Endless Recon Flights

[+JonathanRL]

I think most Campaign makers have had this issue. If not, then its good, because that means I will be able to get efficient help with it ;-)

 

I am trying to focus the attacks of E1 in Mannerheims Shield upon a group of targets. They are plentiful and selected, but in the campaign, I keep getting Recon Flights. This have become so silly that even when I choose other targets in the Campaign air offensive list, I keep getting endless Recon flights for the aircraft.

 

TK suggested this was due to a lack of targets, but so far, I aint buying it. Last build had alot of possible targets - all ships and airfields. Futhermore, I never experienced this issue in Isbjörn.

 

What may be causing it?

[+SayethWhaaaa]

I'm sure you don't want me to ask this, but are you 100% sure your coding with the targets, ground objects and dates are correct? If anything is awry with them, your missions will usually default to Recon even if your squadron isn't tasked with it.

[+JonathanRL]

Of course I want you to ask it, and no, I am not 100% sure. However, the target areas show up in Single Mission, a similar method was used without problems in Isbjörn and I get the correct target sometimes, not all the time.

Edited November 21, 2011 by JonathanRL

[+Crusader]

Fishing in the dark,

but check your TYPES list of the terrain in use for the campaign, if the target group you want to concentrate on is already known to your force.

 

e.g:

[TargetType087]

Name=vIndustrial1

FullName=Steel Mill

ModelName=vIndustrial1.LOD

TargetType=WEAPON_FACTORY

ActiveYear=0

TargetValue=500

UseGroundObject=FALSE

DamagePoint=140.0

ArmorValue=300000.0

ArmorType=0

RepairRate=0.050

StartDetectChance=0 <------------- set to 100

StartIdentifiedChance=100

IncreaseDetectChanceKey=0 <---------- too

CollisionMesh=vIndustrial1Col.LOD

MaxVisibleDist=12000.0

DamagedModel=

DestroyedEffect=LargeShortStructureCollapse

DestroyedModel=vIndustrial1Dest.LOD

SecondaryEffect=LargeExplosionEffect

SecondaryChance=100

Edited November 21, 2011 by Crusader

[+JonathanRL]

You may be on to Something, Crusader. I will be having a look at that, thank you :)

 

EDIT: They where not know, but it does not seem to be helping. Giving the target areas another look.

Edited November 21, 2011 by JonathanRL

[+Gepard]

If you has to many recon missions, you must change the settings of missionchance for the single air units in the campaign_data.ini

 

for instance

 

[AirUnit001]

AircraftType=F-105D

Squadron=7TFS

ForceID=1

Nation=USAF

.

.

.

MissionChance[sWEEP]=25

MissionChance[CAP]=25

MissionChance[iNTERCEPT]=25

MissionChance[ESCORT]=25

MissionChance=80

MissionChance[CAS]=25

MissionChance[sEAD]=25

MissionChance[ARMED_RECON]=25

MissionChance[ANTI_SHIP]=0

MissionChance[RECON]=0

 

 

You see Recon = 0 what means, this unit will not fly recon missions during campaign

[+JonathanRL]

With respect, Gepard but if that worked for me, this thread would never have been started. When the game is unable to find targets or objectives for the flight to accomplish, a Recon mission is selected. My problem is that the targets exist, but the game seems unable to find them. :)

Edited November 21, 2011 by JonathanRL

[+Gepard]

Could you post the header of the campaign_data.ini.

[+JonathanRL]

[CampaignData]

StartDate=03/02/1966

StartDateDeviation=0

EndDate=01/30/1967

RunCampaignBeforePlayerStart=TRUE

ForceWithInitiative=2

MaxMissions=40

NormalMissionRate=3

NormalMissionRateDeviation=1

OffensiveMissionRate=10

OffensiveMissionRateDeviation=0

StartScreen=OIBPic.jpg

CampaignBaseScreen=pol.jpg

CampaignStartMusic=intro.wav

CampaignWinMusic=maamme.wav

CampaignEndWinScreen=OIBVictory.jpg

CampaignEndLoseScreen=OIBLose.jpg

CampaignEndStallScreen=OIBStall.jpg

CampaignEndKIAScreen=OIBLose.jpg

CampaignEndWinText=IBWIN.txt

CampaignEndLoseText=IBLOSE.txt

CampaignLoseMusic=soviet.wav

CampaignEndStallText=IBSTALL.txt

 

[Force001]

