Friday 2010-12-03 Dev. update and Discussion
 

Hi all.
Today I decided to make some surprize. Would like to see your discussion and discovering of features. I will look during several days and then will correct or answer some of posts. But only about these that I want to comment. Please be patient if I didn't answer for some questions. This means that it isn't right time yet to answer.
I'm inviting in discussion all who knows Il-2 FMB. That to make comparison.

Second part.
 

This is the other part of shots from FMB: Don't ask about list of all planes I show only these that I want to show.

phew! extensive settings...well done.

Finally we know the map's dimensions :) thank you! According to the scroll bar's size I guess the map will have the following size:

Quite impressive settings.:)

yes very nice, thx for the Editor Informations :)

second part pict 4 of 5

ammo belts...detonators?:confused:

Great!

I like the fact that you can weather your plane :)

Very, very impressive!

I'd only say that I think the aircraft-display-symbols should point in the direction the aircraft are facing, so it's clear to see what direction they are travelling in...any thoughts?

Love the feature of callsigns, too! Very impressive update IMHO, cheers Oleg.

What does weather-map mean? Can we view the weather?

Not exactly, there is a scrollbar on the right, so there must be more in the south ;)

i m first this time...

ohh, Oleg can you post a screenshot from the South point on the map?

I thought those were airfields? A little to many perhaps?

Skarphol

[QUOTE=Skarphol;202148]Ah, I see....IMHO there's never too many, but maybe the symbol is too confusing? ;)

Had a quick look on google maps, and from the scroll-bar I would estimate the map extends south to somewhere around Le Havre.

Yes, sorry my friend.
I remember you request for planning new you own campaign add-on.

Brilliant, thanks Oleg. The map size/detail looks fantastic. I have a few FMB questions which I'll post after work.

Cheers

PPanPan

Thank you again Oleg.
Will there be a winter map with this release?

I knew it! :cool:

An idea about the image below:). In the "Action" slot, things like "Tight horizontal Turn", "Barrel Roll", etc, can perhaps be added for AI pilots. AI planes performing these manoeuvres endlessly can help us practise gunnery against online opponents.;)

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/attachm...6&d=1291381977

yes, now i have all infos :)

maybe a good screenshot from London ;)

Full map below ... looks good eh :)

http://www.360vision.co.uk/uploads/il2/map_800.jpg

PPanPan

Brilliant.. This is the info I have been waiting for. I almost feel I can leap straight in and start making my own missions straight away.. it's instantly recognisable from the IL2 FMB..

OMG! weathering slider! multiple bomber formations! callsigns! I might just have soiled myself, great stuff Oleg to say the least. :grin:

I would really like to see a shot of how the weather fronts are depicted on the map. Perhaps some details of how you can adjust weather conditions and how we can plot the movement of weather fronts.

I think it was mentioned before but I forget: in campaigns will the weather conditions be as they were reported in RL during the Battle? From what I remember weather reports were well documented for each day.

Also, in dogfight servers can you set up weather conditions to run according to a specific day, i.e. say you want to run a dogfight map simulating a specific day in September, or whatever, so will the weather conditions on that day be selectable for your mission and the conditions change at the correct speed, etc, over the course of the mission?

And when designing your own missions would you set up weather fronts as you might set up AI flights, i.e. you select a cold front to begin at a certain point on the map, and you plot it to move across the map at a certain speed/rate based on wind speed, or whatever so that you can generate possible weather forecasts for the mission briefings? So you come into a mission, read the brief and see that weather is forecast to be fine at mission start, but you should expect to find rain, or heavy overcast, or fog 3 hours later when you come back to your airfield?

Nice stuff Oleg & Co.! Is there backwards compatility with IL2 missions? Like the "weather front" hint.. Set up different types of weather. Maybe not "dynamic", but still, it will add alot of immersion! :)
I love Fridays.. "Oleg Friday"! :D

Spline editing ?
Does it mean we will be able to add road, airfield tracks and so on ?
All this road with nice curves ?

Has the waypoint-size been increased to make them easier to hit for navigation?

~S~

Thanks for the update. I’m looking forward to making missions in the FMB. I have 2 questions for now.

1. In FMB, when you for example make a AAA battery, and want to make several, will you be able to copy/paste it in another location?

2. Will it be possible to make moving dogfight servers in SOW where AI controlled car/tanks/airplane is a factor?

Tweening :cool:

Looks like my beer infused calculations on the map size were not that far off after all :)

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpos...&postcount=259

Hey Oleg,

will you change the visuals of the GUI of the FMB so it better fits the modern look of the overall sim?

Dam it only just missed out the south west... :(

Some q's
 

Wow, a lot of options, I sure have work cut out for me!

