TFS Updates: Previous Tobruk Discussion/Comments/Questions

[Haza]

Just now, Ste_Smith said:

think he ment the info not the actual game patch when he said gradually...??? seems pretty obvious to me that team f wont release tf5 till next year at earliest and will be in one big bang

 

Oh Ok, thanks for the clarification, although in saying that, I thought the up-dates from Spiritus were rather good and informative, so far.

I realise perhaps off topic, but you might find the following of interest, if you haven't already found this link

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/TeamFusionMod/videos

 

Regards 

Edited April 9, 2018 by Haza

[No.54dixx]

18 hours ago, 69thSpiritus_Mortem said:

Yes, the Martlet will be based off of land bases but could be carrier capable.

 

Once I can show updates on it, I will. 

Great! looking forward to it!!
i asked because i think i was told somebody was working on a carrier, but it being at least carrier capable (unless it just means that it has an arresting hook) still keeps the hope alive :D
 

1 hour ago, Haza said:

 

Hauggy,

 

I'm not sure if TFS will trickle feed Torbruk stuff or will just release it as one big patch with that patch being TF5.0 North Africa (assuming that Tobruk is part of that up-date and not another NA campaign).  However, from this sentence from a post from Buzzsaw on ATAG forum, I was expecting TF5.0 to be released next year, with TF5.0 being a big update with Tobruk, but of course this might all change, so hopefully one of the TFS guys might be able to clarify that for you/us.

 

 

"And about the same time, or even perhaps before Bodenplatte comes out, you may see TF 5.0, our North African release appear."

 

 

Regards

 

Haza

mmm yea but keep in mind TF5 is not a patch, nor an update, it'll be a DLC 
so yea it'll come as one big package 

On 8/4/2018 at 1:10 PM, BOO said:

No Carrier ops Dix - The Marlets are a land based variant.  Correct for the period. 

Ok, but in September 1941 the HMS Audacity was operating from Gibraltar with Martlets on it.

It didn't get to Tobruk, but in that period a carrier with martlets was already operative. 
It would be awesome to have that option, the last sim providing ww2 carrier ops was IL2 1946, and who knows how far away IL2 Battle of Midway is

Edited April 9, 2018 by No.54dixx

[=FEW=Hauggy]

5 hours ago, Haza said:

 

Hauggy,

 

I'm not sure if TFS will trickle feed Torbruk stuff or will just release it as one big patch with that patch being TF5.0 North Africa (assuming that Tobruk is part of that up-date and not another NA campaign).  However, from this sentence from a post from Buzzsaw on ATAG forum, I was expecting TF5.0 to be released next year, with TF5.0 being a big update with Tobruk, but of course this might all change, so hopefully one of the TFS guys might be able to clarify that for you/us.

 

 

"And about the same time, or even perhaps before Bodenplatte comes out, you may see TF 5.0, our North African release appear."

 

 

Regards

 

Haza

 

 

4 hours ago, Ste_Smith said:

think he ment the info not the actual game patch when he said gradually...??? seems pretty obvious to me that team f wont release tf5 till next year at earliest and will be in one big bang

Yes that's what I meant I could have been more clear to be fair.

Hopefully we'll get a release just before the end of the year, I understand it's going to take a bit of times especially to finish such a huge map, which is not the entirety of north Africa clearly correct me if Im wrong but the map is "just" a part of eastern  Lybia and maybe a tiny bit of Egypt but certainly not "North Africa" as the entire desert war took place in a much larger area.

Anyway like somebody said earlier we have more than we need for scenarios comprising the pretty much entire desert war itself but I doubt we'll see more just compare the map to a satellite view on Google maps like I did.

Anyway the cool part is there is the possibility of a Syrian map maybe later featuring Vichy French AF against the RAF when the British empire came to take over the Middle East.

 

Edited April 9, 2018 by Hauggy

[sevenless]

9 hours ago, Haza said:

, I was expecting TF5.0 to be released next year, with TF5.0 being a big update with Tobruk, but of course this might all change, so hopefully one of the TFS guys might be able to clarify that for you/us.

