IL2 command center - realtime mission planner

[SvAF/F19_Sweet]

Hi guys!

 

I have been playing IL2 BOS for a while now and I noticed that its pretty difficult to get a good team effort going. Because of that I see that many people, including my self just end up going lone wolf. Sometimes there is some effort in team chat to organise attacks but id really like to see more of those bomber formations etc. 

 

So I decided to create a new realtime mission planer where players can get together and carry out missions issued by a commander. As a commander you create missions with waypoints on a map. You specify mission type, aircraft, loadout and the preferred number of players for this mission. And then any player who is connected to your session will be able to join a slot for this mission. Once this mission is full and everybody has their status set to ready the flight leader gives the takeoff command.

 

At this point I have setup a very basic alpha version just to get some kind of response from the community. This is far from the finished product but I would like to get some feedback about the whole concept before I spend to much time on this. So please take a look at www.il2cc.com and try it out.

 

Here is a list of  some features I would like to include:

• Quick search for cities and grid numbers to make map navigation easier
• A better tool for adding waypoints and map markers in general. Such as drawing frontlines, better waypoint information, estimated mission time and so on.
• Option for setting target altitude and estimated climb rate to provide a marker along the route were target altitude is achieved. It would be nice to have when flying bombers.
• Option for letting flight leader set aircraft loadout, etc.
• Possibility for flight leader to report back to commander with post mission details. such as target damage.
• Ability for commander to resign and promote someone else to commander.
• Allow other players in the session to take command if the current commander disconnects.
• Automatic nick sync with servers that provide live stats. This would remove the need for password protected sessions since the player has to be on the server and in the right team to connect to the session.
• Better support for tablets and phones to enable people to put their iPad next to the computer and access the mission information easier. (instead of tabbing out of game)
• Possibly a recon mission type where the player uploads a screenshot or photo of the target when flying over. this could really help planing effective bomber missions.
• A facelift for the whole application

 

Id love to hear your opinion about this concept. And if you guys think its a good idea I will set aside some time to refine this concept and create something real out of this.

 

/Magnus

Edited January 24, 2018 by sweet2k4

[coconut]

Sounds interesting but there’s a server or two missing in the list

[KG_S_Kalle_Kalutz82]

...................

At this point I have setup a very basic alpha version just to get some kind of response from the community. This is far from the finished product but I would like to get some feedback about the whole concept before I spend to much time on this. 

 

So please take a look at www.il2cc.com and try it out.

 

Id love to hear your opinion about this concept. And if you guys think its a good idea I will set aside some time to refine this concept and create something real out of this.

 

/Magnus

 

Yeah, great idea! On our last flight we were reven recently speaking about such possible feature and stuff and how it would make the game better.

I will try it out tomorrow as its late now, but if its how I imagine it, than its more than welcome.

So, I am positivly "triggered"

 

 

Just as idea and if we would have designated recon planes (Fieseler Storch anyone?) - than some implemented recon flight for the ground targets could be some option too, otherwise the "Flugleitoffizier" (CAS dude) can not offer some good target identification.

Maybe the picture in black-white, to get the right immerision of it.

Or you just provide some kind of target identification "fotos" (just screenshots in this case) somewhere in your programm.

Sounds interesting but there’s a server or two missing in the list

 

Coconut is right!

[JimTM]

Excellent idea Magnus. I'll try it out later this evening.

[=EXPEND=CG_Justin]

This has potential. The only thing is, I can't really see it as being a "realtime" application unless there were some way of tying it into the stats and having it update once a target is destroyed/mission accomplished.

 

This is kinda similar to what the Devs outlined briefly in DD 135 with addition of Air Marshall mode. We don't really know the status of Air Marshall or if it will be included in update 3.001 (unlikely if you ask me, but I've been pleasantly surprised before), but perhaps your application could go towards holding us over until Air Marshall is included in a future update? I really like this idea though! Please keep moving forward with it. I do feel it has a very practical application here. :good:

[SvAF/F19_Sweet]

 

Just as idea and if we would have designated recon planes (Fieseler Storch anyone?) - than some implemented recon flight for the ground targets could be some option too, otherwise the "Flugleitoffizier" (CAS dude) can not offer some good target identification.

Maybe the picture in black-white, to get the right immerision of it.

Or you just provide some kind of target identification "fotos" (just screenshots in this case) somewhere in your programm.

