IL2 Great Battles Easy Mission Generator

[sevenless]

On 4/6/2019 at 7:34 PM, SYN_Vander said:

Curious no-one remarked on the inspiration of my mission generator!

 

 

Oh the memories. My first game back then when I bought my 286 PC in 1991.

[migman]

I have downloaded v10 of this program but upon running it I cannot see the 3 buttons at the bottom of the screen. My guess is it has something to do with the fact that on my display I use a medium size font because my sight is not good. I am wondering if you can make the window re-sizeable or whatever is required to fix this, thanks  

[Livid]

SYN_Vander Thanks so much man! Much appreciated. Cooperative means something now.

[P72endragon]

This looks really useful, thanks! On the mission I've just created, my wingmen don't seem to want to begin taxiing until after I've taken off. Is this a known issue, or is there something I can/need to do to get them to start taxiing?

 

Have you given any thought to making this utility open-source and putting it up on GitHub? It might make it easier for tracking issues and gives you the option of accepting contributions from other developers if you deem them appropriate

[SYN_Vander]

Small update today. I have been asked to add a scrollbar so users with low resolution screens or when using big fonts can use the utility. I made this work, but not in a reliable way. This has to do with the very simple python UI framework I'm using, but I will not bore you with details. Instead I made changes so that now it is possible to minimize each section by clicking on the icon on the left:

 

 

 

Version 12 release notes:

-Each section can now be minimized by clicking on the icon on the left. This to make the utility usable for smaller resolution screens.
-Fixed minor bugs

 

Please find the download link in the first post. 

Edited April 13, 2019 by SYN_Vander

[Wiggin]

Thank you very much Vander! Will be checking it out this evening.

[SYN_Vander]

Be aware: I forgot to set "create_msbin = 1" in the conf.ini. I have corrected this in the zip file, but if you downloaded before this post's timestamp you may want to correct this in the conf.ini file or the utility will not generate proper .msbin and .list files and loading of missions will be very slow.

[Gunter_Severloh]

Would this work for Tank Crew

or is this specifically for planes?

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

This is one of the best side programs so far. Congrats! 

I am still thinking about how to use it to make a simple and easy Scripted Campaign ...

Could you add a part for that? Is it feasible? A part to write every mission text and a way to bind them together. Maybe even a way to put customized skins already created by the community ...

I apologize in advance if I ask sth not possible because my knowledge of creating software is zero .... but the idea is good, IMHO

Thanks pal  

[1./JG42Nephris]

Big thumps up Vander !

As some already stated, this lifts coop missions to an easier level!

Much appreciated.

Next collector plane is on me ?

 

Can you imagine to implement "ship attack" somehow?

However I noticed driving ships in Kuban already.

Edited April 15, 2019 by 1./JG42Nephris

[SYN_Vander]

7 hours ago, 1./JG42Nephris said:

Big thumps up Vander !

As some already stated, this lifts coop missions to an easier level!

Much appreciated.

Next collector plane is on me ?

 

Can you imagine to implement "ship attack" somehow?

However I noticed driving ships in Kuban already.

 

Thanks! 

Ship attack should already be in there, for the Kuban map. I think you’ll find it under “Escort Bombers” mission. 

[rocho]

Are you able to add planes to the config.ini file? When I try to add a new plane, the program gives a fatal error message: "Failed to execute script EasyMissionGenerator".

[SYN_Vander]

It should be possible; I added all plane types to the master list as far as I know except the WW1 planes.

 

Which plane did you add?

[Raptorattacker]

It's a great great thang Vander. Thanks mate! Mucho fun to be had and BRILLIANT for showcase videos for my skins (which I use all the time).

Rap 

[Motherbrain]

This thing is fantastic! ?

 

I've been playing with it all afternoon and it seems to work pretty well.

 

My only suggestion is maybe increasing the trigger area of the waypoint so they are easier to set off.

 

But other than that I absolutely love it. Thanks for sharing. 07

 

Edited April 21, 2019 by Motherbrain

[NN_Elanion]

I create missions for my group with your remarkable editor: simplicity, activity in flight, etc ......................... thanks again ?.
Is it possible to have the JU 52 in flight?

[rocho]

17 hours ago, SYN_Vander said:

It should be possible; I added all plane types to the master list as far as I know except the WW1 planes.

 

Which plane did you add?

I have added "Spitfire Mk VB:" "spitfiremkvb" and "P-40E-1:" "p40e1" to fighters_allied both in Moscow and Stalingrad lists, and after that I can't launch the app, I have to return to the original config.ini.

[SYN_Vander]

4 hours ago, rocho said:

I have added "Spitfire Mk VB:" "spitfiremkvb" and "P-40E-1:" "p40e1" to fighters_allied both in Moscow and Stalingrad lists, and after that I can't launch the app, I have to return to the original config.ini.

 

These planes should work as they are already in the Stalingrad list. Maybe check: a) no double entries (no need to add p-40 to Stalingrad), b) exact spelling/ used characters etc

5 hours ago, NN_Elanion said:

I create missions for my group with your remarkable editor: simplicity, activity in flight, etc ......................... thanks again ?.
Is it possible to have the JU 52 in flight?

