P4 Suggestion

[Duce Lewis 3]

Sometimes the Mission Generator can get a little frustrating

The MG has proposed sorties that just don't sem logical

1. Airfield/Balloon defense missions that cross through enemy territory

2. Missions beyond the fuel range of your crate

3. Escort Missions where the bombers have to fly through much more hazardous territory unescorted than when escorted

4. Deep penetrations with only 2 or 3 in the flight

 

Ideally, a new recruit or even an element leader would have no say in the mission assigned or it's flightpath

Here it is - good luck!

If you reach flight leader, the target would still be assigned, but maybe a choice of 5 flight paths

If you reach Hauptman, maybe a choice of 3 targets

And throw in an occasional mission as above so we can gripe about the brass hats

 

Would add a level of tension, realism ...immersion

[Olham 164]

As a Hauptmann and flight leader, I decide the flight path my way, if it is just too dangerous.

What counts is the accomplishment of the mission, I say. I bring my boys back home, if I any can.

[Duce Lewis 3]

I do the same, but I always feel like I'm cheating

In RL, pilots were assigned tasks and expected to do their best to complete them

If there's a battle raging, the RR Depot and Encampments behind this area are chock full of troops/supplies/convoys

It feels wrong to select a Target in a different sector just because the Bomber flight path is planned better there

 

Idea was to create a Flying Service plan that coincides with the battle raging below

If the battle is in another sector, we could cover their airfields etc, as fuel allows

 

We have RL weather/Squad Base Assignments - RL Missions would fit in too

[+Winder 32]

Sometimes the Mission Generator can get a little frustrating

The MG has proposed sorties that just don't sem logical

1. Airfield/Balloon defense missions that cross through enemy territory

2. Missions beyond the fuel range of your crate

3. Escort Missions where the bombers have to fly through much more hazardous territory unescorted than when escorted

4. Deep penetrations with only 2 or 3 in the flight

 

Ideally, a new recruit or even an element leader would have no say in the mission assigned or it's flightpath

Here it is - good luck!

If you reach flight leader, the target would still be assigned, but maybe a choice of 5 flight paths

If you reach Hauptman, maybe a choice of 3 targets

And throw in an occasional mission as above so we can gripe about the brass hats

 

Would add a level of tension, realism ...immersion

 

You mean less optional targets and optional target type in mission briefing?

 

Its very easy for me to do that but I wanted the player to have leeway....

 

Maybe I need it to be optional in workshops...

 

WM

[Duce Lewis 3]

You mean less optional targets and optional target type in mission briefing?

 

Its very easy for me to do that but I wanted the player to have leeway....

 

Maybe I need it to be optional in workshops...

 

WM

Yes but with some increasing input to fight paths, and if you reach the most senior rank, some limited target selection

This assumes that as a pilot gains experience/respect, he has some input into the mission planning

 

This would all hinge on some improvements in the Mission Generator 1st

I noted 4 examples of current problems above that necessitate changing the mission

 

Thanks Winder, I really appreciate the chance at input and an open minded response

One of the things that makes this sim special

[Duce Lewis 3]

Winder, any more thoughts on this?

[77Scout 3]

A semi large number of the flights that the Manager will propose for a given mission are somewhat unrealistic (for the reasons Duce mentions, plus others). The current solution is to, of course, to flip through alternate flights until a 'good one' comes up. I don't think I would want the number of alternate flights or targets just arbitrarily reduced as this will limit the flights we can choose from.

 

One simple option I would like to have is a way to limit flights to areas in just your section of the front (i.e. avoid cycling through flights that go way off to another part of France); basically an ability to limit the radius of flights from the home airfield in the workshop settings.

 

Making the Manager 'smarter' in how it picks and presents flight paths would be wonderful, but would require a bunch more logic coding by Winder, and would be pretty advanced stuff. I expect it would be very difficult to give the Manager the artificial intelligence atributes of a human squadron leader planning a well thought out flight plan. Not impossible, but a big undertaking, considering the current system works not too bad.

[chrispdm1 1]

Yeah, I just love getting missions in the Somme region that send you up north of Ypres.... can't the RNAS do their own dirty work?