Haven't been much of a mission / campaign builder myself but I plan on becoming one with BOB. What I really like in the campaigns I've played with IL-2 is historic accuracy and content that encompanies the story along so a few questions around that area:

1) Will you be able to add more 'story content' to the campaigns than just text in a narrow box. Stuff like pictures, sounds and videos would be fantastic immersion boost for me! Maybe an html format or whatever for the content could do the trick the easiest way, dunno.

2) The map look pretty big already (400+ KM diagonally I recon), but can you tell us what are the capabilities for the mapsize given the engine / HW limitations? So if there would be a crazy team of mappers who'd be ready to work 24x7 for a decade to build a map of entire europe for example?

3) I assume custom map building is possible?

4) Should there be benelux, norththern britain or whatever maps coming in the future releases, would it be possible to think that they'd be 'attached' to BOB map to create a bigger entity?

Thanks for the friday updates Oleg, it's a fantastic way to start a weekend! :-)

# of passes!!!

(However, I saw no setting of random failures or a way to add extra weight from field repairs)

Still, I'm very pleased - there are so many details that I'd never have thought of!

Oh, wow... well, that map makes me wonder what the coast of Normandy/Brittany would look like, lots of cliffs for the latter?

Love the number of options

Hey Oleg, thanks for the update, the editor looks great fun!
My question would have to be, what will the flight size be, in IL2 we were restricted to 4, will SoW have bigger flight sizes?
Thank you

WW2 Google Maps!! :rolleyes: ;) :D

I think I would have HOURS of fun just flying around!

Look at all those who spend hours solo in MFS or X-Plane?? :)

Thanks Oleg (PS, been away on vacation and business, but always see what's up!)

Very frustrating - I just keep going to click on tabs and pull down menus to see what's there forgetting it's just a .jpg!

Thanks for update.

I see that I have been waiting for 1 week just to see .... boring maps ...
After the last week's update session with BoB menus, I would have expected something more graphic/exiting.


I know, "I dont have the time, I'm tired", or what ever excuse we already heard here ... but is it so difficult to start the beta version and push on PRINT SCREEN on some ongoing air action ? I cant' believe that Oleg cannot delegate such an easy task to one of his guy's if he doesn't have the time himself.

Heheheh, not just me then :)

Very nice to see some free flight missions in there, as well as London Sightseeing.

Here's my questions and observations:

What are the Dimas and Slides folders?

Are the nice big doughnut shaped waypoints indicitive of not having to fly over an exact location for waypoints to update?

Map layers - intriguing, is this just a feature for ease of use?

Weather fronts, nice to see some confirmation these are still in effect :)

Aircraft serial #, does this mean that individual aircraft will be tracked and damage and over stressings can be carried over into further missions? I seem to recall some discussion on this point ages ago.

#Passes - awesome, I take it this means no more watching the AI endlessly attacking a target until one or the other is decimated?

:D

Oh dear...

Dear Oleg

I hope from the bottom of my heart that you make sure meaningful Online Campaign Wars between squadrons can be run in SoW.

I hope SoW doesn't end up to be a similar fiasco as NWN2 was, where realm build tools were so limited when compared that many just kept playing NWN.

You have a great concept in your hands. Please make sure we can dig deep on it and use it for our needs, whatever they are.

Show weather front :) So it might be possible to built heavy clouds over the target area while sunbathing back home?
Do the layers contain objects or just infrastructure?

Very extended options for the FMB, nice touch on the aircraft tabs.
Nice to see the waypoints could be ' interactive 'on hight, course, manner etc.


Will there be a map available with the Dutch coast?

Well, you could ask your mom to look at the update first on friday morning , and if there are "only" maps, then she could tell you : sorry sweety, not this week ! But I made some good pancakes for you...:-P

So that way, you would'nt be too disappointed....

:cool:

Wow. You should understand that some of us (many?) are just as interested in the nuts and bolts of the game as we are about the graphics. We've seen a lot of graphics, even in game video. Those look good, but what will make this a great sim is the "guts" of the software. Oleg is showing us some of the inner workings and alluding to the expandability of the sim.

Your post is rude, sorry. Very ungrateful. And I don't care if saying so gets me a ban for being "off topic", it needs ot be said.

As for me, it looks like even I could build decent missions in SoW lol. I love all the options and it looks pretty straight forward (I am sure it won't be the first time through though, never is).

Thank you for the peek inside, Oleg.

Splitter

This is a significant update for mission builders... Thank you.

I refuse to take that bait, Redwan. Anyway...

OLEG,

I can't see much to constructively criticize as it seems to be a "newer, bigger and better" IL-2 FMB. I think the mission builders won't have any difficulty adapting which is great.