 

Yes, you can add the Ju-52 as bomber to the list in the config file

[rocho]

6 hours ago, SYN_Vander said:

 

These planes should work as they are already in the Stalingrad list. Maybe check: a) no double entries (no need to add p-40 to Stalingrad), b) exact spelling/ used characters etc

 

Yes, you can add the Ju-52 as bomber to the list in the config file

Yes, there was an error in the Spitfire name. Thanks. ?

[NN_Elanion]

Thx: "Ju523mg4e"  find.

But Where is the list in the aircraft game folder with the exact name of the  plane ?

(A:\Steam\SteamApps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\graphics\Planes\Ju523mg4e\Textures\ ??? )

Edited April 23, 2019 by NN_Elanion

[KG66manta]

Great use it today. Thanks

[Nocke]

Just tried this the first time today - great stuff, thank you very much for this! A surprising amount of things going on, like moving columns and trains, IL2s attacking ground units, and even with a lot of activity going on (air activity on high) all went absolutely smooth in coop mode. 3 missions so far, and all of them actually felt like having been hand-crafted. ?

[BlitzPig_EL]

Thanks Vander.  I've got the BlitzPigs and our friends flying again because of this simple to use little tool.  It's worth is all out of proportion to the size of it.

 

Well done sir.

[SYN_Vander]

Thanks for the kind words! Motivates me to keep working on this after I get back from my holiday ?

[Retnek]

Same here - hats off for that "easy" missions generator! It's a fine piece of software indeed very easy to deal with. The missions are rich of sensible events but still smooth running. I really enjoyed rare details like moving truck columns or astonishing well placed artillery positions. Building this generator was far away from being easy, I bet! 

[[SRH]Festa_VR_Noob]

Without the risk of flooding the thread with praise, I too wanted to say well done for creating a simple to use, yet powerful tool.

 

I do have a small bug I noticed on the random mission I generated, and apologies if it`s been noted before. I must confess, I`ve not read through the whole thread.

 

Flying as Axis (blue), the canvas 'T' on our starting airfield was marked that of Allie (red). There was also another object next to it that I couldn't see what it was, possibly a small tower or wind-sock or something? I didn`t notice it cause any issues with AI, but thought it worth mentioning.

[SYN_Vander]

18 hours ago, Festa_PWR said:

Without the risk of flooding the thread with praise, I too wanted to say well done for creating a simple to use, yet powerful tool.

 

I do have a small bug I noticed on the random mission I generated, and apologies if it`s been noted before. I must confess, I`ve not read through the whole thread.

 

Flying as Axis (blue), the canvas 'T' on our starting airfield was marked that of Allie (red). There was also another object next to it that I couldn't see what it was, possibly a small tower or wind-sock or something? I didn`t notice it cause any issues with AI, but thought it worth mentioning.

 

Ah thanks. Will fix that ( and other bugs) shortly.

[BlitzPig_EL]

The "T" and wind sock show as red (enemy) for Allied as well.

 

Thanks again Vander.  Your GUI tool has us flying again regularly.

Edited April 30, 2019 by BlitzPig_EL

[SYN_Vander]

New version released today.

 

Version 13 release notes:

-Added windsocks to Moscow airfields
-Fixed static object (T-shape/windsock) faction at airfields
-Fw190 A3 now has proper attack loadout.
-Changed ship types on Stalingrad map to Russian types
-Ships will not move through ice

 

See first post for download link.

[AtomicP]

I'm having trouble with the coop missions. I can generate them (and I resave; is this still required?) and set up a server in-game (not with Dserver) that my friend can see and join. But when I'm in game I don't see his plane, only one mission from the airfield. He can't see any planes, being spawned alone. It's as if we're in two different servers!

 

Any ideas? The only messages I get are the server overloaded ones but nothing else to go on. 

 

Thanks for any help.

[BP_Lizard]

This is awesome! Thank you very much. I wish Tank Crew and Flying Circus can be integrated in the near future.

[SYN_Vander]

19 hours ago, AtomicP said:

I'm having trouble with the coop missions. I can generate them (and I resave; is this still required?) and set up a server in-game (not with Dserver) that my friend can see and join. But when I'm in game I don't see his plane, only one mission from the airfield. He can't see any planes, being spawned alone. It's as if we're in two different servers!

 

Any ideas? The only messages I get are the server overloaded ones but nothing else to go on. 

 

Thanks for any help.

 

-Resave in mission editor is not necessary anymore, that was fixed a number of releases ago.

-Are you flying for the same side? If so, then you should start at the same airfield and be able to see each other. Perhaps post your mission configuration (screenshot)

-Server overload message means your PC can't handle all the AI activity. Perhaps make the flights smaller. If it's only at mission startup and then the message disappears it's probably okay.

18 hours ago, BP_Lizard said:

This is awesome! Thank you very much. I wish Tank Crew and Flying Circus can be integrated in the near future.

