Fortiesboy

Agree wholeheartedly!

That website is actually very much one inclined to the modding of IL2, so it's natural for them to do this IL2 WWl mod. As you say, if it has the replay facility that IL2 has, then I'll fly it now and again, for that reason alone. But I don't think it can, nor is meant to, oust OFF from folks' hard drives.

It's always a good idea to use back up, for most computer changes that you may do. In the case of these DMs, most folks will know whether they are running the Devs Normal or Hardcore DM. So- a suggestion. If you have plenty of Hard drive space - ( many have an external hard drive ), Copy the "aircraft" folder from the installation into a folder named as appropriate Eg OFF3 Hardcore.. Change the DM to Normal ? Make another copy of the aircraft folder. ( I know that at the moment the devs have a much quicker way to change between these TWO DMs, but my suggestion is if you want to go further and use other DMs etc ) You can do the same after any alteration ( e.g. Intermediate DM- or changing some xdp files of mine in the hardcore DM ) So, you may finish up with 4 or so "aircraft" folders- No problem, if you have the space. If you are ever confused as to what you are flying , just copy one into your CFSWWl folder -lol

Just to update you guys fully on the possibilities of enhanced visible damage. Yesterday I submitted to Polovski a set of xdp files for the Hardcore DM model. These files increase the visible damage to the enemy aircraft. As Polovski says above, because the files are for "squad" aircraft, the devs are able to use a tool to make all the planes of those models which use those xdp files. Thus, it should be possible to use them in Campaign as well as in QC. I have asked Polovski to evaluate them and to consider issuing a patch for download and install in a manner similar to how the Normal and Hardcore DMs are installed now. I appreciate that some may have refrained from using the QC xdp files, previously made available for download, because they fear messing up an already "good" installation. But if the devs can kindly see their way to issue this download, it should be as simple as swapping between the Normal and Hardcore DM versions, as is done now. To clear up any possible confusion as to the versions done by Prop-Wasche and myself, the position is that both he and I have been modding the OFF damage. It was initially intended to produce a joint enterprise, but our different ideas could not be incorporated into one endeavour, so we each have prepared our own. Prop-wasche has altered the DM so that his becomes a third DM, an Intermediate, with some enhanced visible damage. Mine is where i have created enhanced visible damage to the Hardcore DM as issued by the Devs. Prop wasche and I have become mates during our many PMs in these endeavours, and we both hope that you chaps out there will have the choice to use one or more of our DMs. In fact, as the devs now give you the ability to swap back and forth between Normal and Hardcore DM, so it is hoped that you will be able to do that with ours If anyone wants any clarification, he or she is welcome to PM me. I'd just like to add that it has been long drawn out testing and amending -testing and amending.etc Good fun, but very time consuming. It has made me appreciate the terrific amount of work and hours which must have been put in by Winder,Polovski et al, to create this sim in the first place. It is, and always will be, a Classic. I also want to thank them for allowing us to "play" with their sim- to indulge our "tweakitis" Lol cheers FB

Winder My mate is using this set up - I'll get in touch this evening and get the details. IIRC you have to set something like 3860 X whatever - i.e 3 times the usual res. 1280 or thereabouts. He did get it working . Thinking of getting one? He's seen my projector and wants one of those instead!

Yes, that seems about right. As views in RL would be a lot easier, I wouldn't describe it as "cheating" . Mind you, once you know what it is, you turn TAC off? Seeing what's behind you in combat, with TAC, is going too far, IMHO. Also, it destroys immmersion. That's why I say that to survive - you against two Aces in "full real"- is extremely difficult in this brilliant sim.

As it was to me, too --- Thanks Pips!

And do you ever!! But don't look back over your shoulder to see where ROF is - 'cos you won't see them. They are so far behind you.... Sorry, no insult to ROF intended, but it's just such an obvious fact--- Having read this thread reinforces it Ref. the "weight of the AI" aspect. Thinking aloud here. Could some weight for them not be introduced in the xdp files.or the air cfg files? There are some values there- does increasing those values not do anything?

