The campaign mode - a skeptic's view

[Finkeren]

So I've eagerly/anxiously avaited the arrival of the campaign mode, and this is my first impression after having flown some 10 missions.

 

I have from the start been critical of the devs' decission to forgo a "standard" career mode where you role play a single pilot and even a "standard" campaign, where you follow the battle day by day (sometimes with the posibility to affect the outcome) and instead make a glorified QMB on a slightly more interesting map.

 

I've also been critical of the unlocks, not because I think it breaks anything for me (I plan to fly every plane in SP anyway) or because I'm against unlocks as a game element. I just don't think it belongs in a historical flight sim.

 

With that in mind, I came into the campaign mode expecting the worst, and after my first few bites, all I can say is:

 

It's not that bad.  

 

I played the missions on "normal" difficulty, because I wanted to be able to see what was going on throughout the mission and catch all the details I might otherwise have missed (BTW: The inflexible 2 different presets for difficulty can go suck a RS-82) I'll propably switch to "expert" pretty soon.

 

The first 4 tutorial missions could propably be skipped by most experienced flight simmers, but they do the job of introducing the elements of the campaign mode nicely. I'm glad they did not involve a tutorial on how to fly the aircraft themselves.

 

The true missions are actually fairly interesting with random encounters with other flights of aircraft (so far I've only seen enemies, would be nice to be able to meet friendlies as well) occasional AA fire from the ground en route and some difference in objectives despite there being only 4 mission types. Overall variety seems all right with one exeption: The stupid diamond shaped mission route is the same every time. I'd like a bit more realism and variation in that department. 

 

The missions are short, too short to seem realistic, but considering the overall approach to the campaign it's propably a good thing. It's about quick action and simple objectives, not immersive missions where you truly feel like a part of the war. 

 

The AI was a pleasant surprise. I was unsure how it would perform in the campaign, but it seems to be doing more or less what it should. I think bombers use a bit too violent evasive actions and the fighters charged with intercepting bombers act a bit suicidal, letting me shoot them out of the sky, while they hunt after the Pe-2s. It's also a good idea to circuit the airfield once after taking off, as the rest of your flight sometimes has trouble catching up with you. On one occation I took off in a LaGG and flew towards the target at perhaos 75% throttle, and my flight only just caught up with me as we were right over the target. Those are minor hairs in the soup, it's far from the catastrophy I envisioned.

 

The missions are generally set up in a way to ensure success. The enemy is nearly always heavily outnumbered (granted, I have mostly been flying VVS, it might just be realism  ) and the AAA feels downright neutered compared to what I'm used to from QMB and MP. The mission goals are easy to accomplish and not too hard to make out during the mission (though I really wish the mission briefing would give you more of a clue as to exactly what your objectives are) I don't mind the easyness, when I'm not roleplaying a pilot whose life I have to fear for.

 

As for the much criticised unlock system: Yes, it's kind of annoying, but it really doesn't get too much in the way. After the first few missions it seems to me, that it'll take at most 20 missions per plane to unlock everything there is to unlock (on "normal" difficulty) spread that out over the different chapters and you'll have completed all the chapters long before you're done unlocking the plane goodies. FLying 20 missions to unlock everything for your favourite plane really isn't that bad. Even a guy like me with 2 jobs, wife and kid will find the time to do that over a months time, I'm sure.

 

Performance wise the campaign mode seems rock solid. I've had no stuttering or crashes and even the hit sounds seem to be in place. However, the campaign mode isn't really testing the limits either. Flights are never bigger than 4 aircraft and the most aircraft I've seen in combat at one time was 11. There's clearly room for expansion there.

 

So far, I'm enjoying the ground attack missions the most  The targets are varied in type and "hardness" and the less effective AAA allows you a fighting chance. As an added bonus, there are quite often targets near the frontline, where you can spend any excess ammunition, great fun.  There are issues though: Some ground object still seem to have no real DM and the AI seems to have a bit of trouble handling strafing runs, though they drop bombs effectively enough.

 

The initial verdict is: This is by no means the main SP-mode I wanted. Still, it does what it does well enough, and doesn't seem like too much of a chore to plow through. There's enough variation to last dozens of missions and the unlock system is not nearly as bad as it could have been.

