Pancho

Seems that many WoV and WOE skins, and add-on skins, don't have kill marks enabled. I can figure out the positions myself through trial and error (or just copying the script if the aircraft was in SF:P1), but I wondered if anybody has done this already for some aircraft and posted it somewhere? Sorry if this has been discussed, but searched and no joy. Thanks for any info!

File Name: Nothing Phoney About This War, Mate File Submitter: Pancho File Submitted: 25 December 2010 File Updated: 29 December 2010 File Category: IL2 Series Campaigns & Missions Can you beat Cobber Kain in the race to be Britain's first ace of WWII? Nothing Phoney About This War, Mate is an historically based portrayal of RAF fighter operations from Spring 1938 until Spring 1940. Missions are set in Egypt, Palestine, England, and France. You will fly scrambles, intercepts, strikes, and patrols in Gladiators and Hurricanes, facing Bf-109s, Bf-110s, He-111s, and Ju-88s, among others. You might even encounter the elusive He-113. While all missions are based upon historical circumstances, certain episodes explore plausible alternatives. You won’t fly the same missions every campaign, either. Random variants present the opportunity of facing variable opposition, even during actions where RAF pilots did not actually encounter enemy aircraft, such as routine patrols. There’s also a chance that you might not face any opposition, depending upon which variant mission the campaign engine selects at random -- this is the Phoney War, after all. Nearly every mission in the campaign has at least one or two alternatives. This offers a new prospect with each restart. Every campaign you play should be slightly different. You will fly 40 sorties, with a pool of some 130 alternate missions to draw upon. This campaign is intended for IL2: 1946 with the UltraPack 2.01 mod installed. No additional mods need be enabled other than those active by default in UP201. Click here to download this file

File Name: Golan Stalemate 74-82 Version 1.1 File Submitter: Pancho File Submitted: 10 Mar 2008 File Category: User Made Campaigns File Version: 1.1 Website: http://home.att.net/~r.lee.sullivan/blackhawk-island.html *Version 1.1* This update lowers the intensity level from Version 1.0. Only enemy squadrons located nearest the border will be assigned missions. Supply has also been reduced for friendly and enemy squadrons. As a result, fewer enemy aircraft should appear in the air, better reflecting the limited nature of the historical conflict. Make no mistake, occasionally the campaign engine will generate large aerial engagements; this is historical, as well. *The Campaign* This campaign depicts rising tensions between Israel and Syria from 1974 through 1982. Based on the stock WOI Lebanon War campaign, it begins in April 1974 and ends in May 1982. Played in sequence with the stock WOI campaigns, “Golan Stalemate” allows for a continuous career from the start of the Yom Kippur War to the end of the Lebanon War. When combined with “Attrition War” and "War for the Water," the player can begin in 1963 and fly a continuous nineteen-year IAF career. There will be no all-out air offensive; “Golan Stalemate” is a long, limited conflict. You will face Syrian aircraft in and around the Golan Heights and Lebanon. Ground offensive has been disabled, so borders remain static. Supply is minimal, restricting the number of aircraft in the sky. Mission mix includes routine patrols punctuated by occasional strike missions into enemy territory. You may fly a maximum of thirty-six missions, roughly one every ninety days. IAF fighter and strike squadrons start out with their historical aircraft, entering the campaign at the time they were activated. Some squadrons will upgrade both their livery and their aircraft type during the course of the campaign. *Unit Start Guide and Upgrade Path* -- 69 Squadron (1974): F-4E Kurnass (no upgrade) -- 101 Squadron (1974): Mirage III C Shahak --> Kfir C2 (1975) -- 102 Squadron (1974): A-4H Ahit 73 (no upgrade) -- 105 Squadron (1975): F-4E Kurnass (no upgrade) -- 107 Squadron (1974): F-4E Kurnass (no upgrade) -- 109 Squadron (1974): A-4H Ahit 73 --> Kfir C2 (1977) -- 110 Squadron (1974): A-4H Ahit 73 --> F-16A Netz (1980) -- 113 Squadron (1974): Mirage 5 Nesher --> Kfir C2 (1976) -- 115 Squadron (1974): A-4H Ahit 73 (no upgrade) -- 116 Squadron (1974): A-4H Ahit 73 (no upgrade) -- 117 Squadron (1974): Mirage III C Shahak --> F-16A Netz (1980) -- 119 Squadron (1974): F-4E Kurnass (no upgrade) -- 133 Squadron (1978): F-15A Baz (no upgrade) -- 140 Squadron (1974): A-4H Ahit 73 (no upgrade) -- 141 Squadron (1974): A-4H Ahit 73 (no upgrade) -- 143 Squadron (1979): Kfir C2 (no upgrade) -- 144 Squadron (1974): Mirage 5 Nesher --> Kfir C2 (1978) -- 201 Squadron (1974): F-4E Kurnass (no upgrade) -- 253 Squadron (1976): Mirage 5 Nesher (no upgrade) Click here to download this file

Real shame this series is ending ...

