A few Blitz questions...

[ladlon]

Hi.  I still have the original il7, Forgotten Battles, Pacific Fighters, 1946, CLOD, and now Blitz.  I'm running the Steam version of Blitz, and had a few questions I'm hoping someone here can answer:

 

1) Is there no way to start a Quick or Single mission starting on the ground, so you have to take off?  The only solution I can think of, is to make a mission in the mision editor, but then it would be empty of enemies, unless I added those as well (...more on that later).

 

2) Is there a way to have gunners use either the mouse to control aiming, or my X52Pro flight controls?  I've been reading a few posts on how people are having trouble with that.  It seems the gunners have a different set of controls than the pilots, so I'm assuming I can't use my joystick (as it's already controlling the plane itself)... although I would have thought I could use it, since the plane is on autopilot and I'm in the gunner seat... but I guess it's because the sim allows you to control the plane, even though you are not in the pilot seat.  So, the mouse is fine, but there seems to be trouble getting that to work for some people.   (I was going to try it tonight, but I'm having trouble with Blitz right now, so I can't)

 

3) In the mission editor, is there no way to drop a bunch of enemy units, but give them a large spawn area radius, so it's random where they spawn in?  Better still, is there any way to have randomness to the type of units (and their location) each mission?   And, while I'm on that, is there some sort of random mission generator out there?  I know I've read about the Pat Wilson Campaign Generator, but I wasn't sure if there was a Blitz version.

 

4) Are there any mods (or would it be easy for me) to change the 'runway' texture to something a bit more visible?  I get that most of the runways are unpaved (...although really surprised that there aren't more paved ones in the entire map area)... but even a more visible 'grass/dirt' one would be great.  Or, some sort of runway lights (even very limited, such as end  markers)?

 

5) I'm surprised how empty the airports are.  Are there mods to add some static objects (crates, barrels, parked planes, etc) to the vanilla main map?  If not, is this something I could do relatively easily (and make permanent changes to the base map)?

 

6) Is there a mod to make navigating the in-plane map a bit easier?  For example, it would be great if it centered to the plane when you opened it, so you don't have to spend so much time with the awkward zoom and pan controls. Maybe a 'padlock to player plane' mode for the map.   (... I know, I know..... I shouldn't even HAVE a plane icon on the map.... but, I'm still getting used to everything, and training... and every time I open that map, I have to zoom and drag until the relevant area is in view and zoomed in... and that would be the case even if I had not plane icon, and was doing true dead reconing)

 

 

Before I get bombarded with multiple cries of 'PLAY MULTIPLAYER!!!', I should point out that I want to play single player, offline.  I know the mutiplayer is great, and the maps may have more 'decoration' online... but, currently, I'd get slaughtered out there.  I just want to fly around, learn the planes and systems, do some simple missions (ex. ground targets), do some dogfighting...  I'd set up my own missions, but if there is no means to randomize them (ex. define a wide spawn radius... random enemy group amounts, etc), then there would be zero surprise, as each mission would be the same, plus I'd already know where everything is.

 

Hope someone here can answer those.  Thanks...

[ATAG_kiwiflieger]

Hi ladlon, here's a few quick answers:

 

1 - Check in your realism settings that "Allow Takeoff and Landing" is ticked, this will make you start on the ground in most missions (not all, some are airspawns like the free flight ones).

 

2 - Check this thread out - https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20987 You will also need to unbind the key conflict between 'Fire Current Weapon' in General keybindings and 'Hold to Offset Camera' in Camera keybindings to make sure you can move the gun while firing.

 

3 - Currently there is no way to give a random spawn radius to enemy units or aircraft - you're not the only one to request it though so it's a possibility it might happen.

 

4 - AFAIK there is no way to do this, although you can use the FMB to place lights on runways.

 

5 - The FMB is best for livening up airports with more objects and it is relatively easy (especially if you have experience in the 1946 FMB, they have similarities). You can't make any permanent changes to the base map though, these have to be saved as a mission.

 

6 - Don't think there is a way of centering the map on your aircraft automatically.

 

It's true that starting out on multiplayer is a significant challenge, but there are people willing to give up time to help new guys out with getting up and running without going straight into combat. If you're comfortable with using Teamspeak then feel free to PM me about it - please don't feel any pressure to do so if you're not interested.

 

Salute 

[ladlon]

Hello again, ATAG_kiwiflieger.  Thanks for your response.

 

1) Yes, the Allow Takeoff and Landing option is checked.  I have yet to find any Quick/Single missions which do not start in the air.  I read something about it being there simply for backward compatibility somehow, but it SEEMED like it was ignored, and you would always start in the air.