The term "in-betweening" is a little vague but my guess is that this refers to a modifier applied to the parameters (flight speed/altitude) BETWEEN way-points, but it might also refer to interpolating flight speeds and altitudes as between flights of different aircraft (bombers and their escorts). I'm sure the meaning will be clear once we get a chance to use it.

I like the fact that there seem to be more options for spawn states (scramble, idle etc...).
It also looks as though we'll be able to edit roads and road embankments... very nice.
I also like the fact that specific call signs ("pinetree") can be assigned- this will make comms more realistic (and can be used to recreate missions from books more realistic where the call sign is indicated).
The sliding scale of weathering is another nice feature, can it be applied to different aircraft within the same flight?
Finally, the Weather map doesn't seem to be indicating that any weather was selected... maybe I am missing something, but I was expecting some meteorological symbols indicating zones of high and low pressure, precipitation- that sort of thing.

All very minor points.
It's going to be a lot of fun playing with all the new parameters!
C_G

S!

Looks like the FMB got a LOT new options, which is good. The ReadMe must be pretty extensive on that new FMB ;) Regarding airfield markers, they could be smaller, even use the tactical markings of that time perhaps?

A question regarding the roads and railways. Are they now properly interconnected everywhere? Can a mission builder now insert car convoys, trains etc. running at the map from one town to another realistically, making it a bit more "living" and give targets of opportunity? Do the cars follow roads now better than in IL-2 where they could try go through fields and whatever...and usually get stuck against a building for example.

Otherwise seems the FMB interface will be familiar to use :)

Are all the plane there on the list flyable? I wish they are :))

thanks Oleg, have a nice weekend!

Supermarine Walrus
 

Will this be flyable?
You know, Il-2 was always a great game, but what it lacked, was flyable MBR-2. And also some other important planes, notably Letov-328. And Wildebeest, there was not even an AI one. Unimaginable!
:evil:
Sorry, could not help myself. But to take thing serious, I dare to predict that people will soon begin to complain if ammo belts will be only in group settings and not also in the individual plane settings.
And yes, what are those detonators?

Hi Oleg.

I was wondering if there is an option to put the "Adjutant" symbol on German fighters like this Werner Schroer 109. The big "A"

http://i36.tinypic.com/2ufgefm.jpg

Oleg was pretty clear that in addition to providing us with an update as to the state of the FMB, he was hoping for some feedback ON the new FMB... not another flipping flame-war.

I'm just saying...

The greatest update for mission builders ever.
Oleg: Which means the tab "script"?? Is that a trigger???
Could you explain a lil more about the briefing feature?
Thanks a lot!

oleg,

thanks for the update !

the total size of the map looks great, and like the fact we can set formation types for AI components of flights :)

Hi Oleg,

All looking very, very good. Just a few questions/observations.

1. Can we please have the option to display waypoint speeds/altitudes in mph/feet?

2. Will it be possible to set waypoint arrival times directly, and let the game engine adjust a/c speed to suit? This way, it will make it easier to coordinate a/c engagements with less of the trial and error process.

3. The weathering slider sounds great. Will it also be possible to set inital aircraft/ship damage levels too? At present in IL2, it is very difficult to set up a ship as damaged at the start of a mission or a returning squadron with some smoking aircraft. This would be a great feature.

4. Can we now set up aircraft take-off positions that are not line astern e.g. a line abreast squadron take-off?

5. What can the maximum no. of aircraft in a flight be? Can we easily set up large bomber formations, for example?

6. Will it be possible to set AI aircraft to behave differently from 'see & destroy'? For example, to ignore a target or to lure an enemy a/c to chase it, not simply shoot it down?

7. Can we now set AI aircraft to land and take-off again?

8. Will it be possible to select multiple objects and copy & paste? Or will the stock objects include multiple object sets, e.g. clusters of trees, ship convoys, etc.

9. Finally, I'm really hoping that the FMB will at last have the ability to trigger events e.g. a squadron will scramble if enemy AI come within 'x' miles.

Think I better stop now before I get burned for asking too much!

Thanks again

PPanPan

Ahh Redwan, Redwan.
See, those exciting missions you fly on different servers, and those engaging, inmmersive coops you might fly online, are made by people that spends hours in front of this "boring maps" actually in a version that is much more basic than what Oleg just showed. Now imagine what they would do with this many options.
I think its exciting.

Oleg, now that we have those crystal clear waypoint markers, maybe it is possible to have different tones of red (or blue) depending on height?
Will ground movement waypoint markers be different from air ones?
I see some spawn options, so we will be seeing ai on dogfight missions?
Te # of passes option is sweet, also the inbetween options.. ah and the group Properties depicting weight in the current waypoint!