 

There are a few things, which I hope the devs will take into consideration, that could easily make the campaign more enjoyable still by an order of magnitude without completely changing what the campaign mode is:

 

1. Allow the full range of difficulty settings. It can't be that hard to make a scale of XP-bonus based on which difficulty settings are unchecked instead of having 2 presets. (the same goes for graphics, but that's another matter)

 

2. Allow people with high end machines an option to have bigger flights and/or more flights in the air. If my machine can handle 25 Heinkels in the air over Stalingrad, I want to be able to attack such a formation. Also make encountering allied flights an option.

 

3. Allow the player to choose to fly as a wingman rather than always as the flight leader.

 

4. Equip all airfields with AAA. makes the flight to and from target that much more interesting.

 

5. Give us just a bit more variety in mission types. We need some fighter sweeps, solo hunts and patrol missions.

 

6. Make more varied and realistic flight routes. The damn red-brown diamond is already becoming tiresome.

 

7. Tweak the AI to better fulfill some mission types, especially ground attack and bomber intercept. It'd also be great, if you could make whole flights engage and disengage as one.

 

8. Give the mission briefings more details about your objectives and posibly add some flavour in the form of small bits of information about the battle in general in the syle of "Red October Factory is under heavy shelling, you must surpress the enemy artillery."

 

These requests I think are reasonable and in keeping with the light tone of the camapign, it's nothing like adding historical squads or naming your wingmen or having medals or anything.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Finkeren

[-NW-ChiefRedCloud]

[Dakpilot]

In normal (control settings) you can pretty much enable all the difficulty levels you want and achieve the same as custom, more flexible options have been added

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[dburne]

 

 

1. Allow the full range of difficulty settings. It can't be that hard to make a scale of XP-bonus based on which difficulty settings are unchecked instead of having 2 presets. (the same goes for graphics, but that's another matter)

 

 

+100 to that!!

[SCG_Neun]

I haven't had a chance to even fly yet, so I value this Finkeren.  Thanks for taking the time to post it.

[Finkeren]

In normal (control settings) you can pretty much enable all the difficulty levels you want and achieve the same as custom, more flexible options have been added

 

Cheers Dakpilot

 

I know. It's just a chore to go through setting it all up at the start of each mission, and it still leaves the problem of the map.

 

My problem with it is not, that it can't be worked around, but that the presets feel completely unnecesary in the first place.

[FlatSpinMan]

Here is a tip for getting some customization into the "Normal Mode" of the campaign.

 

http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/11138-developer-diary-part-81/?p=171003

[Finkeren]

Here is a tip for getting some customization into the "Normal Mode" of the campaign.

 

http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/11138-developer-diary-part-81/?p=171003

 

Thanks FSM

 

And thx for correcting the misspelling of the word "skeptic" in the title (I assume that was you?) I noticed immediately after posting and nearly broke my keyboard in frustration   

[Schwalbee]

I am severely disappointed with some decisions made by the devs, including the one made by the op , the campaign is decent and barebones at best . saying that campaign was the main focus of Bos and then giving us this lackluster singplayer should be a crime.

[LLv24_Zami]

Great post Finkeren! I agree 100% with you and hopefully devs take your suggestions into account

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 Pretty much what Finkeren said. Been flying the campaign with LaGG-3, Expert settings. Choosing mostly Ground Attack as they make navigating more interesting. Navigating itself is not hard, just memorize some landmarks and features and good to go. Look for shapes of villages and forests etc. What strikes most is that you really do not feel like being there, in a brutal struggle. So empty everywhere except the mission related entities and those scattered around. AI is the weak point, 5 kills in a LaGG-3 already: 3 of them Bf109F-4 and 2 being He-111H-6. Falcon 4.0 still has the most immersion of being in a battlefield as you see the war raging around(well created illusion, but works!).

 

 I bet I will fly the campaign through and through on different planes, just for the challenge and learning the ropes of lesser flown types. The XP and achievements propably will be more attractive to those from WT or similar, I would have liked a more realistic approach with log books and all that. EAW had pretty nice interface for that and original IL-2 had external programs adding to the immersion. Nevertheless the campaign works, so far.

[Finkeren]

AI is the weak point, 5 kills in a LaGG-3 already: 3 of them Bf109F-4 and 2 being He-111H-6.