 

2) Thanks for that link.  I'll look into it.  I wanted to test this out last night, but my issue with the controller (X52Pro) settings getting erased each session.

 

3) That's really unfortunate.  I was going to just make my own missions, if none of the vanilla Quick/Single missions would start on the ground, as a solution to that.  But, if there is no way to randomize things (or even just give each enemy a wide spawn radius, to effectively randomize their location), then it would be kind of pointless, since I'd know where the enemy is, as well as how many and what they are.  It's good to hear that others are requesting it, although I'm a bit concerned it hasn't shown up yet.

 

4) I'd assume that each of the airports are historically accurate, as far as what the runways are made of... although I am surprised there are so few paved 'permanent' airprorts in such a large area, as opposed to (what I assumed would be) temporary airports (made for the sake of the war).  The 'grass' runways are hard to spot in the air, and even harder to see while rapidly travelling along them (making it very tricky to see if you're still on it).  It seems there are some that are dirt, which is certainly better.  I would have thought there are texture files that could be modified... even if it's just a matter of brightening/darkening it, or doing a hue shift, just to make it stand out more.  I'll look into the lights option in the mission builder, though.  I'm surprised they are not there already in the vanilla base map.

 

5) Odd that you can't change the base map permanently.... and that the base map isn't more detailed.  The airports look so empty, and don't read as 'airports'.  A few (static) parked planes, alone, would have really helped (...both for immersion/effect, as well as visual spotting from the air).... maybe some barrels/boxes, etc.  I guess I could at least create one 'mission' (with no enemies), for the sake of just flying (which would have my added details).

 

6) The map in-flight navigation map frustrates me.  It literally seems to fight you as you fly.  I always have to fiddle with it, in order to have the relevant area displayed.  The white airplane is hard to spot, unless you are zoomed in and generally centered around it.  Even the mousewheel zoom is reversed from what I would have expected/preferred (...and I don't think there is a way to alter that).

 

 

Ya, I generally play single player... in all games.  Although I fully appreciate (and agree with) the fun of playing against/with real people, I tend to play against bots.  Multiplayer is certainly something I'd be very interested in, eventually.  But for now (while I'm learning and improving), I just want to keep to private sessions..... especially while I struggle with various issues with the sim (like certain things not working, etc).  Thanks for your offer, and for your answers!

Hello again, ATAG_kiwiflieger.  Thanks for your response.

 

1) Yes, the Allow Takeoff and Landing option is checked.  I have yet to find any Quick/Single missions which do not start in the air.  I read something about it being there simply for backward compatibility somehow, but it SEEMED like it was ignored, and you would always start in the air.

 

2) Thanks for that link.  I'll look into it.  I wanted to test this out last night, but my issue with the controller (X52Pro) settings getting erased each session.

 

3) That's really unfortunate.  I was going to just make my own missions, if none of the vanilla Quick/Single missions would start on the ground, as a solution to that.  But, if there is no way to randomize things (or even just give each enemy a wide spawn radius, to effectively randomize their location), then it would be kind of pointless, since I'd know where the enemy is, as well as how many and what they are.  It's good to hear that others are requesting it, although I'm a bit concerned it hasn't shown up yet.

 

4) I'd assume that each of the airports are historically accurate, as far as what the runways are made of... although I am surprised there are so few paved 'permanent' airprorts in such a large area, as opposed to (what I assumed would be) temporary airports (made for the sake of the war).  The 'grass' runways are hard to spot in the air, and even harder to see while rapidly travelling along them (making it very tricky to see if you're still on it).  It seems there are some that are dirt, which is certainly better.  I would have thought there are texture files that could be modified... even if it's just a matter of brightening/darkening it, or doing a hue shift, just to make it stand out more.  I'll look into the lights option in the mission builder, though.  I'm surprised they are not there already in the vanilla base map.

 

5) Odd that you can't change the base map permanently.... and that the base map isn't more detailed.  The airports look so empty, and don't read as 'airports'.  A few (static) parked planes, alone, would have really helped (...both for immersion/effect, as well as visual spotting from the air).... maybe some barrels/boxes, etc.  I guess I could at least create one 'mission' (with no enemies), for the sake of just flying (which would have my added details).

 

6) The map in-flight navigation map frustrates me.  It literally seems to fight you as you fly.  I always have to fiddle with it, in order to have the relevant area displayed.  The white airplane is hard to spot, unless you are zoomed in and generally centered around it.  Even the mousewheel zoom is reversed from what I would have expected/preferred (...and I don't think there is a way to alter that).

