[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Dutch_851

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'?

Originally Posted by PeterPanPan

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!!

This was one of my issues with the FMB... It would be great if the objects were categorized.. even if it was just like.. building_01-Building_300 or whatever.. but something that would make them easier to find...

Originally Posted by Fafnir_6

This is the problem exactly, you (and Nausicaa) are experienced mission builders and no doubt this update is like early Xmas for you. For those of us who are just getting into mission building or who have only dabbled, the FMB of IL-2 (let alone this new mission builder with all the added functionality) has a very steep learning curve. I look at this update and see the power of this new mission builder as added potential so far on the horizon for me that I doubt I'll ever really get there. We haven't actually seen Battle of Britain yet so I can't comment on what sort of tutorials or documentation will be present but I will say that Seeker is spot on about the quality of the interface and documentation of the current IL-2 mission builder. Quite plainly, it stinks for first-timers.

I haven't seen the rumors about the lack of dynamic campaigns in BoB but the existence of the dynamic campaigns has helped mitigate the FMB learning curve in IL-2 for many of us. The efforts of community members such as yourselves also helps with this. Thanks . Seeker raises a valid concern about BoB's replayability for mission building newbs, should the rumors prove accurate. Perhaps 1C should hire Lowengrin if there is a problem. If the rumor is true, it could turn off a large and potentially lucrative gamer segment that is needed to generate the revenue for all the expansions you and I wish for in BoB's engine.

It was not negative banter but concerns raised in good faith ( I'd be lying if I said I didn't share them).
Cheers,

Fafnir_6

The complexity of the FMB is also one of it's strong suits.. considering what was available for mission building in 2001 when it was released it is quite powerful.. and since we don't really yet know how all this will be implemented.. why get negative at all about it at all.. It really isnt that hard.. it just seems that way.. Had I continued to make missions using it I am sure that by now I'd be able to whip them up in no time.. as it is though I forgot most of what I knew..LOL.. but thanks to FN it wont be hard.. The last time I used the FMB there was a similar tutorial on a site called Sturmovik Technica..

Originally Posted by BadAim

Here's the thing though, Mate. The guys who will actually put the time into building good solid missions (and more than one or two) will take the time to learn how to use this interface. It really isn't that hard if you take some time to seek out the resources. I'll grant that better tutorial info from 1c would be nice, but the simple fact is that most of the user made content for some time will be from the "old hands" anyway. Just my $.02.

That was always my major issue as to why I didn't use it more.. but it was definitely the kind of tool that if I had applied more time to it I would have gotten better at it.. but even with the limited use got out of it I could see how powerful it was.. I just used Mission Mate for most of the missions I wound up making so it was almost a moot issue for me.. but the FMB is a great tool.. very powerful and I can only imagine it getting better since with the release of upcoming patches for IL2 and the FMB enhancements coming, that the FMB in SOW will be better in every way than the one in IL2..

Originally Posted by fruitbat

i'm glad the GUI is the same.
for those who are familiar with the il2 FMB such as myself, it will make the transition very easy, and it seems as though my wish list for the FMB is complete, so i am very happy.
for those who are complaining about the GUI of the il2 FMB, and its difficulties, you obviously haven't bothered to spend more than 10 mins on it and gave up, its very easy to use if you can be bothered to spend a couple of hours learning it, and is far easier than other mission building stuff I've used.
A funkier GUI won't change the fact that you will still have to take some time to learn how to use it....

Exactly.. and that would be the case regardless to how similar or dissimilar from the IL2 one it is.. I think that t is good to keep the continuity in the look of the sim anyway.. The sim itself, the flying etc will speak volumes... but it is good to keep much of the interface either the same or similar to IL2..

Oleg.. will there be a separate QMB or will there just be one MB that is scalable to either setting up quick missions or full scale missions...? Like say by clicking QM it would just eliminate many of the options ion the FMB.. but the interface would be basically the same.. unlike the differences between the FMB & QMB in IL2.