According to TK, there's a supply bug in the Apr 08 patch, which is causing the crashes in my "filler" campaigns. Info here: http://bbs.thirdwire.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5346 TK is working the problem. It'll be fixed in the next patch. So sit tight!

Afraid not, Macelena. They were designed for the WOI map, planeset, and such. Sorry!

Thanks, Dave. Will give it a look. Also, have posted a query for TK over at the TW forum.

Hey guys, Been busy with Real Life stuff the past month or so. Just heard about this problem. Haven't even patched up myself, yet, so will take a look as soon as I can. What changed with the patch? My campaigns shouldn't be overwritten by anything, since they live in new folders. so I'm thinking that some object or terrain folder names might have changed with the patch, and that's causing the weirdness. Or, since it doesn't always happen with Strike missions (as one user reported in this thread), it might be weapons or loadout related ... ?

Okay, I'm working on a campaign called "Tattered Liberty," about the USS Liberty incident. It's a short campaign, as you might imagine, and it presents some challenges, since essentially you're introducing a third side into WOI. One approach I'm considering is placing Israel and the Arab states on the same side. It's not as crazy as it sounds. The US wasn't friendly with Egypt at the time, since it was a Soviet client. After the beating the Liberty took, the Sixth Fleet would have probably been happy to shoot down Mirages or MiGs on 8 June 1967. Optimizing the campaign for USN, I'd change the frontline to parallel the Mediterranean littoral, and make my focus target Tel Aviv. Facing a whole coastline full of bad guys from Port Said to Beruit, anything could happen. However, when I switch Israel to Enemy (that is, Force 2), Israeli forces don't show up on the map, although the Arabs do. Would I need to set all the Israeli bases to Enemy in the terrain files for this to work? (If so, that would probably negate this approach, since it would dictate a stand-alone campaign, and I don't think this scenario is substantial enough to merit a separate install). What would really be great is the ability to set a third force to Neutral. I did notice that the Frontline data contains provisions for neutral areas. I don't suppose I could introduce a third force as Neutral, could I? Failing that, I guess I could put the USN on the same side as the Arabs. That's predictable, but it would still do the job. On the plus side, I've got the USS America in the Med, launching strikes. (After porting over F-4Bs and A-4Cs from WOV, I found that the America's squadrons were already in the game, and the correct squadron markings actually showed up on the birds. TK does great research!) The Saratoga was the other CV on the scene. It carried the same aircraft types as the America, except it also had a squadron of A-1Hs aboard. Do y'all think it's worth introducing another CV just for the Skyraiders? I guess I could also make the single carrier the Saratoga, too, in order to present the Skyraider option. Thing is, I'd like to make this short campaign as easy as possible to install, so I'd rather not use any aircraft, skins, or ships that don't come stock with WOV or WOI. The America is Kitty Hawk class, which comes with WOV, but of course, the Saratoga is Forrestal class, which would require an add-on (as would the A-1H). As I said, I don't think this is a big enough campaign to merit a separate install, with lots of add-ons and stuff. Unless I introduced Soviet intervention, maybe ... Anybody have any thoughs?

LOL! Heck, that makes you even older than me, Typhoid. Around that time I was just getting out of high school. Okay Gramps, how about some of that gray-head wisdom, then? A few questions for an expert: Where in the Med would Essex and Saratoga have been on station, during the Lebanese crisis of 1958? What might they have called their stations -- would they use task force designations, or names like Yankee and Dixie, or something else? What other vessels would have been included as their escorts, and how would they have been deployed? And anything else you can think of to make the scenario more realistic. USAFMTL's right, this one could really be a lot of fun, and not a bit controversial (I hope) ...

Yeah, the USSR actually deployed a couple of MiG-21 squadrons to Egypt in 1970, and lost a few of 'em to the IAF. Could have gotten scary ...

Roger that, Bounder, and I hear ya! For the record, I don't have a strong opinion on the incident one way or the other, aside from believing it was a tragic accident that cost the lives of good men. No axe to grind. Gameplay was the only motivation I had in considering this campaign. I've lived through nearly 50 years of history, myself, and I'm always amazed at how ignorant some kids are of even the recent past. A college intern who works for me wasn't even aware that WWII ended with an atomic bomb -- I am not kidding. And she'll graduate this summer. Sad. Thanks for the info, Wrench! I suspected as much. Dunno, maybe this one isn't worth pursuing. Of course, you could always insert the Sixth Fleet as a hypothetical intervention force on the Israeli side in any one of the stock WOI campaigns, or any one of my "filler" campaigns. That's so easy to do, though, it's almost trivial. Might be better to move on to the Lebanon scenarios ...

