1C: Please release the tools to allow the Community to improve CLIFFS OF DOVER

[RPS69]

I hope it really goes open, if not officially, at least from the programmers, if they have been efectivelly ousted.

On line maps, are extremelly lacking.
This game without good maps, and without a fully functional mission builder, won't go far. But right now it is still a long way from being fully functional

Please, open it at least for map adding, and new ground objects introduction.

It's a shame to put all this work to trash.

[Chivas]

The sims not dead yet. The Battle of Britain map is excellent, and will be fine tuned by the community with or without the developers help. The current FMB is still quite useful, proven by Heinkill, Bolox, Desastersoft, and other third party and community modders. Check out airwarfare.com for a number of missions and campaigns for COD. The map SDK was going to be released in the Sequel, but there have been a couple of rumors that the development is in jeopardy, but that hasn't been confirmed, in-fact a couple of people in the Russian forums, much closer to the developer, who have had recent dealing with the developer, suggest that the development is still very much alive, just wait for the official announcement.

[RPS69]

I just got sad after having the fFMB crashing twice today while testing.
Some gross bugs there.

Tanks getting into the ramps of bridges, problems on some maps close views, and others.

Their it is only one good map, and it is far from perfect.

Still, I have waited 6 years, I could wait a bit more...

[bolox]

Bolox, I want to thank you for your work. In your opinion are COD's scripting and triggers helping to make better campaigns and missions? Not to mentiion documentation, but how much work/repair/improvement is required by the devs in the FMB to make it even better?

First off I'd like to make it clear i'm a newcomer to mission building, I hardly touched fmb in IL2- mainly cos there were so many really good mission builders out there.

Scripting was even worse- that was a real " they expect me to do what?!! " moment. However you can still make missions without any scripting or triggers so with the aid of a few IL2 fmb guides I started playing around, finding out what actually worked in CoD (and as importantly what didn't!)

So, does scripting/triggers make for better missions?
I'd say that they don't in themselves; that comes from creative mission building.
. Triggers are a nice addition (been long asked for in IL2). Using them well requires thinking in advance how (and why) you are using a trigger within the mission structure.
Scripting does give alot of possibilities, there's masses of data that can be collected, however there are limits to what you can do ingame-Sure skilled coding can make up for alot - see Desastersoft.
Campaigns sort of need a script for success criteria, but it's quite possible to use only a very simple script, Spitfire on my tail uses a very basic script, with a few triggers/special scripted events used only occaisionally.

Documentation- well anything would be nice There is no substitute for getting stuck in and trying stuff imho. There are bits of information out there for fmb eg
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.ph...ml#Post3423371
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=30017
Scripting- I don;t see how they could have documented this. At least they provided examples with the original Cliffs of Dover RAF campaign
There's more than a few C# tutorials on the net eg
http://www.csharp-station.com/Tutorial/CSharp/Lesson01
For the CoD specific bits there is an fmb forum where you can find examples and maybe help.

What needs fixing? - how long have you got?
Actually I find the fmb far from the worst offender.- it's how the AI attempt to carry out you're orders.
One thing I would like to see is a 'formate' waypoint type- bombers would form up on leader Sqn, fighters would act as close escort, always trying to get back to the bombers instead of wading in on any scrap going. Add some sort of control over the group formation so you can have 3 sqns each in vic formation, flying line astern of each other (with height stagger)
I'd also like the more realistic icing levels of previous patches restored in a fully working weather system.

I count 11 campaigns released this week (surely some sort of record?)

[swiss]

Originally Posted by RPS69

It's a shame to put all this work to trash.

No, why.
If they come up with a new game, even if it uses a new(!) engine, there is no reason to make the source code of Clod public.
1. Clod doesn't sell anymore
2. potential mod activity would(could) lead to Clod suddenly be in competition with whatever they want to sell at the current time.

Only idiots would do that.

[Chivas]

Thanks Bolox for your in depth anwser, I found it very interesting.

[jamesdietz]

Bolox- thanks for your work & answers.As we have discussed before the thing that drives me a little round the bend is this:autopilot-on some missions if not turned on at a certain point( beginning of mission or after the first way point or not hittong it just right, or the second or after going around the aerodrome- it simply sends your aircraft in an endless circuit or after a few times around lands you home while your chums go on without you.Your only solution is to jump into one of the leader aircraft well along in the mission which works ok but its sorta not "your" aircraft.More frustrating: it doesn't always happen or perhaps it doesn't happen if the mission planner can fix it in the planning stages.Anyway its led to many repeat missions ...

[Chivas]

Originally Posted by swiss

No, why.
If they come up with a new game, even if it uses a new(!) engine, there is no reason to make the source code of Clod public.
1. Clod doesn't sell anymore
2. potential mod activity would(could) lead to Clod suddenly be in competition with whatever they want to sell at the current time.

Only idiots would do that.

I agree, its highly unlikely that IC would give away a source code that cost them millions to produce.

Its far too early to do complex modding, as the current game engine is still in flux, any game engine rewrites could make modders hard work useless. Its also highly unlikely the development will build a new game engine from scratch, but very likely portions of the game engine will be rewritten other portions optimized before the Sequels release. The time to start complex modding will be after the Sequels is released, or cancelled. If and by the time a Sequel is release the game engine and features should be in a more finished and stable state, for the development to have any hope of selling product. Either way the modding should begin in earnest at that time.