PWCG 17.1.1 Oh, your squadron needs a plane.

[Stelcio]

Hello, Patrick. I'm enjoying your Campaign Generator and I've been tinkering with it a bit, leading to some questions and suggestions.

 

First, is that intended that "Numbers of mission credited" setting applies to AI pilots as well? It leads to situations where if you take a leave, your squadron racks up ridiculous number of missions.

 

Second, could you add support for more nations? Right now I can simply replace existing nations and for example turn Free French into Polish Air Forces or turn Italians into Romanians by changing the first and second name files, possibly ranks and modifying/adding squadrons, but it comes with a few issues. First, obviously, I need to get rid of the original nation and its squadrons (or accept those squadrons being filled with foreigners). Second, changing French names into Polish means that some Canadians will also have Polish names instead of French.

 

And third, which is also a separate issue of itself, the hardcoded starting date for a nation means that you can't start the career before that, even if you add a squadron from that nation and make it present at that time. There is a workaround to that, as if I add a squadron to Free French and put it on an airfield on 1.06.1941, I can start the game in a British squadron and simply request transfer - the Free French squadron will be generated and available. But then another issue rises up - the personnel replacements are on hold until the hardcoded starting date kicks in, so in case of Free French, no new recruits for almost two years, unless I put them in through campaign files.

 

This is an issue not only for custom nations, but also for custom squadrons for the existing nations.

 

I understand the idea that when you start a game, the options you're preseted with should be legitimately selectable, so they are manually limited, but there are still examples where that's not the case. For example if I choose Regia Aeronautica, then pick Stalingrad and then select June 1942, it turns out there won't be any squadrons to start the game in that combination.

 

But if you do want to keep the new campaign menu clean of superflouous options, then adding a few extra nations with early hardcoded starting date behind the scenes, detected and simulated in the generator, but not selectable from the menu, for tinkerers who don't mind a few extra steps like myself could possibly be a simple alternative? Right now anything over I think 10106 for Allies produces an error, and obviously no name files are assigned for that hypothetical nation.

 

A screenshot to visualize some of the issues I mentioned.

 

[PatrickAWlson]

16.1.0

Added FC4 planes. Fokker E.III, DH2, Roland C2a, Strutter and Strutter B, Albatros D.III, Pup

Moved campaign back to January 1916

Added KEK to Jasta transition

Bugs:

Fixed error that could cause campaign not to generate (triplane misconfigured around April 1917)

Fixed "position 3" error

Fixed name of No 32 Squadron

Fixed tank victories assigned during campaign initialization before late 1917.

[KodiakJac]

Hi Pat,

 

I can select all of the FC4 planes as owned except the Roland C.IIa  It appears twice in the list, and no matter what combination I try, the one on the left will not stay selected, and when I try to accept a mission in PWCG I get an error message saying I don't own the Roland C.IIa  I can create a new campaign with it, but I can't generate a mission with it.

 

Thanks for your help!

[KodiakJac]

Hi Pat,

 

Another thing...

 

I was able to fix my Roland problem by adding "rolandc2a" to my planes owned list.  It had rolc2a as the Roland entry.  But when I started my campaign in Schlasta 2 at Eppeville on June 1, 1916 the Roland can't take off at Eppeville, even with 30% fuel and no mods added.  There is a row of trees very close at the end of the Eppeville field.  I'm guessing only the lightest fighters could take off there.

 

If I remember correctly from Rise of Flight, the Roland is a pig that needs a long run to get into the air.

 

Thanks for all you do!

 

Edited November 25, 2024 by KodiakJac

[KodiakJac]

Hi Pat,

 

I checked out the next field you have Schlasta 2 at, which is Bonneuil Ferme in November 1916.  It has plenty of room for the Roland to take off.  So, I deleted the Eppeville entry in the Schlasta 2 squadron file and changed the active date for Bonneuil Ferme to 19160601 and started there.  It is only 3 or 4 miles south of Eppeville and might be a good substitute for Schlasta 2 to start at.

 

Cheers! 

