Flying the BoS Dream campaign - SP inspiration, Singleplayers only

[Danziger]

Yes, I'm following it and gathering the assets. You definitely have the talent, Feathered

I wouldn't even have seen it if Albino didn't bump it. This post from Zak is very promising

[MudWasp]

I'd buy BoS if the single player campaign was like this.

[fjacobsen]

This kind of campaign is definitly what IL-2 BOS needs to make it shine.

 

The simulation in itself is outstanding - a pure work of art. But with the QMB and the default campaign system as it is now, keeps the player from seeing how great the sim is.

While not bugfree, it is amasing to see how stable and fluid it runds and to what accuracy FM/DM has come, all put into a very nice scenery.

 

The current default campaign is simply not immersive, and whil I won´t say I´m against unlocks (in campaign only though), I would rather likie to see them as described in Featherd's campaign system.

For QMB, Single player missions (Once the FMB has been released and multiplayer though, unlocks should not exist.

 

I´m the typ eof simmer who like combat simulatore inorder to play around with various tactics and weapons. Having to unlock stuff for that via a campaign simply feels like a stone blocking the road.

 

Keep up comming with further ideas Feathered and I hope that the devs or other skiled people will implement it.

 

 

FinnJ

[Bomred]

This SP campaign concept is great!

 

I miss a bit IL2 ´46 campaign, and its 15 years old...

 

Keep working dev´s!

[DickDong]

From someone who has shelved this sim for the most part, I would definitely be tempted to return for something of good quality down this road.  Well done Feathered, and assuming no word is good word from you.

Edited January 1, 2015 by jarhead34

[Airdrop01]

If they (the devs) had actually done this, I'd be thrilled with the game even with the unlocks and the inability to customize settings in offline SP campaign, etc.  As is, it is pure luck I saw this "if only" thread linked on another site. 

[Lupus]

Hell, I'd pay another $30 to $40 for a single player Dynamic Campaign with this much depth as an expansion. This is fantastic stuff.

[Airdrop01]

Not from these guys.  I'd sooner use my 401(k) for kindling than give them one more red cent.

[Lupus]

Not from these guys.  I'd sooner use my 401(k) for kindling than give them one more red cent.

 

Ok, I'm opening a can of worms I'm sure, but why the hate?

[pilotpierre]

F%^#^ing Fantastic Feathered. This would be a whole new ball game. I hope the devs or someone with development smarts picks this up and runs with it.

[Lupus]

F%^#^ing Fantastic Feathered. This would be a whole new ball game. I hope the devs or someone with development smarts picks this up and runs with it.

 

Amen, it would add flavor to what right now feels very much like just a collection of random missions.  I don't feel like I'm fighting for one side or the other.  I have no 'investment' in the outcome of the mission objectives.

[Feathered_IV]

Its been awhile.  The campaign continues.  I'm squadron commander now. 

 

No applause please...

 

Nowadays I've got a helluva lot more to do.  I need to select the newest recruits as my wingmen and blood them as early as possible.  I get less kills now as I tend to back off and order the rookie in to dispatch a crippled enemy as I cover them.  It helps build up their experience level quickly, past that first vulnerable stage and lets them take a more active part in the duties of the squadron.  Once they have a footing I'll pair them with one of my more experienced pilots.  I dare not risk my precious remaining veterans with a complete beginner.

 

It took me a while to work this out.  I went through new recruits like water and couldn't bring myself to loose any more of the originals after Rosanova and the others were killed.  Unit effectiveness went down.  The quota of mission points was not enough to feed the demands of the higher-ups.  Headquarters got pissed.

 

After the third one of these I knew I'd have to get my act together...

 

Edited July 7, 2017 by Feathered_IV

[6./ZG26_Emil]

Glad this got bumped I hadn't seen it until yesterday.

 

I really like the idea of getting rookie pilots as replacements and then being able to increase their skill level, this would add to the consequences of managing your flight badly and losing skilled pilots early on in the campaign.

 

No doubt people would absolutely love this kind of thing in SP and the unlocks could be fitted in in a slightly different way, maybe your ground crew increases in experience and/or rank which gives them access to the different weapons and modifications?

[Boomerang]

What you are writing here is excellent Feathered,

Re visual implementation: Daily dairy entrees, that accumulated dirt and burnt or worn edges as the campaign progressed would be good. Photos of loved ones and comrades that appear well carried,and maybe letters sent to the families of the fallen, etc. all add to the immersion I think. The one thing I miss dearly from 46 was the gui, it seemed to assist with the feel of things, (before the driving, for me anyway). I hope your dream becomes a reality.

[Skoop]

This would be great, it would be worth while to get BOM if it had a campaign like this.

 

I saw the response from zak, has there been any indication that something like this will be supported ?

 

Also saw a post in here from aborted man that many of the persistent elements are already in the FMB.

 

It seems that this could very well be a doable project, I'd like to see tool added to the FMB that let you create SP campaigns.

 

Also would like to see some of the mission logic tweaked in sp campaigns to make the missions more open ended. Like go to this zone and patrol or go to this zone and fly a fighter sweep. I didn't like how the campaign always hinged on shooting down a bomber or blowing up x number of units.

