Time compression and the new career

[Guest Darvos]

Am I missing something here, like a special key binding to go beyond 8x? It seems to me that after the new update to the career mode, a bomber mission can take up to 20-25 minutes flight time at maximum time compression before you can reach the target to do your job. An eternity in computer time (esp. with VR) where all you get to do is watch out of the plane window and wait. While this is truly realistic and immersive, at least for some (and I certainly love the new mission variety and structure) I fail to see how this specific aspect is better than what we had before: start your mission and play OR select full flight, if you truly wanted to.

[6./ZG26_McKvack]

8x is the maximum speed increase you can get because of engine limitations 

[Guest Darvos]

I see. I wish they put back in a "start close to the objective" option like we had before. Or a even a key that lets you skip directly to the next waypoint, like I remember some sims had back in the older days. This really makes the bombing part of the game, which I greatly enjoyed, basically unplayable for me. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

[Porkins]

Ditto. I know some simmers love the longer time to target aspects of a sim and more power to them, but for me 20+ minute long missions (most of which are flying straight and level) are not often possible for me to do or all that fun when I can do them. 

[=SqSq=switch201]

2 hours ago, Darvos said:

I see. I wish they put back in a "start close to the objective" option like we had before. Or a even a key that lets you skip directly to the next waypoint, like I remember some sims had back in the older days. This really makes the bombing part of the game, which I greatly enjoyed, basically unplayable for me. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

 I..... I want this so much. The problem right now is that you can only speed the game up so much depending on your CPU. for me, I usually can only go to 2x, while x4, and x8 don't make it any faster. I can almost guarantee that's what is happening in your case. Some times I can get x4 working but only when there are less planes flying around.

 

If they could get the x8 to actually work then I don't think they need a "warp to the action" mechanic, but as of now, it is really really boring waiting to get to and from the front lines when nothing is going on. If people want to fly long ass realistic missions then they can choose runway start, but when I play single player I am looking for some quickish action.

[CIA_Yankee_]

I think the time acceleration is gated by your machine.

 

To be honest, I personally have a very beefy machine, and when running everything on ultra with a hard mission on Dense, I actually get time slow-down at certain times.

 

As in, I'm flying around at x1 acceleration and dogfighting, and noticing that I'm WAY more precisely than I'm used to when doing 1v1 dogfights vs AI (not to mention multiplayer). After a while, I decided to wait until things got very busy in a mission and compared the passage of time in the game compared to my watch, and I saw that 10 RL seconds meant 7 seconds elapsed in the game (using the cockpit clock as reference).

 

In short, if things get busy enough in the campaign, it actually slows the game down if your hardware isn't good enough.

[Guest Darvos]

Interesting. I do have an older processor (I5-3570k) that is capable of being overclocked. I think tomorrow I'll view a couple of guides, put it to the test and see if it makes a difference of some kind.

Edited March 21, 2018 by Darvos

[Porkins]

1 hour ago, =SqSq=switch201 said:

 I..... I want this so much. The problem right now is that you can only speed the game up so much depending on your CPU. for me, I usually can only go to 2x, while x4, and x8 don't make it any faster. I can almost guarantee that's what is happening in your case. Some times I can get x4 working but only when there are less planes flying around.

 

If they could get the x8 to actually work then I don't think they need a "warp to the action" mechanic, but as of now, it is really really boring waiting to get to and from the front lines when nothing is going on. If people want to fly long ass realistic missions then they can choose runway start, but when I play single player I am looking for some quickish action.

I like that idea. Have the runway start for people who want the full fat start to finish mission, but move the air start much closer to the mission objective. 

 

I'm ok doing RTB after a mission. I've found RTB to be thrilling at times when I'm out of ammo and being pursued, or damaged and trying to get my crate back to base. It's just the flying to the objective that can be dull. 

[Guest Darvos]

Ok reporting in after the overclock test (was getting bored in 8x time acceleration in game during mission lol). I've upped the clock to 4200 with my i5-3570, which seems to be the medium-high settings used by most. While it does seem to make a difference in framerate that is very useful in vr, thus clarifying i was actually CPU capped (card is an NVIDIA gtx 970) i cant seem to appreciate a faster time compression at all. Also, I now noticed it is true: from 4x to 8x seems to make a very little difference compared to 1x>2x. There's definitely something strange at work.

[Gambit21]

 

Time compression past 2x only works on very light missions. Career missions often go to 4x because overall unit density is usually fairly light comparatively speaking.

 

You will not see a difference between 4x and 8x except in VERY light missions, I mean a test mission with just a one or two aircraft, no ground units etc. So effectively 8x doesn't exist (don't confuse faster camera shake with faster compression) and in heavier missions only 2x makes any difference. In most of my campaign missions only 2x actually speeds things up at all, while in a recent mission with low units I see a speed-up at 4x (again not the usual case) but not 8x. I build/test/play on a powerful system.