 

 

Ya, I generally play single player... in all games.  Although I fully appreciate (and agree with) the fun of playing against/with real people, I tend to play against bots.  Multiplayer is certainly something I'd be very interested in, eventually.  But for now (while I'm learning and improving), I just want to keep to private sessions..... especially while I struggle with various issues with the sim (like certain things not working, etc).  Thanks for your offer, and for your response!

[Sokol1]

8 hours ago, ladlon said:

1) Is there no way to start a Quick or Single mission starting on the ground, so you have to take off?  The only solution I can think of, is to make a mission in the mision editor, but then it would be empty of enemies, unless I added those as well (...more on that later).

 

Problem is that most of Quick Mission, Single Missions that came with game are just "quick fights" with air start.

Exception is QM "Cross Country" with Blenheim. BTW - what you can do is fly other plane in this mission, by click over Blenheim picture and select an plane. Can Save As this with other name if want.objects in an group for just copy and past in another mission.

[ladlon]

Ah!  That's one of the missions I have not tried yet.

 

Okay, so it's not that it's not possible... just that the makers of those provided missions decided to have them start in the air.

 

I have yet to actually try the careers, which I would hope have ground starts.  I imagine, too, that there are 3rd party missions/campaigns available.

 

Such a shame you can't randomize the missions, as I would just make my own 'mini-battle' mission, which would satisfy me.  I'm (currently) just after simple missions, like ground attacks.  It's just the fact that there would be no mystery/randomness that kind of kills the fun of that.

 

Unfortunately, right now, I can't play at all, as it seems the sim keeps erasing the X52Pro mappings every time I start the sim.  I'm hoping to get some sort of support on that in the forums.

[czech693]

Okay, that got me curious.  So, I compared the mission files (.mis) for Free Flight and Cross Country and noticed that Cross Country had a Takeoff waypoint that the Free Flight didn't have:

 

free flight .mis

 

[BoB_RAF_F_610Sqn_Early.22_Way]
  NORMFLY 126720.00 125952.00 2000.00 400.00
  NORMFLY 200640.00 145536.00 2000.00 400.00
  NORMFLY 236698.40 182976.00 2000.00 400.00
  LANDING 224640.00 227328.00 500.00 300.00

 

cross county .mis

 

[BoB_RAF_B_105Sqn.21_Way]
  TAKEOFF 28878.71 247407.79 0 0
  NORMFLY 49744.87 238394.48 500.00 300.00
  NORMFLY 50871.17 206670.40 1000.00 400.00
  NORMFLY 99302.02 186021.58 3000.00 400.00
  NORMFLY 171948.29 188086.47 3000.00 400.00
  NORMFLY 268587.12 130832.94 3000.00 400.00
  NORMFLY 317205.69 97419.41 1000.00 400.00
  LANDING 335038.75 73021.71 500.00 300.00

 

Copied and pasted TAKEOFF 28878.71 247407.79 0 0 to the free flight .mis and the mission started with a Spitfire on the runway.  Don't know if the mission works after that as I didn't fly it.

[ladlon]

Thanks for looking into that, czech963.  Good to know that may all that is required (...although, obviously, you would need to use the runway waypoints of the airport near(est) to the other (in air) waypoints of the 'start in the air' mission file).  Still, that's cool.  I'll have to tinker with that.

 

Makes it even more frustrating that I'm having the 'controller settings erasing issue', as I now have so many things I want to try out!

 

I had posted in an existing thread about this issue, but haven't got a solution yet.

[czech693]

However, changing the starting location would probably put you some distance from the original starting location and by the time you got there the action would have passed.  Other waypoints and timing would have to be altered in the mission.  So, I don't think simply changing an air start to a ground start would be practical.

Looks like you came to that same conclusion before I could repost.

 

[ladlon]

That's a good point.  I knew that the airport may be a far distance from the other waypoints (meaning a long stretch of flying), but I didn't ALSO consider the fact that there are probably timed events in the mission, as you stated.  Ya, that could be a problem.

 

All the more reason I wish there was just some random mission generator... or some easy way to do that internally or with the mission builder (...really disappointing about the lack of spawn radius sizes).

[czech693]

See if this is any use for the controller issue:

 

 

[Sokol1]

2) Is there a way to have gunners use either the mouse to control aiming, or my X52Pro flight controls?  I've been reading a few posts on how people are having trouble with that.  It seems the gunners have a different set of controls than the pilots, so I'm assuming I can't use my joystick (as it's already controlling the plane itself)... although I would have thought I could use it, since the plane is on autopilot and I'm in the gunner seat... but I guess it's because the sim allows you to control the plane, even though you are not in the pilot seat.  So, the mouse is fine, but there seems to be trouble getting that to work for some people.   (I was going to try it tonight, but I'm having trouble with Blitz right now, so I can't)

Control CloD gunners with joystick is not practical, due the "spring back" effect in joysticks.