Looks great. This project is now moving into the arena most interesting to me. I build missions for the Digital Combat Simulator platform. There are a few things i would like to see with SoW:

1. Trigger system based upon "and/or" arguments.
2. Zone triggers.
3. Custom message and audio displays when certain triggers are met.
4. Random mechanical fault ability.
5. Templates. Please add the ability to save groupings of targets as a template if possible.


Also - could we please see some detail on how the briefing will be handeled? Too often i see too little attention paid to this aspect and it significantly diminishes the immersive factor when developing either cooperative missions or campaigns.

Thanks Oleg.

Not specific to this update, but it's only just crossed my mind:

Is it possible for SoW to disable padlock enemy when the enemy flys into a cloud? If there is a decent amount of cloud cover, it should be possbile to run without being followed by and enemy padlock option.

I apologise if this has been asked/answered before.

Thanks a lot for this update (despite the fool earlier in this thread). It looks very good and very familiar too. excellent - I'm a keen campaign builder in IL2 so I look forward to using it.


[EDIT: Seems PeterPan beat me to most of these questions]

FMB Questions
1.Can you please make the speed set in the FMB CONSTANT across altitudes, aircraft types and fuel/loadout states? If the FMB value could display TRUE airspeed rather than indicated, it would also be helpful.
Of course all those factors effect actual airspeed, but in IL2, speed in-game differs based on the above points. This makes assembling large formations very hard.


2. Can multiple flights be set into larger formations simply (e.g. by clicking "formate on flight 1" ; or by making a flightpath for one flight then clicking a button to add a second or third flight suitably spaced)? From the Group Properties screen that looks to be correct.

3. On properties screen I saw Ammo Belt or similar. Will it be possible to add different ammo states, e.g. 20%, 5% etc. This could help us simulate jams. (Not so important).

4. Do you think it'll be possible for AI to taxi and take off from dispersed positions, or in formation? I remember you said it was difficult to avoid collisions with IL2's AI, hence the starts on the runway.

5. Set target. Is it possible to set an enemy FLIGHT as a target, rather than just the LEADER of that flight? This would reduce occasions where the whole flight is chasing the mortally wounded enemy leader while his AI mates fly along undisturbed.


SHIP AI
1. In Il2 it can be very hard to get ships' guns to work as expected. "Sleep" is often ignored by the ships, or else it is obeyed too strictly, so that when the enemy plane flies past, the AI gunners do nothing until the flight has passed overhead.

Many thanks for the work you have put in. Can't wait to get it!

MARKINGS
1. Are markings squadron and time-specific? Do the RAF roundels vary according to the date of the action, for example?

2. Are the markings subject to weathering along with the rest of the skin. (I imagine so).

errrrrr ...

When can we have it? Please!

eh? :)

Thank you Oleg.

A very interesting update this week Oleg, thanks. Nice to see the full map at last. Should allow for some great missions. Is there a possibility in future that the map could be extended northwards to include the 12 Group fields or would that be pushing the current hardware too far? It would be nice one day to reenact the 12 group Big Wing attacks.

Someone mentioned specifying waypoint times of arrival and having the FMB work out the necessary speed to get there on time. This would be a great feature and was implemented incredibly well by the Tornado simulator years ago.

As far as I remember, you could do things both ways i.e. specify arrival time OR speed for a waypoint. If the time you specified required an impossible speed to get there, the waypoint track changed colour to red I think. I used to spend hours creating multi-flight attacks which would come in from different directions at different heights and speeds at the critical moment to avoid the blasts from the previous pass. A very enjoyable experience I've got to say.

The map looks very fine resolution which is great. I'm hoping we can zoom in and out smoothly (like google earth), rather than in clunky increments. A slight concern is the size of the waypoint marker....will it still allow for very accurate positioning Oleg?

Thanks Oleg.:grin:

Thanks Oleg for these very revealing shots, lots of parameters and variables! Will the spline road mean there's also a 'line type' for railway tracks, so we can layout these as well as the road splines that someone's already asked you about?

PS I like the left and right nose art options, coloured band options and weathering slider....and a host of other stuff! Its nice that its like a super-extension of the FMB we all know, and one heck of a map area :grin:

Up to Northumberland and beyond, to Scapa Flow, would be wonderful as we could then deal with pesky Luftwaffe raiders from Norway.

I must admit personal bias and local wartime connections with the Northumberland request.

Pleased to see my former home town of Bournemouth on the map though, I've always wanted to chase a Ju-88 across those sandy beaches! Also looking forward to bombing German invasion barges across the kanal in my Hampden (here's hoping we get one...:) )

Thanks Oleg, great update. This release is going to be so exciting for historical mission builders, campaign developers, movie makers and everyone else involved in this hobby. The enhanced FMB looks terrific, hopefully laying to rest all of the little niggles and limitations with the IL2 system (good though it was).