Pol S! sorry for late reply - I've been away for a few days. In changing the TVs, I haven't necessarily used symmetrical values on all planes, so some wings may be more vulnerable than others. I was trying to make it so that not all planes reacted the same -lol I note what you say about too many effects at the same time, but my thinking was/is like this. In RL a burst of bullets would hit the plane, say, and cause an effect- fire in engine. In RL the fire would progress and then cause more damage and then likely an explosion. Those things would happen, in turn, as a result of the fire "progressing", without any more bullet hits , yes? However, in computer terms, if the fire effect happens at say 45, and the explosion and "break" effect is set at 100, then the computer will not activate the effect which is set at 100, unless and until some more bullets make more hits, enough hits, to register that 100 level? So, IMHO, I've made the last few TV effects in a component all with the same value, so they all happen together- It would be strange, would it not, to have a wingbreaking sound effect come in without also a visual effect of a wing breaking? ( which the computer would cause to happen if the threshold value of the former was lower than the threshold value of the latter?) In RL, they happen together- cheers

I've flown the Camel in this sim quite a bit, yet it still catches me out- because, I think, I don't understand, or misunderstand, how it should be flown, combined with whether it is modelled correctly in the sim.? It's the part where it rears off to the left when I am wanting to turn right, and thinking i am doing the right thing, i.e using the correct inputs, in order to make the plane turn right. I read back along, that new Camel pilots were strongly advised not to try to make a right turn when below 1000 ft, because a right turn in a camel is difficult to control and the plane would violently turn in and crash. This, combined with other stuff I read, which said that turning left needed some left rudder- and turning right should also use LEFT rudder, led me to believe that the Camel wanted to spiral dive to the right if you made to turn right ( without care ). IOW- in other planes, start a right turn and you would turn right as expected. In a Camel, start a right turn and it could viciously turn right - culminating into a spiral dive to the right. I'm not sure if my understanding of that's how it happened ( in RL ) in a Camel, is correct. If it is, then how does that relate to the modelling in the sim, because, in the sim, the Camel wants to rear up and LEFT, into a stall, whereas I thought I should be ready to prevent it wanting to go RIGHT and down too quickly. This view is, IMHO, reinforced by the RL requirement to use left rudder when turning either left or right? So, are there any experts on RL Camel FM, (WMF2- you know about full size WW1 planes?) who can tell us definitely as to which way the camel would "go in" if left to it's tendency? Left and up into stall?- or down and right into a spiral spin? cheers

Mr Lucky S! I note you are flying in campaign. I take it your post is not commenting on my xdps uploaded above? If you are referring to using the above xdp files, then the problem is you won't see their effects, because they are only for aircraft as used in QC ! To evaluate them, you have to do the testing in QC. Preferably uisng the CFS3 QC as found in Workshops. There you can select and change your location, weather etc. Flying in campaign will not test the xdps which I have submitted above for download.

OvS S! Sent you some via PM cheers FB

It's because i wanted a "nice balance" that I did the modding. On my set up I found that I could down the EA almost all of the time, one on one. And every time, the plane would go in, spiral, wallow, etc, but every time it would go in, INTACT. Unless you emptied your ammo into a Turkey. Not my idea of a nice balance, It could be that some are getting some visual damage, and others, ( like me) are not, because of the differences in the computers specs and/or settings? Or maybe because they really are special shots who choose exactly which part of the planes to hit! IMHO.the two DMs, Hardcore and Normal, showed differences in the point at which the computer decided the EA,( which the player was playing against, not the other EA ), would go in. That is not the same thing as the point at which the visual damage is manifested. Each DM will take the modded visuals without making the damage happen any sooner than it would if left in the original. It's fully explained in my thread on this subject. In that thread I do outline also how i fly the QC sorties, i.e the "full real" scenarios which I use- just in case you think the mods make it too easy in OFF- which, if flown " realistically", it isn't. Also there, one or two xdp files have been uploaded for guys to try. These change the amount of visual damage, not necessarily the point at which the plane behaves as if damaged. The contrast is there for you to sample , if you are curious enough, but it isn't going to cost you anything to try except a few minutes - and it's easy to go back to what you have now. That's the main thing There have been some who have downloaded them, but there hasn't been much feedback of what they found. Anyway, OVS, I'm sure the guys realize that this is an optional mod. And Polovski was open minded enough to kindly give his permission. I'm sorry if the thought of your skins being all burnt up upsets you

That's right- going low in OFF has always amazed me at just how brilliant it is. The one thing about flight sims that was guaranteed was that, even though the terrain looked great from high up, when you got low - the pixels won. Even FSX, unless it was an airport etc. Except OFF - when you got low, well, you got low ! still brilliant graphics and perspective. Dogfighting low is almost like Bruno's first dogfight amongst the trees in Blue Max.. I know you guys mostly like the campaign- but you may know me as a QC man. To survive, say, a 3 v 3 dogfight and then look around for some enemy troops or trucks and then go and use your remaining ammo on them, naturally flying low , and finish with a good landing - well - two or three of those in an evening, and I'm well pleased. E.g - other day, survived the fight, but the engine gave up . First time I'd noticed the slight wind noise as i looked for a land-out spot. Talk about immersion! Love this sim!