 

Also my understanding. They released 4.5  around x-mas 2017 and nothing new will show up before x-mas 2018. Although they have access to the code by now, they are part time developers and have to make a living with their real jobs. So they develop in their free time, which is to be applauded, on a game which was abandoned by the publisher in 2012. I hope 2019 will bring us some Tobruk flying. All the best.

[ATAG_Flare]

1 hour ago, sevenless said:

 

Also my understanding. They released 4.5  around x-mas 2017 and nothing new will show up before x-mas 2018. Although they have access to the code by now, they are part time developers and have to make a living with their real jobs. So they develop in their free time, which is to be applauded, on a game which was abandoned by the publisher in 2012. I hope 2019 will bring us some Tobruk flying. All the best.

Yes, due to the fact that most of the people who got 4.5 got it for free I doubt TFS made much money on it so hopefully after 5.0 when they get lots of purchases we will see an increase in development pace.

[Sokol1]

7 hours ago, Hauggy said:

...but the map is "just" a part of eastern  Lybia and maybe a tiny bit of Egypt but certainly not "North Africa" as the entire desert war took place in a much larger area.

 

 

The map  - from Gazalla to Mersa Matruh, fit well for Africa Korps offensive in 1941.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sonnenblume#/media/File:WesternDesertBattle_Area1941_en.svg

 

1941 desert war happens in this "tiny bit" of North Africa,  south of Bir Hacheim only British commands operate - area not relevant for air operations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[InProgress]

I am a bit afriad about that small part of land next to egypt :/ It feels so little that you will easly fly behind it and see that "you are leaving the battlefield" thing or something, wish it would be a tile or 2 bigger.

 

Anyway do you have any plans for sea warfare? Are there going to be uboots attacking convoys, smaller vessels shooting at other ships etc?

[Aap]

Are there any official estimations, when TF 5.0 will be launched?

Edited April 10, 2018 by II./JG77_Kemp

[BOO]

45 minutes ago, II./JG77_Kemp said:

Are there any official estimations, when TF 5.0 will be launched?

TFS policy is not to give timescales or deadlines. 

[InProgress]

It will be a surprise lol, one day you will wake up and boom, Tobruk on sale

[69thSpiritus]

@Inprogress, yes, if you look at the first update on Tobruk from a couple weeks ago, we posted a couple shots of a few new shipping options, one of which is a U-boat. 

 

@Kemp, like mentioned, we do not give out release dates. We have agreed on a date within TFS though. 

[Ste_Smith]

spiritus - any answer on why u cant post new updates on martlet???keen to see what last year has changed...  

[theOden]

Most work on a plane is surely not visible in the model so I think you expect a little much to see what's happened during a year by visuals.

[Ste_Smith]

perhaps but thats not the way he made it out...it sounded like something prevents team f from giving update and i simply want to know what that thing is or that it has gone away and this is where they are with it...not difficult stuff really???

[69thSpiritus]

Well I painted myself into a corner. Haha flight sim community misses nothing. 

 

All I can say is updates on the Martlet are pending approval. Don't worry though, I am the artist assigned to it and have been burning the candle at both ends on it, it has not gone away or been halted, far from it. 

Edited April 10, 2018 by 69thSpiritus_Mortem

[Ste_Smith]

thx. dont really understand what u mean by approval...sounds misterious but i get that is all im getting lol...

[DD_Arthur]

18 hours ago, ATAG_Flare said:

 so hopefully after 5.0 when they get lots of purchases we will see an increase in development pace.

 

I really wonder if there will be a great amount of interest in 5.0 by the time of it's release.

 

Since TFS are developing planes which will be exclusively for the channel map, ie the Spit. Mk Vb, bf109F1, etc. wouldn't it be better to release those asap to keep a bit of interest in this sim going between now and the release of TFS5.0 around the turn of the year?

 

I'm really not sure if TFS "leadership" is aware of it but Cliffs is falling off a cliff right now if player numbers are anything to go by.  I understand that by releasing these planes sooner they would be diluting content from TFS 5.0 but I think at this point they really need to do something....anything....to keep some interest up.

 

We've just seen early work on Spitfire mk. IX and 109G14 models for Bodenplatte.  Soon we're going to be seeing w.i.p. shots of P47's. 

