PDF Manual Wish List

[No105_Swoose]

The days of thick printed manuals packed with flight simulation games like European Air War and the Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator series have faded into history and are no longer economically viable.

 

I don't know what RoF uses for a manual but here are some things I'd like to see in any PDF file document included with IL-2: BOS:

 

1. Historical background of the Battle of Stalingrad/Eastern Front Air War including maps with unit disposition during various phases, air and ground unit order of battle, a short descriptive narrative, and - possibly? - embedded video.

 

2. A section on aircraft similar to the original IL-2 series with pictures to include a cockpit diagram with important dials/gauges/switches marked, flight characteristics (such as speed at different altitudes, weight, range, and armament), and pros and cons of its capabilities.

 

3. A section on Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures to include, perhaps, comments on dogfighting, dive bombing, level bombing, strafing, antiaircraft suppression, etc.

 

Please don't flame me: If IL-2: BOS had none of the above but was a stable, immersive, relatively bug-free sim that played well on mid-range rigs upon launch in 2014 I'd be very happy.

 

Devs please note: I have a decent collection of books on the air war on the Eastern Front and would be glad to help you make the game as historically accurate as possible.

[LukeFF]

#2 is definitely in the ROF manual. Creating #1 and #3 really wasn't feasible* and would have taken way more time to complete to a reasonable standard. My whole goal with writing the manual was to write a concise, clear guide on how to operate the game's various features. *Although, there is a section describing the history of the various medals that can be awarded.

 

Edited December 13, 2012 by LukeFF

[FlatSpinMan]

Luke, with the while of WW1 there's no way anyone could be expected to cover points 1&3, but with BOS it should be more practicable for a group of people to do. It'd be damned handy for campaign and mission makers.

Edited December 13, 2012 by FlatSpinMan

[Sim]

Luke did a great job with the new RoF manual, but I don;t think anyone can top this:

 

http://sierrahelp.com/Documents/Manuals/Red_Baron_2_-_Manual.pdf

 

[AdlerAngriff]

Just a big ol +1 from me

[csThor]

The historical aspect could be done by thecommunity. It depends, however, on the map dimensions since describing the initial phase of "Case Blue" while the Map only goes as far west as Tazinskaya or Morosovskaya is pretty much a waste of effort.

[352nd_Wheels]

Luke did a great job with the new RoF manual, but I don;t think anyone can top this:

 

http://sierrahelp.com/Documents/Manuals/Red_Baron_2_-_Manual.pdf

 

 

I didn't know about that site. Thanks. B)

 

 

Wheels

[J5_Lehmann]

Okay here is mine wishlist:

 

-a good and complete IL2 update os that it can match to go with CLiffs Of Dover.

 

-addons for Desert and other stuff

 

And now you!

 

[LukeFF]

Okay here is mine wishlist:

 

-a good and complete IL2 update os that it can match to go with CLiffs Of Dover.

 

-addons for Desert and other stuff

 

And now you!

 

 

Umm, this is a thread about features people want to see in the manual.

[LukeFF]

Luke, with the while of WW1 there's no way anyone could be expected to cover points 1&3, but with BOS it should be more practicable for a group of people to do. It'd be damned handy for campaign and mission makers.

 

Concerning point #1, I definitely can see that as something that can be added as a feature to the manual, but it's gotta be kept manageable, or otherwise you end up with a book the size of Black Cross / Red Star. Concerning #3, I don't really see it as necessary, since there's always plenty of discussions on the ROF forums about aerial tactics. Not that there's anything wrong with having that sort of thing in a guide, but I think people enjoy having a "live" discussion with people about what works and what doesn't. That, and Requiem has developed a whole bunch of excellent videos about about air combat maneuvers for ROF. Put that all together, and I honestly think you have something better than what was possible in the days of the 90s and before the rise of dedicated discussion forums and YouTube.

 

Anyways, I stay in close contact with Jason about this sort of thing, so we'll come up with something good for BOS, for sure.

Edited December 13, 2012 by LukeFF

[Crump]

Operating manuals for the aircraft.  Just like a real airplane, knowing and following the Operating Notes = maximum performance of the airplane. 

[Charlo-VRde]

I find Taipan's "APPENDIX D ???

[csThor]

Concerning point #1, I definitely can see that as something that can be added as a feature to the manual, but it's gotta be kept manageable, or otherwise you end up with a book the size of Black Cross / Red Star.

The problem is more that, due to the chosen subject and timeframe, it won't do to "merely" describe the air war part ... the ground situation and developments played a major part in influencing the air war as was the (often abysmal) weather. To really understand what was happening it's going to take a bit of effort and more than a few paragraphs I'm afraid.

[LukeFF]

I hope Luke will have the time to work on the BoS manual, too - his work on the ROF manual is fantastic.

 

That's the plan as of now.