Sometimes the campaign feels sparse and then suddenly not... anyone else?

[ShamrockOneFive]

I'm playing through the campaign and so far it's just the first "episode" but I'm finding it a highly unusual and disjointed experience. Let me explain.

 

I'll select an intercept mission and once at the action point all I'll find is a solitary Ju87 doing goodness knows what on its own. It gets shot down... not very exciting. Then on the return leg a formation of He111s fly over with fighter escort plus a bunch of LaGG-3s intercepting them and the mission becomes a fairly memorable and nearly epic experience. My computer definitely takes a performance hit (no wonder there aren't huge formations in this game) when these things happen but it's really interesting. I almost feel like that Ju87 should have been a Fi-156 out on a scouting run but this is all we had access to.

 

On a even more low level scale I'll be flying along and a pair of Yaks will fly past obviously on their own mission. That sort of thing is cool. I love that!

 

Does anyone else feel this way? It's an odd experience where it's both oddly sparse many times and then unusually interesting.

[Jason_Williams]

I've heard many stories of war being very boring punctuated by total chaos. The problem with us simmers is we have history to read, when pilots in the war mainly just had today's mission to worry about. They got in the cockpit and flew, not knowing exactly how it would turn out or should turn out or what they should see along the way. Many missions were milk runs. Not every pilot became an ace. Not every mission resulted in white knuckle dogfights.

 

This is the dilemma for Campaigns, many users want to re-fight the entire war just as it happened outside of their cockpit instead of trying to just fly an exciting mission with many unforeseeable events along the way immersed in the moment.

 

Jason

[Elbows]

I've not enjoyed the campaign, but the random stuff is a nice touch.  I'd have preferred to have this overlaid on a more story-driven campaign.  I think the concept behind random air traffic and other squadrons moving is nice.  The actual mission structure and its repetitive objectives have killed it for me.

[Feathered_IV]

I'm finding it a bit sparse too. I think it's more the ambient features I miss rather than shooting targets though.

 

For example, there were more than two million soldiers committed to the battle. Into and out of the target area I'd find it more immersive if there was a volume of ambient radio traffic in my headphones. Currently the sim feels like it takes place on a bank holiday. Not knocking it, but hearing is believing too. Plenty of radio chatter gives the player a sense that there's a whole world out there. Cheaper than making visuals too!

[AndyJWest]

It is a bit sparse, more often than not - but once in a while the ambient stuff can catch you out. Like a few hours ago, when I was returning a rather perforated Fw 190 to base after an encounter with Pe-2s (got suckered into attacking from their 6  ) I'd just signalled my wingman to land, and was slowing to gear-down speed when I spotted a bunch of incoming aircraft - they turned out to be IL-2s, heading straight for the airfield. I'd used all my cannon rounds on the Pe-2s, but I still had a few seconds-worth of MG left, so I decided to at least give one a squirt. Not a good idea, as one of the IL-2s did the same to me, and took out my engine.   Next time, I'll keep out of the way, and leave it to the flak to deal with unwelcome visitors.

[LastRightsXIII]

I'm finding all sorts of action going on around me. I've only flown German and just finished all five chapters.

Would I like to see more action? Hey yes I would. Is the game broke for me? Not yet. There is still so much that can be done over time.

Been trying to stay away from the forum and more into the game..... I'm finding the game far more entertaining.

It's of importance that you give your Ai wingmates the proper commands. It'll change the dynamics of game play and how the mission turns out for you.

I really hope not to burn it out though. 

Edited October 28, 2014 by LastRights13

[FlatSpinMan]

Shamrock - that doesn't sound disjointed to me. I'm sure sometimes there was heavy traffic all day, but it's a large area so I'd expect to find packets of activity scattered about the place, more some days than others.

[Gort]

I've heard many stories of war being very boring punctuated by total chaos. The problem with us simmers is we have history to read, when pilots in the war mainly just had today's mission to worry about. They got in the cockpit and flew, not knowing exactly how it would turn out or should turn out or what they should see along the way. Many missions were milk runs. Not every pilot became an ace. Not every mission resulted in white knuckle dogfights.

 

 

Jason

Exactly.

[ShamrockOneFive]

Shamrock - that doesn't sound disjointed to me. I'm sure sometimes there was heavy traffic all day, but it's a large area so I'd expect to find packets of activity scattered about the place, more some days than others.

I suppose so... I just find it odd to sometimes be sent on a intercept mission and it's just a solitary Stuka. What's he doing there? Flying around a bit dumbfounded waiting to be shot down is what he's doing!

 

But then things pick up. So it's both good and a bit weird sometimes.

[Baldric]

Last evening, after hammering a trio of He III's, my wingmen and I are heading back towards the airfield when suddenly we're embroiled in a huge scrum, Yaks and 109's in a furball at about 3000m alt.  The light was low and the sky lit up like Chrimbo.  I was down to a few AP/HE rounds in the cannon and a half belt of MG ammo.  One wingman got roasted, the last I saw of my second LaGG 3 wingman was ablack corkscrew tail as he fizzed off into the darkened eastern sky.  I ended up hitting the silk after getting my engine shredded by a 109 that was glued to me because I was tired and had sudden tunnel vision while chasing a 109 following a Yak...yeah anyway that surprised me because the mission previous was an escort that saw some heavy enemy AAA over the Tractor Factory and saw two 109's in the distance going somewhere else.  I love the fact it changes up like that--- go from routine to sheer white knuckle hair-on-fire stuff.