This I disagree with. You already have over a year of experience with and likely thousands of flights in the LaGG, not to speak of the years of experience from other sims. Even the most realistic AI is never going to be able to live up to that.

[Matt]

And maybe add a system to communicate with your flight. I know about this ALT+number or CTRL+number stuff, but it's the least practical solution for this i can think of.

 

Maybe my expectations were too low, but i'm actually enjoying the campaign mode so far. But more of everything would be good.

 

As for difficulty settings, i'm not sure how many more aids are activated with Normal, but if the number would be no more than 10, then there should just be the possibility to switch some of those aids off and get a 0.1 XP increase.

 

Expert = 2x XP

Normal = 1x XP

Normal with 5 aids switched off = 1x + 0.5x XP = 1.5x XP

 

I mean, it can't be that difficult to make this possible.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Matt

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 Could be, but still the AI is pretty predictable and not too hard to lure into it's demise Nevertheless I kind of enjoy flying the campaign and doing so with the LaGG-3 just adds to the challenge

Edited October 4, 2014 by LLv34_Flanker

[Juri_JS]

There are a few unrealistic things I have noticed in the campaign.

I had a bombing mission flying the Ju-87 and I was completely alone without any other German planes, which is very unrealistic.

When flying German fighters I am often in three-plane formations. This is unusual for Luftwaffe fighters. The smallest standard fighter formations are two or four planes.

When encountering enemy bombers they are often escorted by only a single fighter, I think there should be at least two.

[LLv24_Zami]

There are a few unrealistic things I have noticed in the campaign.

 

I had a bombing mission flying the Ju-87 and I was completely alone without any other German planes, which is very unrealistic.

 

When flying German fighters I am often in three-plane formations. This is unusual for Luftwaffe fighters. The smallest standard fighter formations are two or four planes.

 

When encountering enemy bombers they are often escorted by only a single fighter, I think there should be at least two.

 

Yep, more planes in air and more ground action is necessary, after all there is huge battle going on.

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

I started with normal settings just to see how the stuff looks like and one of the things I spotted is either too effective gunner of Pe-2 or stupidity of Ai trying to engage them. IMO 2nd one is more possible, but still there are no jokes with Berezin.  From 3 of my wingmen 2 were shot down by gunners and one went into a spin, so I lost all of them and couldn't do anything :

 

 

 

 

[TheBlackPenguin]

Good write up!

 

  I'll play more once I get back from work, my initial impression wasn't that bad, but I wasn't expecting a career mode either. If we ever do get a career mode I think they would complement each other very well imho.

[39bn_pavig]

I think RoF nailed the flight commands with its winkey system and icons. Something like that would be great for commanding ai etc.

[Juri_JS]

By the way, has anybody ever seen a Il-2 or Yak/Lagg fighter-bombers when flying as German fighter? The only bombers I encounter during intercept missions are always Pe-2s.

[unreasonable]

3. Allow the player to choose to fly as a wingman rather than always as the flight leader.

I am unable to play at all as my PC has now been attempting to download the new version for 18 hours, so I cannot check, but is there not a "continue the mission" command? This worked well in RoF and you could tag along and be the wingman after you had keyed it - I was hoping to use this approach in BoS for my early missions.

[Voidhunger]

By the way, has anybody ever seen a Il-2 or Yak/Lagg fighter-bombers when flying as German fighter? The only bombers I encounter during intercept missions are always Pe-2s.

yes always 1 PE or 3 PE´s with two fighters as escort. And the AI is not engaging enemy fighters

[Juri_JS]

The AI is also very reluctant to attack ground targets.

[CheeseGromit]

The initial verdict is: This is by no means the main SP-mode I wanted. Still, it does what it does well enough, and doesn't seem like too much of a chore to plow through. There's enough variation to last dozens of missions and the unlock system is not nearly as bad as it could have been.

 

That succinctly sumarises my initial thoughts as well.

 

1. Allow the full range of difficulty settings. It can't be that hard to make a scale of XP-bonus based on which difficulty settings are unchecked instead of having 2 presets. (the same goes for graphics, but that's another matter)

 

Also agree with this, although not as strongly as I might once have. Now that I've experienced the campaign it's likely something I play a few missions occasionally rather than immersing myself in something more akin to a career mode. So playing full normal will probably suit me fine. My previous ideal settings would have been expert minus engine management, which I really can't be bothered learning.