 

The only turret (originally) set for be controlled with joystick is the powered top turret of Fiat Br.20, what work well allowing use joystick for control MG and aim and rudder pedal for rotate turret, but people don't understand why an how and complain about their operation. 

Now is broken because for "fix" this, TF use Blenheim (pivot) turret control for this (powered) turret and now only mouse result practical.

 

For resolve the mouse left button conflict in original keymap, as Kiwiflieger say, go to Controls > Camera > Keys and delete "Mouse left" * or change for other key in the assignment for "Hold to OffSet Camera".

 

You don't need this command "Hold to Of-Set Camera" - that was named wrong, the real command controlled by mouse left is "Hold to Zoom Camera", and zoom camera with mouse is not practical, and TF add new commands for "zoom":

 

Adjust FOV + and Adjust FOV -  need assign keys or buttons.

 

* If don't do this reassignment when press Mouse left for "Fire current weapon" in turrets (MG's), you are not able to move aim, because game engine expect an "Zoom Camera". One of theis "It's CloD!" thing.  ?

 

3) In the mission editor, is there no way to drop a bunch of enemy units, but give them a large spawn area radius, so it's random where they spawn in?  Better still, is there any way to have randomness to the type of units (and their location) each mission?   And, while I'm on that, is there some sort of random mission generator out there? 

 

No and Yes.

 

CloD FMB visual GUI is less capable than IL-2:46 FMB, practically without programmed events, allow just place planes, objects, set waypoints.

 

But an mission maker can do more things happen in CLoD missions... if had C++ scripts knowledge.

With C++ scripts you can randomize the load of sub-missions in an mission, remove flights, add new flights... randomize events.

5) I'm surprised how empty the airports are.  Are there mods to add some static objects (crates, barrels, parked planes, etc) to the vanilla main map?  If not, is this something I could do relatively easily (and make permanent changes to the base map)?

You can populated airfields with static objects, hangar, a (somewhat) functional windsock, etc.

 

After "decorate" an base with objects- e.g. Hawkinge, you can save this objects as template for future use in new missions in that base.

 

Just don't use moving vehicles in air bases, their paths (spline lines) result broken after MG first official patches, making cars done weird moves, de-spawn and re-spawn...

In roads at some places vehicles go off road and stuck in trees, etc.

And vehicles don't cross bridges - bridges have a invisible "steep/wall" around.

 

That's CloD, you have to pretend not to see certain flaws..

 

 

 

 

[ladlon]

Thanks for all these answers, guys.  Ya, the mission builder is pretty easy.  A bit clumbsy, but easy.  Certainly could use a modern redo in the interface and workflow.  I may look into C++.  It would be great to make a simple, but random, mission to jump into all the time.

 

Weird that with all the work the Blitz guys did for the sim, they didn't decorate the airports more... some parked planes, barrels, etc.  Again, not only would it look good, but would make airports easier to spot in the air.

 

I think the control issue (sim forgetting my X52Pro mappings) is solved now, thanks to the responses to my post in the Technical Support section (...It's a device ID thing, triggered by the order that I plug in my TrackIR and X52Pro).  So, I'm able to play again, and check out/fix some of the other things I mentioned in my posts.  It's nice to see a forum where you not only get responses, but helpful ones as well.

 

I have to re-test the HE111 bombing.  I had an issue with that, where it would track the target in the bombsite, but every 2 seconds or so, the tracking would 'release' for a second, then l track again.  Not sure if it was something wrong I did.  I had set the altitude and speed (seemingly correct), and when it WAS tracking, it seemed right... but would release (stop tracking) every 2 seonds for a second.  Maybe my horizontal angle was too far from the actual direction of the plane, and it was struggling to keep hold of the track?  Maybe just a temporary glitch.  I have to try some more tests.

 

It's great to be playing the sim again.  I hadn't played it in a long while, and overall, hadn't played it much, since I was always battling with some of the interface (map, switching crew positions, having to convert measurements, being very confused by the radio chatter, etc), and struggled to fly the planes sometimes (keeping them level, mostly).... but I revisited it recently, and learned/fixed many of those things, and it's going MUCH better.  I'm still confused about the radio chatter, though... as I never know if I'm the leader or a follower, and am always surprised when I get scolded for not staying with the formation (...sometimes, the rest of the guys seem to be not following the waypoints, and when I follow the waypoints, I get in trouble!).  Obviously, I'm just misunderstanding something, but I have to sort that out.