 

Edited November 25, 2024 by KodiakJac

[PatrickAWlson]

9 hours ago, KodiakJac said:

Hi Pat,

 

Another thing...

 

I was able to fix my Roland problem by adding "rolandc2a" to my planes owned list.  It had rolc2a as the Roland entry.  But when I started my campaign in Schlasta 2 at Eppeville on June 1, 1916 the Roland can't take off at Eppeville, even with 30% fuel and no mods added.  There is a row of trees very close at the end of the Eppeville field.  I'm guessing only the lightest fighters could take off there.

 

If I remember correctly from Rise of Flight, the Roland is a pig that needs a long run to get into the air.

 

Thanks for all you do!

 

 

I think I know what happened.  My guess is that you overwrote PWCG instead of uninstalling and reinstalling.  Sometimes that works but in general it is best to install from  scratch. 

 

To install PWCG:

1. If you want to keep campaigns in progress, copy the PWCGFC\users directory somewhere to save it.
2. delete PWCGFC (or PWCGBoS
3. unzip the new release
4. copy your users folder back

 

In the case of 16.1.0 there might be compatibility issues because of the Roland.  I can usually promise that PWCG campaigns are backwards compatible, but this time I cannot.  Once I release 17.0.0 with the new map backwards compatibility will also be questionable.

 

 

10 hours ago, KodiakJac said:

Hi Pat,

 

Another thing...

 

I was able to fix my Roland problem by adding "rolandc2a" to my planes owned list.  It had rolc2a as the Roland entry.  But when I started my campaign in Schlasta 2 at Eppeville on June 1, 1916 the Roland can't take off at Eppeville, even with 30% fuel and no mods added.  There is a row of trees very close at the end of the Eppeville field.  I'm guessing only the lightest fighters could take off there.

 

If I remember correctly from Rise of Flight, the Roland is a pig that needs a long run to get into the air.

 

Thanks for all you do!

 

Thanks for resolving that.  I made the same change in PWCG to make your change permanent.

@Stelcio Good suggestion on the mission count.  It's going to take some work but there are things that can be done.

 

I am probably not going to add more nations at this point.  The limited front space and number of airfields leaves very little room for new units.  If I start adding new Axis or Allied units there won't be any space left for primary combatants.  In addition, each new nation needs names, ranks, medals, units, etc.  It is not quick and easy,  I know that we have a Romanian plane without a home, but I don't see it happening any time soon.

[KodiakJac]

7 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

I think I know what happened.  My guess is that you overwrote PWCG instead of uninstalling and reinstalling.  Sometimes that works but in general it is best to install from  scratch. 

 

 

And that's what I did.  I overwrote PWCG instead of doing a fresh install.  Will do a fresh install going forward.

 

Thanks!

[Varibraun]

10 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 Good suggestion on the mission count.  It's going to take some work but there are things that can be done.

 

Thanks Pat and @Stelcio - That would be a nice QoL improvement if it works out, I figured you would have done it a long time ago if it was an easy fix.  I just ignore missions flown #s right now because they are so skewed by the simulated missions.  I think "Gabby's" mission flow #s in my last BoB campaign reflected well over 1000.

[PatrickAWlson]

16.1.1

Added Ta152

 

I have it assigned to Jasta 1.  Not historical but I don't have Jg301 in PWCG.  I noticed that PWWCG doesn't want to assign the things on campaign creation so you might have to use equipment requests anyway.  Ta152s are available as of March 1 1945.

[Flashy]

Hi @PatrickAWlson

 

I wanted to ask about the Dh2 which currently spawns in missions with the engine already running (and since it has no throttle, it is basically on full throttle). I noticed in the game's in-built single player mission for the Dh2 (I think its called " a Fighting Chance"), the planes spawn with engine off. Is there anyway you can make PWCG do this as well? (i.e start on the runway with engine off)?

