Official Historical Campaign "Blazing Steppe"

[vonGraf]

Good campaign so far; first time I'm playing a Russian aircraft.

But I have to learn to start the Yak-1 successfully first to proceed in the campaign.

Just pushing a key is all I had do in a 109 normally but the Yak motor dies after some 'blurps' every time again.

Throttle position a few % up didn't help.

Back to the QMB for the next try. Maybe the mixture...what else is left?

 

[Madcop]

Hi,

Set  your mixture full rich BEFORE starting the engine ...

 

Madcop.?

[BlackSix]

Blazing Steppe improvements in 4.506:

 

- all fire effects updated, ammo trucks added, many other improvements and fixes.

[jussitska]

I did fly task 3 when I received the notification:
Can not open effect
Graphics \ effects \ arm \ hit_shell_he_5_50kg_ground.epl.
The game then stopped at that announcement. I tried to run it a second time and the same thing happened again.
Can anyone tell me how to fix the fault?

 

kindly Jussi

[BlackSix]

3rd mission works fine in all versions for me. Do you use any mods? Try turn off this mode.

[jussitska]

I removed the last mode I installed in War in the West ... Now the task worked. thank you

[BlackSix]

16 minutes ago, jussitska said:

I removed the last mode I installed in War in the West ... Now the task worked. thank you

Thanks for this info!

[jussitska]

I rejoiced too early ... I flew four assignments now ... the same announcement and the simulator stopped working

[BlackSix]

Are you sure you've completely removed all mods?

[jussitska]

Yeah, now it works ... when I removed all the mods?

[BlackSix]

Most likely the latest update has created problems for mods. I'm sorry that you are having difficulties with the campaign, but as you can imagine, I cannot ensure compatibility with mods in any way, the campaign is tested only in pure version.

[Sandy_M]

On 1/4/2021 at 10:44 PM, vonGraf said:

Good campaign so far; first time I'm playing a Russian aircraft.

But I have to learn to start the Yak-1 successfully first to proceed in the campaign.

Just pushing a key is all I had do in a 109 normally but the Yak motor dies after some 'blurps' every time again.

Throttle position a few % up didn't help.

Back to the QMB for the next try. Maybe the mixture...what else is left?

 

I’m having the same issue! Mixture is full rich, throttle ~10%, radiators closed. 
 

What am I doing wrong? It’s certainly me, but I can’t seem to unravel it. 

[vonGraf]

32 minutes ago, Sandy_M said:

I’m having the same issue! Mixture is full rich, throttle ~10%, radiators closed. 
 

What am I doing wrong? It’s certainly me, but I can’t seem to unravel it. 

 

I got the tip 'mixture to rich' before starting the engine and it works.

Edited March 14, 2021 by vonGraf

[Cybermat47]

37 minutes ago, Sandy_M said:

I’m having the same issue! Mixture is full rich, throttle ~10%, radiators closed. 
 

What am I doing wrong? It’s certainly me, but I can’t seem to unravel it. 

Have you put prop pitch to full?

[Sandy_M]

17 hours ago, [Pb]Cybermat47 said:

Have you put prop pitch to full?

Yessir! I did, and still no luck!

 

I ended up getting it started, but weirdly I had to crack everything back a bit from max. It was only once and at that point I was eager to fly, so I’ll have to try again a few times to verify. 

[YoYo]

On 2/16/2021 at 3:21 PM, BlackSix said:

Blazing Steppe improvements in 4.506:

.....

 

Maybe different question but I fly now this campaign (finally  !). Is it possible rearm/refuel the plane on Zaplavnoye airfield?

[BlackSix]

4 hours ago, YoYo said:

Maybe different question but I fly now this campaign (finally  !). Is it possible rearm/refuel the plane on Zaplavnoye airfield?

No, there is no such option.

[YoYo]

Ok, thx for reply. 

