Combat Box by Red Flight

[DFLion]

On 10/6/2022 at 2:11 AM, Otto_bann said:

LEVEL BOMBING

 

It would be interesting to promote high altitude bombers. They are praticaly no used because they are vulnerable: the gunners are no longer effective and almost no one wants to make the cover in fighter for such slow planes having to achieve such long distances to the targets.

 

I think if there were multiple airstarts, at high altitude for bombers BUT ALSO for their cover fighters, level bombing would be used more often.

 

Level bombing with cover is not represented enough in our simulator compared to IRL : it's pity.

I am currently working on a historic mission where USAAF B26 bombers bomb Le Havre at 12,500 feet and satellite Luftwaffe fighter airfields with FW190’s protecting them. The USAAF P51C’s protect the bombers and Spitfire IX’s fly forward protective cover. You can fly with the Spitfire Squadron or a Focke-Wulf Staffel.

The mission is looking good on the new Normandy map and is set in 1943 prior to D Day. The only problem I am having is getting the B26’s to level bomb from high altitude-the mission generator needs to be looked at to simplify ‘high altitude level bombing’. You have to spend a lot of time setting the bombers up to work properly.

Will keep you posted.

DFLion

[Tempus]

On 9/22/2022 at 6:07 PM, Sketch said:

Probably a good idea to take a video of the issue. We can then push that video into the bug que; which the developers can take a look at when they get a chance.

 

After RRR. This time was in the Mitchel's men map

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

I thought we were allowed to bomb airfields? I'm in a mossy and go to bomb the open airfield without the protected hashmarks and get PKed everytime I start my attack run.

 

 

[LR.CrimsonLion]

well... they're not going to just let you do it.  gotta dodge 'em bullets

[Alonzo]

13 hours ago, 71st_AH_Mastiff said:

I thought we were allowed to bomb airfields? I'm in a mossy and go to bomb the open airfield without the protected hashmarks and get PKed everytime I start my attack run.

 

If you're getting pilot killed by the AA, that just means you need to dodge and weave better. You're allowed to attack unprotected fields but the AA is at high skill level. It's not a walk in the park. One pass haul ass is most effective.

[354thFG_Drewm3i-VR]

So glad to see this server populated again!

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

well its definitely the AAA 30 ml, that's the issue; I'm at 16,000 ft and still PK'ed laser beamed "instat ala cart," so there something wrong with that flack gun. even over open lightly protected target that AAA german 30ml is the issue.

 

 

[350th_Buzz]

Hello, impossible to change my name on the combatbox site. From 615sqn_Buzz to 350th_Buzz. How to do? Good flights.

[350th_Buzz]

Resolved.

[ACG_Cass]

22 hours ago, 71st_AH_Mastiff said:

well its definitely the AAA 30 ml, that's the issue; I'm at 16,000 ft and still PK'ed laser beamed "instat ala cart," so there something wrong with that flack gun. even over open lightly protected target that AAA german 30ml is the issue.

37/40mm flak will only fire at targets up to 3000m away. Even if you were at that altitude you would need to be flying straight and level directly over the airfield to have a chance of being hit.

 

Heavy Flak can fire up to 10,000m but again at altitude, you need to be flying straight and level for the amount of time that round takes to travel that far.

 

Attacking an airfield at low altitude at this point of the war and beyond was a costly exercise for the Allies due to flak and it most certainly shouldn't be an easy activity on Combat Box.

[Talon_]

On 10/5/2022 at 4:11 PM, Otto_bann said:

LEVEL BOMBING

 

It would be interesting to promote high altitude bombers. They are praticaly no used because they are vulnerable: the gunners are no longer effective and almost no one wants to make the cover in fighter for such slow planes having to achieve such long distances to the targets.

 

I think if there were multiple airstarts, at high altitude for bombers BUT ALSO for their cover fighters, level bombing would be used more often.

 

Level bombing with cover is not represented enough in our simulator compared to IRL : it's pity.

 

The last He111 rolled off the production line in September 1944 and all He111 units in the ETO were flying transport or liaison missions only since early 1944.