 

 

[=LD=Hethwill]

Sorry for the offtopic newbie question, but what is this time compression thing I keep reading ? 

Thanks fellows.

[Scottvdken]

32 minutes ago, =LD=Hethwill said:

Sorry for the offtopic newbie question, but what is this time compression thing I keep reading ? 

Thanks fellows.

 

Hit "[" or "]" to speed up/slow down the sim. Useful for long flights.

[=LD=Hethwill]

1 minute ago, Scottvdken said:

 

Hit "[" or "]" to speed up/slow down the sim. Useful for long flights.

 

Ah! Thanks.

[Retrofly]

Il2 1946 had an option to skip to next waypoint I think, it would interrupt if enemy planes came within a certain distance.

This would be a great feature to add to BoX.

Edited March 22, 2018 by Retrofly

[sevenless]

16 minutes ago, Retrofly said:

Il2 1946 had an option to skip to next waypoint I think, it would interrupt if enemy planes came within a certain distance.

This would be a great feature to add to BoX.

 

That surely would be great. Can 2nd that.

[Gambit21]

That won't work, one big reason is because of the way events/flights etc are triggered.

I don't think this is plausible - not without some time intensive coding anyway.

Edited March 22, 2018 by Gambit21

[sevenless]

2 minutes ago, Gambit21 said:

That won't work, one but big reason is because of the way events/flights etc are triggered.

I don't think this is plausible - not without some time intensive coding anyway.

 

Is there any suggested solution yet to benefit from timecompression above 2x except buying a new CPU which clocks at 8 Ghz 

[deimos256]

On 3/21/2018 at 2:22 PM, Porkins said:

I like that idea. Have the runway start for people who want the full fat start to finish mission, but move the air start much closer to the mission objective. 

 

I'm ok doing RTB after a mission. I've found RTB to be thrilling at times when I'm out of ammo and being pursued, or damaged and trying to get my crate back to base. It's just the flying to the objective that can be dull. 

This IMO is the perfect solution.  After all, if someone is choosing to skip takeoff by starting in the air, chances are they were hoping to skip the en route portion as well.  RTB with landing is much more exciting than en route.  The old campaign nailed this, start just far enough away from the action area to get yourself situated, complete the task and return, all the while leaving full blown takeoff and en route options for someone who wants to do the full length mission.   Hell I enjoy those missions too, but after work, when I’m limited on time, I like to bang out a few shorter missions.   

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

3 hours ago, Retrofly said:

Il2 1946 had an option to skip to next waypoint I think, it would interrupt if enemy planes came within a certain distance.

This would be a great feature to add to BoX.

 

I REALLY miss this function!

[Blutaar]

If you want a simple airstart near the target area, you just need to be squadleader so you can alter the flighplan. Just move the first waypoint where you want to start in the air. Minimum is 22km or so to the target but you start some kilometers before the first waypoint. I hope that helps a bit to ease the pain while flying slow bombers.

 

You can also change the speed and altitude and formation for every waypoint. Just in case you didnt already know.

Edited March 22, 2018 by Ishtaru

[Porkins]

Thanks for the tip!

[Blutaar]

I must correct myself. I played 3 Bomber campaign missions now and i couldnt change the first waypoint. Looks like you are not allowed to change the first waypoint as a bomberpilot. 

 

Im sorry for giving wrong information.  

[=LD=Hethwill]

20 minutes ago, Ishtaru said:

I must correct myself. I played 3 Bomber campaign missions now and i couldnt change the first waypoint. Looks like you are not allowed to change the first waypoint as a bomberpilot. 

 

Im sorry for giving wrong information.  

 

What if you are the air group leader ? Does career even feature that, designing the missions for the different squadrons ? Just wondering

Edited March 23, 2018 by =LD=Hethwill

[Guest Darvos]

Perhaps I'm a heretic in saying this, but couldn't they just give us back the old campaing as an option? We're speaking about single player here. The new version might be much more advanced, but for some of us with less time at their disposal, it's just not as playable and fun. I don't see how adding wonderful new features requires the removal of old ones that someone, somehere had to like. This is an aspect of the whole "game as a service" trend that, while being much appreciated for what advantages it brings, I absolutely find to be out of place in a plane sim. But maybe it's just an opinion of mine...

[Blutaar]

12 hours ago, =LD=Hethwill said:

 

What if you are the air group leader ? Does career even feature that, designing the missions for the different squadrons ? Just wondering

 

If you are the squad commander, your are able to change type of plane, loadout and flightplan. But just for your own squadron not others.

[Scottvdken]

10 minutes ago, Darvos said:

Perhaps I'm a heretic in saying this, but couldn't they just give us back the old campaing as an option? We're speaking about single player here. The new version might be much more advanced, but for some of us with less time at their disposal, it's just not as playable and fun. I don't see how adding wonderful new features requires the removal of old ones that someone, somehere had to like. This is an aspect of the whole "game as a service" trend that, while being much appreciated for what advantages it brings, I absolutely find to be out of place in a plane sim. But maybe it's just an opinion of mine...