 

TFS are going to be left behind.........

 

Understand this isn't any sort of gloating or forum bs.  I only have flight sims on my pc.  I'm not interested in shoot 'em ups, roman legions or dungeons and dragons.

If TFS go belly up I get less to play with.......

[9./JG52_Sturm]

21 hours ago, DD_Arthur said:

 

 

Since TFS are developing planes which will be exclusively for the channel map, ie the Spit. Mk Vb, bf109F1, etc. wouldn't it be better to release those asap to keep a bit of interest in this sim going between now and the release of TFS5.0 around the turn of the year?

 

 

Aren't those being developed for Africa, though their non-trop variant will be available to use on the channel map. So not exclusive. Plus I don't believe just shoving a Vb and 109F into the channel map will do a great deal for player numbers. Might for a little, but not long term. And regardless of seeing work on IXs and 109G14s, Bodenplatte is still a long way off.

Edited April 11, 2018 by 9./JG52_Sturm

[DD_Arthur]

16 minutes ago, 9./JG52_Sturm said:

 

Aren't those being developed for Africa, though their non-trop variant will be available to use on the channel map. So not exclusive. Plus I don't believe just shoving a Vb and 109F into the channel map will do a great deal for player numbers. Might for a little, but not long term. And regardless of seeing work on IXs and 109G14s, Bodenplatte is still a long way off.

 

From Buzzsaw

 

"The following planes released with TF 5.0 will be intended for exclusive use on the Channel map:

 

Spitfire IIB

Spitfire VA

109F-1

 

And of course, the 190A-1/A-2/A-3 will be exclusively for the Channel map when they appear.

 

And the tropical versions of the various types will not be intended for use on the Channel map... neither will field mods like the two cannon 'light fighter' version of the Hurricane IIC which was used in the Med.  Neither should the 'strafer' version of the Blenheim IV be used on the Channel map."

 

Might increase player numbers for a little, but not long term?  Quite possibly but at this time I'd say anything is better than nothing.  Bodenplatte a long way off?  Final release certainly but we're going to get a steady stream of bug fixes, updates and aircraft releases through this year and the map team, whilst no doubt very busy, have now had around five months working on the Bodenplatte map itself.

I suspect that might become available in early access around the time TF5.0 is ready for release..................

 

Thanks to the miracle of Steam I can tell you that right now, worldwide, a magnificent thirty-nine people are playing Cliffs.   There seems to be no sign of any pending updates or bug fixing patches in the immediate pipeline.  If they can't release content sooner for whatever reason then I would suggest they really need to do some sort of PR.

 

Without Mysticpuma handling this stuff they really are floundering in this department.    They need to generate some interest.  Any update is nice but I would suggest posting pictures of Oasthouses,  a meaningless section of north African map and telling us they have agreed a release date amongst themselves but won't reveal it publicly does not excite the punters.

 

Is it not possible now to post some wip videos of the Wellington being flown from the cockpit or an external of a  cannon armed Spitfire or Bf109F at least flying in the sim?  

 

Just sit tight until the release of 5.0 sometime later this year or early next?  I rather think the stable may well be empty by then.................

 

   

 

 

 

 

[69thSpiritus]

At this point I can't remember how many times we have responded to the want for a release of certain planes DLC before 5.0. Nothing has changed. It isn't up to TFS. 

 

Regarding PR and updates, I've done two updates the last few weeks showing numerous items. If I just showed off the Cr.42 on the last one, and the Wellington turret on the previous one, people would complain about the lack of info on other things. It really is a damned if you do, damned if you don't job so I'll continue updating every section. Next week's update will include another new plane, but I'll also include more info on the map, AI routines, and other ground objects. 

 

As far as signs of updates or patches, I stated that I'll be doing updates every other week last month, so I'm not sure what else I can do to notify people of upcoming updates. The AI routines are being fixed and will be released when finished before 5.0, and will include other corrections, so that is an upcoming patch fix. Once the AI routines go into Beta testing, you'll know the patch is close. 

 

You suggest we need to do some type of PR. I'm open to suggestions. I'm answering questions here, ATAG, ACG, Steam, and FB Monday through Sunday, as well as doing updates every other week while modeling/texturing. Won't even mention my two real life jobs. What else would you like me to do? Not being argumentative here, I'm seriously asking what your suggestions are, if I can do them then I will. 