I have modded the TVs in OFF where planes are shot down in flames regularly, or wings come off ( in some cases as well), even explosions in mid air. in Hardcore DM. Your sentence suggests it doesn't, or rarely , happens in OFF- and I agree, - until it is modded. :yes: It's a WIP, to include all the OFF planes - post 1916 -

I take it you chaps are talking about first person shooters? Something i've never really tried. But the other day I went round my daughters and my son in law has got one of these Wll (pronounced Wee ) things that you hook up to the telly and play the golf swing or tennis or whatever? Well, this time he had a plastic sub machine gun thing and was shooting all sorts of baddies in the telly, lobbing grenades. medal of honour or something like that. It seemed positively dangerous in there, so I went to the kitchen for a coffee. Where is this technology going ?

Don't forget the quirk about CFS3 and thus OFF. The higher the resolution, the BETTER it runs. ( Normally the rule is opposite !) So, if your monitor and card etc will support say 1600x etc then run the game at those settings.

As mentioned in the other thread re DM , here are some more XDP files for you to try. Reminder. First, back up the appropriate planes xdp files These files are for use in the Hardcore DM. Use "Rename" when you right click these files and remove "txt" suffix and replace with "xdp". You will get a warning re re naming them . just say "yes". You will see they have become xdp files. Copy them into the appropriate plane folder and say yes to overwrite. Now, before leaving the folder, delete the bdp file. ( if you don't, the new xdp file won't "take" , Don't worry, a new bdp file will be created when you start the sim.) Close the folder - don't use the X in top right corner- use File/close. Here they are. camel_QC1.txt Alb_DIII_QC1.txt FE2b_QC1.txt Pfalz_DIIIa_QC1.txt Re_QC1.txt Se5a_QC1.txt Sopwith_Tripe_2G_QC1.txt hannover_QC1.txt cheers FB

PW has done a lot of work on his intermediate DM whereas most of my recent mods have been carried out on the Hardcore DM. I have grown to like it so much since I started to use it a few days ago that I have restricted my changes to the threshold values and i have left the Damage Boxes of the hardcore DM alone. ( except in only changing one value in each of two models.) The reason I want to keep the Damage Box values of the Hardcore DM unmodded is the brilliant way in which it allows you, the player, to sustain some hits, yet still fly enough to land safely, or in some instances carry on fighting. Example - This morning I was testing whether one of my modded planes ( DVll) would still retain this hardcore ability if hit- so i allowed it to be so, by a Pup, and then i carried on fighting although black smoke was pouring from my plane. I followed the Pup Ace down and i was getting behind him to give him some back when my engine spluttered, and then stopped. No wonder, no oil left I suppose- I managed to land out and as i did so he found me and started to clobber me again, but my wheels got safely on the ground and so he chivalrously broke away .! What a sim, eh ? So PW's and my efforts are really taking different paths, it seems. I am concentrating on modding the TVs of different planes in the Hardcore DM, and i hope to do most if not all of the QC ones. They all have different TVs, in some the wings are damaged more than others, and in others there are more instances of fire. I shall submit them to Polovski, who may or may not wish to incorporate them into some sort of patch. or offering of some sort. Some of you may wish to stay with PWs DM- He is more than welcome to use my TVs if he wishes- but it seems that with his work, and my efforts, you have got quite a choice . You may of course stay with the vanilla Hardcore or Normal DM - You're spoilt for choice! In the meantime, I will post in my other thread some more xdp files for you to try, including a couple of rear gunner ships. I've tried to make the rear gunners less Uber ( by making them more vulnerable to your fire ).. Anyway, have a go- no obligation. But I know PW and myself would like some feedback - favourable or otherwise, on what you find. if using our efforts. cheers FB

