Enable Exterior Views on the Ground

[SharpeXB]

It might be a good idea in Expert Mode, if the external views are enabled when the player is on the ground. It's difficult to navigate the airfields and in the real world you'd know where you are. I suppose the "real world" solution would be to study the airfields. Rise of Flight shows your map location when you're on the ground (simulates landing and asking for directions!)

Another solution would be to increase the map detail to include the airfield layout so you can zoom in and see where to go.

[Pupo]

both would be great aditions. Outside view on the ground of your own AC would hardly be exploited, and having detailed airfields would also be cool ( specially ones who say where you spawned)

 

+1 for you

[VR-DriftaholiC]

Seeing the airfields on the map would be great but otherwise no, go play normal if you want 3rd person cam. There is already to much HUD in Expert. Last thing we need is an out of body experience.

Edited September 10, 2014 by driftaholic

[-=PHX=-Satch]

In il-2 1946 there is a mod that enable external view with planes at ground. Great feature i think.

[1./KG4_Blackwolf]

+1

I fly expert mode most of the time. It would be nice on the ground to jump out of the cockpit, zoom out and see where everything is.. but not in the air. I understand Driftaholics post but telling someone to go play easy mode for outside views is wrong. The OP is just asking for limited views on the ground. The mini map doesn't work for seeing where to go and some of us like full real game play but just want to see where to go. A way to simulate the ground crew telling you where to taxi. I would have no problem with that in a expert server.  

[FuriousMeow]

I could go either way on this. I'm not really sure external cam is needed. I have been able to find which way is shortest by using the scaling view ("zoom") to make everything closer to real world size while taxiing and almost always can tell which taxi way is the shorter route to the runway because I can see the taxi way and if it leads to the runway or just keeps going and going and going...

 

The other thing would be to have either map makers setup some object at the end of the dispersal area to indicate which direction to go from each dispersal area. Like a plane pointing one way, or an outhouse object (not sure if they actually exist) on the side of the dispersal area that is the shortest, or if the devs could make another ground crew that could be set to stand in one location but constantly signal with his hands a certain direction. I actually would love if that last item could be done, that would add to the atmosphere a lot and way better than 3rd person view.

 

Sure, it mostly can't be abused for an advantage (sort of for spotting attacking aircraft, <shrug>) but I do think that if on expert you should be able to taxi from the cockpit point of view. I'm not really one way or the other, just offering an alternate viewpoint and that I don't think 3rd person views are necessary in expert in MP to taxi.

Edited September 10, 2014 by FuriousMeow

[DD_Arthur]

+1

I fly expert mode most of the time. It would be nice on the ground to jump out of the cockpit, zoom out and see where everything is.. but not in the air. I understand Driftaholics post but telling someone to go play easy mode for outside views is wrong. The OP is just asking for limited views on the ground. The mini map doesn't work for seeing where to go and some of us like full real game play but just want to see where to go. A way to simulate the ground crew telling you where to taxi. I would have no problem with that in a expert server.  

 

Agree completely and this;

 

The other thing would be to have either map makers setup some object at the end of the dispersal area to indicate which direction to go from each dispersal area. Like a plane pointing one way, or an outhouse object (not sure if they actually exist) on the side of the dispersal area that is the shortest, or if the devs could make another ground crew that could be set to stand in one location but constantly signal with his hands a certain direction. I actually would love if that last item could be done, that would add to the atmosphere a lot and way better than 3rd person view.

 

 

I think would be the best solution.  The amount of taxiing I've done to find the runway would surely have overheated a liquid cooled single seater in real life!

[themski]

I know it's like cursing in the church, but War Thunder made that work fine. As long as your plane is on the ground, and standing completely still, you can use 3rd person to inspect for damage or other look around you.

[Requiem]

Instead of external views on the ground, this problem could be solved simply by giving us the ability to manipulate the map just like we can in Rise of Flight. This way you could see the airfield layout when zoomed in plus see your location when you are counted as having landed. Not to mention that being able to manipulate that map while you are flying will help with navigation immensely compared to having to put the plane in autolevel and then open up the full screen map using the 'O' key.

Edited September 10, 2014 by SYN_Requiem

[SharpeXB]

Some sort of directional help on the ground is needed. I suppose it might be realistic to simulate your pilot waking up after a night of drinking, in the cockpit wondering "how did I get here? Where am I?... Better just start the plane ... I'm never drinking that much vodka again!"

Whatever would be easiest to implement.

Either a layout of the field visible if you zoom in on the map. That works.

So does going to external for a quick look around.

You need to be able to figure the wind direction as well to select a runway.

