Three small changes for a big difference

[Leaf]

I've recently been playing a bit more of the campaign and have found that it gets much better as the chapters progress. Whatever you think of the unlock-system, I think it's safe to say that the core of the game is excellent and is a sturdy foundation for future improvements in the game. 

 

Considering Zak's comment on how there aren't going to be many major changes to the singleplayer/unlock-system any time soon, and it's here to stay, we might as well make the best of it. The community's opinions are well-known by now and it's up to the devs which way the want to go.

Therefore I thought it more sensible to suggest tweaks rather than fundamental changes to the campaign. And by "tweaks" I mean rewordings. These are supposed to be minor changes that are quick to change, not that difficult to implement, and should make a big difference in immersion.

 

1. Rename "XP" to "Experience"

 

Experience is, arguably, the most valuable asset a fighter pilot can have. Every time you take off in your aircraft, every time you engange, every time you push it to its limits and every time you land it again, you gain something. That something is experience. No-one can argue that IL2 Battle of Stalingrad is outstanding at creating experiences as well as making you experienced.

Representing that visually through a green bar is a matter of taste, but not necessarily a bad touch. Reducing my hundreds of hours of flying, my dozens of close encounters, my perfect shots and terrible landings -- all my experience -- into two, arcade-y, letters "XP" is almost sinful.

If you insist on numerically and graphically representing all that experience in a bar, then at least call the unit of measurement "experience", not "XP".

 

I want to be an experienced pilot, not an XPerienced one.

 

 

2. Rename "level" to "rank"

 

Hold on, I just said "measuring experience numerically" ... that's my next point:

So you're flying daily missions, you've shot down twelve aircraft, destroyed two tanks and 6 trucks. You've gained a lot of experience and have helped the war effort. That entitles you to an award. Either a medal, or an increase in rank (preferably both, of course). You think you've got a chance at becoming a Lieutenant, and *smack* you're level 5! In conjunction with the previous point, it makes much more sense to gain ranks based on experience than it does to gain "levels" based on "XP", does it not?

Again, it's about immersion, feeling like you're actually there. I'm not expecting Feathered's campaign in BoS anytime soon, but gaining ranks would be much more rewarding, enticing and immersive than simply "levelling up".  

 

I'd much rather be promoted to squadron leader than "level 8", wouldn't you?

 

3. Rename "unlocks" to "field modifications"

 

These changes are all about impressions; given the choice, I would much rather fly a given amount of time and acquire a field modification for my aircraft than an "unlock". This is a simulator, and I don't see why the rigour applied to flightmodels, physics, maps etc. shouldn't apply to terminology too. Seasoned sim veterans will welcome the less "arcade-y", historical feel, and new players to the genre will feel immersed in the atmosphere. 

I mean, what's going on? Do I need to be a certain rank for my Staffelcommander to walk me over to a shed, unlock it with his XP-key, hand me an armoured glass headrest and say "you are worthy of this now, Level 8 Leaf" ? I'd much rather be promoted squadron leader allowing me to repaint my aircraft in a new camouflage and fit a new field modification on my plane thanks to my experience rank. 

Remember: the people who will play this are not going to be the ones looking for superficial fun. 

Casual or veteran, they want to enjoy the game, but be immersed in the historical period, too. 

 

Call unlocks what they are: field modifications.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I don't think this is too much to expect, and as I said, these are designed to be quick tweaks leading to big improvements.

 

Other than that, I would like to thank the devs for the countless hours overtime they've done getting this game to where it is! Nothing like waiting for an update going "man, it's 3AM Moscow time, and they're still working!"

I've already got my money's worth out of this sim and provided enough people buy it, it's gonna be around for a long, long time!

 

 

~ Leaf

Edited October 22, 2014 by 19te.Leaf

[SYN_Mike77]

Those are all great ideas! Easy to implement and will useful ideas.

[=LD=Hethwill]

Yes. Makes it more sober and suitable indeed.

[Finkeren]

Doesn't "fix" anything, but I agree that it puts the unpopular features in a more proper context.