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

3 hours ago, ACG_Cass said:

37/40mm flak will only fire at targets up to 3000m away. Even if you were at that altitude you would need to be flying straight and level directly over the airfield to have a chance of being hit.

 

Heavy Flak can fire up to 10,000m but again at altitude, you need to be flying straight and level for the amount of time that round takes to travel that far.

 

Attacking an airfield at low altitude at this point of the war and beyond was a costly exercise for the Allies due to flak and it most certainly shouldn't be an easy activity on Combat Box.

its not even an easy attempt; is what I'm saying, they put this in you would need 7'xs the number of people to take out the airfield; to allow for a closed airfield then a take over; but there's not even enough people to even attempt that. what I'm saying is why have a rule in there that doesn't even make snice you can attack a unlocked airfield and take it over; but it's impossible so just close off the airfield and there wouldn't even be an attrition of bombers' to even try a suicide ATTEMPT. 

 

it's ridiculous baiting BOMBERS' TO EVEN TRY.

 

heck put up AI bombers of 10 and see what happens not one would make it there and out.

Edited October 13, 2022 by 71st_AH_Mastiff

[Tempus]

2 hours ago, ACG_Cass said:

and it most certainly shouldn't be an easy activity on Combat Box.

But indeed it is... and I'd add: easier for one side more than the other due multiples game issues related with FM-DM's, game limitations and a long list of etc's. So the point of all that is We're not in 1944-45, not in any IRL A/C's neither this lanscape of 0's & 1's represents ( neither replicates) IRL one. In these kind of games there's an abuse of AI's and Aimbots that never went panic once a plane with 4 or 6 heavy guns or cannons pointed the nose on their site. There's no human ( I really mean error) factor in AI's. They still stand even after been shot. The way we play these games is totally different from the way They did or do wars. As an example: some ppl can only connect off of any evening european or American hours (when server is more populated), so they have to play almost alone. A single slow bomber like the A-20 can't go against 6-10 combination of "light" AAA and Heavy flak sites..... 99.99% times is a one way ticket sortie while on the other hand you can hop on in a 110 full of bombs and do the same with more chances of heading home also having an aimbot single gunner backupping your 6 200 time better than your 2 in the A-20 (before somebody says anything.... YES I perfectly know a 110 is a light bomber or a heavy fighter and the A-20 is a med bomber: apples and oranges....).

 

My question is: why some ppl use the historical accuracy for defending some points of these games otherwise couldn't be defended, but for the important ones then they usually say: If you really want to change that you really have to contribute with a bunch of data. There's NOTHING of "Having fun" in been Pk'ed at first sight by an aimbot after had hopped on a bomber 30 mins ago cause it can't go faster than 275KIAS full of bombs cause the map is almost about to end and you've decided to collaborate in rolling out the map whatever the side you've choosen. Don't get me be missunderstood.... I really like and appreciate the effort of any content maker that gives any historical background to the missions and/or campaings, but the historical point should start and stop right there, the rest..... try to enlarge ppl fun... and adding a bunch of aimbots in every single ground target is not historical NEITHER fun, at least til THEY would overhaul the AI behavior. 

[MAJ_stug41]

26 minutes ago, Tempus said:

Aimbots that never went panic once a plane with 4 or 6 heavy guns or cannons pointed the nose on their site. There's no human ( I really mean error) factor in AI's

If you shoot or bomb the ground anywhere near them, the crew runs for cover. 

 

Honestly combat box and TAW have the only reasonable AA. In reality these were well experienced and trained crews, and the big guns would have central gunnery directors to coordinate their fire. Using more than one attacker greatly increases the odds, find a teammate and work together.

 

I frequently bomb targets alone and the fighters are a far greater threat than the AA, and I'm not doing anything special.

[Sketch]

Also, we're talking about airfield spawns... Where the AA guns are set to the highest skill level possible and typically there's more AA guns at these locations. Because... You know... Players actually spawn there.

 

Also, the mission designers spend countless hours (at least 100 or so per mission) designing great objectives with minimum (and lower skill level) AA guns, only for players to complain that they can't attack a player spawn because we put to many and to highly skilled AA guns over them. Lol

 

This reeks of cringy, "I want my enjoyment by screwing over others enjoyment. Even better if I get an elicit response after bombing players that spawn in."