Edited October 4, 2014 by cfnz

[Blackcloud]

Thanks Fink,

 

This is a really comprehensive post.  To add my thoughts:

 

Unfortunately I do not feel this is a campaign.  There is no immersion. Rather is is a collection of single player, single missions with some connecting videos. I don't care if I pass or fail a mission because if I don't the only consequence is having to refly the same mission.  I am not developing my character or affecting my unit or changing the war.  Next mission I might just fly the complete opposite side. What is the replayability here? Minimal in my impression.  As Fink so astutely observes the missions are the same formula each and every time.  I realise that this an early iteration of the final campaign but unfortunately if developed along these lines I don't see any great improvement that is going to make this a long term success.

 

RoF has a good campaign system and did the original IL-2.  Both have enjoyed long term success.  In my impression this campaign is like the Call of Duty (CoD) Single player, it is fun but really do you care?  No because if you a playing CoD it is probably for the Multiplayer.  I will play through this campaign once per aircraft (in this case to unlock the things I want) but once done will I go back?  Probably not.  Unless like call of duty, they release a new version with pretty new colours each year, I don't think the single player aspect is catered for.  It seems they are using the single player as a springboard to multiplayer just like CoD. I am not particularly into multiplayer.  I don't mind dabbling here and there, but I love the campaign mode in RoF and 1946. I have played both for years.

 

So yes the campaign is not as bad as it could be or as bad as some are making it out to be but I also did not invest in this game, over a year prior to release, which I thought was going to be a historical sim, to have a fun play station game.  The campaign element is a big part of the historical fun. The immersion, the feeling of being a part of greater events. That is what is historical.  In the last few weeks the changes seem to have made this game less historical and more XBox.

 

Sorry guys. I really wanted to love it.  I do enjoy playing the game.  But that first week of early access when I took off in, I think it was an F-4, I had a real sense of excitement about this game and about what it could be. Recently that has dropped off. Bring it back guys.  Don't rush it.  

[dave9810]

Some suggestions from me, I've just unlocked the 2nd chapter.

 

1. Patrol missions would be nice

2. Select the amount of wingmen in your flight

3. On ground attack missions you should be able to choose your target type.

 

Bad points

 

1. Some missions seem to have way too many friendly AI vs enemy AI

2. Friendly AI accuracy seems to be too good - 1 -2 bursts enemy is on fire

3. Friendly AI seem to be the same as in RoF, e.g everyone follows 1 target, gets n your way (friendly collided with me as i was attacking enemy fighter)

 

 

Good points

1. Missions seem to be a nice length (time wise)

2. I like the fact that enemy fighters follow you home, I've been jumped on approach a few times

 

 

I've had one problem though, my Lagg-3 skins are not unlocking although the weapon unlocks are. The unlocks have been working fine in the Yak-1.

[FuriousMeow]

The campaign system isn't that bad, no. It's pretty good if you are into that sort of thing. I will occasionally play single player missions, and single player campaigns - but the key point is occasionally. I am being forced to play the campaign in single player to get weapons for multi player. At the very least, if I have to play the campaign to get the unlocks then I should be able to play it multi player with other humans. The AI isn't a challenge. The lack of live communication and coordination with other humans is a huge breaking point in single player, and an epic failure for single player. This is the day of high speed interent with world wide connectivity measuring less than 150ms to almost any point in the world compared to the days of 250+ ms connectivity just to a couple states over with the age of dial up modems.

 

Ever since the first Confirmed Kill, I was too late for the Air Warrior dynasty, and the subsequent relabelling of Confirmed Kill to WarBirds, I have always been a fan of multi player. It is fun, it is challenging, and it is social. This is a step backwards being forced to be non-social, non-challenging and not fun at all for the sole purpose to grind XP for weapons to fulfill most missions. Take the Il-2, for example, the 20mms are pretty freaking anemic against armored units. The 23mm, which I always used prior to the lock down, were perfect. I never even used the 37mm. But now I am forced to play the anti-social single player with non-challenging, for me, AI and truly being bored because I have to go through the motions to complete the objectives/missions just so I can use a weapon in multi-player where I much more prefer to spend my limited time to play games.

