Friday 2010-12-03 Dev. update and Discussion

[Splitter]

Originally Posted by Redwan

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.

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

[C_G]

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

[brzina]

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!

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?

[Richie]

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

[C_G]

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...

[ECV56_Guevara]

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!

[zapatista]

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

[Oleg Maddox]

Originally Posted by ECV56_Guevara

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!

Yes, it is for triggers.

[phoenix1963]

Originally Posted by Oleg Maddox

Yes, it is for triggers.

Oleg - Does this mean there will be a scripting language available in SoW for mission programmability? If so, that's really great news and will allow much more complex scenarios.

Long, long ago, you promised the SoW:BoB would include AI information flow from the Observer Corps (used inland where radar didn't work) to Sector Control Rooms, is that still true and are these events able to be used as triggers?

Thanks for the update,

56RAF_phoenix

[FlatSpinMan]

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).