Regards, Spinner

Airfields are listed as objects?

Does this mean we can turn on or off airfields and if so, what is added/removed?

IL-2 all airfields were always on the map, but objects not so (to be added in editor).

Does turning on/off airfields remove the actual airfield or just make it easier to add/remove the airfield objects (hangars, anti-air guns, lights, control towers, etc.)?

Also, assigning callsigns is great change. Will it be easy to add our own selectable ones? (record file, add to directory, upload on mission join, etc.)

Adding RAF Duxford & Fowlmere alone would be fantastic. They are only just north of the map and of course Duxford is particularly historic/important. Still, unless the entire Biritsh Isles is modelled, you have to draw the line somewhere ;). Perhaps additional Fighter Group Sectors will one day be available as additional payware modules?

PPanPan

:(

Either you are 11 years old, or you have the brain of an 11 year old.

The Mission builder is one of the crucial elements of this game, key to its longevity.

As someone else has mentioned, a lot of players will be spending a lot of time building missions which replicate particular historical moments of the campaign which are not included in the basic game. After all there were nearly 4 months of almost continuous action.

Others will be building complete campaigns based on particular Squadrons or Staffels.

Thanks to Oleg's careful design of his mission builder, those dedicated players will have the tools to accomplish their intentions.

Next time you post a silly comment like that, you might take the time to actually think through what you are saying.

Amazing options! Look at all the plane-settings available. :cool:

Weathering on a slider!

Really nice maps thank you, is it possible we could see a weathered 109 blowing a wing off a spit next week Oleg. Thanks.

This line in the display filter caught my eye...

"Show Weather Front".

Planning/building missions within the known weather conditions will make things much more realistic.

Amazing all around.

A very interesting update. Thank you. :cool:

Few questions related to the bomber formations, in comparison with IL2 as you requested:

Under "Object/Group Properties":

• How many planes per flight? 5 planes are needed for a VEE which Luftwaffe used a lot.
• If the answer to the above question is more than 5, then is the limit of planes per squadron limited to 12 or perhaps more?
• Am I right in assuming that whole squadron can now fly in one close formation?
• What types of bomber formations will be implemented? To my understanding Luftwaffe used mostly 3 plane VIC and 5 plane VEE's, either in line astern or (almost) line abreast to one another...
• Can more squadrons form one large formation? If not, can one be set as lead for others to follow it (to avoid setting way points for each formation)?

Thanks.

---

From a bomber pilot's view, formations were the biggest let down for me in IL2. Setting up a 5 plane VEE formation was impossible. Not to mention the complex USAAF formations used later in the war. Second was the team killing AI gunners that nullified the whole purpose of bombers flying close formations in the first place...

This is a really interesting update.

In IL2 FMB, many of the objects were quite difficult to find by simply scrolling through the lists. Particularly the 'object 239 / 240 / 241' list for buildings etc.

Will all objects carry a description and be filtered by drop-down lists?

If so, will the 'Sort by' categories cover all objects in detail such as 'farmhouses' or 'city houses', or would the category be more broad, such as 'houses', or more simply, 'buildings'?

Great to see the He115, Wellington and the Anson in the lists.

Many Thanks!:grin:

lol...Me too Tree :)

Hi

Thanks for the usual Friday update.

Can we have the ability to create new folders within the FMB to put .mis & .prop files into.
It makes it easier when creating new missions campaigns to keep them in separate folders.

Also the ability to copy and paste directly in to the FMB file directory from your desktop rather than opening game installation directory C:\IL2\IL2 1946 v4.09m\Missions\Net\coop etc etc when working with multiple files its much easier to have this type of access.

With the display filter can this be fixed so that it stays active when you have selected/deselected an item in the list as its a pain when you want to filter more than one item to keep repeating the process opening the menu.

Picture number 5 could you elaborate/explain further please :)

Weathering option is very nice feature.

Delayed spawning for ground take off aircraft, is it possible to have these shown actually at the missions start but delayed take off instead of the popping in spawning as they do currently in IL2, and/or have the option to show/hide delayed spawning aircraft.

Ability to group massed flights at the moment its tedious to keep repeating formation flights of 30 aircraft. One waypoint and allow more than 1 flight to use the waypoint.

Ability to place a .jpeg in the ready room/briefing area for recon of target area/point of interest/mission parameter.

Looking at the new FMB pictures is it possible to list aircraft by country not alphabetically or have the choice to select either.