[HomeBoy 1]

I surely wish there was a "Fly Now" feature in OFF. CFS3-QC is close but because you have to have an active pilot, you lose your pilot every time you crash (what a hassle) unless you go to the trouble of going to the Workshop and setting "Pilot never dies." It is also frustrating that you must set up the plane you fly, planes you oppose, weather, field you fly from, etc. EVERY SINGLE TIME you play CFS3-QC. I wish there was a way to tell CFS3-QC to remember your last settings.

 

Fly Now was one of the handiest tools in RB3D and how I learned how to fly the planes in that game. When, in a campaign, you were issued a new plane that you might not be familiar with, you could pop out and go to Fly Now and learn to fly it against a host of opponents of your choosing.

 

It surprises me that there is not more clamor around here for Fly Now. I must be a real odd ball!

[+Winder 32]

Guys I am reading this thread and yes I am making notes...

 

A lot is possible in P4 but we need to see how the support goes in the short to medium term.

 

This does not mean we may not do P4 but we will not undertake huge coding processes if support is waning, but all that is suggested in this thread so far is feasible.

 

Hope this makes sense!

 

 

Best

 

WM

[Dej 17]

.... can't the RNAS do their own dirty work?

 

Oi! Sure, just send back the flights we sent to help keep the Jastas off your pongo butts and we'll keep our aces to ourselves, thank you very much

 

 

Winder, I'm sure you guys have your own ideas about what constitutes a 'new' Phase and there are probably mechanics of the game engine need a good seeing to that we know nothing about. I don't expect any one the various stuff noted to be promised or otherwise. I'm more worried that you think support is waning... as far as I'm concerned just tell me when to start a monthly subscription to OBD and I'll do it.

Edited July 7, 2009 by Dej

[Duce Lewis 3]

Thanks Winder, I'm sure you'll work out what is best

 

I'm more worried that you think support is waning... as far as I'm concerned just tell me when to start a monthly subscription to OBD and I'll do it.

Dej, If the situation requires, a monthly subscription isn't a bad idea

Whatever it tkes!

[Hellshade 110]

Thanks Winder, I'm sure you'll work out what is best

 

 

Dej, If the situation requires, a monthly subscription isn't a bad idea

Whatever it tkes!

 

I used to pay $15 a month to play MMOs and they weren't nearly as fun as Over Flanders Fields. I wouldn't expect everyone to pay monthly for a single player flight sim, but I know I would contribute something every month to help the development process. Even if it just bought beers for the Devs now and then.

 

Hellshade

[Dej 17]

I used to pay $15 a month to play MMOs and they weren't nearly as fun as Over Flanders Fields. I wouldn't expect everyone to pay monthly for a single player flight sim, but I know I would contribute something every month to help the development process. Even if it just bought beers for the Devs now and then.

 

Hellshade

 

Exactly. And it's not fanboi-ism on my part. I'm 100% in the camp that says more than one excellent WW1 sim can co-exist on my drive. But, I leap merrily onto the various bandwagons of requesting this and that as if I were talking to a professional SW house of full-time developers and have to kick myself under the table to remind myself that it's actually a 'morethanamod' produced by a few dedicated souls who have day jobs.

 

And who have proven incontrovertibly that, if you ignore the doom-and-gloom merchants and faithfully carry on polishing the turd that was CFS3, it actually becomes a diamond.

[Check Six 2]

To further my enjoyment of this great sim, I'm sure there's plenty of stuff that could improve it (only slightly - it's pretty damn good as we all know).

 

I have selected Flight Leader selected by Rank, and not "Always lead". But on the times when I have led (either because I deliberately chose a higher rank on enlistment or a balloon busting mission - which always seems to make you flight leader), I have been very aware that I need to look after my fledglings.

 

It's nice to be able to hit the "A" key to attack, "R" to rejoin, "H" to help...

