csThor, I fully agree with you, and I think you have hit the nail on the head. Ever since I have heard of BoB:SOW, my one concern was that Oleg and crew could provide an immersive and flexible campaign.
Nearmiss has already mentioned "BOB II Wings of Victory" earlier in the thread.
"Shockwaves BOB II WOV with the new 2.07 patch.....
Currently, the BOB II WOV has a campaign engine,which allows the player to jump into the battle at will or fly within the same squadron time and again. There is good flexibility for level of player participation."
This much improved sim has a great and atmospherically done campaign, that leaves the strategic direction in the hands of the player. This translates thus:
"Playing as the Luftwaffe, I've set up several large Stuka raids against the coastal radar stations, so that a blind corridor can be punched into Britains defences. Now I can jump into a Stuka cockpit, to throw my weight into the Germanic effort.
Some time later...
The end of the virtual day draws to a close, and I can feel some pride in my efforts and those of my A.I. Luftwaffe eagle buddies as I survey the smoking ruins of a once fully functional radar mast. My efforts feel rewarded when I see that the following day, that particular radar station is still fubar, which means that I can progress along my particular plan in bringing the elusive RAF to their knees..."
As an addendum, the atmosphere while flying in BOB II WOV is also top notch. It feels like you're flying over wartime Britain, thanks in large part to the radio speak, and attention to detail to the landscape and aerodromes (all fully authentic).
I can only hope that Oleg listens to threads like these, and realises that everything that surrounds the actual flying is also important (it's the other half of the 'story'), and that he can take great leaps and bounds in the improvement of his sims by focussing more of his attention to this area.
Whenever I think back and remember the great flight sim games that I have thoroughly enjoyed (Pacific Air War, Red Baron 2, Lucasarts Battle of Britain, European Air War, Falcon 4), they all share the common thread of real motivational factors behind the actual flying, usually with atmospheric and player led dynamic campaigns.
Fingers crossed,
BobTuck.
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