 

Nothing against attacking unprotected fields, but as Alonzo said, we're not going to make it easy for you.

Edited October 13, 2022 by Sketch

[Tempus]

4 hours ago, stug41 said:

If you shoot or bomb the ground anywhere near them, the crew runs for cover. 

Are you kidding? I dare you to show any AAA really near of any ground static in any map that could run in panic due any bomb blast. They're strategically and deliberatly put in the places where they are cause you have to go after them and dodge them, but with the penalty of leaving the bombing raid. They can defend ground tgt's at a safe distance from bomb blasts. Let me show you what normally happens when you enter some ground TGT's with Heavy AAA presence, All of them pointing you at the same time, just check out the damage report..... sniping time!!! And I could tell you I'm in the top 5 bomber pilots in CB ranking, so experience skill means nothing cause at one point in the raid you have to center and level your bomber for aiming correctly and dropping bombs and aimbots use those seconds for putting you "out of order", cause it is a human being vs. 10 AI's.... What could be wrong???

 

 

2 sorties in a med bomber.... they only needed 11 bullets for downing... me... 5.5 bullets average for each sortie. 

 

The only reasonable AAA we have now are those protecting ships....That's why most people go after ships and once TGT is almost destroyed they stop any bombing activity... cause the inland TGT's are almost sucidal.... and most ppl don't like and don't have suicidal tendencies even it is a game. I personally don't feel good if I score a lot of ground TGT's but I only land at home base 1 over 10 sorties. I'm from the phylosophy of making server team mates part of my sortie. 100% times, even most of them I fly alone, I text my intentions and try to join any little friend but I can't and I don't want to force ppl to go deck and expose them to a certain dead from aimbots or from other players CAPing there higher. Also I think where there's a bomber there's always fun for both sides pilots near them....in some maps it's a miracle a bomber reach any inland tgt just for being sniped by any aimbot in a matter of miliseconds (like you can see in the second sortie stats: 22 mins time took me to reach the tgt and damage report 1 single bullet (or less than 10 bullets), plausible? YES... Probable every 9 sorties of 10??? Hmmmmm.....

As I said in previous post game gods have to overhaul Ai's behavior, this is not the place for open that thread, but there are other solutions in MP servers to promote ppl go bombing more than we normally do.... and NO that's not going thru vulching AF's cause it doesn't help to roll out the map here (for short minded ppl: Rolling out the map = Winning the war in IRL terms).   

[CIA_Yankee_]

This is when "one pass, haul ass" is a good idea. If you bomb an objective and aren't immediately egressing, you're asking for a suicide run, period. 

 

I don't attack much, to be fair, but when I do I do it to live: I take a roundabout route to avoid intercepts, and dive in from On High directly in the direction I want to egress in. I drop my bombs and I'm out of there. Most of the time the AA and flak doesn't even begin shooting until I'm moving away. In a mossie it's quite possible to get away given your excellent speed. 

 

But ultimately, attacking targets solo is a dangerous thing to do, regardless of AAA. That's unavoidable and is part and parcel of flying on a MP server. You want to hit targets heavily and survive? Try to coordinate with others on SRS and form a strike package.

Edited October 13, 2022 by CIA_Yankee_

[BBAS_Tiki_Joe]

Spoiler

10 minutes ago, Tempus said:

Are you kidding? I dare you to show any AAA really near of any ground static in any map that could run in panic due any bomb blast. They're strategically and deliberatly put in the places where they are cause you have to go after them and dodge them, but with the penalty of leaving the bombing raid. They can defend ground tgt's at a safe distance from bomb blasts. Let me show you what normally happens when you enter some ground TGT's with Heavy AAA presence, All of them pointing you at the same time, just check out the damage report..... sniping time!!! And I could tell you I'm in the top 5 bomber pilots in CB ranking, so experience skill means nothing cause at one point in the raid you have to center and level your bomber for aiming correctly and dropping bombs and aimbots use those seconds for putting you "out of order", cause it is a human being vs. 10 AI's.... What could be wrong???