What about night missions?

Edited September 10, 2014 by Sharpe

[PA-Sniv]

Instead of external views on the ground, this problem could be solved simply by giving us the ability to manipulate the map just like we can in Rise of Flight. This way you could see the airfield layout when zoomed in plus see your location when you are counted as having landed. Not to mention that being able to manipulate that map while you are flying will help with navigation immensely compared to having to put the plane in autolevel and then open up the full screen map using the 'O' key.

 

Agree. And on the ground, this map could show wind direction (or the active runway)  to avoid aircraft taking off from both sides of runway (we don't always see windsock from parking).

 

++

Edited September 10, 2014 by PA-Sniv

[SharpeXB]

Maybe we could get some ground crew like these guys...

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Maybe sth different than a cam floating above the plane. Thinking of sth like a controll tower view fixed on your plane could be a more realistic way to go in my opinion. Even for Expert this might be sth everybody can agree on, since:

 

1. We have no airfield and taxiway maps

2. For planes like the Heinkel or the 190 withcritical ground vision this feauture could help players to better recognize their surroundings and find their way to the runway using proper taxiways.

3. It doesn't give any "unfair" advantage. The plane would be controlles like a remote controlled object form a fixed location giving no kind of advantage in combat.

 

Of course once familiar with the airfields and with leaning out to compensate for lack of vision this feauture might be redundant though I'm sure less familiar / new players would appreciate it.

[BraveSirRobin]

We need a better in game map.

[=69.GIAP=RADKO]

I really don't think adding a 3rd person view whilst on the ground would be such a good idea. It's something that the enthusiast crowd would never want to compromise in regards to immersion, especially in Expert mode. That being said host servers can custom their own options to include external view but the only problem for some is that the external view option is permanent through out the whole mission on the ground and in air.

 

Expert mode is really something to consider when you have a head tracking system so you can pop your head out of the canopy to see where your going. It's all about progressing in small increments to the point where you can enjoy expert mode without breaking immersion. 

Edited September 10, 2014 by =69.GIAP=RADKO

[SharpeXB]

I think the best option for ground navigation would be to have the ability to see a layout of the airfield on the map.

[pilotpierre]

I think the best option for ground navigation would be to have the ability to see a layout of the airfield on the map.

+1. Just like the zeus map recently added to the game.

[SharpeXB]

+1. Just like the zeus map recently added to the game.

Oh has someone in the community already made airfield maps?

[Cavemanhead]

+1. Just like the zeus map recently added to the game.

 

This is the obvious solution.

[SharpeXB]

Ah I see what the solution is now. Everyone just takes off across the fields. Nobody uses the runways. That solves navigating the airfield...

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

Some of the old IL-2 1946 servers used to have barriers that marked the way to the runway.  Are there any markers of some sort available to the mission makers that could be used to show the way?  Even just a "wooden" arrow to point left or right.

[Jaeger55]

Allowing the pilot to see the 3rd person view while taxiing is a great idea.  It is hard to tell from ground level which way to go.

[216th_Peterla]

Instead of external views on the ground, this problem could be solved simply by giving us the ability to manipulate the map just like we can in Rise of Flight. This way you could see the airfield layout when zoomed in plus see your location when you are counted as having landed. Not to mention that being able to manipulate that map while you are flying will help with navigation immensely compared to having to put the plane in autolevel and then open up the full screen map using the 'O' key.

+1

[Gambit21]

Instead of external views on the ground, this problem could be solved simply by giving us the ability to manipulate the map just like we can in Rise of Flight. This way you could see the airfield layout when zoomed in plus see your location when you are counted as having landed. Not to mention that being able to manipulate that map while you are flying will help with navigation immensely compared to having to put the plane in autolevel and then open up the full screen map using the 'O' key.

Yeah map implementation needs work.

I got shot down last night trying to read the map while flying because it took me so long to get it sorted.

[SharpeXB]

Maybe there's another camera view available in all difficulty levels called "Airfield" that shows the layout from above.

It would be easier than developing maps of all the airbases. It's quite useful to have a view like this, in the real world you would know where you are on the ground.

 

[Gambit21]

It might be a good idea in Expert Mode, if the external views are enabled when the player is on the ground. It's difficult to navigate the airfields and in the real world you'd know where you are. I suppose the "real world" solution would be to study the airfields. Rise of Flight shows your map location when you're on the ground (simulates landing and asking for directions!)

Another solution would be to increase the map detail to include the airfield layout so you can zoom in and see where to go.

A ground crew guy standing there pointing the right direction would help.

I end up going cross country to the runway sometimes.