Bodenplatte opening the door for a late-war Eastern Front scenario?

[Finkeren]

...or closing it?0

 

With today's announcement that we're going west, not further east, in 2018, I wonder what that will mean for the Eastern Front part of "IL-2 Great Battles" (as we now have to get used to saying) 

 

With basically all the major German fighter aircraft being built for Bodenplatte, I wonder if there is a possibility of building a smaller late '44 title set on the Eastern Front using the stuff built for Bodenplatte and then adding an appropriate map, a few planes (Yak-9U, La-7, P-63, Tu-2S and maybe a German bomber)?

 

It could be a smaller side-project that could help fund the completion of the first Pacific title.

 

There is of course also the possibility, that this will end any hopes for more Eastern Front for the foreseeable future, since the LW crowd now have their late war planes?  

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

Lets be real - we're going to the Pacific next. 

 

Just kiddin'.

 

I certainly hope that the series will utilize the "parallel development" Jason mentioned to deliver bits and pieces of content (aircraft, maps, assets) in between the major development milestones.

[PA-Sniv]

Well, if the partner studio is successful with Po-2 and Li-2, we can expect some nice new planes down the way!

[dburne]

My hope for  the next theatre after this latest one, will in fact be the Pacific.

[Finkeren]

Lets be real - we're going to the Pacific next. 

 

Just kiddin'.

 

Yeah, you got me on that one....   I was completely dumbstruck when I read the announcement.

 

I guess that should be the end of the accusations, that I'm somehow on the dev's payroll?

[7.GShAP/Silas]

Well, if the partner studio is successful with Po-2 and Li-2, we can expect some nice new planes down the way!

 

 

When are these two predicted to release?

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

Yeah, you got me on that one....   I was completely dumbstruck when I read the announcement.

 

I guess that should be the end of the accusations, that I'm somehow on the dev's payroll?

 

I get accused of being a marketing shill myself but I'm still waiting on a check from 1CGS/777. 

When are these two predicted to release?

 

No exact date has been specified.

 

Jason said "no promises" in the BOB/FC/TC announcement.

[A-E-Hartmann]

Well, if the partner studio is successful with Po-2 and Li-2, we can expect some nice new planes down the way!

It will be nice if these plans succeed.

This could eventually offer other new plans.

 

 

I was completely dumbstruck when I read the announcement.

 

Like me, I think that surprised a lot.  

We all expected battle of midway or something like that but not at Bodenplate.

Edited November 17, 2017 by A-E-Hartmann

[216th_Jordan]

My hope for  the next theatre after this latest one, will in fact be the Pacific.

 

Yes please. Get rid of europe for a change on the next installment please

Also just not a fan of latewar, never found the charm in it. If it goes parallel no problem with me..

[dburne]

Yes please. Get rid of europe for a change on the next installment please

Also just not a fan of latewar, never found the charm in it. If it goes parallel no problem with me..

 

Agreed!

[6./ZG26_Custard]

Conceivably, other than Africa or MTO  the only logical place to go after is surely the Pacific?

 

I was never overly excited at a PTO but I would have pre-ordered and flown in the sim. I think BOB is going to create some fantastic online combat scenarios with that aircraft set and hopefully include a great SP campaign for our offline flyers.

 

Can you imagine what forum debated are going to ensure over the P51! 

 

If BOB is successful, Pacific will be next I reckon.

 

. 

Edited November 17, 2017 by 6./ZG26_Custard

[Lusekofte]

To me it looks like they have given up, they go for a closure due to not enough money in it. They abandoned Pasific , went for all the fighters they know most want to get as much sales as possible. This is the one I will not buy. 

To me this is a very sad day.

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

1. To me it looks like they have given up, 2. they go for a closure due to not enough money in it. 3. They abandoned Pasific , went for all the fighters they know most want to get as much sales as possible. 4. This is the one I will not buy. 

5. To me this is a very sad day.

 

1. Uhhh... Where are you gathering that with all of the plans for the next two-three years that they literally published a couple of hours ago?

2. Again... What..? Obviously not. A shuttering business doesn't announce years worth of development plans.

3. No they didn't. Jason went well out of his way to explain that. 

4. Have fun with that. Maybe they'll "go for a closure due to not enough money in it." Surely the way to get what you want and support the continuity of the product is to stop purchasing it! 

5. Hey, at least you've got all that wonderful content in DCS to play with.

 

Mannnnnn, lots of pity parties going on in the forums this morning.

[6./ZG26_Custard]

 

 

They abandoned Pasific , went for all the fighters they know most want to get as much sales as possible. This is the one I will not buy. To me this is a very sad day.

 

Not according to the producer?

 

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/32257-my-comments-delay-pto-development/?p=532898

[Lusekofte]

5. Hey, at least you've got all that wonderful content in DCS to play with.

Mate I got all the Modules in DCS but use only the choppers. I rather say thank god for COD and wellington, and hope I am wrong about where this is going 

Ok Pasific is not abandoned, I am back in. In this case I will repurchase Bodenplatte, in order to fund Pacific. Still what a rubbish pack it is, all fighters and no fun

Edited November 17, 2017 by 216th_LuseKofte

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

-snip-

 

Still what a rubbish pack it is, all fighters and no fun

 

There seems to exist a majority consensus that feels otherwise.