 

 

2 sorties in a med bomber.... they only needed 11 bullets for downing... me... 5.5 bullets average for each sortie. 

 

The only reasonable AAA we have now are those protecting ships....That's why most people go after ships and once TGT is almost destroyed they stop any bombing activity... cause the inland TGT's are almost sucidal.... and most ppl don't like and don't have suicidal tendencies even it is a game. I personally don't feel good if I score a lot of ground TGT's but I only land at home base 1 over 10 sorties. I'm from the phylosophy of making server team mates part of my sortie. 100% times, even most of them I fly alone, I text my intentions and try to join any little friend but I can't and I don't want to force ppl to go deck and expose them to a certain dead from aimbots or from other players CAPing there higher. Also I think where there's a bomber there's always fun for both sides pilots near them....in some maps it's a miracle a bomber reach any inland tgt just for being sniped by any aimbot in a matter of miliseconds (like you can see in the second sortie stats: 22 mins time took me to reach the tgt and damage report 1 single bullet (or less than 10 bullets), plausible? YES... Probable every 9 sorties of 10??? Hmmmmm.....

As I said in previous post game gods have to overhaul Ai's behavior, this is not the place for open that thread, but there are other solutions in MP servers to promote ppl go bombing more than we normally do.... and NO that's not going thru vulching AF's cause it doesn't help to roll out the map here (for short minded ppl: Rolling out the map = Winning the war in IRL terms).   

 

 

AAA, is fine how it is. Our group goes out on successful bombing runs all the time. You just have to work together. One or two people stay high and go in first and the AA will lock on them at a range were they are harmless and then the others go in and target the AAA and take them out. The AAA is there to make it difficult on purpose, that is why the points for ground targets is significantly more than Air to Air Kills. Its also effects the whole mission, If you made it easy, the rounds would be over to soon as any lone plane would be able to take out the targets.

[SCG_geronim0]

I think this is a matter of "git gud" aa in this game is dangerous but if you know what your doing a single pilot can easily kill every single gun at any position combat box has without damage. also aa crews do scatter fairly easily, any he damage near them sends them running.

[Alonzo]

This weekend, the server is going to be taken over by the Combat Box "Apollo" dynamic campaign system! We've been working on this for months and figured it was time to show everyone our progress.

 

What is this? It's the Combat Box team's vision of what an IL2 dynamic campaign should be. Our signature hand crafted objectives, historically inspired missions, and high quality missions. But with a dynamic front line, where your actions have a lasting impact on the war.

 

What state is it in? We're calling it a "tech alpha" -- that means a lot of the stuff is implemented, but we haven't reached our full vision yet. This weekend you'll get to fly the core campaign, with moving front line, persistent damage, dynamic aircraft availability based on campaign conditions, and dynamic supply convoys moving around the map. We still have more to do, notably our "career mode", but this is a lot of the experience minus career.

 

How can pilots get involved? We'll be taking the server down a little bit before the usual FNF time in order to switch over to the campaign. If you want to check it out, just log in and fly any time after that. Barring any mishaps, we'll be running the campaign all weekend.

 

If you want to find out more, we've written a partial manual to give you an idea of what's in store. You can get it here.

Edited October 14, 2022 by Alonzo

[MAJ_stug41]

25 minutes ago, Alonzo said:

This weekend, the server is going to be taken over by the Combat Box "Apollo" dynamic campaign system! We've been working on this for months and figured it was time to show everyone our progress.

 

What is this? It's the Combat Box team's vision of what an IL2 dynamic campaign should be. Our signature hand crafted objectives, historically inspired missions, and high quality missions. But with a dynamic front line, where your actions have a lasting impact on the war.

 

What state is it in? We're calling it a "tech alpha" -- that means a lot of the stuff is implemented, but we haven't reached our full vision yet. This weekend you'll get to fly the core campaign, with moving front line, persistent damage, dynamic aircraft availability based on campaign conditions, and dynamic supply convoys moving around the map. We still have more to do, notably our "career mode", but this is a lot of the experience minus career.