I think the problem may be emanating from your settings in CFS3. Go into Controls and look at your joysticks sensitivity and the null sizes in the Axes sensitivity section. You have to get these to your liking. I find the default null sizes make the joystick do weird things like not controlling , then suddenly over controlling.? Once you have things set up right, you should be able to fly OK , if you have flown RB all right. HTH

Hellshade S! Please read my posts which should say that IMHO,the Hardcore , Normal anf Intermediate DMs do not necessarily SHOW the damage any differently. The differences are how soon the EA go down. It is the Threshold values which cause the damage to be shown Try the xdp files I refer to in your Hardcore DM and you will see the damage manifested when you fly against those planes in QC. My earlier thread shows a step by step guide on how to make more damage effects for any plane. in QC It works whichever DM you want to use HTH

Here are two xdp files for you to try in hardcore DM installs They are here in txt format. Having downloaded them, just rename them with xdp suffix to replace the txt and install in the appropriate aircraft folder. Nieuport_17_lewis_QC1.txt Se5a_QC1.txt

Further to my earlier, I have done a brief test of two xdp files with the Hardcore DM. All seemed Ok and the damage seen included fire in cockpit, explosion, and wheels off, or wings off. Sometimes just some debris . All planes went in. I will put the xdp files with the TVs only modded up in this thread for you to try with your hardcore installs, if you wish. The install instructions ( very simple ) are in that thread. http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?showtopic=41821 cheers FB

If I could add to earlier, it may add to the clarity ( or confusion -LOL ) of what damage is in OFF. If it is wrong I hope Winder etall will correct it, or others may have different views on it, but this thread seems as good a place to put it. This is my understanding of how the damage works in OFF. First, what is damage- in computer terms in OFF? I think it is in essentially two parts. When your bullets hit the enemy plane, it hits certain parts called Damage Boxes. The values which those damage boxes have, determines the "probability" of the hit registering, and the amount of points needed to make the damage. Those values are entered by the programmer into a section of the xdp files of each plane. Now the "damage" here is defined by the computer as that which makes the part stop working. So, the plane may start to fly as if a wing isn't working, or an aileron or engine or pilot or whatever. Thus we see the plane wallowing or spiralling or sinking etc. - this is what the computer makes the plane do, until it hits the ground of course. BUT, so far, the computer has not made the image, ( which you see on your monitor,) show the plane as having any damage effects, ie broken wings, fire, smoke trails explosions etc. because this is made to happen by the Threshold values section of the xdp file. These are figures entered in that part, by the programmer, to make those effects occur. Theoretically, those figures are percentages of the Damage Box figures? So that when there is 100 per cent of the figures reached ( in the damage boxes ) to down the plane, there should be an appearance of all the effects in the TVs section, because 100 is the figure at the end of each plane part, that the devs have programmed to be reached . I know that is logical, and I thought it was like that, but my observations lead me to believe that it isn't as simple as that, otherwise there would be many times, if not every time, a plane was damaged enough to fall from the sky, when we would see these effects come in, But we don't - many( most ) of the time the planes go down with no major effects showing. From what I have read on the forum, this is what most players are seeing most of the time. Putting the logic to one side for a while, I played around with the TVs of some planes, and I found that by lowering the values, that these damage effects could and would be seen. And I found that I could make these figures as low as 50-30 ( instead of 100 ) in a lot of cases. The frustrating bit ( and the good bit, too ) was that these effects didn't always occur when you thought they would. There is a lovely element of randomness. Which means that quite low values still did not mean it was necessarily arcade. Some may think it is - but maybe the AI was Rookie and all visual aids were on, and Workshop settings had "strongest" bullets and Normal DM- but the arcadeness is down to those things I've just mentioned - not necessarily the Threshold values. I'm pretty sure it can be made NOT easy, yet still have damage seen. The xdp files i submitted for evaluation were using Prop Wasche's Intermediate DM file, but there is no reason why the Threshold values "section" can't be pasted into the xdp file of a Hardcore DM. or a Normal DM. I reckon it would work. ( If you are thinking on doing this, please refer to my thread where it tells you "how to" ) Then see if it's arcade, using the Hardcore file, on Normal bullets against Ace AI with NO visual aids apart from trackir. You would do well to survive against two AI like that- and that scenario, I suggest, is more like it was in RL and would be like conditions were in " campaign " in OFF. cheers