[FodderMonkey]

27 minutes ago, Flashy said:

Hi @PatrickAWlson

 

I wanted to ask about the Dh2 which currently spawns in missions with the engine already running (and since it has no throttle, it is basically on full throttle). I noticed in the game's in-built single player mission for the Dh2 (I think its called " a Fighting Chance"), the planes spawn with engine off. Is there anyway you can make PWCG do this as well? (i.e start on the runway with engine off)?

Go to Configuration -- Advanced Configuration -- Mission Limits, and set the "Start Type" to "2" (Parked).  However, be advised that the maps are legendary for misplacing aircraft and/or disorienting AI to the extent that Pat can't provide support for issues with this feature.  The devs never did the legwork to iron out all the bugs on placement, so some airfields will work and others won't.

[Flashy]

1 minute ago, FodderMonkey said:

Go to Configuration -- Advanced Configuration -- Mission Limits, and set the "Start Type" to "2" (Parked).  However, be advised that the maps are legendary for misplacing aircraft and/or disorienting AI to the extent that Pat can't provide support for issues with this feature.  The devs never did the legwork to iron out all the bugs on placement, so some airfields will work and others won't.

ah okay, thanks! I will add the bugs on placement to my list of issues to bug the devs with every week until such time as it gets fixed!

[FodderMonkey]

6 minutes ago, Flashy said:

ah okay, thanks! I will add the bugs on placement to my list of issues to bug the devs with every week until such time as it gets fixed!

Good luck with that, lol.  

[PatrickAWlson]

4 hours ago, Flashy said:

Hi @PatrickAWlson

 

I wanted to ask about the Dh2 which currently spawns in missions with the engine already running (and since it has no throttle, it is basically on full throttle). I noticed in the game's in-built single player mission for the Dh2 (I think its called " a Fighting Chance"), the planes spawn with engine off. Is there anyway you can make PWCG do this as well? (i.e start on the runway with engine off)?

 

I noticed the same thing.  I think it's rotaries that do that because they cannot idle.  I'll have to figure out how to manage them better.

[ZPA_Malan]

I'm wondering if the LA5F is in yet, even as an equipment request? I'm flying the LA5FN over Kuban in Oct 1943 and while having only a handful of these available is accurate so far as I know, the rest of the squad is still in Stalingrad-era LA5s, which were being replaced with LA5Fs by this time.

[PatrickAWlson]

9 hours ago, ZPA_Malan said:

I'm wondering if the LA5F is in yet, even as an equipment request? I'm flying the LA5FN over Kuban in Oct 1943 and while having only a handful of these available is accurate so far as I know, the rest of the squad is still in Stalingrad-era LA5s, which were being replaced with LA5Fs by this time.

 

Truth be told I'm not sure.  I'll check and do the necessary if it's not.

[Bobby540]

PWCGErrorLog.txt Any help on resolving this error?

[PatrickAWlson]

On 12/23/2024 at 12:33 PM, Bobby540 said:

PWCGErrorLog.txt Any help on resolving this error?

 

Looks like PWCG is trying to write mission files to an unknown location.  Best guess is that PWCG is installed in the wrong directory.  PWCG expects to be installed into the root Great Battles game directory.  In my case that is C:\BoS, so PWCG is in C:\BoS\PWCGBoS (or  C:\BoS\PWCGFC).  From there, PWCG tries to write to ..\data\Missions\PWCG or, put another way, C:\BoS\data/Missions\PWCG

[Azdack]

Hello. I created a campaign and then a mission into PWCG. the mission is created into IL2 Sturmovik Great Battles/data/Missions/PWCG.

I plaid the mission and then went into PWCG mission/combat report/start debrief/complete debrief and as I had no fight during this mission, nothing appeared into debrief. Well I went back into PWCG order for a new mission which was created...went back into the game missions/PWCG and there...no second mission.

I had a look into IL2 BoS/data/Missions/PWCG and both mission are into the file data/missions/PWCG...but not into the game where the first mission without fight is still shown...Thanks for help.

PWCGErrorLog.txt

[PatrickAWlson]

1 hour ago, Azdack said:

Hello. I created a campaign and then a mission into PWCG. the mission is created into IL2 Sturmovik Great Battles/data/Missions/PWCG.