[BlackSix]

I could add it, but I don't see any sense. Rearmament, refueling and inspection of the aircraft after the fight and before the new flight took at least half an hour. For the Soviet Air Force this could stretch for a couple of hours. No one will wait half an hour and there will be no more planes in the air by this time. I'm more than sure that no one will want to wait even 10 minutes in the single-player.

[HankCzinaski]

Just finished the campaign. It was my second one after “Ten days of autumn” so I shall compare to that one.

 

First thing, this campaign was definitely harder… I think I got shot down at least 7 times. In the Bf 109 campaign I always felt I’m in the superior plane and that I have backup. Here, if I was in trouble I no longer could just dive and run at will. I had to stay and fight. And in many missions, odds were against my flight.

 

About the plane itself, at first I didn’t like the Yak compared to the 109 (which I liked from the beginning). It felt harder to land without bouncing and unlike the F-2, managing the engine was more complex than just moving the throttle. But in the end I warmed up to it and the whole “complex engine management” actually became my second favorite thing about the sim, right after shooting and blowing stuff up.

 

The story is ok and sets a grim atmosphere but it felt a little less cohesive than “10 days”. Some briefings described stuff happening outside of missions but gave very little background about the actual mission at hand. Most sorties were air-to-air combat, and I missed some variety (although I understand that this is actually more realistic for Yak specifically). The map is great and was definitely more interesting than the Moscow one.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this campaign. Next stop is either Steel Birds or Achtung Spitfire. Can’t decide. I love the Spit’s cockpit and looks but ground attack is mighty tempting.

 

 

[BlackSix]

14 hours ago, HankCzinaski said:

Just finished the campaign. It was my second one after “Ten days of autumn” so I shall compare to that one.

 

First thing, this campaign was definitely harder… I think I got shot down at least 7 times. In the Bf 109 campaign I always felt I’m in the superior plane and that I have backup. Here, if I was in trouble I no longer could just dive and run at will. I had to stay and fight. And in many missions, odds were against my flight.

 

About the plane itself, at first I didn’t like the Yak compared to the 109 (which I liked from the beginning). It felt harder to land without bouncing and unlike the F-2, managing the engine was more complex than just moving the throttle. But in the end I warmed up to it and the whole “complex engine management” actually became my second favorite thing about the sim, right after shooting and blowing stuff up.

 

The story is ok and sets a grim atmosphere but it felt a little less cohesive than “10 days”. Some briefings described stuff happening outside of missions but gave very little background about the actual mission at hand. Most sorties were air-to-air combat, and I missed some variety (although I understand that this is actually more realistic for Yak specifically). The map is great and was definitely more interesting than the Moscow one.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this campaign. Next stop is either Steel Birds or Achtung Spitfire. Can’t decide. I love the Spit’s cockpit and looks but ground attack is mighty tempting.

Thanks. Yes, I agree that the missions in this campaign are not very diverse. Due to the lack of attack aircraft, the command was forced to use fighters against ground targets but it was this regiment that arrived at Stalingrad from the air defense system and was used only in air battles.

 

Also, if you liked "10 days", then pay attention to the campaign "Fortress on the Volga", it's a direct sequel of "10 days". There will also be mostly dogfights but if you want you will be able to attack ground targets in two free-hunting sorties.

[HankCzinaski]

12 hours ago, BlackSix said:

Also, if you liked "10 days", then pay attention to the campaign "Fortress on the Volga", it's a direct sequel of "10 days". There will also be mostly dogfights but if you want you will be able to attack ground targets in two free-hunting sorties.

I'm sure I will like it. Bought it already but I wanted to try more planes and theaters before returning to the 109 or Stalingrad.

[BlackSix]

Major campaign update in version 5.101:

- tactical numbers and correct paint schemes added for each aircraft;

- the number of aircraft increased by 15-20% in most missions;

- missions updated for the new sim version and re-tested.

 

This campaign is available for purchase at our website and on Steam.