Lastly just a little criticism................... can you make the GUI look more Windows 7 rather than Windows 95 ........... or allow the user to modify :)

Have a good weekend.

Yes, this has always been an issue I feel. 'Stationary Objects' have names e.g. searchlight, barrage balloon etc. but 'Objects' just have numbers. I'm sure there are hundreds that have never been used because they are so hard to find. Also, it's always been a bit irritating when moving through a list of objects with the scroll arrows, and just when you've found what you are looking for, you move the mouse away from the scroll arrow and the list jumps back to the top. It gets me every time!!

Looks great and clear.
interlopation seems to control how the planes will transtion between indicated points. IE they will not leave a 4000 m point arrive at a 6000m point and start to climb. They will climb to the 6000m point so they are that hight when they get there?
Just a guess.

Hope we can indicate how AI will behave in a tactical sense. Agressive where they plow into the enemy even if they are out numbered 2 to 1 and down sun and 1000m below. Then moderate where they will engage roughly equal enemy but will try to gain advantage postion before they close. To cautios, where you will have to drag a broken wing under them to get them to dive on you and they will not try to mix it up, they will try to bounce and leave.

My hope....

Finally for me a very interesting update, graphically i've been convinced with the sim long ago, and make missions with il-2 is something i expend a lot of time. :).

Well, now to the questions. By the way, if the question has already been asked and answered, please ignore it or say its already answered and i will look for it. I'm kind of short on time and can't watch the whole thread for the moment.

1) What is an "AI Actor"?. Can't guess what could be.

2) What is the function of "Process Roads"?

3) What is the function of Smooth ship path?. Is it necesary for ships to make cuved turns?

4) Is it possible to have some kind of filter with the list of objects on the mission?

5) Apparently, with the "Sort By" (1st picture of seccond post) we will now have some kind of filter. Excellent. Is it possible to know what option we will get there? To suggest some new ones, if we find it handy, and possible.

6) I don't know if it will used much, for historic reasons, but i would like to have the possibility to select several skins for a plane/planes, and that randomly inside the sim one of those skins is displayed, but if i play the mission again, same plane could be with another paintscheme.
That means, that in the "skins" option, to have something like "skin group" with a subbutton where you select the group of skins.

7) Important point mentioned previously about which speed the FMB makes reference. For help coordinating flights, it should be ground speed, but if its unreachable some indication that its not possible would be very helpfull.
Still, would like to know if its ground speed, IAS, TAS or other the one set on the FMB.

8) The radio silence clickmark. Will it work when the aircraft is going toward that waypoint, or once passed that waypoint?
Also, will it work all the waypoints after that or once passed the next waypoint will cease to function?.

9) If you can, please would like to know a little more about the "Inbetweening". What is it for and how it works. I cant figure out what is it. I don't understand it.

Group Properties

10) What is "Script Spawn C"?

11) What are "Detonators"? Something related to the fuse bombs?

12) Each flight of the squadron is only a single aircraft or it can be several aircrafts? If its the seccond, how do you assign several aircraft to each flight?.

13) With the "idle" option the aircraft will spawn on the runaway or the taxi?

14) Can we assign where on the airfield the "spawn parked" aircraft or flight will spawn.

15) Please, add also filter to the squadrons names. Like bomber squadrons, fighters, reconnaisence, mediterranean squadron, scotland squadrons, and so on. So we dont have to scrall through hundreds of squadrons like we have to do now with IL-2. It gets terrible tedious.

That is all for now. :)

Thanks for this informative update!

He he he he, i like this. Even if its not important, but i have to agree the GUI could benefit of some visual improvements. :D.

I'm not expert, but for what i read, it was the other way around, and Luftwaffe used four plane four finger formations while the RAF used the three planes formation, and later changed to four planes.
I could be mistaken though, its something that happened when i started to follow this forums. :)

Very interesting Fri up-date...I was hoping that the up-dates would drift away from the usual, and reveal some of the features of the game. This up-date has delivered some of that and I like what I see. The weather map I find to be the most interesting, and I would like to get a look at it. Should be very cool to cir cum-navigate a frontal system that may have 50 thousand foot high thunderstorm column :-P

A minor point but Heathrow was called Great Western Aerodrome in 1940.

FMB looks great, superb details.

Lancelot, THOR was asking about bomber formations.

I do agree, but I think what Oleg is trying to do is make the new FMB as familiar and intuitive as possible for us IL2 old timers, so we can dive straight in. Perhaps he can offer 2 FMB skins ... IL2 Classic and SoW Modern, to keep everyone happy!?

Maybe I missed it in the pics, but would it be possible to set parameters instead of exact numbers for certain things?

Example: Set the altitude for a flight to be between 3,000 and 20,000 feet and let the program randomize the exact number?