 

 

 

Thanks for your reply.

This is actually one of the features that Id really like to include, if it can be done in a practical way. Having a recon photo when planning bomber missions would be a really great thing. And I keep thinking that every time I end up approaching the target from a weird direction. Actually, I ussaly check out the target in a fighter before doing the bomber mission. it would be cool to assign specific targets on the recon photo to individual players in the formation.

[SvAF/F19_Sweet]

This has potential. The only thing is, I can't really see it as being a "realtime" application unless there were some way of tying it into the stats and having it update once a target is destroyed/mission accomplished.

 

This is kinda similar to what the Devs outlined briefly in DD 135 with addition of Air Marshall mode. We don't really know the status of Air Marshall or if it will be included in update 3.001 (unlikely if you ask me, but I've been pleasantly surprised before), but perhaps your application could go towards holding us over until Air Marshall is included in a future update? I really like this idea though! Please keep moving forward with it. I do feel it has a very practical application here. :good:

 

Interesting! I missed the marshal mode in DD135, but it is pretty much what I had in mind. An in game implementation of this would be the ultimate experience. I had that in mind when I started the development, and I thought that if people like this app, maybe the devs would implement something similar in game. The question is now if its worth developing this app if the devs will release the in game version in the near future. But I guess that if people start using this app maybe the devs have a reason to raise the priority for the marshal mode

 

About the realtime statement, what I mean is that players get updated about new information, new missions, etc without needing to refresh the browser. But it is possible to hock into the game server stats page and access pretty much any information that is presented there. 

Edited January 24, 2018 by sweet2k4

[SvAF/F19_Sweet]

Sounds interesting but there’s a server or two missing in the list

 

Updated the server list  

[56RAF_Roblex]

How much is supposed to work at the moment?  I tried to make a mission but failed.  I could add a Patrol and put down a 'Patrol' marker but I could not add any waypoints even when I followed your instructions.   I could also not get back into the mission again from the main page.  It insisted I enter a name then complained that it already had that name.   

 

If it is supposed to do more then it needs to be more idiot proof :-)   A short video showing you making a new Commander and a new mission and another showing how someone joins your map and takes on that mission would be useful when you are nearer completion.

[SvAF/F19_Sweet]

How much is supposed to work at the moment?  I tried to make a mission but failed.  I could add a Patrol and put down a 'Patrol' marker but I could not add any waypoints even when I followed your instructions.   I could also not get back into the mission again from the main page.  It insisted I enter a name then complained that it already had that name.   

 

If it is supposed to do more then it needs to be more idiot proof :-)   A short video showing you making a new Commander and a new mission and another showing how someone joins your map and takes on that mission would be useful when you are nearer completion.

 

 

To create waypoints you double click at one location and then at another. A waypoint will be generated between the points, then just continue clicking. I updated the instructions to clarify that. About not being able to join the session again from main menu is a bug that im working on. Thanks for pointing that out. aside from that It should work, but it can be pretty time-consuming to place the map markers since the grid/city quick search isn't implemented yet.

[JG4_Raven]

looks promising for an alpha. Many succeed in further development

[JG7_X-Man]

I just click on TAW's map and plot a route and fly - but I am sure some people want something more sophisticated. However, all you really need are the icons.

Edited February 23, 2018 by JG7_X_Man

[curiousGamblerr]

Why not contribute to il2missionplanner instead of starting a redundant effort? Those sort of features exist and are being expanded.

Edited February 24, 2018 by 19//curiousGamblerr

[Retnek]

 

> And if you guys think its a good idea I will set aside some time to refine this concept and create something real out of this.

 

That's a good idea, indeed. I'd love to see such an option, lone wolfing mudmovers are cannon-fodder too often.

 

CuriousGamblerr is right - you're partly addressing the same problems, would be a win-win-situation to cooperate

 

I don't have the time right now for longer tests, but I would like to see a field in the mission description where the commander points on his present communication channel (TS or Discord etc)

 

Thx for the initiative!

 

 

PS: an extra- for the idea of a recon-photo archive, would love to see that! Bringing home recon-results is perfect for times where no-one else shows up on a server. And it can be used by the whole community. Will add a lot to immersion.

Edited February 24, 2018 by 216th_Retnek

[JG4_Raven]

Hi SvAF/F19_Sweet,

 

when will you publish your next update?

[Retrofly]

Any update on this, seems really useful.