 

Why not just play quick missions then? That's all the old campaign was, a shortcut to quick missions.....

[Guest Darvos]

 

20 minutes ago, Scottvdken said:

 

Why not just play quick missions then? That's all the old campaign was, a shortcut to quick missions.....

 

Sense of progression and new scenario unlock. Didn't it have some scripted missions on top of that, too?

Edited March 23, 2018 by Darvos

[Blutaar]

The old campaign system was more enjoyable then just doing QMs. I would like to have the old campaign system back with some more options to taylor a quick scenraio, but not to replace the new system.

[deimos256]

32 minutes ago, Scottvdken said:

 

Why not just play quick missions then? That's all the old campaign was, a shortcut to quick missions.....

Not really though, at least I’m not aware of a way to set up a ground attack mission in QM or even a bombing mission.  It just seems to be a tool to place two groups of planes on a map with some sprinkled ground units.  I agree with others that the old campaign should come back.  Keep career mode as it is and have the old campaign, but call it something to differentiate it from Career, like Quick Campaign or Mission Generator.    

[Scottvdken]

Hey, I won't argue with you guys. The more options, the better.

[dburne]

24 minutes ago, Ishtaru said:

The old campaign system was more enjoyable then just doing QMs. I would like to have the old campaign system back with some more options to taylor a quick scenraio, but not to replace the new system.

 

They have already stated at some point they will re-introduce some single mission from the old campaign.

 

Isn't there a new campaign also in this release? I have not tried it yet as I am so involved with the new Career...

[Guest Darvos]

4 hours ago, dburne said:

 

They have already stated at some point they will re-introduce some single mission from the old campaign.

 

Isn't there a new campaign also in this release? I have not tried it yet as I am so involved with the new Career...

 

Yes there is a new dynamic and enormously interesting career mode, one that everyone would surely prefer to the old "quick campaign". If it wasn't for the (very) realistically timed flights you have to undertake every mission, with an up to x2 actual time compression, thus requiring huge chunks of your time. Especially if you fancy piloting a bomber, which I sometimes do.

[Scottvdken]

@Darvos, I think he is referring to the new scripted campaign that came with this release, "Sea Dragon". I have not tested it myself, just noticed it in the release notes.

[dburne]

13 minutes ago, Scottvdken said:

@Darvos, I think he is referring to the new scripted campaign that came with this release, "Sea Dragon". I have not tested it myself, just noticed it in the release notes.

 

Yes this.

[Guest Darvos]

1 hour ago, dburne said:

 

Yes this.

 
Ah, yes of course. My mistake. 

[racketyjack]

9 hours ago, Ishtaru said:

The old campaign system was more enjoyable then just doing QMs. I would like to have the old campaign system back with some more options to taylor a quick scenraio, but not to replace the new system.

 

I second this. Miss the old campaign. While the new one is nice, its just too freakin' long. Funny thing is, if you check your campaign stats on the IL2 website, it still shows the old campaign stats. Bring back the old campaign, or at the very least, airstarts close to the target. Of course, this deprives us of the opportunity of takeoff which I find fun and challenging. 

Edited March 24, 2018 by racketyjack

[dburne]

It's funny how folks will have different views and ways they play, one thing I myself like about the new Career system is the lengths and depth of the missions. But that is also one thing I like about PWCG as well, I always start from the runway and always return to it ( unless I am unlucky of course).

I have had some missions take a good hour to complete, and feel a great sense of accomplishment that I made it through it, and hopefully scored some kills in the process.

 

And after return to base I will always park the plane ( unless in a hurry),  open the canopy, raise the flaps, and shut down the engine. Then read about the results.

 

Never have been one much into say the Quick Missions. 

[danielprates]

On 21/03/2018 at 11:40 AM, Darvos said:

I see. I wish they put back in a "start close to the objective" option like we had before. Or a even a key that lets you skip directly to the next waypoint, like I remember some sims had back in the older days. This really makes the bombing part of the game, which I greatly enjoyed, basically unplayable for me. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

 

I think there is such an option. Next to the BEGIN MISSION button, there is one where you can set the difficulty,  the ammount of frontline activity,  how long your career takes,  and if you start in the air or not. The lattee will leave you in the final approach to the target.

 

Right next to the realism options.

Edited March 24, 2018 by danielprates

[ShamrockOneFive]

We were told that the new Career system replaces the old Campaign system and that the plumbing is sufficiently similar that we can't have both.

 

IMHO, Career is immensely better and what we should aim to see is perhaps some additions to the QMB that give it at least a few of the kinds of things that the old Campaign system did have to its advantage. I stress few

[KillerCharlie]

Clearly there's a bug. It says I'm doing 8x but there's obviously no difference compared to 2x. My framerate is 60fps at "8x".

 

Are they working on the time compression bug?

Edited March 24, 2018 by KillerCharlie