I plaid the mission and then went into PWCG mission/combat report/start debrief/complete debrief and as I had no fight during this mission, nothing appeared into debrief. Well I went back into PWCG order for a new mission which was created...went back into the game missions/PWCG and there...no second mission.

I had a look into IL2 BoS/data/Missions/PWCG and both mission are into the file data/missions/PWCG...but not into the game where the first mission without fight is still shown...Thanks for help.

PWCGErrorLog.txt 1.85 kB · 0 downloads

 

That issue has been almost 100% the PWCG mission has the player (you) in a plane that you do not own.  The game excludes missions where the player does not own the designated plane.

[Azdack]

Thank you Patrick. I have checked and I own all the planes available in the game and those to buy. By checking the PWCGErrorLog.txt i read No skin designasated for plane...I downloaded and installed the skins packs from the download site of PWCG but that did not solve my issue. Strange thing, : if I select a mission from Iconic missions in PWCG, it appears in the game/missions/PWCG and I can play it...

[PatrickAWlson]

17.0.0 Released

FC4

- Planes

- Map

- Squadrons added

- Squadron positioned based on new map

- All airfield runways recalculated

Squadron skins complete

- Download of FC Squadron skin packs required.

Rotary engine planes now start with engines off

Still more to do but what I have represents a big leap over release 16.  The new map is fully used.  New squadrons added.  Squadron skins completely redone.  

 

Still to do: Look into @Flashy post on correcting takeoffs.  Recon missions.  Arty spot missions.  Ace skins.  Fix whatever else isn't working properly.  So more changes will  be coming as I am able to manage them.

[Artfactial]

Thank you so much!:)
I'm going to start an FE2b campaign soon.<3
Really looking forward to the recon missions update!

[Patricks]

16 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

17.0.0 Released

FC4

- Planes

- Map

- Squadrons added

- Squadron positioned based on new map

- All airfield runways recalculated

Squadron skins complete

- Download of FC Squadron skin packs required.

Rotary engine planes now start with engines off

Still more to do but what I have represents a big leap over release 16.  The new map is fully used.  New squadrons added.  Squadron skins completely redone.  

 

Still to do: Look into @Flashy post on correcting takeoffs.  Recon missions.  Arty spot missions.  Ace skins.  Fix whatever else isn't working properly.  So more changes will  be coming as I am able to manage them.

 

Fantastic, just one question. Were there any changes to the previous Skin Paks? I already have 1-15 of FB, and 1-7 of FC, so I assume I just need to add FB #16 and FC #8? Thank you!

Edited December 28, 2024 by Patricks

[Varibraun]

19 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

17.0.0 Released

 

Thank you Pat!  Questions - Since you keep the WWII and WWI builds the same (i.e. there is now a 17.0 for WWII also) is there a need to update both?  I know you said that 17.0 may/will break the old careers in FC because of the new map, is there a danger of this to our WWII careers if we update that to 17.0? 

[Patricks]

1 hour ago, Varibraun said:

 

Thank you Pat!  Questions - Since you keep the WWII and WWI builds the same (i.e. there is now a 17.0 for WWII also) is there a need to update both?  I know you said that 17.0 may/will break the old careers in FC because of the new map, is there a danger of this to our WWII careers if we update that to 17.0? 

 

Yes, separate updates for both are necessary and available on his page, link on Page 1, not sure what old stuff it will break..

 

Edited December 28, 2024 by Patricks

[PatrickAWlson]

1 hour ago, Varibraun said:

 

Thank you Pat!  Questions - Since you keep the WWII and WWI builds the same (i.e. there is now a 17.0 for WWII also) is there a need to update both?  I know you said that 17.0 may/will break the old careers in FC because of the new map, is there a danger of this to our WWII careers if we update that to 17.0? 

 

There should be no risk to WWII careers.  The breaking changes are in the WWI data and not the code.  Good call on that.  

 

TBH, for WWII there is no value in downloading 17.0.0.  It's all WWI stuff.  