[TheNotoriousFNG]

This would be great, it would be worth while to get BOM if it had a campaign like this.

 

I saw the response from zak, has there been any indication that something like this will be supported ?

 

Also saw a post in here from aborted man that many of the persistent elements are already in the FMB.

 

It seems that this could very well be a doable project, I'd like to see tool added to the FMB that let you create SP campaigns.

 

Also would like to see some of the mission logic tweaked in sp campaigns to make the missions more open ended. Like go to this zone and patrol or go to this zone and fly a fighter sweep. I didn't like how the campaign always hinged on shooting down a bomber or blowing up x number of units.

 

This. This is something that I feel spoils the campaign experience in a lot of cases. Sometimes gets you to try to take unnecessary risks just to try to complete the objective, IMO.

 

Any word on if Feathered's ideas could be implemented in third party software? I remember PWCG's campaign generator doing a very similar thing with RoF, so would be nice to see something like that arrive for BoS!

[KodiakJac]

I applaud your persistence and imagination, Feathered

 

BoS, BoM, BoXXX would be entirely different games if your campaign ideas were implemented.  If only 1CGS would create a campaign shell for guys like you to insert the details it would work and be portable from theater to theater.  This is the kind of stuff that would transform BoS into a world class next gen combat flight sim.

Edited May 18, 2015 by Bucksnort

[D_Konig]

Why isn't this available as a campaign... sight lol

 

great stuff

[3instein]

Hi Feathered,

 

I was just wondering, you obviously have talent and plenty of enthusiasm for doing this kinda stuff, has any of the devs- management been in touch to see if you were willing to contribute to any further development of, say a SP campaign or something similar?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Mick.  

[Feathered_IV]

Hi Mick,  No contact from the devs unfortunately.  I'd certainly be more than willing to contribute if asked though. 

[6./ZG26_Emil]

Hi Mick,  No contact from the devs unfortunately.  I'd certainly be more than willing to contribute if asked though. 

 

 

At least they're reading the thread

 

Dev supported customer ideas could be the way forward

 

S!

[Original_Uwe]

I don't think they really care about user contributions beyond our cash.

[Felix58]

Well done Feathered on trying a positive type contribution to the forum.  Much harder than sniping!

 

you may remember an old title called "Their Finest Hour".  In that campaign if you did not achieve X missions you get a failed campaign message.  I presume your idea of a BOS SP campaign is that if a VVS player failed to achieve X missions Stalingrad would be lost.  Wondering if one of the goals of your campaign is to get the player to use all the aircraft on their side or if you would have separate campaigns for fighters, another for bombers etc.  

 

It would be an interesting exercise to setup a flow chart with the sequence of activity.  Obviously there would be various paths depending on success/failure of each mission.  No doubt the "glass half full" crowd would say this is just "grinding" but how else could you fashion progress into the campaign.  

[Feathered_IV]

Rather than your actions determining whether Stalingrad falls or not, I was imagining that your success or failure as commander determines how long headquarters tolerates you in a position of authority. If your squadron was unable to accrue enough mission points to keep HQ fed and happy you would eventually be presented with a message that says you have been stripped of command and that a car is on its way to get you. Such and such a pilot will be named as your successor. Game over.

[Cybermat47]

The.

 

Game.

 

Needs.

 

This.

 

Now.

 

EDIT: What would be the Luftwaffe equivalent of the Stavka relieving you of your freedom - uh, I mean command?

Edited May 19, 2015 by Cybermat47

[Finkeren]

What would be the Luftwaffe equivalent of the Stavka relieving you of your freedom - uh, I mean command?

Pretty much the same thing would be my guess: Demotion and relocation to another squad or ground duties. Court Marshalls and punishment through incarceration or even execution would propably be more rare than in the VVS, where it wasn't terribly common either.

[79_vRAF_Friendly_flyer]

Pretty much the same thing would be my guess: Demotion and relocation to another squad or ground duties. Court Marshalls and punishment through incarceration or even execution would propably be more rare than in the VVS, where it wasn't terribly common either.

 

I imagine getting transferred to a Sturmovik squadron would be a suitable punishment. No was high command is going to ground an experienced pilot with the losses both air forces took over Stalingrad.

[Freycinet]

You shouldn't be able to change the main flow of the battle, but that doesn't mean you cannot have rewarding moments in your career. "Thanks to your disruption of the Bolshevist fighter sweep, three Ju-52's, loaded with wounded soldiers, managed to fly out of Pitomnik".

[Feathered_IV]

You shouldn't be able to change the main flow of the battle, but that doesn't mean you cannot have rewarding moments in your career. "Thanks to your disruption of the Bolshevist fighter sweep, three Ju-52's, loaded with wounded soldiers, managed to fly out of Pitomnik".

 

Thats very true.  You don't even have to see the Ju-52's in the mission for it to add to the combined narrative.   Whether they were really there in the mission or not, the telling of it adds to the story.

[Finkeren]

Indeed. And even more important, I think, is to have your mission put into a context at the briefing.