 

[Lusekofte]

This is great campaign. Ai 109 is a really difficult  opponent. They go vertically and do the right thing. But the agony of having a wingman that not act like one is painful. 
And it seems my opponents ai wingman is. Not sure but he is around and I have to look for him. But fun none the less

[Deltahawkoz]

Cannot progress beyond mission 5...despite slavishly following orders as per Soviet doctrine...couple of times damaged and got back to airfield with a mission fail...grrr...am I doomed to Ground hog day???  What conditions must I meet to progress??

[BlackSix]

There is only one condition for successful completion of the task for all missions - landing back at your airfield. The airfield is ready to accept your landing 5 minutes after takeoff. There are two options for solving a problem mission:

1) take off, fly for about 5 minutes (for example, fly to the front line and back) and land

2) enable invulnerability in the settings, and autopilot in the mission, it will do everything without your participation

 

[BlackSix]

Just finished the 5th and 6th missions using the autopilot, the landing counts, everything works as it should.
I sometimes came across situations when the player flew without markers and mistakenly landed at the wrong airfield, then the mission, of course, would not be completed.

[Trooper117]

Why can't players just land back in their own lines in a friendly airfield?... I know you try to make the missions as realistic as possible, and in reality, if a pilot get's into difficulty he would return to his own lines, and get to a friendly field if his aircraft was damaged.

[BlackSix]

I've added the ability to land at reserve airfields to complete a mission in the new Sky Nomads campaign for BoK but this is very expensive to do for old campaigns, unfortunately.

[Deltahawkoz]

Roger Black Six, yep I was landing at the wrong airfield, one more to the West of my airfield.   No problemo now.  Enjoying this campaign immensely.

[BlackSix]

I'm glad the situation was resolved, thanks)

[Deltahawkoz]

Should add this campaign has bought me back to BOx...am using Voice Attack for commanding my wingmen, and they are behaving better than if I just flew as a singleton...lining up on enemy AC and getting my wingmen to cover  etc...trying to use RL tactics and seems to be working..if overwhelmed or damaged, better to bug out and head for home...and the like.   One is definitely going up hill when outnumbered by 109s etc

[Ulricus]

@BlackSix,

Thx for this fine campaign. After trying out the FM of Yak-1B s127 in Tx_Tip's Normandie-Niemen campaign, I was curious about the FM of its predecessor Yak-1 s69. So I chose "Blazing Steppe" (BTW it's also the first time that I've played one your many campaigns).

 

I was pleased with the FM of the Yak-1 s69, because it possesses (un-surprisingly) the same qualities I appreciated with the Yak-1B s127 – easy handling, good flying characteristics and very agile. But, IMHO, it's terribly under-armed!

 

The design of the missions and their order of appearence are a good mix between routine and special activities, which seems pretty historical realistic to me. Missions become increasingly more interesting (and difficult) towards the end, what also increased my grade of immersion 🙂 - my favorites are missions 9 and 15.

 

What I also favour in this campaign is 
- your pilot's narrative in the briefing (giving relevant historical background information),
- that all important task details are summarized at the end of the briefing text (easy to combine with overview map), 
- your well-designed and informative flight maps and 
- your unique style of plane labeling (knowing immediatly what plane belongs to which flight);
all points which I miss in other campaigns often.

 

You have piqued my interest in other Soviet fighters. The LaGG-3 in the last mission was a good preparation/transition to the next campaign "Iron Wind" with the La-5 (a further development of the LaGG-3, having the same cockpit) - happening in the same theater (Stalingrad), in a similar time frame and I assume with comparable enemy activities. I'm quite curious. 

[BlackSix]

Thank you very much for your feedback!

The Blazing Steppe and Iron Wind are separated by 7 years, I hope that you'll notice the improvements in design and the increase in the number of objects in the missions) 

If you are interested in Soviet Yaks, pay attention to Sky Nomads, the Yak-7b campaign for the Kuban map