Heh, Wikipedia ... well, anybody can edit Wikipedia, Bounder (and boy, do they ever). I've read other reports that contradict the ones you're citing. Not saying you're wrong, just that there is plenty of static surrounding an incident like this one. Depends who you talk to -- somebody's always "uncovering" another document or tape or eyewitness account. Anyway, personally, I don't put much credence in most conspiracy theories. You need too many people to make a conspiracy work, and too many people just can't keep secrets. Somebody always talks. Accidents happen. That's one reason I thought this might make an interesting campaign. Maybe this topic is still too controversial to portray in a game, though, even forty years later. Too bad, because those Navy Phantoms sure do look good over the Med. And I'm glad they missed you too, Bounder! Thanks for your service.

Yep Bounder, I've read up on the controversy, from both sides. Wouldn't be so hasty to assign "fault," though, because there's plenty of blame to go around. For instance, IAF pilots admitted that they saw Western lettering on the Liberty, and that gave them second thoughts, yet they carried through with the attacks. One of my college buddies had an uncle on the Liberty, a marine. A tragic accident. Just thought it would make an interesting air-combat scenario, and I have for awhile. First proposed this campaign back in November 2002, shortly before I released Red Wings.

Well, I wasn't going to focus on the attack on the Liberty, itself, but the response. A-4 and A-1 strikes were launched from America and Forrestal shortly after Liberty finally managed to get word to the fleet, to attack the Israeli gunboats. LBJ recalled the strikes. So in this campaign, we'd assume that the strikes weren't recalled, and see how things play out until the end of the Six Day War. Maybe you're right, though, it might be better as a single mission. Another reason I'm doing this campaign is to lay groundwork for a Lebanon 1958 campaign, or a Lebanon 1983 campaign. Maybe it would be best to do a Sixth Fleet package as a separate install, including campaigns for 1958, 1967, and 1983.

McCain was on the Forrestal, right in the middle of the fire. His was the A-4 hit by the errant Zuni. He barely made it out of his bird, had to climb onto the refueling probe and drop to the deck. (A similar accident occurred on the Enterprise around the same time). When the Forrestal headed home, McCain volunteered to join VA-163 on the Oriskany. After maybe twenty missions, he was shot down -- and he wasn't even scheduled to fly that day. He begged to be included on the roster, once he heard the target was Hanoi. Then, after a few weeks in captivity, the North Vietnamese learned that McCain's father was a four-star admiral, and offered to release him. McCain refused to go home until everybody who'd been captured before him was released. He was tortured pretty severely for his defiance, sustaining injuries that very nearly crippled him for life. Not to get political, but I've got a 1/72 scale model of McCain's A-4 sitting on top of my computer. Yeah, Mac has a big mouth, and he's combative, and he thinks for himself (and sometimes it's hard to figure out exactly what he's thinking). We all might disagree about some of the issues surrounding this election campaign, but I don't think anybody can fault the man's personal courage, or his sense of duty. For that matter, we Americans owe every man and woman who served in our military -- or is serving in our military right now -- a huge debt of gratitude. That's a lesson I think we learned as a nation from the shameful treatment Vietnam veterans received after that war. Don't discard your heroes, because they represent the best in all of us. Um, sorry for the rant. I come from a Navy family ...

Okay, just one more update. Version 1.1 of Attrition War and Golan Stalemate are available now: -- Attrition War: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=6195 -- Golan Stalemate: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=6194 Same story as the War for the Water update; lowered the intensity to better simulate a limited conflict. Also cleaned up a couple of anachronisms in Attrition War. If you prefer more action, Version 1.0 is still available for all three campaigns. And that's the end, as far as these campaigns are concered (hopefully). On to the next thing ...