If this could be accomplished, a given mission could always be "different" than the last time the player flew it. This would add to the re-playability.

Splitter

There is a LOT to be positive about in the FMB, an obvious improvement on what is in IL-2.

A bit Off Topic I know but it's the first we've seen of the map and I am disappointed that we will not be able to make missions for the Battle of France or the broader Bombing aspect of the period. The most we can do is Dunquerqe. I know its BoB but I had hoped for a map extending East more.

The Battle for France is inextricably linked to the BoB, starting 10th may, same aircraft, experience/development of tactics, rolling straight through to Dunquerque and on into the BoB after a short pause.

OK, turn the flame throwers on.

The shots were interesting...we learned a little more about the final release game .

But is it possible to download the demo version that we saw at Igromir show. I think it would help fans to wait more calmly the final release and it would be usefull for bob's team to get fans' feedbacks about the demo version.

Oleg, I hope you read my message and understand me :)

I never used the FMB in 1946 because when I tried it didnt work...too complicated. I am an offline player only. Has anyone ever done a poll to see how many people fly online, offline and use things like FMB?

I agree! Great update with lots of info.

I suspect the weather system is really going to be something special and is why Oleg is keeping his cards close to his chest. I suspect it'll be a big deal when he finally decides to properly unveil it.
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Nexium Lawsuit Information

You are missing out on one of the best features of the game and yes, lots of people use the FMB. If we were relegated to using the default coops only, it would get pretty boring.
Have a look at this tutorial link for some very useful info on using the FMB. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it.
http://www.il2-fullmissionbuilder.com/index.php

+1

I probably spent over 1000hrs with IL2, but I've never touched the FMB and intend to keep that way(for BoB too).

Although this seems to be a highly interesting update for the mission builders, to me, well, you could as well show me a black square, lol

Just add a few pics for us action porn lovers, lease. Thx. ;)

At last some pics of the FMB, thank you Oleg,

First impressions -

Numbered waypoints is a very good idea, I often get confused when i'm plotting multiple wayoints close together, and I like the large round circles for the waypoints - don't forget you can zoom very close for pinpoint placing.

So a Squadron has 4 flights...how many squadrons can we have? and how many planes in a flight?....this is one of the biggest problems I have in campaign building in IL2 never having enough planes!

Showing the weight of the plane is another good idea and will make it easier to understand how a plane handles in various configurations.


Things I would very much like to know - please please Oleg

What are mission parameters?

In the object list showing the airfields, if you click on the object does this take you to the object on the map?

In the plane list, are the missing planes - Avro, Arado and Autogyro?

Also on the plane list, what does ' -tech- ' mean?

Inbetweening? Does this mean between 2 waypoints?

Weathering - how many levels of weathering are there and does this vary depending on the plane?

On the display filter, no artillery or AA? What filter are they under?

For the airfields - how many default objects are already placed? or do we have to place every object ourselves?

What does process Roads and Straight spline do?

In the folders screen it shows ' D:\bob.. ' - So 'Battle Of Britain' part of the official game title ?

How many skill levels are there for the a.i. ?

What is the release date? .... thought I would sneak this one in the list!!!






Thanks Oleg + crew

Thanks SkyFox. Will give it another shot.

Hey! which side are you on tree, should be the other way round.
This waiting is killing me.

ah, the FMB :)
very nice, i realy enyoed the time i spent the last years in the FMB of IL2 , and that was a lot :D

two wishes i would have for the BoB FMB :
-it would be nice if there would be a watch/clock when you start a testrun out of the editor. this watch also should react when you accelerate the time. So you would have accurate times for the briefings.

- altitude over ground/MSL. The default setting should be MSL in SoW (there is no low flying IL2 anymore as main plane, at least in the moment ;) ). But it would be helpfull if you could switch in a waypoint to 'over ground'.


just a small consideration about the shown planes:
i still hope you consider a Bf109E-4 and E-1 (with deleting the than not anymore needed E-3 :D )..........as the MG/FF-M is already in the Bf110C-4, -/7 :)

Airfield/runway symbols on maps
 

In 1946 there only appeared to be 2 types of symbol to show a dual or single runway. On one of the maps in Oleg's update something was listed about 'Spline Road Runway'. Not sure what this is. Presuming we can add runways, or not, would like to see different symbols for the various types of air strip, field, port and weather it is dirt, grass or concrete and if it has single, dual or cross runways. The symbol on the map should be rotated to align with the placement on the map of that particular airport. Concrete runways should perhaps show a number.
Getting closer guys.