 

Good idea

[t4trouble]

Just because you have A wolf in sheep's clothing, doesn't make it a sheep.

[Leaf]

Just because you have A wolf in sheep's clothing, doesn't make it a sheep.

 

But it sure as hell isn't as scary as a wolf without sheep's clothing (known as wool, btw).

[Brano]

But it sounds as well thought out propaganda   Doesn't XP stand as abb for Experience Points ?

[Leaf]

But it sounds as well thought out propaganda   Doesn't XP stand as abb for Experience Points ?

 

It does. But our experiences aren't exactly able to be summarised in "points" are they? Even if, then just for immersion's sake, "experience" would just sound so much better and less "MMO-ey" than XP. This isn't world of warcraft.

[Yakmaster]

Thats the way, if customer doesn't like something just trick them in loving it, i think #4 should be renaming Fw-190 in IAR 81, then we can use it over stalingrad in some historical missions 

[LLv24_Zami]

Good suggestions!

[Finkeren]

But it sure as hell isn't as scary as a wolf without sheep's clothing (known as wool, btw).

 

U sure about that?

 

 

[Leaf]

U sure about that?

 

 

 

OK, OK, you win! Now make it go away....

[Thaatu]

The less there is shared vocabularity with WoW the better. All the OPs points are without a question improvements, very simple and easy ones. I can't see why anyone would say otherwise.

[Czar66]

Yes, yes and yes. You got another +1.

 

Not really bothered by any of those "XP", "Level", "Unlocks" words in the actual version, but the names you gave them makes a nice touch. Also, the those "bad" names on a sim, doesn't make anyone who never tried this level of "realistic", to be a loyal consumer and support future stuff, so really is a matter of atmosphere enhancement for who are already flying BoS without harming dev's idea of trying new kinds of public. Makes me wonder what else could be changed. well...

Easy, simple, valuable. Great.

[vampire09]

brilliant~! ^ㅠ^

[Jaws2002]

....

 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vuEQixrBKCc

[sallee]

Good ideas. If this is what we have it needs to be made as palatable as possible.

[ilikepie]

But it sure as hell isn't as scary as a wolf without sheep's clothing (known as fleece, btw).

fixed.

[Matt]

The majority of those unlocks are not exactly field modifications though. Unlocks is the only fitting name for that imho. Maybe "special loadouts" would work for some, but definately not all.

[Bearcat]

I've recently been playing a bit more of the campaign and have found that it gets much better as the chapters progress. Whatever you think of the unlock-system, I think it's safe to say that the core of the game is excellent and is a sturdy foundation for future improvements in the game. 

 

Considering Zak's comment on how there aren't going to be many major changes to the singleplayer/unlock-system any time soon, and it's here to stay, we might as well make the best of it. The community's opinions are well-known by now and it's up to the devs which way the want to go.

Therefore I thought it more sensible to suggest tweaks rather than fundamental changes to the campaign. And by "tweaks" I mean rewordings. These are supposed to be minor changes that are quick to change, not that difficult to implement, and should make a big difference in immersion.

 

1. Rename "XP" to "Experience"

 

Experience is, arguably, the most valuable asset a fighter pilot can have. Every time you take off in your aircraft, every time you engange, every time you push it to its limits and every time you land it again, you gain something. That something is experience. No-one can argue that IL2 Battle of Stalingrad is outstanding at creating experiences as well as making you experienced.

Representing that visually through a green bar is a matter of taste, but not necessarily a bad touch. Reducing my hundreds of hours of flying, my dozens of close encounters, my perfect shots and terrible landings -- all my experience -- into two, arcade-y, letters "XP" is almost sinful.

If you insist on numerically and graphically representing all that experience in a bar, then at least call the unit of measurement "experience", not "XP".

 

I want to be an experienced pilot, not an XPerienced one.