[FodderMonkey]

Good morning, Pat.  Just updated PWCGFC to 17.0 and tried to start a new German campaign.  Selecting a start date of June 1916 immediately gives this error:

 

However, I tried selecting Jan 1917 and was able to progress to the next step in campaign generation without issue.  I should add that I usually install by moving my "user" directory somewhere else, copying over everything with the new file, then restoring the "user" directory.  Will that not work with this version?

 

Thanks!

PWCGErrorLog.txt

Edited December 30, 2024 by FodderMonkey

[FodderMonkey]

12 minutes ago, FodderMonkey said:

Good morning, Pat.  Just updated PWCGFC to 17.0 and tried to start a new German campaign.  Selecting a start date of June 1916 immediately gives this error:

 

However, I tried selecting Jan 1917 and was able to progress to the next step in campaign generation without issue.  I should add that I usually install by moving my "user" directory somewhere else, copying over everything with the new file, then restoring the "user" directory.  Will that not work with this version?

 

Thanks!

PWCGErrorLog.txt 16.26 kB · 0 downloads

I tried erasing everything, including the "user" directory, and doing a complete reinstall of the new folder, but I got the same error on entering the date for campaign generation.

[FodderMonkey]

On 12/30/2024 at 5:07 AM, FodderMonkey said:

I tried erasing everything, including the "user" directory, and doing a complete reinstall of the new folder, but I got the same error on entering the date for campaign generation.

Still unable to generate missions for FC.  BOS is working fine.  Now I'm getting a "no targets available" error.

WWI German202501100501353.zip

[arvigna]

Pat.

In Attach the corrected Fr file.

 

Fred

International.Fr.zip

[PatrickAWlson]

3 hours ago, arvigna said:

Pat.

In Attach the corrected Fr file.

 

Fred

International.Fr.zip 5.14 kB · 0 downloads

Thanks.  I dropped it into my development directory.  It will ship with the next release.

[arvigna]

ok.

is the FC and Bos are the same ?

[Dauntless]

Yes. 

[PatrickAWlson]

17.1.0
Added recon missions with photos
Added player artillery spot with grid

Updated French language internationalization (thanks @arvigna)
Bugs:
Fixed issue that would cause patrols to be only one WP in previously inaccessible areas.
Added more time to mission start.  (Thanks @Flashy)
Made PWCG more resistant to failures in AI flight generation.

 

Mostly FC again with working recon and artillery spot missions.  Still worth downloading for WWII as a couple of the bug fixes are important, especially the time delay on start that seems to help runway pileups

[Artfactial]

Thank you so much! Was waiting for this.
I'll make my flight across the channel this week and start my F.E.2b recon campaign!^^

[its_briaan]

Hello Patrick. 

 

I would like to know which file to modify to be able to display 30 aces in the top Aces tab and increase the number of missions to move up in rank (being a major with only 1 and a half years of flying is quite unrealistic)

 

[yunglewin]

Looks fantastic but i have a weird bug: i downloaded the WW2 PWCG and choosed my owned airplanes - WW2 ones showed up but when i create a Campaign the Services to choose are WW1 Countries and Flags. How can i force to use WW2 ?

[PatrickAWlson]

11 hours ago, yunglewin said:

Looks fantastic but i have a weird bug: i downloaded the WW2 PWCG and choosed my owned airplanes - WW2 ones showed up but when i create a Campaign the Services to choose are WW1 Countries and Flags. How can i force to use WW2 ?

 

That should be impossible for about a dozen different reasons, but hey, one never knows.  Do you have a screen shot?  

 

If this is happening then I suggest completely deleting PWCG, download again, and reinstall.  

 

Details:
PWCG BoS download is preconfigured for WWII and contains all of the WWII images and data.  Similarly, PWCG FC is packaged for WWI.  It should be completely impossible to see WWII planes and then see WWI services.  They do not coexist in the same download.  With that said, if that's what your seeing, try completely deleting and reinstalling.  

 

[yunglewin]

 

I got it now thx

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 30 by yunglewin