Edited April 11, 2018 by 69thSpiritus_Mortem

[Beazil]

Well said Spiritus.

[69thSpiritus]

Regarding the player numbers. Player numbers are lower than they have been at previous times, but that isn't unexpected. Many people fly other sims and play other games. There is always an ebb and flow, especially with Kuban releasing with new aircraft. The numbers aren't bad though. Since we have our Beta server running on ATAG, we are able to see the numbers on the servers and monitor them.  ACG is a big base for CloD and the numbers below do not include them, these are just from the ATAG 1 server. 

 

The last two months:

We have daily between 200-400 different players, who accumulate between 300-700 flight hours. 

Weekly perspective is between 600-800 different players, accumulating between 2000-3500 flight hours. 

In February, 1100 different players spent time on ATAG 1, accumulating 8000 flight hours. 

In March, there were 1450 different players on ATAG 1, accumulating 12000 flight hours. 

 

I'm sure numbers will continue to rise, especially once the AI routines are fixed. This has been one of the biggest issues with CloD since day 1, and we are excited to get that fix finished and out to everyone, the SP players specfically. 

 

Edited April 11, 2018 by 69thSpiritus_Mortem

[Ste_Smith]

54 minutes ago, 69thSpiritus_Mortem said:

At this point I can't remember how many times we have responded to the want for a release of certain planes DLC before 5.0. Nothing has changed. It isn't up to TFS. 

 

Regarding PR and updates, I've done two updates the last few weeks showing numerous items. If I just showed off the Cr.42 on the last one, and the Wellington turret on the previous one, people would complain about the lack of info on other things. It really is a damned if you do, damned if you don't job so I'll continue updating every section. Next week's update will include another new plane, but I'll also include more info on the map, AI routines, and other ground objects. 

 

As far as signs of updates or patches, I stated that I'll be doing updates every other week last month, so I'm not sure what else I can do to notify people of upcoming updates. The AI routines are being fixed and will be released when finished before 5.0, and will include other corrections, so that is an upcoming patch fix. Once the AI routines go into Beta testing, you'll know the patch is close. 

 

You suggest we need to do some type of PR. I'm open to suggestions. I'm answering questions here, ATAG, ACG, Steam, and FB Monday through Sunday, as well as doing updates every other week while modeling/texturing. Won't even mention my two real life jobs. What else would you like me to do? Not being argumentative here, I'm seriously asking what your suggestions are, if I can do them then I will. 

regarding dlc who is it up to if not team f is it 1c??? surely some1 else could do pr job not modeller or some1 that has other tasks buzzsaw maybe??

[69thSpiritus]

Yes, marketing and sales are up to 1C. As for the PR job, I'm just filling in until our new guy gets up to speed. 

[gn728]

Would TF consider a booth at the Flight Sim Expo in June/Vegas. As far as I can tell BOX is the only combat sim in attendance. I think the more CFS presence the merrier..

[Ste_Smith]

22 minutes ago, 69thSpiritus_Mortem said:

Regarding the player numbers. Player numbers are lower than they have been at previous times, but that isn't unexpected. Many people fly other sims and play other games. There is always an ebb and flow, especially with Kuban releasing with new aircraft. The numbers aren't bad though. Since we have our Beta server running on ATAG, we are able to see the numbers on the servers and monitor them.  ACG is a big base for CloD and the numbers below do not include them, these are just from the ATAG 1 server. 

 

The last two months:

We have daily between 200-400 different players, who accumulate between 300-700 flight hours. 

Weekly perspective is between 600-800 different players, accumulating between 2000-3500 flight hours. 

In February, 1100 different players spent time on ATAG 1, accumulating 8000 flight hours. 

In March, there were 1450 different players on ATAG 1, accumulating 12000 flight hours. 

 

I'm sure numbers will continue to rise, especially once the AI routines are fixed. This has been one of the biggest issues with CloD since day 1, and we are excited to get that fix finished and out to everyone, the SP players specfically. 