Alignment=FRIENDLY

Nation=Sweden

BaseArea=Stockholm

AirOffensive[001].Primary=CHEMICAL_WEAPONS_PLANT

AirOffensive[001].Secondary=CHEMICAL_WEAPONS_PLANT

AirOffensive[002].Primary=CHEMICAL_WEAPONS_PLANT

AirOffensive[002].Secondary=CHEMICAL_WEAPONS_PLANT

AirOffensive[003].Primary=SMALL_RUNWAY

AirOffensive[003].Secondary=TOWER

AirOffensive[004].Primary=TOWER

AirOffensive[004].Secondary=HANGAR

AirOffensive[005].Primary=HANGAR

AirOffensive[005].Secondary=FUEL_STORAGE

AirOffensive[006].Primary=FUEL_STORAGE

AirOffensive[006].Secondary=POWER_PLANT

AirOffensive[007].Primary=POWER_PLANT

AirOffensive[007].Secondary=COMMAND_BUILDING

StartGroundOffensive=2

StartAirOffensive=1

StartInterdiction=5

Morale=90

Supply=35

NormalSupplyRate=20

OffensiveSupplyRate=-20

DefensiveSupplyRate=-5

SupplyForOffensive=90

AircraftReplacementTime=240

AircraftReplacement=60

GroundUnitReplacementTime=360

GroundUnitReplacement=100

RandomTransportType=ANY

WeaponResupplyTime=180

AllowRandomAceCreation=TRUE

StartAirDefenseLevel=6

RandomCAP=TRUE

 

CHEMICAL_WEAPONS_PLANT is the general tag for the targets E1 has as priority. Mostly ships.

[+Gepard]

Em, It is not ususal to set Primary and secondary Air Offensive the same target types.

In a first step i would change the secondary Air Offensive to medium_runway or something. Then test what happens.

 

Perhaps something is wrong with your target types which are using Chemical_Weapon_plant plant. Check the ActiveYear= in types.ini Maybe, that the ships are not available in 1966.

[+JonathanRL]

Gepard: I have tried with switching them around as well. It makes no difference. But I will be checking the years.

 

EDIT: All the years are set to 0, as they ought to be.

Edited November 22, 2011 by JonathanRL

[+Gepard]

I think it is something small what cause this effect.

 

Try this

 

AirOffensive[001].Primary=LARGE_RUNWAY,MEDIUM_RUNWAY,WAREHOUSE

AirOffensive[001].Secondary=CHEMICAL_WEAPONS_PLANT

 

And

 

RunCampaignBeforePlayerStart=FALSE

 

 

 

By the way, does it only happen with the swedish or with the russian side too?

[+JonathanRL]

Never tried Russian but might give it a shot. But going to try your solution if Russians dont give me a good one.

 

Is this a good time to mention OP Mannerheims Shield need beta testers?

 

EDIT:

 

Yep. It solved the issue. I now get strike package targets against warehouses and fuel supplies. None against the invasion forces tought as intended, but I can live with that. Just have to re-write the story somewhat ;-)

Edited November 22, 2011 by JonathanRL

[+Gepard]

Nice to hear, that it works.

Now try to set the invasion ships to Warehouse in types.ini Perhaps then the camapign will select the wished targets.

[+JonathanRL]

Way ahead of you. But no. Seems like the game thinks the four task forces are too few targets :D

[+KnightWolf45]

Try to incresse de score of the targets you want to show up more work for me in single missions and campaings

TargetValue=500 or more

[+Wrench]

or edit the SingleMission.ini:

 

[TargetValues]

MinStrikeTargetValue=05

HeavyStrikeValue=500

NormalStrikeValue=100

 

don't know if it'll affect Campaigns, but worth a try!

Edited November 22, 2011 by Wrench

[+JonathanRL]

Try to incresse de score of the targets you want to show up more work for me in single missions and campaings

TargetValue=500 or more

 

Tried that, but unfortunatly, it did not work. I have taken to rewriting the campaign instead and may see if I can get a suprise or two in it ;-)

 

The original plan was to try and emulate E1 - The Commanders Club with a massed attack upon the Invasion Fleet. I even had different target areas in different dates, giving the impression that the invasion fleet moved. However, the inability for the strike packages to target the fleet foiled it.

 

I will give Wrenchs suggestion tought :)

[+Baltika]

Hi Jonathan,

 

Here is another suggestion for you. I think in WoI, TK introduced the FocusArea= flag for airoffensives. The format is this:-

 

[Force001]

