the training missions. Sadly, BoP is NOT going to suddenly become a popular success for the SIM player online & after many many sessions of waiting around for a good dose of SIM MP I have resorted to the training scenarios. It's not the fault of the game I must stress. OK the scoring system is flawed slightly but that shouldn't stop players wanting to stick at honing their skills on MP SIM.
I'd like to add one more suggestion to your 3 simple training scenario ideas if I may & that is having the option to be able to start & end your scenario from an airfield IF THE MAP HAS ONE!
Short of playing the relevant tutorial or the odd mission over & over, there is no other way in the game of enjoying a take off & more importantly, the sometimes thrilling scenario of trying to get your damaged kite back to the airfield. That for me, IS PART OF THE FIGHT.
One would say go online & try the capture the airfield mode but once again I have yet to find anyone to play this mode on anything other than ARCADE or REALISM.

Once again, Great suggestions you have made, that should not be hard to pull off & the replayabilty factor, as you say, would be huge.

PantherAttack2
09-19-2009, 12:48 PM
...start & end your scenario from an airfield IF THE MAP HAS ONE!


As far as I know every single map has at least one airfield on it, but the option to take-off and then to land again to finish the scenario would be great.

FOZ_1983
09-19-2009, 01:00 PM
something like "escort" (single player mission) would be good where...


you have to take off from hawkinge, fly to france attack an airfield, cause damage then fly home and land.

All with limited fuel and ammo.

Would take a while but would be fun.

Always used to be great doing things like that on the PC.

Ancient Seraph
09-19-2009, 01:11 PM
Never been one for the long flights to a target.. it's why I didn't like the SP in PF at all. Think there's a very limited public for those missions..

P.S. sorry 'bout the game just now Foz ;)

FOZ_1983
09-19-2009, 01:14 PM
Never been one for the long flights to a target.. it's why I didn't like the SP in PF at all. Think there's a very limited public for those missions..

P.S. sorry 'bout the game just now Foz ;)



No need to apologise mate, i was quite happy to stick it out 2v1 but then the last kill...

i thought we collided, but i we were both still flying....then a couple of seconds later both mine and yours wings got ripped off and we "crashed"

I dont really enjoy games that lag :(

Nice flying btw, was struggling to keep you in my sights (and your team mate off my 6!!)

Ancient Seraph
09-19-2009, 01:25 PM
(off topic, i know)
Meh, I know my inet connection is quite bad, but since no-one else ever hosts :(

FOZ_1983
09-19-2009, 01:29 PM
(off topic, i know)
Meh, I know my inet connection is quite bad, but since no-one else ever hosts :(


They do, its just a case of trying to find a game :)

if i look for realistic or sim, it could take a while... yet arcade (who the **** plays arcade!!!!!!) i can usually find a game straight away and the room has at least 8 players. But i tend to leave because arcade is crap! if i wanted to fly like that in WW2 i'll play blazing angels.

Houndstone Hawk
09-19-2009, 04:34 PM
Never been one for the long flights to a target.. it's why I didn't like the SP in PF at all. Think there's a very limited public for those missions..

P.S. sorry 'bout the game just now Foz ;)

I will never u/stand this mentality that the IL-2 series has associated with it. A simple look at the keyboard mapping will tell you of a 'skip' button that literally takes you to the next waypoint (aswell as providing keys for differing time compression speeds of fast forward & slow down). hitting the autopilot key & selecting 8X time compression will bring you to your action in seconds!!!
I'll readily admit that not everybody seems to want the immersive task of taking to the air, gaining altitude, joing up with your wingmen & heading off to your designated waypoint but IL-2 gives you that choice. It always has done.

Ancient Seraph
09-19-2009, 06:58 PM
I will never u/stand this mentality that the IL-2 series has associated with it. A simple look at the keyboard mapping will tell you of a 'skip' button that literally takes you to the next waypoint (aswell as providing keys for differing time compression speeds of fast forward & slow down). hitting the autopilot key & selecting 8X time compression will bring you to your action in seconds!!!
I'll readily admit that not everybody seems to want the immersive task of taking to the air, gaining altitude, joing up with your wingmen & heading off to your designated waypoint but IL-2 gives you that choice. It always has done.

You are indeed right, I apologise. Now that I think about it, the reason I quit the campaign in PF was that I did one mission over and over again, without progressing, yet not failing it either. Never bothered to look for a solution though, I'll admit.
For clarity: I am in no way opposed to the 'extended missions' option, I was just stating that I'm not so sure there is enough audience for this to actually be worth it for the developers. This is all regarding SP btw. I would love to see landings being useful in MP.

Zero-Sen
09-19-2009, 07:05 PM
It's good to hear all the feedback! So yes, there definitely is interest in these possible (and *seemingly* relatively simple to program) three additions to the Training Mode.

And by the look of things, adding these additions as methods to expand the Training Mode in BoP looks like it could be a real hook for PC IL2 fans who are looking to get their sim experience from BoP but without the hassle of needing to contend with the overpopulation of online arcade players to lack of online sim players ratio. After all, if you boot up a skirmish/training scenario on sim mode versus 2-3 veteran difficulty AI bots, the fight actually turns out being somewhat close to a typical battle on a PC IL2 - which is certainly another compliment to 1C and Gaijin.

But with the said inclusion of adding 1) selectable number of and aircraft type for AI teammates, 2) useable German cockpits, and possibly 3) ability to select a set of mixed aircraft for teammates and enemies all to the training mode - the devs would be giving us fans A LOT to chew on/play with over the long run.

As for the landing and take-off feature, yeah sure, I understand that this is a little bit of a guilty pleasure for any IL2 fan and even me, when I was humbly impressed by Ace Combat's eventual inclusion of take-offs and landings back in the day. After all, like another member had posted on these boards, it's truly harrowing to try and land your swiss-cheesed crate in the midst of the storm weather option :).

So, some *possible* suggestions for adding quick and easy DLC options for the take-off/landing crowd is maybe to add an option where you select starting position in a training battle to be on the ground (ie. as one of the options on the training mode screen, it would say: Starting Position: Air, Ground [as the two selectable options for starting position]). And for landing practice maybe it can be programmed so that if you land on certain airfields on the map, you can choose to reload ammo and fuel and possibly even to 'hop out' into a new plane as a 'repair' option, if you so choose (ie. trying to land to re-arm/re-fuel/repair while being hounded by 16 angry 109s on sim mode).

So - yes, there's definitely interest in these DLC additions, so if you're listening Anton (and Anton, please be listening), these suggestions here would definitely be worthwhile in looking into. If it is at all possible to implement these few suggestions, that would forever solidify BoP as one of the best (if not *the* best) console flier in our times. And these additions don't have to all come at once - time can be taken and resources accrued before implementing all of the additions - just so long as we can see such great additions to BoP eventually.

Houndstone Hawk
09-19-2009, 09:09 PM
Zero-Sen

Like your 1st post; you make the points brilliantly. There's no major changes here but what a difference these simple additions would make to the already addictive training mode.

Let's hope!!!