 

if you look at http://steamcharts.com/cmp/754530,223750,307960,63950#1m that kinda suggests the opposite...on 1yr view actually lower now on blitz than old clod...but bury ur head in the sand and only look at atag...smh

[Ste_Smith]

u said continue to rise sorry if that meant numbers are dropping across all servers but atag is rising so it's ok...i misunderstood...altho im not sure how u will measure sp players from atag???

[InProgress]

He does not because there is not any yet.. 2 old campaigns from 2011. People will come back after they add content for SP fans (just like me) for now there is nothing to do so people don't play. Nothing devs should be worried about, playerbase will rise after they bring carieer, just like it did for BoX. 

 

These who like multi are playing now, these who like single are just waiting.

Edited April 11, 2018 by InProgress

[theOden]

I'm strictly playing singleplayer.

Just saying.

[gn728]

Same...

[9./JG52_Sturm]

6 hours ago, DD_Arthur said:

 

From Buzzsaw

 

"The following planes released with TF 5.0 will be intended for exclusive use on the Channel map:

 

Spitfire IIB

Spitfire VA

109F-1

 

And of course, the 190A-1/A-2/A-3 will be exclusively for the Channel map when they appear.

 

And the tropical versions of the various types will not be intended for use on the Channel map... neither will field mods like the two cannon 'light fighter' version of the Hurricane IIC which was used in the Med.  Neither should the 'strafer' version of the Blenheim IV be used on the Channel map."

 

Might increase player numbers for a little, but not long term?  Quite possibly but at this time I'd say anything is better than nothing.  Bodenplatte a long way off?  Final release certainly but we're going to get a steady stream of bug fixes, updates and aircraft releases through this year and the map team, whilst no doubt very busy, have now had around five months working on the Bodenplatte map itself.

I suspect that might become available in early access around the time TF5.0 is ready for release..................

 

 

I get your point, but these new planes are going to be based a lot around the trop versions directly intended for Tobruk. And BoX devs are in the enviable position of being able to charge £50 for their release right here, right now with absolutely nothing yet for players to play around with: TFS are not. BoX can get their sales locked down which gives them the ability to drip feed content in increments with the money safely in the bank. 

 

Edited April 11, 2018 by 9./JG52_Sturm

[=FEW=Hauggy]

Btw I have to ask if it's planned to fix the instruments on some planes like the fuel gauge in the Spit or the artificial horizon in the BR.20.

I know its not gamebreaking but It'd be nice.

[No.54dixx]

I'd like to ask if the warming up times for the allied planes are going to stay, as they are now, in the next updates or in tf5

same question also about ground handling..I find it extremely difficult to do since 4.5

Edited April 15, 2018 by No.54dixx

[Mysticpuma]

I'm hoping that the Ai fixes will also include a QMB like the 'ancient' 1946.

The lack of SP content, considering it is a much larger player base than online is a staggering omission.

Look at the QMB from 1946 compared to CloD. Currently it is possible in CloD to change your aircraft in these single Player missions, time of day, very basic weather and that's about it.

Look at the amount of posts on people asking how to change the loading in SP. Advice? Go into multiplayer, blah, blah. No, I don't want to, I want to do it in a SP menu. It needs fixes, it needs a QMB, choose map area, choose aircraft, choose the amount of aircraft, choose the time of day, choose the weather, choose the target, choose defence and defenders, choose how many, etc, etc. Currently SP has the stock missions from over 6-years ago!

It needs a Dynamic Campaign Generator but apparently this can't, nor can any SP content, be created until the Ai is fixed. Well that came as a shock! 

 

It's about time Single Player content actually saw some input and hopefully the previous Radio Commands will be activated and made to work again. This is how deep the Simulation can go.

 

 

[BlindAsABat]

With regard to a possible long term decline in player numbers I am not convinced that new aeroplanes or even new AI routines will do much to revive the game.  From my perspective it is the change in the multi-player servers that have caused me to lose interest in flying CloD.  I used to fly MP twice a day just about every day, a couple of hours at lunchtime and again, but for a longer period, in the evenings.  I think it is more than a fortnight since I even bothered to log on.