 

You don't have to like it. That's fine. That's fair. You're entitled to have an opinion... But stop trying to [Edited]  on it.

 

However, it's good to see you'll at least consider buying on. All of us who purchase the product and hope for its long-term success appreciate the support that we all give the genre.

Edited November 17, 2017 by Bearcat
Profanity

[schurem]

i get to fly a late mark spit over my very own hometown. i am extatic

[PA-Sniv]

 

 

There seems to exist a majority consensus that feels otherwise.

 

Sure. But one can't deny that Bodenplatte planeset is fighter oriented...

[Lusekofte]

 

 

You don't have to like it. That's fine. That's fair. You're entitled to have an opinion... But stop trying to shit on it.

 

To me this plane pack is utter load of crap except a couple of them. I am not stupid , I still think they are smart about it. That plane set is going to be popular and bring in money. I will buy it reluctantly for 3 reasons only 

 

1. I believe we are getting Pasific, I will fund that

2. They make quality, I will fund that

3. It is very cheap , based on quality and content

[Nightrise]

The pack includes a tempest enough said. 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I am slightly worried about this plane set for the following reasons:

1. It will promote emotionally-charged comparisons to DCS thanks to the shared aircraft types
2. Nothing besides single-seat aircraft

I believe the first problem (if it can even be called a problem) will be solved because Bodenplatte will release quickly enough to supersede DCS in terms of content. I doubt DCS will be able to match 10 aircraft + relevant map.

 

The second problem is a bit more tricky. One of the greatest strengths of Stalingrad/Moscow/Kuban is the balanced aircraft set between various roles. It is a shame that that is no longer the case with Bodenplatte. However, at least most of the aircraft can carry rather heavy air-to-ground ordnance. 

Edited November 17, 2017 by Mitthrawnuruodo

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

LuseKofte is right, this plane set appeals only to fighter pilots. And its a set of late war hot rods that have no connection with previous games. Omission of any attack aircraft or bombers is a mistake and makes it shallow.  

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

LuseKofte is right, this plane set appeals only to fighter pilots. And its a set of late war hot rods that have no connection with previous games. Omission of any attack aircraft or bombers is a mistake and makes it shallow.  

 

Wow, it's almost like Jason has been in the business long enough to know what sells and what doesn't... Strange. 

 

It is your opinion [edited] I disagree.

Edited November 17, 2017 by SYN_Haashashin

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

[edited]

I said no word about what is selling well or not. I said that not taking advantage of multi crew aircraft, which neither War Thunder nor DCS possess is a mistake and make this expansion shallow. Why ? We do have bomber pilots and bomber missions, both in single and multiplayer. Bombing missions increased variety and depth of gameplay, providing multidimensional combat environment. DCS is a prime example of what happens when you give fighters only. You end up with servers and missions appealing to a fighter combat where ground targets play no significant role and nobody cares about them. Will it sell well ? Probably. But it wont take advantage of technologies we already have. 

Edited November 17, 2017 by SYN_Haashashin

[SYN_Haashashin]

Guys,

 

Stop it. Everyone has an opinion and for sure noone opinion is shallow, if you ask me. So respect other people opinions. We are all adults here and can agree on disagree without that kind of attitudes.

 

Haash

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

Wow, and I was told just the other day that I needed to take this game less seriously. 

[Finkeren]

I actually agree with Luse about the fighters part, but precisely in the context of Bodenplatte, it actually makes sense to have all fighters.

 

Still, it does remove a central aspect of the game, even if it also makes production easier.

[=RvE=Windmills]

There's still the 110G2 as well as Ju88 for the Germans. Allies will have a lack of something heavier, at least until B25 is flyable, but can hardly complain with the ordnance that can be hauled by late P38/47.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

With Jason stating there is room for parallel work, I'd expect to hit up the Eastern Front at least once in the foreseeable future. The German side is largely done with Bodenplatte and it opens the door for a few advanced Russian prop jobs and a couple lend lease AC in the east as well. Probably a smaller expansion and a larger closing chapter to the East, if I were to speculate..............which I do.

Edited November 17, 2017 by II/JG17_HerrMurf

[LukeFF]

LuseKofte is right, this plane set appeals only to fighter pilots. And its a set of late war hot rods that have no connection with previous games. Omission of any attack aircraft or bombers is a mistake and makes it shallow.  

 

Well, the thing is that by this stage of the war, and in the region being depicted by Bodenplatte, dedicated ground attack aircraft and bombers were somewhat of a rarity. The German bomber force in the West (save for the Ar 234s) was practically extinct by this time, for one, and only a single Gruppe of Fw 190 F-8s took part in the actual Bodenplatte operation. On the Allied side, it was the of course the 9th TAF and all of its fighter-bombers that were doing the majority of the ground attack in this region. That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see the B-25 modeled as flyable one day.  