 

When FC and BoBP (maps) have been released I will add them as well. Not sure about tanks, I don't know what kind of missions are typical etc.

[Retnek]

Looking at the ease my old mid-range PC is able to come along with your missions: may I ask to reduce the AI-settings of the light AA?

  Any setting above "low" will boost the aiming of the light AA <= 40mm to annoying unrealistic levels. While the heavy AA >70mm becomes at least a bit dangerous only when set to "high".

  I see the general performance advantage of a few well aiming AA-guns, but that's a gaming setup imho. Since the missions are performing very well there's no need to use unreal precision to replace real-world-numbers.

  I would prefer a higher number of light AA-guns firing much more realistically with "low" AI-settings. Is there any chance you reduce the levels of the light AA per default to "low" and add some barrels instead? Or to build in a switch to choose from "low light AA numbers with aiming high" vs "high numbers with aiming low"?

[AtomicP]

On 5/6/2019 at 5:29 PM, SYN_Vander said:

 

-Resave in mission editor is not necessary anymore, that was fixed a number of releases ago.

-Are you flying for the same side? If so, then you should start at the same airfield and be able to see each other. Perhaps post your mission configuration (screenshot)

-Server overload message means your PC can't handle all the AI activity. Perhaps make the flights smaller. If it's only at mission startup and then the message disappears it's probably okay.

 

When FC and BoBP (maps) have been released I will add them as well. Not sure about tanks, I don't know what kind of missions are typical etc.

 

OK so I got it working. Not sure exactly which thing made the difference, but I reinstalled the game and then made a test mission with only four AI planes (1 allied wingman + 3 enemy aircraft) and I could see my friend and vice versa. Still got the odd message about server overload though. 

 

I run an AMD FX-8350 with a GTX 1060 6 GB: is this not sufficient? 

[SYN_Haashashin]

22 minutes ago, AtomicP said:

I run an AMD FX-8350 with a GTX 1060 6 GB: is this not sufficient? 

Hi Atomic,

 

When running missions the most important is your CPU since it has to deal with all IA calculations, etc...

 

GPU means nothing when hosting afaik but as Vander said, if its shows at mission starts and then dissapear..you are good.

 

Haash

[AtomicP]

36 minutes ago, SYN_Haashashin said:

Hi Atomic,

 

When running missions the most important is your CPU since it has to deal with all IA calculations, etc...

 

GPU means nothing when hosting afaik but as Vander said, if its shows at mission starts and then dissapear..you are good.

 

Haash

 

Yeah, I reckoned as much, just added in anyway. I know my CPU isn't the best but I don't struggle playing quick missions or campaigns. And hosting missions for DCS works fine too. 

 

Maybe I'll record some CPU usage data with different configurations of AI flights to see what happens. Things usually become clearer with graphs

[SYN_Vander]

20 hours ago, Retnek said:

Looking at the ease my old mid-range PC is able to come along with your missions: may I ask to reduce the AI-settings of the light AA?

  Any setting above "low" will boost the aiming of the light AA <= 40mm to annoying unrealistic levels. While the heavy AA >70mm becomes at least a bit dangerous only when set to "high".

  I see the general performance advantage of a few well aiming AA-guns, but that's a gaming setup imho. Since the missions are performing very well there's no need to use unreal precision to replace real-world-numbers.

  I would prefer a higher number of light AA-guns firing much more realistically with "low" AI-settings. Is there any chance you reduce the levels of the light AA per default to "low" and add some barrels instead? Or to build in a switch to choose from "low light AA numbers with aiming high" vs "high numbers with aiming low"?

 

Added to backlog the option to have more low AI AAA. Perhaps easy fix could be to add some low AI AAA in any case. switching to " medium"  or "high"  will then change some of the AAA (70/88 mm) to higher AI level. 

[AtomicP]

I did a bit more testing and everything still works even with more AI flights. CPU load hits around 60-70% on a couple of cores with average across the whole CPU being 30-40% so not maxed out. GPU sits around 50-60%. So I'm not sure what the server overload messages mean.

 

 

[[SRH]Festa_VR_Noob]

52 minutes ago, AtomicP said:

I did a bit more testing and everything still works even with more AI flights. CPU load hits around 60-70% on a couple of cores with average across the whole CPU being 30-40% so not maxed out. GPU sits around 50-60%. So I'm not sure what the server overload messages mean.

 

 

 

It might just be how the missions are being built.

 

When building manually, you`d ideally want staggered delays for all the separate mission functions loading in so they don`t trip over each other.

 

So I`d be assuming this mission generator is loading everything at once when the mission starts and even on the best of machines, may cause a little stutter.

 

Of course, I could be way off.

[AtomicP]

45 minutes ago, Festa_PWR said:

 

It might just be how the missions are being built.

 

When building manually, you`d ideally want staggered delays for all the separate mission functions loading in so they don`t trip over each other.

 

So I`d be assuming this mission generator is loading everything at once when the mission starts and even on the best of machines, may cause a little stutter.

 

Of course, I could be way off.

 

Looking at the TacView file, there's a good amount happening outwith the action I'm involved with so it could be that.