 

I first started playing computer games in the late seventies, in all the time since and of all the games my best gaming experience was CloD on Storm of War.  For reasons that I do not understand that went West a long time ago and will not be coming back.  What is left?  It used to be possible for a solo pilot to have some fun on Danger Dogz, a least a decent lunchtime knock about, but some months ago the chaps in charge of that server changed their offering.  The last few time I tried it I either found no enemy at all or flights of nine fighters escorting a similar number of bombers - no good for a solo pilot.

 

TWC have two servers up, one in a fantasy battle in France, which a lot of the chaps like but they are flying bombers, which is not my thing.  The other is an almost equally fantasy battle over the Isle of Wight, but is really a low altitude dogfight against the AI in a small area over the Solent or another bomber simulator depending how one wants to fly it.  Warbirds of Prey had some good ideas but except on the infrequent event days don't manage to follow through.  What's left?  ACG on a Sunday night, not my cup of tea, or ATAG, aslo not my cup of tea.

 

CloD's strength is, for me at least, is Battle of Britain setting take that away and there a number of flight sims that are more modern and arguably a lot better.  Will I buy Tobruk?  Probably not.  Niot only because the period/map doesn't interest me (though I might be tempted by any Malta battles) but mainly because by the time it comes out I will have totally lost the CloD habit.

[DD_FT-]

3 hours ago, BlindAsABat said:

(...) It used to be possible for a solo pilot to have some fun on Danger Dogz, a least a decent lunchtime knock about, but some months ago the chaps in charge of that server changed their offering.  The last few time I tried it I either found no enemy at all or flights of nine fighters escorting a similar number of bombers - no good for a solo pilot.

(...)

 

Too bad you experienced that on our server. There's not been a major change in the server, or in its configuration. It's always been based on one basic mission/map, varying in start time, and season: Summer, Autumn and Winter. Randomly,  within a time interval a mission file is being loaded/added into the server, from a set of 159 missions.

Some have bombers and escorts in them, some have only bombers, and some have only fighters.

Now as it's all rather random, there is always a chance you find yourself in empty skies, or that you mostly encounter escorted flights... (Also, the map will be rather empty right after it's just restarted, which it does every 4 hours.)  There have not been any real changes to the server lately.

 

I agree with you on Clod and Storm of War, that was great....

[Ste_Smith]

thought every1 hated storm of war lol...funny how only 1 group of ppl who slag it off...team f and atag??? 

[354thFG_Leifr]

Ain’t it so... 

[Lusekofte]

My biggest obstacle in COD is flying alone, I have not yet survived any lone wolfing in any server . Pretty dangerous in BOX too based on my experience 

[BlindAsABat]

@DD_FT,

 

Thanks for that.  Maybe I have just been unlucky but LW raid patterns do certainly seem to have changed from when a romp on Danger Dogz was pretty much a part of my daily routine.  For example the regular CR.42 fighter sweeps in the Manston area seem to have gone completely as have the mass Stuka raids coming in over the South Coast and hitting Canterbury.  Large numbers of Heinkels at 20,000 ft going up and down the Thames seem also to be a thing of the past (not that they were a favourite of mine unless I had a bunch of mates with me - too bloody dangerous to do solo).  Those are the big and obvious changes that I noticed, but probably more important was the bread and butter raids of half a dozen Dorniers or JU-88s that used to criss-cross Kent on a more or less continual basis to say nothing of the Me-109s and 110s that used to buzz about the place in reasonable numbers.  That said I have noticed the occasional raid coming in to the West of Dungeness where previously enemy aircraft where pretty much unherd of.

 

I'll give it a few more tries and see if my luck changes.

17 hours ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

My biggest obstacle in COD is flying alone, I have not yet survived any lone wolfing in any server . Pretty dangerous in BOX too based on my experience 

 

Lone wolfing is, rightly, a dangerous pastime especially on a server where there are a lot of enemy breathers about, but it can be good fun and its probably better training than not flying at all.  Danger Dogz is probably the best server for flying on your own as it has the markers for enemy aircraft switched on and so, by keeping your map open, you can better pick your fights or run away if you do not fancy the odds.  The "radar" is not infallible though and so you do need to keep your head on a swivel and never fly straight and level for more than thirty seconds.