There is a clear distinction between bomber and fighter formations. ;)


Lets talk about fighter formations first:

According to Wikipedia the Luftwaffe was the first to use a finger four formation in World War II. This tactic consisted of two pairs (Rotte) flying together (in a Schwarm): the leader and his wingman, and leader's "deputy" and his wingman. This gave them an advantage over outdated 3 plane VIC's that RAF flew in the beginning which required all three planes firing at the bombers, and while in formation at the same time (for "added punch" of all their guns combined).

As anyone who has ever flown in formation will tell you: when in a formation you're not flying at your top speed, and your maneuvers are strictly limited. Needles to say, this outdated 3 plane VIC attack strategy was invented by someone had no idea on how to attack a bomber stream. Logically, the tactic was abandoned in favor of the finger four formations and flying in pairs (and not attacking while flying in formation, naturally).

I would be interested to know when it was abandoned, prior or during BoB - because it might be another cool feature we could see in SoW - 3 plane VIC's attacking bombers...


Anyway, back to the bomber formations. Lets discuss basics:

• A bomber stream usually consist of many groups flying in formation.
• A group (Gruppe) formation consists of several squadrons (Staffel) flying together, or just a single squadron.
• A group/squadron formation consist of elements. Element (Kette) is a basic formation, and depending how Elements are arranged one to another and in relation to the leader - defines a formation type.
• Elements can number from 3 to (usually) 7 planes or even more.
• The smallest element is a 3 plane VIC formation with one plane flying on each wing of the leader. Small elements can form larger elements.

So, we are talking about Elements here.

Bombers depended on their defensive guns - the goal was to put as many defensive guns on each side of the formation, and to spread them out evenly. Therefore a finger four would be an incomplete formation for an element, and you would need to add another plane to it. In other words - you need a VEE formation with 2 planes on each wing of the leader.

From my understanding, some of the formation types Luftwaffe used were:

• 5 plane VEE formations (Elements) stacked one behind and below another (~5 such VEE's forming a group). With more groups flying nearby (i.e. one on each side of the lead group).
• 3 plane VIC formations (smaller elements), stacked closely behind and below one (forming a large element), with other large elements flying on each side of the lead one - all together forming a group.
• 3 plane VIC formations (smaller elements), with additional elements on each side of the lead element (forming a large element), with other such elements flying behind or behind and below one another.

^^
The last one (just a large element) or a bomber Schwärme with 3 plane VIC formations (smaller elements or Kette), we were able to see in preview videos released so far.


I hope that this answers your question why I am interested in what is the limit on how many planes per element and what kind of formations will bombers fly in SoW. :)


This is something we were never able to experience in IL2 as the limit per element was only 4 planes. While IIRC (I never played the game) Rowan's Battle of Britain: Wings of Victory simulates this very nicely.

1) Weather map - I'm interested in story behind-
-Can we create custom weather maps?
-Download current weather from internet?
-Is with dynamic weather going well?

2) Some copy paste functions?

3) Is grid allways same distance? I think on picture one line is 50 Km...
Or, can we get some measuring distance tool? (like in G.Earth)

4) Airfields altitude are shown on maps or menu?

Thank you!

Where are the Italian airfields?
 

One question Oleg.

By looking at the map it seems that none of the airfields where the Italians were based (Ursel, Melsbroek, Maldegem,Chièvres) is on the map. I hope I'm wrong with this... Because it is strange that there's been put so much effort in modeling Italian trucks and other equipment if there will be no airbases for them.

And it seems that even if someone puts the effort in it to make the FIATs flyable, it will not be possible to fly historical missions as one of them...
A little bit sad that just by missing those crucial square kilometers a nice plane add-on will be in some way useless without a map add-on.

It becomes even more sad if you look from the perspective of the Italian AIpilots. They are ordered there to fly those deadly missions over England, when they could have been at the sunny Mediterranean. And as if that isn't enough, they now are also forced to stay in the air forever. No home in sight for them... No evening chats with their buddies that they just might lose in tomorrows fight... No letterboxes where they can post letters to their girlfriend... No kitchens where spaghetti is being prepared for the boys when they come home. The sad story of the homeless pilots... :)

Very interesting update and thanks for it!
I would like to know if storm of war could be played at HL?
Ps: I love the work you people are doing!!!!!!! Thanks for that.

Great update Oleg, mission building will be much improved, thanks.

One small request:
would it be possible to get the AA to lay a barrage in front of bomber formations as well as directly at them . At the moment most of the AA arrives behind the formation. I think this would add greatly to the visual effect for bomber pilots as they near the end of their final run to the target.
Waiting impatiently for the release of your work.:grin:
cheers,
Ibis.

+1 Great idea. And for authors of coop missions, this will add to the interest as they won't know what's coming like they currently do.