 

 

2. Rename "level" to "rank"

 

Hold on, I just said "measuring experience numerically" ... that's my next point:

So you're flying daily missions, you've shot down twelve aircraft, destroyed two tanks and 6 trucks. You've gained a lot of experience and have helped the war effort. That entitles you to an award. Either a medal, or an increase in rank (preferably both, of course). You think you've got a chance at becoming a Lieutenant, and *smack* you're level 5! In conjunction with the previous point, it makes much more sense to gain ranks based on experience than it does to gain "levels" based on "XP", does it not?

Again, it's about immersion, feeling like you're actually there. I'm not expecting Feathered's campaign in BoS anytime soon, but gaining ranks would be much more rewarding, enticing and immersive than simply "levelling up".  

 

I'd much rather be promoted to squadron leader than "level 8", wouldn't you?

 

3. Rename "unlocks" to "field modifications"

 

These changes are all about impressions; given the choice, I would much rather fly a given amount of time and acquire a field modification for my aircraft than an "unlock". This is a simulator, and I don't see why the rigour applied to flightmodels, physics, maps etc. shouldn't apply to terminology too. Seasoned sim veterans will welcome the less "arcade-y", historical feel, and new players to the genre will feel immersed in the atmosphere. 

I mean, what's going on? Do I need to be a certain rank for my Staffelcommander to walk me over to a shed, unlock it with his XP-key, hand me an armoured glass headrest and say "you are worthy of this now, Level 8 Leaf" ? I'd much rather be promoted squadron leader allowing me to repaint my aircraft in a new camouflage and fit a new field modification on my plane thanks to my experience rank. 

Remember: the people who will play this are not going to be the ones looking for superficial fun. 

Casual or veteran, they want to enjoy the game, but be immersed in the historical period, too. 

 

Call unlocks what they are: field modifications.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I don't think this is too much to expect, and as I said, these are designed to be quick tweaks leading to big improvements.

 

Other than that, I would like to thank the devs for the countless hours overtime they've done getting this game to where it is! Nothing like waiting for an update going "man, it's 3AM Moscow time, and they're still working!"

I've already got my money's worth out of this sim and provided enough people buy it, it's gonna be around for a long, long time!

 

 

~ Leaf

 

Great post.... You could also think of this as sort of a mandatory Joint Ops...

[avlSteve]

Military ranks might not go over very well, either, unless they cut down the number of levels.  Going from private to general in several month's time span will be a hard sell.  Perhaps there are other terms that could be used to depict a pilot's 'level'... I don't know what they'd be off the top of my head. 

 

Do we know how many pilot levels there are currently in place?  I wondered if it was 10.

[IIN8II]

+1 to the OP

[TCSEllis]

I sorry this is off topic, Is there anyway to reset your in-game profile.

Just want to start fresh now its all good to go.

 

Kind Regards.

 

Oh nice idea's Leaf!

Edited October 22, 2014 by EazyEllis

[Thaatu]

For the naysayers, language does matter. XP, levels and unlocks are Internet era slang. Their use in the context of WW2 simulation makes many ears bleed. You might say it's just repackaging of porrige that no one bought, but look at it this way. If for some strange copyright reason the planes were given fake names, wouldn't it be an improvement if they were later renamed to match with history?

[Brano]

Military ranks might not go over very well, either, unless they cut down the number of levels.  Going from private to general in several month's time span will be a hard sell.  Perhaps there are other terms that could be used to depict a pilot's 'level'... I don't know what they'd be off the top of my head. 

 

Do we know how many pilot levels there are currently in place?  I wondered if it was 10.

From December 1940 to January 1943 soviet pilots were given rank of serzhant when graduated from flying school = if we have 10 levels,you can end up as polkovnik

Better option is to mix it with leadership ranks (leader of para,zveno,eskadril,polk)

[kestrel79]

^{I agree. Devs could do a better job renaming the stuff to sound a little simlike.}

 

^{I also think action point needs a renaming.}

[Feathered_IV]

Fantastic post Leaf. The choice of words will have a big impact on the enjoyment of the campaign. It's a small fix to be sure, but a a native English speaker the improvent is huge.

 

I hate the whole, you are approaching the Action Point thing. Much better to say You are entering the Target Area for example. I get that the campaign is unlikely to change, but the quality will greatly benefit from some decent writing.