File Name: Attrition War 67-73 VERSION 1.1 File Submitter: Pancho File Submitted: 10 Mar 2008 File Category: User Made Campaigns File Version: 1.1 Website: http://home.att.net/~r.lee.sullivan/blackhawk-island.html *Version 1.1* This update lowers the intensity level from Version 1.0. Only enemy squadrons located nearest the border will be assigned missions. Supply has also been reduced for friendly and enemy squadrons. As a result, fewer enemy aircraft should appear in the air, better reflecting the limited nature of the historical conflict. Make no mistake, occasionally the campaign engine will generate large aerial engagements; this is historical, as well. Some base assignments have also been altered to better reflect historical positioning. In particular, IAF 101 Squadron has been moved to Bir Gafgafa on the Sinai Peninsula. The IAF maintained a Mirage detachment there throughout the Attrition War period; expect plenty of action along the Suez Canal. *The Campaign* This campaign depicts the situation in the Middle East as it stood between June 1967 and October 1973. Based on the stock WOI Yom Kippur campaign, it begins in July 1967 and ends in September 1973. When combined with “War for the Water” and “Golan Stalemate,” the player can begin in 1963 and fly a continuous nineteen-year IAF career. There will be no all-out air offensive; this is a long, limited conflict. Ground offensive has been disabled, so borders remain static. Supply is minimal, restricting the number of aircraft in the sky. Mission mix includes routine patrols punctuated by occasional strike missions into enemy territory. You may fly a maximum of fifty missions, roughly one every forty-five days. IAF fighter and strike squadrons start out with their historical aircraft, entering the campaign at the time they were activated. Some squadrons will upgrade both their livery and their aircraft type during the course of the campaign. The Soviets also make appearances in 1970 and 1971. *Unit Start Guide and Upgrade Path* -- 69 Squadron (1969): F-4E Kurnass (no upgrade) -- 101 Squadron (1967): Mirage III C Shahak (no upgrade) -- 102 Squadron (1968): A-4H Ahit --> A-4F Ahit (1972) -- 107 Squadron (1967): Mirage III C Shahak --> F-4E Kurnass (1971) -- 109 Squadron (1967): A-4H Ahit --> A-4F Ahit (1972) -- 110 Squadron (1968): A-4E Ahit (no upgrade) -- 113 Squadron (1967): Mirage III C Shahak --> Mirage 5 Nesher (1972) -- 115 Squadron (1969): A-4E Ahit (no upgrade) -- 116 Squadron (1970): A-4E Ahit (no upgrade) -- 117 Squadron (1967): Mirage III C Shahak (no upgrade) -- 119 Squadron (1967): Mirage III C Shahak --> F-4E Kurnass (1970) -- 144 Squadron (1971): Mirage 5 Nesher (no upgrade) -- 201 Squadron (1969): F-4E Kurnass (no upgrade) Click here to download this file

F7U Yeah, I know, the "Gutless Cutlass." Real widowmaker, but it would be a challenge.

Thanks, USAFMTL!

Hey guys, wanted to mention that Version 1.1 of War for the Water 63-67 is available now at CombatAce: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=6185 With this update, I've tried to reduce the intensity level, more in keeping with a limited border conflict. The overall effect is probably pretty subtle. I'm learning a lot, but since TK's campaign engine seems to be designed to model an all-out air war (which makes sense, from a market perspective) you have to use some indirect methods to ratchet down the action. See what you think. And if you prefer the original version, it's still available as well ...

File Name: War for the Waters 63-67 VERSION 1.1 File Submitter: Pancho File Submitted: 8 Mar 2008 File Category: User Made Campaigns File Version: 1.1 Website: http://home.att.net/~r.lee.sullivan/blackhawk-island.html *Version 1.1* This update lowers the intensity level from Version 1.0. Only enemy squadrons located nearest the border will be assigned missions. Supply has also been reduced for friendly and enemy squadrons. As a result, fewer enemy aircraft should appear in the air, better reflecting the limited nature of the historical conflict. Make no mistake, occasionally the campaign engine will generate large aerial engagements; this is historical, as well. *The Campaign* This campaign depicts intermittent border clashes that flared between Israel, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt from 1963 through 1967. These disputes began with disagreements over water rights in the region, slowly escalating into the Six Day War. Based on the stock WOI Six Day War campaign, “War for the Water” begins in August 1963 and ends in May 1967. Think of this campaign as a short prelude to the Six Day War. There will be no all-out air offensive; “War for the Water” is a limited conflict. You will face Syrian and Jordanian aircraft in and around the Golan Heights. There might be encounters with Egyptian aircraft near the Sinai Peninsula, as well. Ground offensive has been disabled, so borders remain static. Supply is minimal, restricting the number of aircraft in the sky. Mission mix includes routine patrols punctuated by occasional armed recon missions into enemy territory. You may fly a maximum of twelve missions, roughly one every hundred and twenty days. Played in sequence with the stock WOI campaigns, and combined with “Attrition War” and “Golan Stalemate,” the player can begin in 1963 and fly a continuous nineteen-year IAF career. *Unit start guide and upgrade path* -- 101 Squadron (1963): Mirage III C Shahak (no upgrade) -- 117 Squadron (1963): Mirage III C Shahak (no upgrade) -- 119 Squadron (1963): Mirage III C Shahak (no upgrade) Click here to download this file