 

That is the key issue, some claim they do Single Player because they only have so much time to play.. I only have so much time to play as well, and I want to do it only in mult player. Occasionally I like to play Single Player but I want to be able to do that when I wish/want to, not forced to so that I can have a few more armament options. I love playing against other players because it is far more challenging, and in scenarios it is far more realistic with far more "fog of war" than could ever be achieved in Single Player and really I paid for this game so I should be able to choose if I get a 23mm on the Il-2 in Multi Player and not have to waste my time in SIngle Player to do it. It is a literal waste of time, I can't stress that enough - I don't want to be doing it but I have to and I'd rather be online with/against other humans/friends than in Single Player with AI that I couldn't bothered to give two fistfuls of ape feces about. It's okay, do the XP and unlocks - but c'mon, we should have the option to do it in SIngle Player or Multi Player! This isn't the days of 9600kbps dial up, I have 50mbps up/down FiOS - I'm not worried about my internet connection to play Single Player, I really really really want to play with and against real people but this Single Player only unlock/XP is absolutely preventing me from doing that!

Edited October 5, 2014 by FuriousMeow

[ACG_KaiLae]

I love playing against other players because it is far more challenging, and in scenarios it is far more realistic with far more "fog of war" than could ever be achieved in Single Player and really I paid for this game so I should be able to choose if I get a 23mm on the Il-2 in Multi Player and not have to waste my time in SIngle Player to do it. It is a literal waste of time, I can't stress that enough - I don't want to be doing it but I have to and I'd rather be online with/against other humans/friends than in Single Player with AI that I couldn't bothered to give two fistfuls of ape feces about. It's okay, do the XP and unlocks - but c'mon, we should have the option to do it in SIngle Player or Multi Player! This isn't the days of 9600kbps dial up, I have 50mbps up/down FiOS - I'm not worried about my internet connection to play Single Player, I really really really want to play with and against real people but this Single Player only unlock/XP is absolutely preventing me from doing that!

 

It gets worse apparently, because after the beta ends, all unlocks will be reset according to the russian forums. So, you'll have to do it all over again.

 

 

[LukeFF]

It gets worse apparently, because after the beta ends, all unlocks will be reset according to the russian forums. So, you'll have to do it all over again.

 

That's the nature of buying the game in early access.

[Feathered_IV]

I'm half way through the second chapter now. SP is my preferred mode of play however I am not enjoying it.
I find the "Action Point" label rather childish. Surely there is a better choice of words out there? Waypoints not very interesting, and the relentless player icon removes any challenge or enjoyment that might be had from navigation.

No significant aerial activity seems to be programmed outside of the action point. A player can fly to and from this area in a vacant world. No threat of being bounced or finding targets of opportunity. Waypoints cannot be moved. Menus are silent as the grave and give no sense of anticipation.

The Devs really need to learn something about good gameplay. They have talent to burn in other areas, but let themselves down in this most critical area. This campaign/XP generator thing should be brilliant. It HAS to be. The developers have made it the flagship feature of BoS by forcing everyone to use it to proceed. It is going to be the critical first impression by which the entire sim will be judged. If it remains an underpopulated and overly simplified QMB it will do more harm than good.          

[Pizzicato]

I'm half way through the second chapter now. SP is my preferred mode of play however I am not enjoying it.

I find the "Action Point" label rather childish. Surely there is a better choice of words out there? Waypoints not very interesting, and the relentless player icon removes any challenge or enjoyment that might be had from navigation.

 

No significant aerial activity seems to be programmed outside of the action point. A player can fly to and from this area in a vacant world. No threat of being bounced or finding targets of opportunity. Waypoints cannot be moved. Menus are silent as the grave and give no sense of anticipation.

 

The Devs really need to learn something about good gameplay. They have talent to burn in other areas, but let themselves down in this most critical area. This campaign/XP generator thing should be brilliant. It HAS to be. The developers have made it the flagship feature of BoS by forcing everyone to use it to proceed. It is going to be the critical first impression by which the entire sim will be judged. If it remains an underpopulated and overly simplified QMB it will do more harm than good.          