[xvii-Dietrich]

{...} all fighters and no fun

 

Ja, du har et poeng, LuseKofte. Men folk bare forstår ikke deg.

 

 

The Bodenplatte planeset is a collection of über-fighters. So, it is disappointing to those of us who fly other roles. There are no new flyable bombers, transports, recon, liaison, maritime patrol, search-and-rescue, etc.. For some of us, it represents a significant narrowing of the scope of the series and that is concerning.

 

Additionally, if you upgrade one fighter, you downgrade every bomber. Thus, in the new ecosystem, bomber pilots will have things even tougher. And there still remains the issue of stats and rewarding gameplay that is not just about downing enemy pilots.

 

On the other hand, it is a boon for the fighter pilots. Many have been clamouring for better and better machines... the latest technology and best performance. With massive pitched battles between hoards of Me-262s, P-51s, Tempests, and the like, it is indeed fair to say it is the "spirit of '46".

 

As is clear now, there are many who are really excited. Hopefully, the disappointment of the few will be outweighed by the wallets of the many. And, in the long run, perhaps that will turn to the advantage of the series as a whole.

 

In the meantime, us bombers, recons and tranports need to consider how to make missions and campaigns that we can enjoy things with the resources we have. There are not a lot of aircraft but there are some and, with ingenuity and imagination, it will be possible to forge servers that will attract a more strategic style of flying.

 

And, I should remind you that they have decided the make an AI-controlled B-25. Although that does not help us just yet, the Ju 52 started life as an AI aircraft and with campaigning became the flyable gem that it is today.

Edited November 17, 2017 by xvii-Dietrich

[LukeFF]

There's still the 110G2 as well as Ju88 for the Germans. 

 

The 110 Gs were solely night fighters by late 1944. Similar sort of deal with Ju 88s.

[Archie]

Yep, if you want to be historical, JU88's did the navigating for the German fighters on operation Bodenplatte!

[LukeFF]

Yep, if you want to be historical, JU88's did the navigating for the German fighters on operation Bodenplatte!

 

That is true, and I'm sure that our keen mission builders here will take note of that.

[=RvE=Windmills]

The 110 Gs were solely night fighters by late 1944. Similar sort of deal with Ju 88s.

 

Sure, but there will be plenty of less strict scenarios where the G2 can add to the fun. It's practically just as much a rarity on the eastern front, and surely for performance and bombload/firepower it wouldn't do too bad in 45.

 

 

It isn't the ordinance/balance, but the character of aircraft that some are a little despondent about. They are, how could one say, extrovert aircraft rather than introvert ones perhaps.

 

I'd love to have some heavier stuff as well. But I have no doubt that it will be there at some point, just with the massively increased workloads for multi crew planes it's understandable. Personally I would have loved to see at least a typhoon, but I'm sure in time we'll have a much more fleshed out scenario.

[LukeFF]

 

 

Sure, but there will be plenty of less strict scenarios where the G2 can add to the fun. It's practically just as much a rarity on the eastern front, and surely for performance and bombload/firepower it wouldn't do too bad in 45.

 

Sure, but I still think they will be hacked from the sky pretty easily with the planes opposing them. 

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

I can't see myself enjoying the online Bodenplatte, surely it'll just be a case of swarms of 262s tearing things (other fighters) to pieces?

 

-snip-

 

It'll be up to server administrators and mission designers to tackle that aspect.

 

I could see some of the more noteworthy eSquadrons (JG4 comes to mind) allocating 262s to their best pilots like Karaya.

[sniperton]

I wrote in another thread that for me it's not a planeset, just a set of planes for an MP dogfight server.

As an SP guy not obsessed with top guns, I don't know what BoB can offer to me. More dogfight and some JaBo missions with more bully planes.

[busdriver]

 On the Allied side, it was the of course the 9th TAF and all of its fighter-bombers that were doing the majority of the ground attack in this region. 

 

You know our RAF buds might challenge that. Without doing any exhaustive AOB research I cracked open my copy of Michael JF Bowyer's 2 Group RAF: A Complete History 1936-1945 to page 390 a nice map of 1 Jan 45 shows:

 

Vitry-en-Artois: 88 Sqdn with 19 Bostons, 226 Sqdn with 21 Mitchells, 342 Sqdn with 22 Bostons

Cambrai/Epinoy: 107 Sqdn with 20 Mosquitos, 305 Sqdn with 22 Mosquitos, 613 Sqdn with 22 Mosquitos, 417 ARF with 52 Mosquitos (spares/reserves)

Melsbroek: 98 Sqdn with 27 Mitchells, 180 Sqdn with 21 Mitchells, 320 Sqdn with 17 Mitchells.

 

Surely there is an argument to be made for an RAF twin engine bomber. I'll have to check to see how many P-38Ls were in theater.

Edited November 17, 2017 by busdriver

[Lusekofte]

Even a Norwegian Spitfire squadron took part of this, but as always many actually believe USA won this war alone