Alignment=FRIENDLY

Nation=RAF

BaseArea=Alexandria

AirOffensive[001].Primary=ARMY_BASE

AirOffensive[001].Secondary=FUEL_STORAGE,AMMO_STORAGE

AirOffensive[001].FocusArea=Miteirya Ridge

AirOffensive[002].Primary=ARMY_BASE

AirOffensive[002].Secondary=FUEL_STORAGE,AMMO_STORAGE

AirOffensive[002].FocusArea=Deir el Shein

AirOffensive[003].Primary=ARMY_BASE

AirOffensive[003].Secondary=WAREHOUSE,POWER_PLANT

AirOffensive[003].FocusArea=Bab el Qattara

AirOffensive[004].Primary=COMM_BUILDING,ARMY_BASE

AirOffensive[004].Secondary=AMMO_STORAGE,FUEL_STORAGE

AirOffensive[004].FocusArea=Jebel Kalakh

AirOffensive[005].Primary=COMM_BUILDING,NAVAL_BASE

AirOffensive[005].Secondary=WAREHOUSE,POWER_PLANT

AirOffensive[006].Primary=HANGAR,SMALL_RUNWAY

AirOffensive[006].Secondary=COMM_BUILDING

AirOffensive[007].Primary=ARMY_BASE

AirOffensive[007].Secondary=HANGAR,FUEL_STORAGE,AMMO_STORAGE

AirOffensive[008].Primary=ARMY_BASE,NAVAL_BASE

AirOffensive[008].Secondary=COMM_BUILDING,POWER_PLANT

AirOffensive[009].Primary=COMMAND_BUILDING

AirOffensive[009].Secondary=WAREHOUSE,POWER_PLANT

AirOffensive[010].Primary=ANY

AirOffensive[010].Secondary=ANY

 

 

That is taken from my El Alamein campaign which was included in the DAT Wings Over Afrika package.

 

The FocusArea= corresponds to a target area as defined in your terrain_targets.ini and it is designed to force an airoffensive to strike the designated target area.

 

Simply enter the name of the target area for each task force, and you should see airstrikes directed against that target area. If not, something else has gone wrong. Check the Target_Types.ini to ensure correct spellings etc - typos can be a real headache. Also, on working on various campaigns over the years, I noticed some target type designations were not recognised by the game for selecting strike targets. Things like WAREHOUSE and AMMO_STORAGE (all the types listed in the above example) do work, so try substituting those types for your chemical weapons plant. ARMY_BASE and NAVAL_BASE are ones I find quite useful as they are not as common as the ever-present WAREHOUSE.

 

If all that doesn't work, check where your task forces are located on the map. Someone recently posted (I can't remember who now, sorry, old age) that where a target area is within 10-15% of the edge of the map, the game will not "see" it for the purposes of assigning a strike mission. This is a different limiting factor from the well-known "WALL" at the edge. Try moving your task force target areas closer to the centre of the map, if the scenario permits that.

 

Also, in any campaign building, setting the frontline is crucial. It must extend from one side of the map completely to the opposite side. Target areas which are too close to the frontline may be occupied by the opposing force - even without being captured by a ground offensive. And in a campaign, the frontline is dynamic, so ownership of your task forces may change. If they are too close to a frontline which is improperly defined, they may not be targeted for strike missions by friendly forces because the game sees them as being friendly-occupied target areas.

 

It should go without saying that an enemy task force must be on the enemy side of the frontline, or the game will see it as friendly. This is true even if the target area is defined as "ENEMY" in the terrain_TARGETS.INI. For campaign play, the frontline and the ground war determine which force owns which target areas. So, if the enemy task forces are on the friendly side of the frontline, they will never be targeted for strikes by friendly forces.

 

Just some suggestions, hope they help.

 

Slainthe,

 

Baltika

Edited November 25, 2011 by Baltika

[+JonathanRL]

It should go without saying that an enemy task force must be on the enemy side of the frontline, or the game will see it as friendly. This is true even if the target area is defined as "ENEMY" in the terrain_TARGETS.INI. For campaign play, the frontline and the ground war determine which force owns which target areas. So, if the enemy task forces are on the friendly side of the frontline, they will never be targeted for strikes by friendly forces.

 

I think you are on to something here. Most of the Task Forces _are_ close to the Swedish border. However, that does not explain why it worked rather well in Isbjörn, but it may be a cause - and one worth looking into !

[+JonathanRL]

Ayep. Prelimary testing (I had to do some trickery to move the frontlines!!!) is complete and it indeed looks like Front Lines are the villain.

Thanks!

[+JonathanRL]

....and no.

 

I just completed all the coding and still get no focus on the naval assets.

 

If anybody wants a beta client, let me know.

 

EDIT: And belay that. Works now! Had to make sure Sweden was the agressive part.

Amusing, how they beeing agressive turns their strike from offensive strikes on the Soviet Mainland to defensive strikes on Soviet Shipping :D

Edited November 28, 2011 by JonathanRL

[+EricJ]

I remember EF2000 that it played the neutrality scenario very well. If Soviet forces attacked Sweden, then Sweden became your ally. If not, well never had to worry about that :)