 

How can pilots get involved? We'll be taking the server down a little bit before the usual FNF time in order to switch over to the campaign. If you want to check it out, just log in and fly any time after that. Barring any mishaps, we'll be running the campaign all weekend.

 

If you want to find our more, we've written a partial manual to give you an idea of what's in store. You can get it here.

Very cool, hope I can make it to try!

[Drum]

Looks very fun!

[FeuerFliegen]

I've been thinking and saying for a while now.... if CB did a dynamic campaign, it would be the best of all worlds!  Can't wait to see the possibilities!

[SCG_Tzigy]

wow. kickarse

[Alonzo]

Campaign mode is going great. Come check it out!

 

Overview video from Wim

 

 

Combat video from @LR.Jpatty

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1624907968

[56RAF_Roblex]

I flew today and noticed that some sections of the convoy route were shining.  The convoy itself was a few miles beyond this point.  Deliberate to help enemies find convoys or a glitch?   Perhaps it was only on my PC so if anyone else sees that problem let CB know.
 

ps.   I could see messages telling me the convoy had reached WP4 etc.  Do I have any way of knowing where that WP is or is it really only there for debugging?

 

Edited October 15, 2022 by 56RAF_Roblex

[Talon_]

19 minutes ago, 56RAF_Roblex said:

I flew today and noticed that some sections of the convoy route were shining.  The convoy itself was a few miles beyond this point.  Deliberate to help enemies find convoys or a glitch?   Perhaps it was only on my PC so if anyone else sees that problem let CB know.
 

ps.   I could see messages telling me the convoy had reached WP4 etc.  Do I have any way of knowing where that WP is or is it really only there for debugging?

 

 

The messages are a bug (give us a break, it's alpha!!) But the convoy shining looks more like a bug with your game or graphics drivers!

[Sitaro]

On 10/15/2022 at 11:28 AM, Alonzo said:

Campaign mode is going great. Come check it out!

 

Overview video from Wim

 

 

Combat video from @LR.Jpatty

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1624907968

The new campaign mode is so much better than what you had going before. Its a wonder nobody thought of it earlier. Wait,  I did. And then was told that's not what you wanted to do. So I reminded you to remember that what you wants wasn't drawing players right before I left your discord.

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

7 hours ago, 56RAF_Roblex said:

I flew today and noticed that some sections of the convoy route were shining.  The convoy itself was a few miles beyond this point.  Deliberate to help enemies find convoys or a glitch?   Perhaps it was only on my PC so if anyone else sees that problem let CB know.
 

ps.   I could see messages telling me the convoy had reached WP4 etc.  Do I have any way of knowing where that WP is or is it really only there for debugging?

 

Turin off super sample in you video settings. 

[=BES=Senor_Jefe]

10 hours ago, Sitaro said:

The new campaign mode is so much better than what you had going before. Its a wonder nobody thought of it earlier. Wait,  I did. And then was told that's not what you wanted to do. So I reminded you to remember that what you wants wasn't drawing players right before I left your discord  

 

I find it funny, that comment caused you to ban me from return and then over a year later you do exactly one of the things I suggested. Nice campaign. But you're pretty petty. 

If you do awards at the end of this campaign, this guy is a lock for the Butthurt Betty award.

 

Seriously, calling others petty while engaging in full frontal pettiness doesn't look great for you...

[Talon_]

13 hours ago, Sitaro said:

over a year later

 

Wow dude.

 

Same energy:

 

[56RAF_Roblex]

11 hours ago, 71st_AH_Mastiff said:

Turin off super sample in you video settings. 

 

Thanks for the suggestion though I don't actually have SS turned on.  It only happened near the convoy which was why I asked.  If it was just a randomly placed glitch I would not have said anything but I just wondered whether it was a side effect of something that had been done to make the convoys work as desired.  I have not had a chance to fly again yet so perhaps it will just go away anyway. 

 

[Alonzo]

21 hours ago, Sitaro said:

I find it funny, that comment caused you to ban me from return and then over a year later you do exactly one of the things I suggested. Nice campaign. But you're pretty petty. 