 

'Today we will push forward against the fascist invaders north of Gumrak. The goal is to force the Luftwaffe to abandon the base. We must provide our cround troops with cover and protect our flying infantrymen in their IL-2s.' 

 

Yeah I know, I'm not half the writer Feathered is.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Finkeren

[Feathered_IV]

I thought that read pretty well

 

The BoS and RoF campaign system would be well able to do this though, if the nationality-specific files were written for it, and the game allowed for a randomised choice of brief/debrief text for each specific mission type.  The key is not to lock these away in an encripted GTP file and to allow the users to create any number of extra briefing texts that can be read by the game. 

 

I've extracted the SCG.GTP file and been through the contents many times for both games.   If you have a look in the IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\scg\2\blocks_career\descriptions folder you can find 101_description.eng for example.  It reads:

 

 

"3:Your task is to intercept enemy bombers at the action point.<br><br>MISSION TASK:<br><br>To successfully complete this mission you should damage two enemy bombers or shoot down one enemy bomber at the action point.<br><br>MISSION CHECKPOINTS<br><br>1. WAYPOINT<br><br>The first waypoint on your mission route. It is not mandatory to pass through this point, it does not affect your career experience points. If you fly a short mission, you will start at this waypoint.<br><br>2. ACTION POINT<br><br>Here you will find the primary targets depending on the mission type selected. It is necessary to destroy these targets to complete your mission successfully.<br><br>3. EXIT POINT<br><br>You should get through this point after destroying primary mission targets to get career experience points counted. You can finish your mission here or proceed to your airfield and land to gain more career experience points.<br><br>4. HOME AIRFIELD<br><br>You can land here to gain additional career experience points."

 

 

 To be kind, there is a huge amount of scope there for improvement.  

 

What is required, rather than every mission repeating that one phrase (until you put your head through the wall)  is a 101_description_1.eng, 101_description_2.eng, 101_description_3.eng, 101_description_4.eng, etc. etc.  Each one different and each one written with the aim of expanding the assumed narrative of the career.  777 Studios only needs to supply one, the community could supply any number of others.  But first 777 would need to code the campaign to select one of those available files at random.  If the user has three such files, it chooses one at random.  If the user happens to have made 200 of these files, the game should do likewise.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Feathered_IV

[Finkeren]

Oh please devs. Hire him now to write for you and make this campaign mode as a 40$ addon. You know we'd pay for it!

[LLv24_Zami]

Looks really good Feathered_IV!

 

I think I too would pay for this kind of expansion. Something like this is absolutely needed for us SP guys.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Zami

[LukeFF]

I don't think they really care about user contributions beyond our cash.

 

Utter nonsense.

Edited May 19, 2015 by LukeFF

[Danziger]

I think this campaign idea is awesome.

[Original_Uwe]

Utter nonsense.

You know what they say, put up or shut up.

I'll admit I'm wrong when I see a mods on mode, or ANY of the offline improvements we've been begging for.

[LukeFF]

You know what they say, put up or shut up.

 

Jason is a personal friend of mine, and as a result of that he's shared a bit of where he wants the game to go. That's why I said your initial comment is utter nonsense. 

[6./ZG26_Emil]

Jason is a personal friend of mine, and as a result of that he's shared a bit of where he wants the game to go. That's why I said your initial comment is utter nonsense. 

 

I really enjoyed hearing how they envisioned the game when it was in development and I wonder if they would share some of these ideas with us. I appreciate they must have felt a bit under siege at times from certain elements in our 'wonderful' community but hopefully we will have years of development ahead and it would great to hear how they see things developing (with a huge caveat of no promises) in the future. It's nice to see the new maps and planes and I'm looking forward to them but I am really interested to hear if they have a wish list of features that they would like to add in the future.

[Original_Uwe]

Jason is a personal friend of mine, and as a result of that he's shared a bit of where he wants the game to go. That's why I said your initial comment is utter nonsense.

Good for you!

Meaningless for everyone else.

 

I don't take anything on faith, and thus is no exception.

[Livai]

Feathered_IV great Ideas to improve the current campaign

 

I wonder why the Devs build historical accurate maps, planes, vehicle, boats, airfields but forget the most important part! Devs what I mean? That are not the Red Square or Stalingrad. And here was RoF & IL-2 Series not better, too. What is more important than historical accurate maps, planes, vehicle, boats, airfields but necessary to win the war? I still search where are the factories that produce ammo, oil, fuel, planes..... where is worth to defend them or to throw a present from above.

 

"Secret weapons of the Luftwaffe" this game this Campaign was beyond and further. My first game btw. It was important not to lose factories, pilots, planes if you what to win the whole campaign. You had the full control about the production what plane the factories should produce. You could transfer planes from airfields to airfields what had advantage and disanvantage. You could fly short or long flights if you wish. Each lost had consequence. Had nice screenshot if a pilot bailout, get captured, crashed, who shot the plane down, medals, pilot leadership ranks each information you could get from the map after the battle and from the battle & campaign summary. 

 

I wonder that a game from the 1990 did this. The maps where much bigger. Impressive Campaign & Ideas. Maybe it was easier to programm at this time?