 

But I think it'd be kinda nice to see the flight leader fire a flare, whether you were leading the flight or just a wingman. Whether or not a graphic can be animated where you can see him (or you) fire a flare off isn't as important as seeing the flare arcing out. But to see a signal flare from your leader signalling you to return to formation, or a different (historically correct) colour fired in the direction of the enemy flight to order an attack would, I think, be very nice. I think it would greatly help those total immersion chaps here that fly without a TAC and no labels. It might alert them, or let them know that the flight leader believes those specks in the distance are enemy. Of course, you'd have to check at what distance the flight leader could make the decision that those specks were indeed the enemy.

 

I'm unsure if anyone else would like to see this happen, or how difficult it may be to animate...but I thought I'd just throw it out there to the Forum. While I'm at it...how about streamers on the flight leader's craft?

 

Anyone else want to see this? Is it easy enough to do? Is it "micro-analysing" the game and reading too much into it - expecting too much?

Edited July 8, 2009 by Steve Drew

[catch 81]

A lot is possible in P4 but we need to see how the support goes in the short to medium term.

 

This does not mean we may not do P4 but we will not undertake huge coding processes if support is waning ....

 

Waning ! WM, I will not have this kind of talk here. It's bad morale for the chaps. I don't hang around this forum much anymore but that has nothing to do with the majesty of OFF. It will always remain on my hard drive and I will always support it by all and any means at my disposal. I'll be lining up with the rest when you release the payware package and future updates. I'm sure many others (who's presence is not felt at this forum) are of the same mind.

 

Stay positive.

[+Winder 32]

Waning ! WM, I will not have this kind of talk here. It's bad morale for the chaps. I don't hang around this forum much anymore but that has nothing to do with the majesty of OFF. It will always remain on my hard drive and I will always support it by all and any means at my disposal. I'll be lining up with the rest when you release the payware package and future updates. I'm sure many others (who's presence is not felt at this forum) are of the same mind.

 

Stay positive.

 

And why are you not hanging around here anymore?

 

We are very positive about OFF but we do need more support!

 

Pleased you are still flying though.

 

WM

[Hellshade 110]

And why are you not hanging around here anymore?

 

We are very positive about OFF but we do need more support!

 

Pleased you are still flying though.

 

WM

 

Give us an address to mail a check too, please. I'm sure you will find support coming in.

 

Hellshade

[Hasse Wind 46]

Well, I'm not much a businessman, but wouldn't the add-on packs be a reasonable method for making some more money to help the development of P4? Less work than a new complete phase and some new planes and stuff (it doesn't have to be hundreds of improvements per pack) for us players. Release one every now and then - I'm sure I'm not the only who's more than willing to purchase them.

[+Winder 32]

Well, I'm not much a businessman, but wouldn't the add-on packs be a reasonable method for making some more money to help the development of P4? Less work than a new complete phase and some new planes and stuff (it doesn't have to be hundreds of improvements per pack) for us players. Release one every now and then - I'm sure I'm not the only who's more than willing to purchase them.

 

Yep we are working on exactly that.

 

WM

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

I only have two things that I can possibly think of for Phase 4

 

One, I am reasonably certain will come true...and one I doubt would ever come true.

 

1) A snipe (no surprises there then)

2) a video replay facility like in IL2 (or fs2004 - fsx)

 

( Oh...And the improved crash scene which has already been mention in the wee roadmap thread)

[Check Six 2]

Umm...

 

"Australian Autopilot"?

 

In the immortal and eminently quotable words of Pauline Hanson...

 

"Please explain?"

[catch 81]

And why are you not hanging around here anymore?

 

We are very positive about OFF but we do need more support!

 

Pleased you are still flying though.

 

WM

 

Why ? A change of scenery due mainly to certain things that just pissed me off here. Time for a break before I said something I may regret. But you've got good support from some talented members here and I no longer feel the need or want to hang around here. All I can do is throw money at OBD. I'm very good at that. Re-initiate the donate thing if you need to. I'm sure many, including myself, would reciprocate in kind.

 

Good luck. Wishing OFF a long and continued success.

[Dimus 0]

I'm sure many others (who's presence is not felt at this forum) are of the same mind.

 

Stay positive.

 

Yes indeed. Not posting here often does not mean we will not support you in any way possible.