 

I'm glad you like the campaign, but I have no idea who you are. If we banned you from the Discord -- something we rarely do -- it was because your contributions were a net negative, you wrongly assumed "free speech means I can give my opinion in as offensive a form as I like with no repercussions", or you were just an egregious toss bat.

 

Anyhow, no hard feelings. We've been working on the campaign for more than a year. It's not like "do a campaign mode" is some sort of stroke of genius, given TAW and Finnish both have had great success with that formula. We just wanted to do it in a high quality way that isn't a "me, too" campaign, and that took a while. We still have more to do.

[BOO]

2 hours ago, Alonzo said:

 an egregious toss bat.

 

Thats a keeper! ?

[Talon_]

We have decided to extend the Apollo Test until Thursday (roughly NA evening time) or until we encounter technical issues. After that, we'll take a break, work through the feedback and make changes.

 

Please feel free to continue dropping feedback here and on the Discord server.

 

Thanks for playing and all the feedback we've gotten so far!

 

 

 

[LR.Jpatty]

Thanks @Alonzo !    great fun over the weekend!  

[SCG_Tzigy]

Superfun. Thank you!! Only a minor glitch, my g14 wouldn't rearm properly, the wr21s wouldn not respawn...maybe game glitch.  Some ai flights of bombers and it would be perfect! Thx again

[56RAF_Roblex]

 

I am sure this has been asked before but has anybody had any good ideas about how to handle the problem of everyone chatting on Channel 2 which is supposed to be used only for requests to Command/Tower/Airfield etc. ?

 

Is it feasible to put both Tower traffic and Command information on Channel two and when the Bot hears someone say something that was not preceded by 'Tower' or 'Command' etc it tells them they are talking in the wrong channel?     When there are too many people talking on Ch.2 it can make it very hard to send a request to the Bot.  Maybe that been suggested before and rejected for some reason I have not foreseen?    Perhaps the problem is that too many people have trouble setting up buttons to switch the live channel so just stick with one?

 

While I am discussing SRS, is it correct that there is no way to have the overlay in VR view?  If I know it is not expected to work then I can stop trying.

[Oboe]

1 hour ago, 56RAF_Roblex said:

 

I am sure this has been asked before but has anybody had any good ideas about how to handle the problem of everyone chatting on Channel 2 which is supposed to be used only for requests to Command/Tower/Airfield etc. ?

 

Is it feasible to put both Tower traffic and Command information on Channel two and when the Bot hears someone say something that was not preceded by 'Tower' or 'Command' etc it tells them they are talking in the wrong channel?     When there are too many people talking on Ch.2 it can make it very hard to send a request to the Bot.  Maybe that been suggested before and rejected for some reason I have not foreseen?    Perhaps the problem is that too many people have trouble setting up buttons to switch the live channel so just stick with one?

 

While I am discussing SRS, is it correct that there is no way to have the overlay in VR view?  If I know it is not expected to work then I can stop trying.

 Absolutely need SRS in VR view.  Would be nice to see who is talking.

 

Is it possible for each field to have its own channel, so that only pilots who lifted from the same field are on the same Tower channel?

[56RAF_Roblex]

1 hour ago, Oboe said:

 Absolutely need SRS in VR view.  Would be nice to see who is talking.

 

Is it possible for each field to have its own channel, so that only pilots who lifted from the same field are on the same Tower channel?

 

Yes but it is not just about airfield matters.  You also use Ch.2 for asking who needs an escort and reporting that you are planning on attacking a particular target in which case it informs the person asking about escorting or you may be asking for a vector to the nearest friendly airfield etc. 

Actually, thinking about it, the chatter I am hearing could easily be people who are on Ch1. as you are supposed to set one radio to Ch.1 and one radio to Ch.2 and you will hear both even though you are only broadcasting on one.  In that case there is no solution unless people always move away to ch3 to ch10 before talking and that will not happen.

BTW,  back on the subject of having the overlay in VR, now I know it does not work normally I can try to find a bit of software I know exists that allows you to make a window that will show a particular part of your PC screen inside VR. I don't know how much it affects performance though.

Edited October 17, 2022 by 56RAF_Roblex