 

100% agreed. The current implementation of the campaign is extremely poor fare and a HUGE letdown when compared to the quality of the rest of the sim. Beautiful graphics, nice flight models, great visual effects, clean, clear, visually appealing UI design... and an astonishingly poorly conceived singleplayer campaign experience that utterly ruins the entire experience (IMHO).

 

Massive disappointment and a huge waste of otherwise wonderful potential.

Edited October 5, 2014 by Pizzicato

[Finkeren]

After having played some more of the campaign I will say, that it offers slightly more variation than I initially thought. I've flown the Yak on a series of escort missions and apart from the fact that we always seem to be escorting only Pe-2s the missions have shown some great variety in length, route and planes involved.

 

The greatest mission so far involved our flight of four Yaks escorting no fewer than six Peshkas on a raid against Gumrak a mission route of more than 150km, so one of the longer ones. Just finding a proper flight pattern to stay with the bombers was a fun challenge in itself. En route we were stalked by two 109s for a couple of minutes before they broke off. Over the target we encountered 3 LaGGs and 2 109s already engaged in a dogfight (giving a total of 14 AI planes on the screen with no stutters at all) which we stayed out of, since we were on escort duty. Both Messers and one LaGG went down, the Peshkas bombed the airfield and we went home. Just a couple of minutes from the bombers home base, which was right next to our own, we encountered 4 unescorted He 111s just about to attack our base. I ordered my squad to attack the Heinkels, since we were practically done with our mission. I shot up one pretty good, which was then finished off by a squadmate, but in attacking the next one I took a solid burst from the ventral gunner and my fuel started leaking. I made a forced landing at home base with my engine sputtering in its death throes. One of my squad mates was not so lucky, getting killed by the same Heinkel.

 

All in all a pretty interesting and exciting mission. If only it had been part of a career, where the "assist" would be added to my score and my dead squad mate would've had a name and a score of his own. Or a campaign, where the succesful bombing of Gumrak and the loss of planes and pilots actually meant something.

 

Sad to say, the immersion is still not there at all. The missions are good enough (could be better still) but with the framework missing, it all just seems utterly insignificant and disconnected. I still think BoS deserves much better.

[SCG_Neun]

I can't wait to unlock my "check in" baggage option.  Right now...I can only bring carry on....

[HBB*Hunger]

 

This is what I wish so much

 

I WOULD KILL FOR SUCH A CAMPAIGN!

Edited October 5, 2014 by J99*Hunger

[senseispcc]

 

This is what I wish so much

 

I WOULD KILL FOR SUCH A CAMPAIGN!

A nice game for the time it was created  but now it is outdated. So you know the AI was cheating in the way it did things you could not do with your planes even if you had the same aircraft!

Edited October 5, 2014 by senseispcc

[Finkeren]

EAW was so damn good for its time. There are areas where I don't think it's ever been surpassed, such as number of aircraft in a mission and the AI which would engage and disengage as a squad resulting in fairly realistic loss rates rather than the wipe-fest that's par for the course in combat flight sims.

[Emgy]

Getting unlocks without playing the game: use the autopilot in normal mode, this activates a combat AI which will attempt to complete the mission for you. Tried this with 1 escort, 1 intercept, 1 ground attack (with IL2), all were successful.

 

Use 16x time compression, go read a book, watch TV, play a console game. Rinse and repeat.

Edited October 5, 2014 by Calvamos

[ACG_KaiLae]

Getting unlocks without playing the game: use the autopilot in normal mode, this activates a combat AI which will attempt to complete the mission for you. Tried this with 1 escort, 1 intercept, 1 ground attack (with IL2), all were successful.

 

Use 16x time compression, go read a book, watch TV, play a console game. Rinse and repeat.

 

Now feel stupid I hadn't thought of that, thanks

[dburne]

Now feel stupid I hadn't thought of that, thanks

 

I did just that this morning on the 4th training mission, where you HAVE to fly the 109. I could care less about flying for the German side, my loyalty is with the Russian side. Loaded up autopilot, hit 16x, and had a cup of coffee.

[Finkeren]

Not that there's anything wrong with exploiting things like these, but how sad is it, that we let the computer play the game for us in a campaign mode that's supposed to be entertainment?